Cardinal O'Malley issues another Caritas-Centene statement

Once again, from the Articles of Faith blog:

"While I appreciate the opportunity given to Caritas Christi to serve the poor through this agreement, I wish to reaffirm that this agreement can only be realized if the moral obligations for Catholic hospitals as articulated in the Ethical and Religious Directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are fulfilled at all times and in all cases. In order to assure me that this agreement will provide for the integrity of the Catholic identity and practices of Caritas Christi Health Care System, I have asked the National Catholic Bioethics Center to review the agreement and to assure me that it is faithful to Catholic principles."

I'm not going to give you a lot of bleep about my respect for my Cardinal Archbishop. The fact that I link to his blog is the least of it. I consider him a friend. He is the pastor of my parish church, Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Daily, I lead a Rosary group in prayer for him and for the Archdiocese. I've advised him to wear !*#^!(^& socks under his sandals in winter weather, for Heaven's sake!

Okay. I guess I have given you a lot of bleep about my respect for my Eminent Father. Sue me. But let me say something.

While it's not for the sheep to shepherd the pastor, it is the right of the sheep to ask the shepherd for clarification. And while I'm no Mary, even she asked the angel of God: "How can this be?"

So I'm asking, not just the Cardinal, but all those "moral theologians" who supported this peculiar "Catholic" venture, the whatever-committee members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the good folks at the National Catholic Bioethics Center and everybody who thinks this is such a @@#&(!(&%^ hot idea one simple question:

ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND???

Ahem. I didn't mean exactly that. What I meant was simply this:

If you refuse to perform abortions, provide in vitro fertilization, distribute condoms, IUDs, and other birth control devises, as well you should, then why in the name of all that is holy would you provide the wherewithal—transportation, references, etc—for OTHERS to do the same thing?

Why?

Caritas-Centene proposal wins state approval

From White Coat Notes:

State regulators today voted to accept a controversial bid by a Massachusetts Catholic hospital chain and a secular health organization to provide health insurance to low income residents.

The vote came after Caritas-Centene assured the panel that women will have "ready access" to timely family planning services, with no primary care physician referral required. They also promised creation of a toll-free 800 customer service number that will provide women information about where they can get family planning and reproductive services -- and, in an emergency, will provide transportation to the nearest appropriate facility.

What, I wonder, constitutes an "emergency" in this context?

As for the "toll free" number that will provide women information about family planning? There already is one that any Catholic institution should be aware of: the one at the top of the Natural Family Planning website.

Former President Bill Clinton on embryos and I am not making this up!

I tried to embed the Larry King Live interview after being alerted by alert watcher Deborah but couldn't. She writes:

Clinton spoke about embryos not being fertilized and said that if embryos were ever on their way to be fertilized, they shouldn't be used for experimentation. He said this one way or another about 3 or 4 times and then ended by saying it unequivocally.

I couldn't believe my ears! Surely, I thought, Dr. Gupta - a medical doctor, isn't he? - is going to nicely point out that an embryo is an embryo because it has been fertilized, that it is a genetically complete fully fertilized egg. Gupta said nothing.

Can it be that Bill Clinton and Dr. Gupta don't really know what an embryo is?

I hope someone in the pro-life movement will use the clip of Clinton saying fertilized embryos should not be used for experimentation!

Anyway, you've GOT to watch this: Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviews Bill Clinton on embryonic stem cell research

Caritas Christi update of a sort: statements

Tomorrow, the state of Massachusetts's "Connector Board" is slated to vote on the Caritas Christi Health Network-Centene Corporation venture.

(When a board member raised the objection that Caritas Christi, being a Catholic network, would not perform abortions, the two entities released a joint statement saying that "will contract with providers, both in and out of the Caritas network, to ensure to all services required by the authority, including confidential family planning services.")

Since then, Caritas Christi has withheld comment on the controversial venture, and on other questions about its operation "out of respect for the legal process of the Connector Authority." In other words, until the state makes its decision, the network deems it imprudent to comment on its operations.

However, the network's proposed partner evidently has no such reservations.

Michael Paulson, blogger and religious reporter for The Boston Globe, posts a statement from Centene Corporation, which answers the question: "How would you handle a situation in which a patient seeks a service a Catholic hospital will not provide?"

"Like all managed care plans, our health plans contract with a full spectrum of providers to ensure that all benefits are available to members, as required and approved by our state regulatory agencies. If a provider does not perform certain medical services, that provider directs patients back to the health plan. Our health plans have local staff and 1-800 numbers available 24/7 for access to information on all services provided. This number and information about all services are readily available online and in printed materials. In Massachusetts, we will apply these same procedures."

You might visit Michael's "Articles of Faith" blog to review comments by Anne Fox, Massachusetts Citzens for Life president, and the Catholic League's C.J. Doyle.

The Caritas matter: how would "leading Catholic theologians" have judged, say, Saint Stephen?

Regarding the concern of Catholics and non-Catholic pro life people over the proposed bid of Caritas Christi Health Network to offer insurance to low income Massachusetts residents in Boston via Commonwealth Care, a program that demands its providers offer "reproductive health services," Notre Dame law and theology professor Cathleen Kaveny observed:

"For some of these prolife groups, no cooperation with evil is ever justified, but that's more of a prophetic stand, a new way of applying the tradition."

I don't know what she means by the second part of her sentence. In fact, I'm not sure what she means by the first...could she possibly be implying that sometimes cooperation with evil is justified?

The lead in today's Boston Globe story:

Critics of a proposed joint venture between the local Catholic hospital chain and a secular insurance company say they are concerned about the arrangement because of one major issue: abortion.

