Catholic Fire

Rick at De Civitate Dei has several interesting posts today -- all Catholic, pro-family, and pro-life. Amy Welborn at Open Book has blogged today on No Mass at the the events center in Phoenix, Arizona, where a Planned Parenthood event had been held. Lots of interesting comments and remarks there. Julie at Happy Catholic has a novena, which begins today, posted for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Here is the link. Non Sum Dignus has some great quotes in The Quotable Chesterton .

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As the number of people affected by HIV/AIDS continues to rise, Pope Benedict XVI urged the world to persevere in its fight against the disease and offer needed assistance to those hit by the virus. On the eve of the Dec. 1 World AIDS Day, the pope made the special appeal at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. The U.N.-sponsored day "aims to draw attention to the scourge of AIDS and invite the international community to a renewed commitment in the field of prevention and supportive assistance for those" affected by the virus, said the pope. Approximately 40 million people live with HIV, and nearly 5 million people were infected by the virus in 2004 alone, according to figures released by UNAIDS, the joint U.N. program on HIV/AIDS. More than 3 million people died last year because of AIDS, it said. Calling the latest statistics alarming, the pope expressed his solidarity with those suffering from AIDS and their families. He ...

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (CNA) – In response to a growing priest shortage in his diocese, Belleville Bishop Edward Braxton has announced that lay ministers may preside at Sunday liturgical celebrations in certain cases of emergency, where there is no priest. The “celebrations,” which are not Mass, follow norms established by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1994 based on Vatican directives. Bishop Braxton stressed that laity could only perform the celebrations in cases of absolute last resort and only with a written mandate from him. Special instruction will be offered to those who wish to hold the responsibility, which includes a prayer service and distribution of communion. In a letter to the diocese, the bishop cited John Paul II who wrote that, “the church draws her life from the Eucharist,” and so pointed out that the church “has a special pastoral concern for those who cannot attend Sunday Mass because a priest is not available.” He wrote that “the norms that I am promulgating ...

ROME (AP) - Krakow's Roman Catholic archbishop spoke Tuesday of a possible miracle performed by Pope John Paul II in France that a church tribunal will focus on as the Vatican pursues its case for beatification. Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, who was personal secretary to John Paul, told reporters in Rome that ``there are no problems with miracles because there are many, but they have picked one because they don't need more.'' Pressed further, Dziwisz added: ``Maybe this I can say: they have picked (one in) France.'' The Vatican needs proof of a miracle before it can proclaim John Paul eligible for sainthood, and a church tribunal from the archdiocese of Krakow, Poland, has been gathering evidence from witnesses. Dziwisz said the process was ``proceeding very well'' and could be over as soon as March, the ANSA news agency reported. ``There are many testimonies, we must choose the most accurate ones to show the personality of John Paul II,'' Dziwis...

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself Never to be silent, Never to be passive, Never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, And never to stop defending life Until all my brothers and sisters are protected, And our nation once again becomes A nation with liberty and justice Not just for some, but for all. Through Christ our Lord. Amen! ~ Priests for Life

Fidei Defensor reports on a recent email he received from Catholic League regarding anti-Catholicism in a recent Comedy Central Show. Some of the most vile aspects of this Dennis Leary Christmas Special (MERRY F#%$IN CHRISTMAS) include the following: "There is a skit about lesbian nuns, and a song by “Our Lady of Perpetual Suffering Church Choir” about a hooker. But by far the most offensive part of the show is the monologue by Denis Leary on the origins of Christmas. Here is part of what he says:“Merry Christmas. Tonight we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, whose mom, Mary, just happens to be a virgin—even after she apparently gave birth to Jesus. At least that is what the Catholic Church would have you believe. “Tom Cruise is taking a lot of s--- for belonging to a religion, Scientology, that believes aliens came to this planet 75 million years ago. That is nothing. I was raised Catholic. We believe Mary was a virgin and Jesus ended up walking on water, creating a bottoml...

St. Andrew was born at Bethsaida in Galilee. He became one of the first to follow Jesus and introduced his brother, Simon Peter, to him. Both were fishermen and at the beginning of Our Lord's public life occupied the same house at Capharnaum. As one of the twelve apostles, Andrew was very close to Our Lord during His public life; he was present at the Last Supper; beheld the risen Lord; witnessed the Ascension; shared in the graces and gifts of the first Pentecost, and helped, amid threats and persecution, to establish the Faith in Palestine. He was crucified by order of the Roman Governor, Aegeas at Patrae in Achaia, and was bound, not nailed, to the cross, in order to prolong his sufferings. He was martyred during the reign of Nero, on November 30, 60 A.D. St. Andrew's relics were transferred from Patrae to Constantinople, and deposited in the church of the Apostles there, about 357 A.D. When Constantinople was taken by the French, in the beginning of the thirteenth century, ...

