This little person is winking at you !

This little person  is winking at you !
Help Save these little ones, join in the fight to end abortion.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Archbishop to Nancy Pelosi: You're wrong :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Archbishop to Nancy Pelosi: You're wrong :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Nancy Pelosi, this could be your moment.
St. Paul got knocked off his horse. St. Augustine dragged his feet.  And for the rest of us, the story is still unfolding.
Conversion moments are personal. They can be uncomfortable and often—to our mortal eye—awkwardly timed. They are unfailingly memorable.

Nancy, this could be your conversion opportunity.
First, it’s a personal call. 
Your hometown Archbishop—the shepherd concerned for your soul--has called you by name.  

(As messengers go, you lucked out.  Paul faced a lightning bolt and wary old Ananias, while St. Augustine had his mom after him for years and finally listened to a child.) 

God’s messenger to you, Nancy, is a peer from your neighborhood who understands the work you do.  He’s straightforward too, and he happens to be your spiritual shepherd. Surely his tug on your conscience must be perceptible, even to a Washington-hardened soul.

Why did he single you out now? 
You’ve got a long-standing record of pro-abortion advocacy.  

But your Newsweek interview on Dec. 21, 2009 went one step too far. 

You said, 
“ I have some concerns about the church's position respecting a woman's right to choose. 

I have some concerns about the church's position on gay rights. I am a practicing Catholic, although they're probably not too happy about that. But it is my faith. 

I practically mourn this difference of opinion because I feel what I was raised to believe is consistent with what I profess, and that is that we are all endowed with a free will and a responsibility to answer for our actions. And that women should have that opportunity to exercise their free will.”

Your plainspoken prelate, Archbishop George Niederauer, responded on January 13th, peeling off the Catholic label of “free will” that you so easily stuck on your pro-abortion beliefs. 

He rejected your “pro-choice” stance as “incompatible with Catholic teaching.”  Further, he corrected your reasoning, pointing out that “free will cannot be cited as justification for society to allow moral choices that strike at the most fundamental rights of others. 

Such a choice is abortion, which constitutes the taking of innocent human life, and cannot be justified by any Catholic notion of freedom.”
Conversion is uncomfortable.  We all like to think we know everything and that we’ve thought through all angles of our long-held positions. We are tempted to think that our natural inclinations are right, simply because we believe in our own judgment so passionately--or, Nancy, because it’s what we “feel” and what we’ve been “raised to believe.”  

Only when our consciences are formed in the light of truth, “aided by the...advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church,” can we be sure that we see and judge clearly.

Well, this is indeed an awkward moment, isn’t it?  Here you are, Nancy, at what could be your moment of truth.  However, you’re in the middle of a health care debate and abortion is a driving force. You’ve got financial supporters and long-time friends on the wrong side of the abortion issue. 

Conversion will be difficult, but take heart, that’s always the case.  St. Paul was on his way to wipe out more Christian communities before his plans changed--and he couldn’t simply send out an email or a press release apprising his enemies of his change of heart.  

It would take great courage for you to change your mind on abortion. You would certainly lose campaign donations from pro-abortion zealots.  You’d probably lose the admiration and fawning support of Hollywood liberals. You’d certainly lose face. 
But you might gain your soul.

Nancy, the good Archbishop’s words are only a Google away.  Think them over. Ponder them. 
This could be your moment, Nancy. Consider it well…and “beware the grace that passes, never to return.”
Topics: Abortion , Culture , Current Events , Faith
Mary Rice Hasson, the mother of seven, is a Fellow in Catholic Studies at theEthics and Public Policy Center, Washington, D.C. She blogs atwordsfromcana
The Vatican's highest-ranking American said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Catholic politicians who support abortion should be denied communion.
"This is a person who obstinately, after repeated admonitions, persists in a grave sin — cooperating with the crime of procured abortion — and still professes to be a devout Catholic," said Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome.

Burke's rebuke came during an interview with the Minneapolis-based Catholic Servant newspaper in July, but only came to national attention after another Catholic paper, The Wanderer, reprinted the article online

The Catholic Servant asked Burke, the most important court official in the Holy See, how Catholics should react to Pelosi's refusal to comment when asked about Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who was convicted of manslaughter and first-degree murder charges for the death of a patient and seven babies who were killed after being born alive. 