But supporters say there is another issue at stake in the discussion of whether Caritas Christi Health Care should take part in providing insurance to low-income people in Massachusetts: poverty.

This reminded me of Saint Stephen.

In Acts 6, we learn that the diaconate was instituted in the days shortly following Christ's death and resurrection to, at least in part, insure that the earthly needs of the growing Church were seen to while the Apostles—the first bishops—devoted themselves to prayer and to spreading the Word of God. Stephen chose to testify to the glory of Jesus, earning himself a martyr's death.

Shall I presume that Stephen's actions were irresponsible, since his insistence on proclaiming Jesus as Lord resulted in his death, thereby reducing the manpower necessary to tend to the poor? Nonsense, no?

Too often, learned people confuse the true mission of the Church.

Indeed, it is our duty—and we should embrace this duty with love and joy—to practice the corporal works of mercy.

But when these works are tainted by the intrusion of evil—which seems to be the case of the Caritas matter—then they become worse than useless: they become evil in themselves.

While it is the responsibility of the Body of Christ to tend to the physical needs of the world, it is a far greater responsiblity to help save each other's souls.

Source: The Boston Globe

N.B. Blogger and reporter Michael Paulson lists very good, very reasonable questions as yet unanswered by Caritas Christi here. He expects the health network to answer them tomorrow.

Everyone against abortion, please raise your hand.

Father Tad Pacholczyk discusses Obama's embryonic stem cell reversal on CatholicTV

Author if "The Ten Great Myths in the Debate Over Stem Cell Research," Father Tad Pacholczyk will discuss the implications of Obama's reversal of President Bush's policy to limit such research to adult stem cells. Holding a doctorate in neuroscience from Yale, Father Pacholczyk is Director of Education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

We can expect, in his discussion, to reiterate the Catholic stance on life stated in paragraph 2271 of the Catechism:

"Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion...You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish...God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.”

See the interview live on Friday, March 13, at 10:30 AM Eastern on CatholicTV's "This is the Day." The show will also be streamed live at CatholicTV.com and will be available on the site’s archives starting Friday night.

Embryonic stem cell research: wider-ranging than some thought

From the Washington Post (free subscription required)

Although the decision to allow expanded funding had been long expected, many thought Obama would limit federally funded scientists to working with cell lines derived from embryos destined to be discarded at infertility clinics. Instead, he left that key issue open.

Embryos created specifically for research/destruction and/or cloning techniques

"He left it wide open," said Thomas H. Murray, director of the Hastings Center, a bioethics think tank. "Now we are going to have to face a host of morally complicated, politically charged questions. There's not an easy path forward for them out of here."

Will scientists call the shots?

...proponents of the research had hoped that Obama's order would be free of caveats, fulfilling his promise to leave such decisions to scientists. Obama cast his decision that way, coupling it with an order aimed at removing politics from scientific decisions across the government.

Creating life to destroy life

Although Congress may try to revisit this issue, federal law prohibits the direct use of taxpayer money to create or destroy embryos for research purposes. But it is legal to do so with private funding. The ethical debate centers on whether permitting federal funding on cell lines from those sources will encourage such activity.

"This is a really explosive issue," Ronald M. Green, a Dartmouth College bioethicist. "There are lot of people on the left and the right sides of our political spectrum who are opposed to that -- to create a life to destroy it," Green said.

Lisa Graas discusses this issue here.

Cardinal O'Malley to consult National Catholic Bioethics Center on Caritas Christi/Commonwealth Care arrangement

The background (chronologically, as best as I can make it):

Caritas Christi Health Care Network is a Catholic organization, operating six hospitals, affiliated with the Archdiocese of Boston. It's reported to be in substantial financial difficulty.

Commonwealth Care is a state-run program offering low or no-cost health care to Massachusetts residents who qualify.

Caritas Christi teamed with a company in Saint Louis called Centrene Corp. to propose a venture (called "Commonwealth Family Health Plan") allowing it to become a part of the the program.

The problem:

A board member of the authority overseeing the program objected to the proposal on the grounds that Caritas does not perform abortions.

One response:

A joint statement by Caritas and Centrene saying that the new venture "will contract with providers, both in and out of the Caritas network, to ensure to all services required by the authority, including confidential family planning services."

Other responses include:

@!(*$^!)*##_!(#U — or words to that effect — from area Catholics.

From C.J. Doyle, Catholic League of Massachusetts: "This appears to be an appalling betrayal of Catholic principles and a grave scandal."

From Anne Fox, president, Massachusetts Citizens for life: "It looks to me as though . . . an entity has to give up certain of its basic principles, and that just doesn't hang right."

From Caritas spokeslady Teresa Prego: "Applying for participation in the [state program] is a complex public policy process," it said. "We will carefully investigate all aspects of this proposed relationship in order to insure that Caritas Christi's participation will be in accord with Catholic teaching."

From Terrence Donilon, Archdiocese spokesguy: "Caritas is the appropriate agency to respond," (declining further comment).

From Cardinal O'Malley (in part): "I want to confirm for the Catholic community and the wider interested public that Caritas Christi Health Care has assured me that it will not be engaged in any procedures nor draw any benefits from any relationship which violate the Church's moral teaching."

Today, on his blog, Cardinal O'Malley addresses the issue further:

"Recognizing the complexity of the proposed arrangement, I will ask the National Catholic Bioethics Center to review the arrangement and to provide me their opinion."

A point (and maybe you, too) might ponder:

Does my insurance provider cover abortions and other "health" services contrary to Church teaching...and if so, am I cooperating with evil?

And did I mention embyonic stem cell "research?"

Not content with his pro-abortion activities outlined a couple of posts ago, your president is going after the embryos.

(As he said he would, to all you folks who decided to "hold your noses" and vote for this dude, and for all you so-called "pro-lifers" who decided to sit out the election.)

Not that there's any proof that embryonic stem cell research actually holds any promise, of course. But is that really the point? I don't think so.

To all those scientists who have tried again and again to show that adult stem cells are not only the more ethical route (we through away "ethics" when we elected this fellow) but actually make more sense scientifically? Sorry. You don't have any choice.

This country is led by a "my choice not your choice" president.

Revolutionary new screen cleaner!

Studies show that most computer screen debris occurs from the inside! Click here for an incredible solution!

(H/T to John)

Obama: pro abortion, not "pro choice"

If President Obama has his way—and it looks like he will—then my "choice"—and yours, if you're pro life—will be tossed in the trash like an aborted baby.

I disapprove of murdering the unborn. And yet it looks like I will be forced to pay for it.

Since taking office, President Obama:

• Overturned the "Mexico City Policy" which required organizations accepting federal funds to refrain from promoting or performing abortions overseas. Now I'm going to have to pay for abortions overseas.

• Is "looking forward" to giving my money to the United Nations Population Fund, which promotes overseas abortions.

• Wants to continue to use my money to fund the abortion industry, while not allowing my money to help pregnancy resource organizations which help women find alternative solutions to abortion.

• Continues to oppose the Hyde Amendment, which, for now, stops Medicaid/Medicare $$$ from overseas abortions. funding abortions in most cases.

• Is expected to include abortion coverage in any national health care plan produced under his administration.

• Began the process of overturning President Bush's Provider Conscience clause, which gives the right—scratch that, reaffirms the right—of medical providers to say no to "procedures" that violate their consciences.

If this is what people call "pro choice," then somebody better buy me an updated dictionary. I can't. My dough, evidently, is tied up elsewhere...I've got abortions to pay for.

And so do you.

H/T to Gay Bauer an Daniel Allot of American Values.

Spokesmanship 101: Stonehill College

Some spokesfolk for Catholic institutions might take a lesson from Martin McGovern, spokesman for Stonehill College in Massachusetts.

Seems a student, "frustrated that her college does not distribute birth control," took it upon herself to collect a bunch of condoms and place them in student dormitories across the campus. School administrators confiscated them.

Here's what Mr. McGovern told the media:

"We're a private Catholic college. We make no secret of our religious affiliation, and our belief system is fairly straightforward. We don't expect everyone on campus to agree with our beliefs, but we would ask people, and students in particular, to respect them."

Short, sweet, and end of story.

Source: The Boston Globe

Governor Kathleen Sebelius: how can she be "pro choice" and "personally opposed" to abortion simultaneously?

I realize this "position status" is and has been one claimed by Catholics—politicians and others—umpteen times.

I realize mine is a question that has been asked umpteen times.

I have never gotten an answer that makes even a scintilla of sense to me.

While not an Einstein, I can only assume that this is because no such answer exists.

Listen, "Catholics United" and all of you who sit on both sides of the fence:

IT'S BLEEPING IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT HONESTLY!

You either honestly believe that people have the right to abort pregnancies, which translates into the deaths of human beings...or you do not believe people have the right to do so.

It is illogical in the extreme to publicly support the rights of people to choose to abort pregnancies, while, at the same time, claim to "personally oppose" that self-same right!

A couple of years ago, I heard a teenage girl say quite frankly:

"Hey, I'm for abortion!"

Believe me when I say this: I have far more respect for this girl than I do for the wafflers. At least I know where she stands.

At least she's honest.

Maryland senate committee denies pregnant women's rights

"No, you can't see your baby."

That, in essence is what the senate finance committee of Maryland told pregnant women when it beat down an act that would have allowed a woman considering abortion to view her baby's ultrasound prior to making her decision.

So much for a "woman's right to choose."

Keeping women in the dark is good for the abortion business

Please note that the Ultrasound Options Bill, sponsored by Senator Bryan Simonaire, does not require a woman to view the ultrasound. It only gives her the opportunity to do so.

But the senators would deny a woman this opportunity to view her own child.

Abortion pushers: hypocrisy in action

The National Abortion Federation's 2008 Clinical Policy Guidelines state that abortion practitioners must obtain informed consent and assess that the decision to have an abortion is made freely by the patient.

From the document paragraph entitled "Informed Consent"

Standard 1: The clinician must ensure that accurate information is provided regarding the risks, benefits, and possible complications of the abortion process.

Standard 2: There must be documentation that the patient affirms that she understands the procedure and its alternatives; the potential risks, benefits, and complications; that her decision is uncoerced; and that she is prepared to have an abortion.

Here is a way to insure that a woman is prepared to have an abortion...that she understands the procedure...that she understands what precisely she is about to do. Informed consent.

But when offered this rather obvious way to obtain informed consent, the senators balked...as did (surprise!) representatives of NARAL, Pro-Choice Maryland, Planned Parenthood, and some abortion mills who opposed the bill.

Women, wake up!

There are people out there who do not want to grant you a "choice" when it comes to abortion. They've already made your choice for you. They do not want you to have your baby. It's not your choice...it's theirs.

To deny a woman the right to see her own unborn child is more than despicable...it's intolerable and must not be tolerated.

Source: LifeNews.com

Dom and Melanie Bettinelli are expecting a boy!

Saint Gerard, pray for a safe delivery. Amen.

Much love to and prayers for Melanie, Dom, Isabella, Sophia...and Benedict Joseph!

Good news from South Carolina, praise God!

The South Carolina state House on Tuesday passed a bill that requires abortion businesses to give women a 24-hour reflection period before an abortion as soon as Wednesday. Legislators also signed off on the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act to protect babies who survive abortions.