Editor's Note: Warren Buffett’s Secret to Wealth — The Bible? 

"As a practicing and respectful Catholic this is sacred ground to me when we talk about this. I don’t think it should have anything to do with politics," Pelosi responded during a press conference earlier this year.

Burke said Canon 915 of the church's code should be applied in Pelosi's case: Those who are "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion."

"To say that these are simply questions of Catholic faith, which have no part in politics, is just false and wrong," said Burke a former archbishop of St. Louis and bishop of La Crosse, Wis.

"I fear for Congresswoman Pelosi if she does not come to understand how gravely in error she is," Burke said.

Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., said in May that he would not deny communion to Pelosi, stating that the church does not use communion as a "weapon."

Urgent: Should Obamacare Be Repealed? Vote Here Now!

Friday, September 20, 2013

In a meeting with Catholic gynaecologists this morning Pope Francis strongly condemned abortion as a manifestation of a “throwaway culture. 9-19-13


Pope Francis 9-19-13

  • 9-20-2013

BY JOHN-HENRY WESTEN

ROME, September 20, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) –

"Every unborn child, though unjustly condemned to be aborted, has the face of the Lord, who even before his birth, and then as soon as he was born, experienced the rejection of the world," the pope said. 
The comments come one day after the release of an in-depth interview in which the Pope had explained that despite criticism he has avoided speaking about moral issues like abortion and gay “marriage” in his papacy, instead focusing on preaching about the love of Christ. 
“We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods,” Pope Francis had said in remarks that were widely interpreted as a call for Church leaders to downplay the Church’s moral teachings on controversial issues. 
"I have not spoken much about these things, and I was reprimanded for that," the Pope had explained. "But when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context. The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time."
In response to that interview the United State’s largest abortion advocacy organization, NARAL Pro-Choice America, even posted an image thanking the pope for his comments on their Facebook and Twiter pages. But NARAL’s celebrations were cut short by today’s blunt remarks by the Pope, in which he urged doctors to respect life "from the first instant of conception." 
NARAL's thanks to the Pope may have been premature, in light of today's remarks.
Speaking to the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, Pope Francis spoke of a paradox in medicine today. “On the one hand we see progress in the field of medicine, thanks to the work of scientists who passionately and unreservedly dedicate themselves to the search for new cures,” he said. “On the other hand, however, we also encounter the risk that doctors lose sight of their identity in the service of life.” 
“While new rights are attributed to or indeed almost presumed by the individual, life is not always protected as the primary value and the primordial right of every human being,” said the Pope. “The ultimate aim of medicine remains the defence and promotion of life.” 
The pope told the doctors, "Your being Catholic entails greater responsibility: first of all to yourself, in the effort to be consistent with the Christian vocation, and then to contemporary culture, to help recognize the transcendent dimension in human life, the imprint of the creative work of God, from the very first moment of conception. This is a commitment to the new evangelization that often requires going against the tide, paying a personal price. The Lord counts on you to spread the 'Gospel of life.'"
As he has in the past, Francis condemned a “throwaway culture” that would eliminate the weak and vulnerable in society. “Our response to this mentality is a 'yes' to life, decisive and without hesitation. 'The first right of the human person is his life. He has other goods and some are precious, but this one is fundamental – the condition for all the others'”.
Concluding, the Pope said, “bear witness to and disseminate this 'culture of life' … remind all, through actions and words, that in all its phases and at any age, life is always sacred and always of quality. And not as a matter of faith, but of reason and science! There is no human life more sacred than another, just as there exists no human life qualitatively more meaningful than another”. 
rancis 9-19-13

Monday, September 16, 2013

Bishop: Catholics must adjust to cultural bias against faith :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Bishop: Catholics must adjust to cultural bias against faith :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Please read Bishop Papropcki"s letter.

 Especially the paragraph where he compares what is

happening to the Catholic Church in America to what

happened to the Roman Catholic Church under Communist 

rule in Poland. 

That is on the way to reality here in America under the 


Obama "progressive" style of government. 