The current waiting period is just one hour and state legislators believe 24 hours gives women considering an abortion more time to reflect on its risks and alternatives and will lower the number of abortions.

Yes, 24 times as much time!

If an ultrasound is performed, the waiting period begins after the ultrasound. If no ultrasound is performed, the waiting period begins after the woman receives written materials describing the risks of abortion and alternatives to abortion such as adoption.

This seems to be a bill with some teeth in it.

[Bill sponsor Representative Greg] Delleney says South Carolina requires a 24-hour waiting period before other actions such as obtaining a marriage license and refinancing a house, yet abortion is a life and death decision.

"If you wait 24 hours to be married and three days before you can buy a house," Delleney said. "I don't know how this is such a drastic bill to give the mother 24 hours to determine if she wants to go through with this procedure."

Amen. And as for the Born Alive Act:

...the born alive bill declares that any child who is born alive, including those who survive abortion, have the same constitutional rights as any other person.

An infant born alive “deserves the same rights as anyone else,” Representative Delleney said.

There were no attempts to weaken the bill which passed 105 to 5 and mirrors the federal bill former President Bush signed into law in 2002.

Now, on to the state senate. Pray. Thank you, and thank God.

Source: LifeNews.Com

Want to know more about Lent?

Marcel has a pretty exhaustive FAQ.

A blessed and fruitful Lenten journey to you!

Pope taps Archbishop Timothy Dolan for New York

Please pray for him, his new archdiocese, for the people of Milwaukee he has shepherded, and for his successor.

Conversion: change worth praying for

"It's not about partisan politics, party affiliations, or attention. Our mission is simple: for the church militant, to unite in prayer and sacrifice, offering up sufferings, prayers, and supplications for the conversion of Barak Obama, an end to abortion in his policies and plans, and an end to abortion in our country."

ConvertObama.com

I really hope the Alpha Bank London people can nail this guy

We all get ridiculous "offers" from scam artists, but this one made my blood boil. I sent this link to the good folk at Alpha Bank London. Here's the letter (in read) and my response.

On 2/21/09 7:24 PM, "Phil Hodkinson" wrote:


> Alpha Bank London
> 66 cannon Street
> London EC4N 6EP
> United Kingdom
>
> Dear Friend,
>
> How are you today? Hope all is well. I am in search of an agent to assist me
> in the transfer of £23,000,000.00 (Twenty Three Million Pounds Sterling) only
> in my branch that belongs to our Late Matthew L. Tallman, an American army
> who unfortunately lost his life in the helicopter crash on their mission for
> operation Iraqi Freedom on August 22, 2007.I want to transfer the money into
> your reliable bank account as the sole NEXT-OF-KIN.

Hiya, "Phil" or whatever you name is,

I *was* just fine and dandy until I opened your pitiful letter.

If this was just your normal, run of the mill scam/spam that I, along with millions of others, get every day, I would've deleted it.

But ya know Phil baby? You crossed the line here. You're using a fellow countryman of mine who gave up his life for my sake and for the sake of pathetic scam artists like you. What's more, you twit, you're insulting the man's true next of kin, including his mother, wife, and two small children.

> Nobody has shown up as his next of kin for the claim because the account is
> untraceable. Upon the investigation I carried out from his records, I found
> out that his foreign business consultant who would have trace the account died
> earlier before the deceased. Therefore, this is a confidential and sealed
> deal. You shall also help me in subsequent investments in properties in your
> country.

It ain't confidential anymore, "friend." However, I'll be happy to help you in investments in my country. For starters, I hope somebody fines you big time for using a dead hero's name for scam purposes and puts the money into a trust fund for this man's children. How's that for an investment?

> You will be required to:-
>
> (1) Assist in the transfer of the said sum
> (2) Advise on lucrative areas for investment
> (3) Assist me in purchase of properties.

If there's any justice, YOU will be required to go to jail. And I'd be happy to assist you in finding a really appropriate cell.

> For the success of this transaction, you should apply and act as the only
> existing NEXT-OF-KIN to the deceased which our bank will replace the deceased
> account information through proper documentation in position of your own
> account. This transaction is risk-free, it will never harm your good
> reputation in your society because no one can trace the account, and on the
> instant of the transfer of the fund into your account, the chapter of this
> transaction will be closed entirely.

No kidding. Sweetie, I'm not worried about MY reputation, but the bank you claim to represent might be worried about theirs. And trust me on this one: they're getting a copy of this letter.

> Note that in a business of this nature, the bank don’t want to know your
> difference between the deceased country, religion or believe because our bank
> inheritance law is against that. So, it is a preference for us to achieve this
> success without any problem. Please note down that once the fund get
> transferred into your account, you will take 40% of the total sum while the
> rest will be for me as I will arrange myself down to your country to take my
> share.

Rule #1 when trying to scam an American? Learn to write the language. It may come in handy.

> I need your urgent response and include your private telephone/mobile numbers
> for easy communication. Please reply if you can be trusted in this deal.

I can't be trusted in YOUR deal, "friend." But hey, I'm a sport. Use this number: 801 11 701 801.

> Regards,
> Dr. Phil Hodkinson

Lotsa luck,

Kelly Clark

Cloistered Passionist Nuns: amazing women!

My good friend Lisa, the Genuine GOP Mom, recently introduced me, virtually, to group of women she says "keeps her straight."

Why not pay them a visit? Here's their main site, but be sure and wander about the place, particularly the blog, gift shop, and my particular favorite, "Mother's Notebook." Have fun!

Mary, Full of Life

This beautiful website is a must-see, must-pray-with! Just keep clicking on the large image...and pray.

"Parish Family" show to air on CatholicTV starting this March

The good folks at Boston-based (but you can view it online from anywhere) CatholicTV tell us about a new show starting this March called "parishFamily." (That's the way the spell it.)

From the release:

“parishFamily” is about the culture that exists in a parish and how Catholics must work to build a bright Catholic future. Dr. Melanie Morey and Father Reed spend some time sitting in the pews and discussing the parish as the place where Catholic culture is nurtured, sustained and transmitted.

“parishFamily” is hosted by Dr. Melanie Morey and Fr. Robert Reed. Dr. Morey has worked for thirty-five years in the areas of education and administration. Her main areas of expertise are Catholic culture, leadership, institutional identity, and governance. Dr. Morey is the co-founder of Substantially Catholic Summer Seminars Integrating the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and co-author of the book, Renewing Parish Culture: Building for a Catholic Future. Fr. Robert Reed was once a Pastor of a parish and understands very well the challenges of managing a parish.

Topics discussed on the show include:

• Mass attendance
• reconciliation
• religious education of children
• the priest shortage and pastors
• lay leadership
• finances
• and politics.

I haven't seen the show, but I do belong to a parish. My questions to you:

Do you consider your parish a "family?"

If so, (or even if not), what bulleted topics above strike any kind of response in you, and why?

(The show plans to air on Mondays at 8:00 PM, Tuesdays at 11:00 AM, Wednesdays at 4:00 PM, Thursdays at 12:30 PM and 9:00 PM, Saturdays at 3:30 PM, and Sundays at 4:00 in the morning. Check your local listings or view it here.)

NOAH! :-)

Okay, so I was contemplating the beautiful Genesis account of Noah after Mass today and suddenly a sketch I heard as a little girl popped into my mind...here's a snippet with visuals.

"...no matter how small"

Pope Benedict/Nancy Pelosi meeting...anybody up for praying for the latter's change of heart?

After reading what Deal Hudson, LifeSite News, and Father Tom Euteneuer have to say about the speaker's upcoming meeting with the Pontiff, I've gotta ask: is anybody confidently praying, hoping, and/or cheering on the notion that the Vicar of Christ may just possibly guide the pro-abortion pol (and, not incidentally, child of God) into repentance?

Of course, it's extremely likely that it goes without saying that the above journalists and other Catholic bloggers are praying for just that...but I think it should go with saying.

A very wise nun told me the day after the election that she felt very strongly that this administration will result in a vast number of conversions. I believe her.

I believe God can do anything He wills...and have no doubt that He wills the conversion of Nancy Pelosi.

Oremus!

Pro-life hope? Thriving!

As I count them, George and Michele Peate give us eight solid reasons for hope that the pro-life ethic is not just surviving, but thriving! Check them out here.

When pro-lifers go wrong

Many years ago, I was "pro-choice." One reason? I truly didn't believe that an unborn child was, in fact, a child.

Another reason? I despised hearing the voices of those "on the other side" calling women who underwent abortion "murderers."

Because, when I was, oh, about 16 years old, I had an abortion myself.

This post isn't about that despicable experience—perhaps another post will be.

What shocked me into becoming a fighter for the pro-life cause, is quite simple:

I saw the body of another baby: one I'd miscarried.

He was maybe three-four months in the womb when I lost him. In the emergency room, the doctor, dispassionately but carefully pointed out his arms, legs, and head to a student nurse. Despite his tininess, he was unmistakably a child. Definitely. That was enough for me.

Today, ultrasound tells an amazing truth.

It tells anyone looking at an unborn child that this is, in fact, a living, breathing, marvelous human being. It told that truth, for example, to NARAL founder Bernard Nathanson, M.D., creator of the film "The Silent Scream" and one of this country's staunchest fighters for life.

The truth is hard to fight.

Which is why laws granting a woman contemplating abortion are allowed the opportunity to see her baby prior to making her final decision is a really good idea.

And, which is why I really don't understand why a pro-life worker, linking to this article, would post this commentary on his site:

It seems to me that we pro-lifers—and I certainly do not except myself from this—too often forget why we are engaged in this battle.

To save lives? Yes, certainly. But we're also involved in the task of helping ourselves and others achieve salvation! Abortion, indeed, in murder, and murder, indeed, is a sin. Sin separates us from God.

Therefore, it is our duty to cooperate with God's loving grace to do whatever we can to prevent it! It is not our duty or privilege to condemn others...especially others who are trying to do the same thing!

Let's try to remember that just because we're pro-life, doesn't guarantee us a one-way ticket to Heaven. We're only doing what we're expected to do.

Remember Luke 17:10: When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'

(I was moved to write this after reading this post by the Raving Theist.)

Our Lady of Lourdes, ora pro nobis!

"In honor of the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes to St. Bernadette Soubirous, this video was presented to the faithful devotees on February 11, 2008 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Retiro, Quezon City, Philippines. This is heartfully dedicated to the Mother of God and Our Mother also, MARY."

To place your petitions in the grotto at Lourdes, visit this site, and click on "Déposer une intention de prière à la Grotte."

Not a doctor but interested in performing abortions? California, there you go!

From today's WorldNet Daily:

A state senator in California is planning to start asking some hard questions after his staff uncovered a "pilot project" concealed within a gerontology program originally launched in 1973 that is being used to train nurse midwives and physicians assistants to perform "suction aspiration" surgical abortion procedures.

...

In a website commentary about his discoveries, Aanestad said it apparently was begun in 2006 without legislative oversight and involves the state and several foundations contributing financially to the "pilot program" at Planned Parenthood abortion businesses in three cities.

He said not only has the abortion-training program been concealed behind a "pregnancy care" label, state regulations have been suspended in order to allow "Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants" to do procedures for which they would not ordinarily be considered qualified.