The sad truth is that the constitution is being ignored and 




many changes in our government policy's are by Executive 

Directive, not by laws created by Congress.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Political Update from Faithful in the 8th Congressional Districk


 This information from Faithful Citizenship in Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District is forwarded to keep Bucks County Catholics / Christians informed as to what legislation is pending and the need for you to contact your Federal and State legislators to co-sponsor and vote to support this legislation.
Remember, our Catholic/Christian values are slowly being removed by a President who said we are not a Christian nation, and many of his executive orders go around Congress to make that a factt.
PLEASE act now! Call your legislators to support the legislation in the following paragraphs.


Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act - Support HR 732


As per Priests for Life, "The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA) would make it illegal to take a minor across a state line to evade the requirements of a pre-abortion parental involvement law in the girl’s home state." Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) to join with 105 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 732.

Conscience Protection - Support HR940/S1204

Joint letters were issued on 6/21/13 by Archbishop William Lori of the USCCB and Dr. Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention, to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and to members of the U.S. Senate, supporting H.R. 940 and S. 1204.  While Representative Mike Fitzpatrick is a co-sponsor of HR 940neither Senator Casey nor Senator Toomey are co-sponsors of S 1204 

There is a special web page  to facilitate messages to Casey, Toomey, Fitzpatrick, and Speaker of the House John Boehnerhttps://www.votervoice.net/NCHLA/Campaigns/30688/Respond.  There is also a special web page to facilitate messages to President Obama, Vice President Biden, Casey, Toomey, and Fitzpatrick: https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/30694/Respond.

Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Syria, the Middle East, and the World - and Support for S653

Confounding those who would like to infer that "pro life" citizens are not concerned about their brothers and sisters who have already been born, Mercer County (NJ) Congressman and pro life champion Chris Smith  has been a pioneering leader on human trafficking:  "There’s nobody more committed or dedicated....it’s no understatement to say that he was banging the drum on this long before many in Congress even knew the term 'trafficking in persons' or understood what it really meant" (Secretary of State John Kerry, Remarks at the Annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) Release, 6/19/13).  TheTrafficking in Persons Report 2013 documents some of the unspeakable abuses of our brothers and sisters, which are happening on the world stage:
    "a mere fraction of the more than 26 million men, women, and children who are estimated to suffer in modern slavery have been recognized by governments as such and are eligible to receive the protection and support they are owed.... traffickers who enslave and exploit millions are operating with impunity, beyond the reach of the law....Though today’s estimates suggest that the majority of trafficking victims are indeed women and girls, it is now clear that trafficking victims are subjected to both sex and labor trafficking, and a significant percentage of trafficking victims are men and boys."
As per Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Pates,
    "Pope Francis has called for a Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Syria, the Middle East, and the world to be held on September 7, 2013, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace....We are anguished by the terrible suffering of the Syrian people and again affirm the need for dialogue and negotiation to resolve this conflict that has wrought so much devastation....As our nation's leaders contemplate military action, it is particularly appropriate and urgent that we in the United States embrace the Holy Father's call to pray and fast....We ask all U.S. Catholics and people of goodwill to join us in witnessing to the hope we have in our hearts for peace for the Syrian people. May our prayers, fasting, and advocacy move our nation to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria.  And may Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us and the people of Syria."
As per Bishop Pates' 5/20/13 letter to Senators Roy Blunt and Carl Levin
    "As Chair of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I commend your tireless efforts to advance religious freedom as evidenced by your sponsorship of S. 653, a bill to establish a Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia....

    "The bishops have long been concerned over the plight of religious minorities, particularly Christian communities in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Egypt, India and Pakistan, many of whom have lived for centuries side by side with those of other faiths, but now find themselves coming under increased attack and harassment. Such attacks have led many to flee, becoming displaced within their own country or escaping across the borders to seek refugee status, uncertain as to what the future holds....

    "Following egregious violence against religious minorities, such as church bombings in Egypt and Nigeria, bombings of Ahmadiyyah mosques and buses carrying Shi’a pilgrims in Pakistan, the attack on the Syrian Catholic cathedral in Baghdad, the assassination of Pakistan’s Minister for Minority Affairs, the targeting by Hindu extremists of Christian villages in India, or riots in Burma that have killed almost 200 Muslims and left thousands homeless, we have strongly urged the Administration to press other governments to undertake concrete measures to respect and protect the human rights and religious freedom of all their citizens....

    "we commend you for introducing S. 653 and lend our support to passage of this legislation"
Neither Senator Casey nor Senator Toomey are co-sponsors of S 653. 