The rationale?

Planned Parenthood mouthpiece Mitzi Sales says the project's goal is to "increase women's access to safe reproductive health care, " "integrate abortion care into current practice settings," [whatever that means] and "create more providers in a lot of the underserved areas that need them the most."

"Underserved areas" translates into Hispanic and African-American areas. As Senator Sam Aanestad writes:

At least this doublespeak is consistent with the stated goals of Planned Parenthood’s founder, Margaret Sanger: "Birth control must lead ultimately to a cleaner race." (Woman, Morality, and Birth Control, New York Publishing Company, 1922.)

"The undeniably feebleminded should indeed, not only be discouraged but prevented from propagating their kind," she wrote in 1921, the year she founded the organization that became Planned Parenthood."

In plain English? Physicians willing to abort children are getting old. Abortion-lovers are so passionate about killing that they're eager to replace them with anyone willing to pick up a vacuum and do the dirty work. And Californians are footing the bill for it.

Hope for Boston College

Eluana Englaro dies suddenly

"...and YOU my brother and sisters, to pray to the Lord our God for me."

I thank God whenever the celebrant includes the Confiteor in the Penetential Rite of the Mass. As well as confessing to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary Ever Virgin, and to all the angels and saints, we confess our sinfulness to our brothers and sisters present in this Holy Sacrifice.

And we ask the our Blessed Mother, the other saints, the angels—and our fellow worshipers—to pray for us!

It's a beautiful prayer because it unites the communion of saints with God in a humble, penitent, and most loving way.

But do we remember that this prayer is a two-way street?

While we beg "you, my brothers and sisters" to pray for us, it's important to remember that these same siblings are asking us for the same thing!

Here's what I do...maybe you know of a better way to honor this request.

After receiving Jesus in Holy Communion...after thanking Him and telling Him how much I love Him...I beg Him to hear my prayers for all those present at Mass. What a privilege it is to do this, knowing that my Jesus is so happy to grant this petition!

Flash! Abortion clinics kill babies! (More at eleven)

Atheists in snit over Obama; call for "a great fuss"

Foot-stomping rhetorical questions include:

"The nation is needing and awaiting sweeping action and reform, and we're being told to pray?"

"The national treasury is bleeding and we're being told to throw more tax dollars at religion?"

"Make a great fuss!"

"Secularists, freethinkers and those of us who are the true conservatives--who wish to conserve what is greatest about our country and its godless constitution--must make a great fuss over today's blows to the Establishment Clause."

This is just damned silly.

Yes, I know, Mr. President...but I didn't know that YOU knew!

From President Obama's talk at this morning's National Prayer Breakfast:

"There is no doubt that the very nature of faith means that some of our beliefs will never be the same. We read from different texts. We follow different edicts. We subscribe to different accounts of how we came to be here and where we are going next – and some subscribe to no faith at all.

"But no matter what we choose to believe, let us remember that there is no religion whose central tenet is hate. There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being. This much we know."

(Hat tip to First Things.)

Planned Parenthood affiliate caught on tape hiding sexual abuse...again

Video courtesy Live Action.

Synopsis: a college student entered a Planned Parenthood affiliate in Tuscon, Ariz., posing as a pregnant 15-year-old pregnant by a 27-year-old man. The tape shows a woman identified as a nurse advising the girl not to take her “boyfriend” with her when she goes for a judicial hearing to obtain an abortion without the consent of her parents.

Michael Dubruiel's last column...funeral arrangements...how you can help

Amy Welborn generously posted her husband Michael's last column. He wrote it last Monday, the night before he died. It's definitely worth the read.

Also posted are the funeral arrangements for Michael. Notifications of Masses said for the repose of Michael's soul should be sent to the funeral home, which will forward them to Amy.

Danielle Bean has set up a PayPal account for donations to Michael's family here.

Michael Dubruiel, R.I.P.

Michael Dubruiel, beloved husband of Amy Welborn, died this morning. Please pray for him and for his beautiful family.

—

Eternal rest grant unto him, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Daily Mass...if you can't make it to daily Mass

Nothing, of course, beats your actual presence at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

But if you can't make it, you can always watch the Mass every day at 9:30 AM and 7:30 PM (ET) via the Internet here, thanks to CatholicTV.com.

The recitation of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary airs here daily at 10 AM, 7 PM, and 3 AM.

"If Rodney Dangerfield had been Catholic"...

The Curt Jester rocks again!

NBC nixes ad celebrating life (and the fact that Obama wasn't aborted)

See this commercial?

You won't see it on Super Bowl Sunday. Since NBC doesn't show ads involving “political advocacy or issues.”

Funny...all this time I thought NBC and the other major news outlets liked the new president.

Source: Catholic News Agency

Abortion industry bailout...sheesh

Update: Birth control measure dropped from stimulus bill. Good.

Obama "unification" not evident during inauguration

Okay, I guess I'm done waiting for the MSM to comment on the 44th presidential inauguration, so a few words from your basic nobody.

Actually, two words: it stunk.

First, the blatant cruelty–to say nothing of tackiness— of the "worshipers."

As outgoing President George W. Bush—you remember him, he saved your butt from terrorists, saved babies from being slaughtered not just in the womb, but after they were born, yeah, that guy—made his appearance, the beautiful people booed, jeered, and cursed him. Class act, you lefties.

And let's not forget the so-called "benediction" by The Reverend Joseph Lowery.

A "benediction" is a prayer. This was no prayer. It was the words of a man using the name of the Lord to spew hatred. And bigotry. And intolerance. And racism.

When was the last time you heard an Asian referred to as a "yellow?" Or a Native American as a "red man?"

From The Reverend Joseph Lowery:

"...we ask you to help us work for that day when
black will not be asked to get in back,
when brown can stick around,
when yellow will be mellow
when the red man can get ahead, man,
and when white will embrace what is right.”

Please do not tell me that this crap is "okay" because the speaker was (a) a one-time civil rights worker, or (b) because he's a "man of the cloth" or (c) because his skin is dark. That doesn't wash.

But then again, is The Reverend Joseph Lowery to blame?

Perhaps the new President, whose "worshipers" flayed John McCain for not properly "vetting" Sarah Palin prior to choosing her as his running mate (I mean, after all, her daughter had the nerve not to have an abortion after her pre-marital pregnancy!) should have "vetted" his chosen one's choice of words in his so-called "prayer."

Of course, perhaps he did...and found the insults just fine and dandy. I mean, hey, his audience evidently did. The fools shouted "amen" after being ordered to by The Reverend Joseph Lowery.

A big step toward full communion with SSPX

Excommunications of four Society of St. Pius X bishops removed.

For more information follow the link above to Inside the Vatican.

President Obama today sentenced unborn childen in other countries to death

Judge. Jury. Executioner.

And to those"pro-lifers" who (a) thought George W. Bush was a monster, (b) equated John McCain with the last president and (c) "soothed their consciences" by directed votes from McCain by either sitting it out or voting for a third party candidate?

Sleep well.

New president seeks "middle ground" re: abortion

President Barack Obama renewed his commitment to abortions rights on Thursday, saying the nation needs to find common ground in the contentious abortion debate so "our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons."

Uh...couple o' points, Mr. Prez:

1.) If you're talking about "alive sons," i.e., the sons who are fathers of unborn babies? They generally have no rights. You've got it backward, sir. Fathers of unborn babies don't have much of a say in whether their children live. Like it or not, it's the mom's call. 'Scuse me, "choice." No, sorry, "right." However you want to spin it.

2.) If you're talking about "unborn sons," well...from what I'm hearing from you, many sons and daughters—around 50 million and counting—don't legally deserve the most basic right: to live.

Another quote to note:

Image courtesy therealpresence.org

"If people spent one hour per week in Eucharistic Adoration, abortion would be ended."

January 22 in America: a poem of hope by George Peate

On this terrible anniversary, a quote to note:

"I've noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born."

Ronald Reagan, quoted in New York Times, 22 September 1980

Inaugaration Day Commercial ran repeatedly on Black Entertainment Television in Chicago

H/T to Zenit

National Sanctity of Human Life Day, January 18: the one zillionth reason why I support, and am grateful to, George W. Bush

National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2009
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world. We also underscore our dedication to heeding this message of conscience by speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us.

The most basic duty of government is to promote the life of the innocent. My administration has been committed to building a culture of life by vigorously promoting adoption and parental notification laws, encouraging teen abstinence, and funding crisis pregnancy programs. In 2002, I was honored to sign into law the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which extends legal protection to children who survive an abortion attempt. I signed legislation in 2003 to ban the cruel practice of partial-birth abortion, and that law represents our commitment to building a culture of life in America. Also, I was proud to sign the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004, which allows authorities to charge a person who causes death or injury to a child in the womb with a separate offense in addition to any charges relating to the mother.

America is a caring Nation, and our values should guide us as we harness the gifts of science. In our zeal for new treatments and cures, we must never abandon our fundamental morals. We can achieve the great breakthroughs we all seek with reverence for the gift of life.

The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and women. On this day and throughout the year, we aspire to build a society in which every child is welcome in life and protected in law. We also encourage more of our fellow Americans to join our just and noble cause. History tells us that with a cause rooted in our deepest principles and appealing to the best instincts of our citizens, we will prevail.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 18, 2009, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize this day with appropriate ceremonies and to underscore our commitment to respecting and protecting the life and dignity of every human being.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Source: The White House

Airplane crash lands into Hudson River; all 155 people safe...and CNN prays!

155 people were rescued—all passengers and crew—from US Airways Flight 1549 after it crashed into the Hudson River shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport.

I can't find the exact footage, but while covering the crash, at least one CNN news reporter was heard to ask for prayers for the people on board the plane.

God is good!

Praying politics: are we missing Someone here?

Rick Warren. Gene Robinson. Joseph E. Lowery. Sharon E. Watkins. Anybody else newsworthy about all this talk of prayer?

Joe Scheidler: Pro-live movement to be "revitalized by this Administration"

Good interview by LifeSight News.

Helping Haitians help themselves one life at a time

In 1968, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart answered a call to help the people of Milot, Haiti improve conditions in their village and the surrounding region. They began by building roads, bridges, schools medical clinics, a tile factory, and a lumber mill. They brought electricity and clean water to the area, and in 1986, built an eight-bed hospital and operating room. They called it Hôpital Sacré Coeur, and it has been helping to change lives for the better, one life at a time, ever since.

Rooted in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, the hospital's mission is to be both a Catholic hospital and medical center, consistent with the ideals of the Order of Malta, and an educational center for Haitian health care workers.

Care is free to patients who cannot afford it, yet patients who can afford to contribute financially are asked to do so. “We are not on a rescue mission, says hospital spokesman Dr. Joani Paterson. We want to help the Haitian people help themselves.”

Hospital president Peter J. Kelly, M.D. (no relation!) will talk about this extraordinary apostolate on CatholicTV's live talk show "This is the Day" on Tuesday, January 13, at 10:30 AM Eastern Time. The show will be available on the site's archives beginning tomorrow night.

Father John Neuhaus, R.I.P.