Euthanasia - Oppose HR1173

In contrast to what the Church proclaims about the sanctity of each human life,
    "The POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form is a standard document that, when signed by a designated healthcare professional, dictates whether to withhold or administer certain forms of medical treatment and/or care. POLST is known by different acronyms in various states (MOST, MOLST, POST, etc.)....The completed POLST form is not simply an expression of a patient’s treatment preferences; it is a set of physician's orders which must be followed....POLST is tilted toward non-treatment and can encourage premature withdrawal of treatment from patients who, but for the denial of treatment, would not die....Of special concern is a new federal bill – the 'Personalize Your Care Act' (H.R. 1173). Introduced by Representative Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon [with Alyson Schwartz as a co-sponsor], ...it is described as a bill to 'amend the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of voluntary advance care planning consultation under Medicare and Medicaid, and for other purposes'....H.R. 1173 includes funding for promotion of POLST throughout the country" (What is a POLST, and why should you oppose it?, LifeSiteNews.com, 8/30/13).

"Gender Identity" - Oppose S 815 and SB300/HB300

As readily acknowledged by the Human Rights Campaign, the term "gender identity" refers to how a person views herself or himself, regardless of whether that perception corresponds with anatomy.  With regard to individuals with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies," the Church reminds us that
The USCCB has expressed concern that "ENDA [i.e., S. 815, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013], if enacted, could be used to punish as discrimination what the Catholic Church teaches....The bill’s treatment of 'gender identity' ...would have an adverse effect on privacy and associational rights of others" (letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions from Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone).  Senator Robert Casey, Jr, has been a co-sponsor of S. 815, since 5/16/13.

On the state level, HB 300 and SB 300 speak of "freedom from discrimination in...public accommodation," regardless of "'gender identity or expression.'"

    "California Gov. Jerry Brown just signed a law aimed specifically at schools, requiring them to permit any student to use any restroom or locker room, no questions asked. And this scenario would play out across Pennsylvania if the recently introduced HB/SB 300 were to be approved by the state Legislature. HB/SB 300 is being sold as a 'sexual orientation and gender identity' employment nondiscrimination bill, but in states and cities with similar ordinances the reach of the law always stretches to bathrooms, locker rooms, dorm rooms and any other public facility traditionally segregated by gender" ( Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/21/13). 
If polled, most people would view the restriction of ladies' rooms to anatomical females (and the restriction of men's rooms to anatomical males) as common sense and NOT "unjust discrimination."

Labor Day Statement from the USCCB

    "Every human being enjoys a basic right to be respected, not because of any title, position, prestige, or accomplishment but first of all because we are created in the image and likeness of God....

    "Even with new indicators of some modest progress in recovery, the economy still has not improved the standard of living for many people, especially for the poor and the working poor, many of whom are unemployed or underemployed....

    "The current imbalances are not inevitable, but demand boldness in promoting a just economy that reduces inequality by creating jobs that pay a living wage and share with workers some profits of the company. It also requires ensuring a strong safety net for jobless workers and their families and those who are incapable of work. As individuals and families, as the Church, as community organizations, as businesses, as government, we all have a responsibility to promote the dignity of work and to honor workers’ rights....

    "The Church, in accord with her principles on the life and dignity of the human person, wishes to collaborate with unions in securing the rights and dignity of workers....

    "Ethical and moral business leaders know that it is wrong to chase profits and success at the expense of workers’ dignity....

    "Whenever possible we should support businesses and enterprises that protect human life and dignity, pay just wages, and protect workers’ rights. We should support immigration policies that bring immigrant workers out of the shadows to a legal status and offer them a just and fair path to citizenship, so that their human rights are protected and the wages for all workers rise....at the same time it is important to end the political, social, and economic conditions that drive people from their homelands and families. Solidarity calls us to honor workers in our own communities and around the world....

    "let us renew our commitment to promote the dignity of the human person through work that is honorable, pays just wages, and recognizes the God-given dignity of the working person" (from theUSCCB's Labor Day Statement 2013).