Photo courtesy catholiceducation.org

Father Neuhaus publicly announced his battle with cancer at the end of his First Things column on Dec. 5. He wrote: "I cannot begin to respond to the deluge of assurances of prayer and concern about my health. Please be assured that I am grateful and count mightily on being remembered by you before the Throne of Grace. Or, as Catholics are wont to say, on your storming the gates of heaven.

Please storm the gates for Father Neuhaus!

Source: Zenit

"The Future Depends on Love": new Catholic TV show

If you're concerned about morality messages propagated by mainstream television and other media, you (and your kids) might want to tune in, or check out online, a new effort by Boston's CatholicTV.

Hosted by David and Angela Franks, professors at Boston's Saint John's Seminary, "The Future Depends on Love" covers topics such as natural family planning versus artificial birth control, chastity, marriage as a vocation, Theology of the Body, sex, love, and more.

Guests run the range from clerics like Sean Cardinal O'Malley and other bishops, to athletes like former Giants Super Bowl champ Chris Godfrey, and college students.

The show is viewable each week on Mondays (5:30 PM), Tuesdays (1:30 PM), Wednesdays (3:30 AM), Thursdays (11:30 AM and 8:00 PM), and Sundays (3:30 PM). Check it out on television or watch it online at these times by going to the CatholicTV website. It's free! You can also watch full-screen, archived episodes of the show at this site anytime.

(All times are Eastern Standard.)

Pastoral silence, pastoral "cover," and how "abortion rights" became Kennedy dogma

Fascinating and horrific article by Anne Hendershott in the Wall Street Journal on how priests helped the Kennedy clan turn into abortion pushers.

H/T to Patrick Madrid

What's the difference between an "atheist" and an "anti-theist?"

Well, the first answer is that the first word is in the dictionary, and the second one isn't. At least not in mine.

But if the second word did exist, it would more aptly describe the "atheists" I've come into contact with recently...it isn't as if they simply do not believe in the existence of God, or gods...they dislike, and are actually antagonistic to God, or gods. They are against God.

This confuses me.

I mean, it's like the difference between an "amoral" person and an 'immoral" one. In the first case, the person simply doesn't care about morality one way or the other. In the second, however, the person understands morality, but acts contrarily toward it. See what I mean?

I guess my question is this:

Why on earth do "atheists" really give a bleep if so-and-so believes in God, or gods? By definition, it should make no never mind to them, one way or another.

'Course, I'm looking at this from the perspective of one who has read what atheists have written. It could be that those who claim to be "atheists" really aren't...and in fact simply can't stand God or those who believe in God, for reasons of their own. And that true atheists really and truly don't care.

If that's the case, though...wouldn't you think that the former might consider calling themselves something other than "atheists?" Because, you know, it just doesn't seem very honest of them...God love 'em.

Alleluia! The Raving Atheist dropped the "a!"

Putting it simply but eloquently...

P.S. For an idea on what can happen to converts, you might want to check out some of the comments on the above-linked post. Be not afraid!

H/T to Jeff Miller

FREE Epiphany Card! (Just ask!)

If you'd like to give friends and family something lovely this Epiphany Sunday, just ask. Use the "email Kelly" button on the left (please don't change the subject line) and I'll send you a printable Epiphany card in printable .PDF format.

Graced with the antiphon from Epiphany Vespers and designed by my good friend Alden Thatcher, all you need to do is print as many copies as you like (it's full color), fold it twice and give it to your loved ones.

It's my gift to you...thank you for being so good to me!

P.S. For those of you who got last year's card, this one's the same one.

Anybody else hear an "apology" for Colossians 3:18 today?

In an otherwise excellent homily, I, once again, heard the "things-were-different-in-those-days" mention regarding the passage in Colossians 3:18. I wish homilists would either skip any reference to this, or, preferably, take a leaf out of Father Ray Ryland's book whose Holy Family Sunday homily of last year is here...and well worth the read.

(Again, the homily I heard today was terrific except for that unnecessary "explanation.")

Adopt a soul! (It's easy, and the rewards are out of this world!)

It's time to adopt a soul! The idea is simple:

Take upon yourself some responsibility of getting a soul out of Purgatory and into Heaven.

Here's how it works:

Of course I know you pray for those souls you've known and perhaps even loved...kin, kith, and so on. But what makes this plan unique is simply this:

You don't know this person from Adam! You find a soul, unknown to you, and pray for him or her every day...it's that easy!

"Hey, Kelly...how do I go about finding this soul?"

Again, it's simple. Here are just three ways...I know you can think of more.

• Look around your parish church. Chances are, there are windows, fonts, or other pieces dedicated to the memory of somebody you don't know. Grab one (the soul, not the object) and make this person your own. Pray for him or her every day.

• Take a stroll through a cemetery. Look for the most unkempt stone you can find and make that person your own, and remember him or her in your daily prayers.

• Open your newspaper on any given day of the week and I can pretty much guarantee you'll find someone who's died, and I'm not even talking about the obits! Sometimes—most of the time—these stories are pretty depressing. Don't let them be. Adopt one of these souls and work to get him or her into Heaven.

"But what if this soul is already in Heaven?"

Uh...that would be the last thing you have to worry about. And besides, God knows what He's doing. I promise you that your prayers—that no prayer—will ever go to waste.

Adopting a soul...a great way to make an everlasting friend.

On the Feast of Stephen...

From the peace of Christmas Day to the violence of Saint Stephen's martyrdom may seem like quite an abrupt leap...but it is actually a logical follow-up.

Like Jesus, Stephen died praying for his persecutors. As Saint Augustine wrote: "If Stephen had not prayed to God, the Church would not have had Paul." ("Sermons," 315, 7)

Let all mortal flesh keep silence...

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph;
cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
"Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!"

Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Prince of Peace!

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government
shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)