Marriage - Support HB 1349 and OPPOSE SB 719; Support H.J. Res 51

On 5/8/13, Bucks County Representative Paul Clymer joined Representative Daryl Metcalfe in introducing HB 1349,  
    "Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for marriage.
    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby resolves as follows:
    Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI: That Article I be amended by adding a section to read:
    § 29. Marriage.
    Marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."
As per as 7/1/13 news item on the web site of Bucks County Representative Steve Santarsiero:
    "State Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-Bucks, today announced he will co-sponsor the Marriage Equality Bill, introduced by Reps. Brian Sims, D-Phila., and Steve McCarter, D-Montgomery/Phila.

    "The bill, which mirrors S.B. 719, introduced by Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery/Delaware, would eliminate the prohibition of same-sex marriages in Pennsylvania."
The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference also has a web page to facilitate messages to Governor Corbett, "to say you support marriage and the defense of Pennsylvania’s DOMA":https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/32995/Respond.


On a federal level, Congressman Time Huelskamp has introduced H.J. RES. 51, supporting a an amendment to the U.S. Constitution limiting marriage to a man and a woman.  Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com/ ) to be a co-sponsor.

No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act - Support HR 7/S 946

As per Priests for Life, "The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would prohibit the federal funding of abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or life of the mother."  Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) to join Rep. Chris Smith and 131 other of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 7.  Please ask Senators Pat Toomey (http://www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=contact) and Bob Casey (http://www.casey.senate.gov/contact/) to join 23 of their colleagues as co-sponsors of S 946 (Note: Casey introduced his own S 142, which appears to this blogger to be a weakened version and has no co-sponsors.).  

Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - Support HR 1797 and S 886

As per a 5/21/13 statement by Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life:
    "Priests for Life believes this is the most significant legislative effort to date in bringing protection to unborn children. We have therefore already alerted every parish in America to inform and mobilize its congregation in support of this bill. We are also calling upon pro-life organizations large and small to give it their full support."
Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) to join with 184 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 1797.  Kudos to Senator Pat Toomey (http://www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=contact) for being one of the 32 co-sponsors of the Senate version, S 886.  Please ask Senator Bob Casey (http://www.casey.senate.gov/contact/) to co-sponsor S 886

The Right to Informed Consent - Oppose SB 872

Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons of Montgomery County is a psychiatrist, member of the Pediatric Psychosocial Development Committee of the American College of Pediatricians, and director of the Institute for Marital Healing.  Dr. Fitzgibbons maintains that
    "Youth have the right to be provided informed consent about the serious medical and psychiatric illnesses, and risks, of the homosexual lifestyle.  Pediatricians, mental health professionals, physicians, nurses and school counselors have a clear legal responsibility to do so, and parents, family members, educators, and clergy a grave moral responsibility" (Same-Sex Attractions in Youth and Their Right to Informed Consent, 5/21/12).
SB 872, "Prohibiting mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual under 18 years of age," would disregard the welfare of minors, assault parental rights, and assault the right to informed consent.

The Sanctity of Human Life Act - Support HR 23

As per Priests for Life, "The Sanctity of Human Life Act would declare that the right to life guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution vests in each human being at 'fertilization, cloning, or its functional equivalent, irrespective of sex, health, function or disability, defect, stage of biological development, or condition of dependency.'
Further, the measure states that 'the Congress affirms that the Congress, each State, the District of Columbia, and all United States territories have the authority to protect the lives of all human beings residing in its respective jurisdictions.'"  Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) to join with 39 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 23.

SNAP, Immigration Reform, and the Budget

As per the USCCB, "urge your Representative and Senators to support SNAP (food stamps), pass bi-partisan immigration reform, and support a budget that helps people struggling in this economy."

Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act - Support HR 61 and HR 217

As per Priests for Life, "HR 61 would require any entity receiving taxpayer funds through the federal Title X family planning program to certify in writing that it will not perform abortions and will not provide funds to any entity that performs abortions. The bill would allow funding to go to organizations that perform abortions only in cases to save the mother’s life or where a pregnancy results from rape or incest.  The measure would deny Planned Parenthood and any other abortion providers a major source of their federal funding."  Kudos to Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) for being one of the 91 co-sponsors of HR 61.

As per Priests for Life, "HR 217, like HR 61, would require any entity receiving federal funds from the Title X family planning program to certify that it will not perform abortions and will not provide any money to another entity that performs abortions.  The bill would effectively bar Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from participating in the Title X program."  Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) to join with 176 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 217.

Posted to Faithful Citizenship in Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District.