A man and his wife are sitting in the living room and he says to her: "Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state dependent on some machine. If that ever happens, just pull the plug." His wife gets up and unplugs the TV. Via laodicea .

I just found this post over at De Civitate Dei . Vatican, Nov. 29 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) has declared a plenary indulgence for Catholics who honor the Virgin Mary on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8.In a November 29 announcement, the Vatican said that Pope Benedict has declared the indulgence to mark the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council. The announcement indicates that the Pope "when he renders public homage of praise to Mary Immaculate, has the heartfelt desire that the entire Church should join with him, so that all the faithful, united in the name of the common Mother, become ever stronger in the faith, adhere with greater devotion to Christ, and love their brothers with more fervent charity." Get the details I am really happy to hear this because December 8th is the 30th anniversary of my Community -- the Community of St. John -- and it is also the anniversary of my formal re-consecration to the Bl...

Today is a special feast day for the Franciscans. It is the feast of all the Saints of the Seraphic Order. St. Francis of Assisi prayed this simple prayer, "O Lord Jesus Christ, two favors I beg of you before I die. The first is that I may, as far as it is possible, feel in my soul and in my body the suffering in which you, O gentle Jesus, sustained in your bitter passion. And the second favor is that I, as far as it is possible, may receive in my heart that excessive charity by which you, the Son of God, were inflamed, and which actuated you willingly to suffer so much for us sinners." Our Lord answered his prayer by appearing to him in the form of a seraph, a six-winged angel of love. As he knelt in the ecstasy, Christ imprinted the wounds of His person in the flesh of St. Francis. At once, in his hands and feet marks like nails began to appear; and, in his left side the image of a lance-thrust appeared, red and bleeding. St. Francis had been marked with the love of Christ-...

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Dr. William F. Harrison has forgotten how many children the woman had. He remembers she was poor and, most vividly, he remembers her response when a physician diagnosed her distended stomach as pregnancy. "Oh, God, doctor," the woman said. "I was hoping it was cancer." This was in 1967. Harrison was a medical student and his wife was expecting their third child. It had never occurred to him that a woman would be anything but happy to learn she was pregnant. The next year, he trained on a maternity ward. In a 24-hour shift, it was not unusual, he said, for four or five women to come in feverish or hemorrhaging from botched abortions. Harrison opened an obstetrics and gynecology practice, but after the Supreme Court established abortion as a constitutional right in 1973, he decided to take on an additional specialty. Now 70, Harrison estimates he's terminated at least 20,000 pregnancies . His clinic has not been picketed for years, but Harriso...

After reading Jill Stanek's post about the suspension of four Illinois pharmacists without pay November 28 for refusing to dispense the morning after pill, I am fired up! The Holy Spirit has set me on fire to pray and fast for the conversion of Gov. Rod Blagojevich and for an end to this madness. Will you join me? "All things are possible with God" and I believe that this is the strongest action I personally can take at this time. If there is something else that the Lord wants me to do, I pray that He guides my mind, body, and heart and gives me the wisdom, courage, and strength to do it. As Jill reports, "Earlier this year, Gov. Rod Blagojevich, during a fit of legislative fiatitis, issued an executive order mandating that IL pharmacists dole out these sometimes abortion-causing pills whether or not they had moral or religious misgivings." You don't have to be an attorney to know that is a violation of their civil rights. I am no longer a resident of IL,...

For Jon Voight , the actor who shot to fame 36 years ago as an aspiring gigolo in “Midnight Cowboy,” playing Pope John Paul II was like a personal coming home. “I’ve gone through a lot of stuff in my life,” Voight said in a recent telephone interview, adding that as he has grown older he has developed a greater sense of “God’s importance in our lives.” The 66-year-old Oscar-winner plays the late pope in a two-part CBS mini-series to be aired on December 4th and 7th on CBS. Voight, who won an Oscar for best actor playing a handicapped Vietnam War veteran in the 1978 film “Coming Home,” said his Catholic upbringing helped him prepare for his role as John Paul. “I had a wonderful time doing the pope, maybe because I understood more than most what he was since I had a Catholic background,” he said. “I was not intimidated to take this role because I did not have to go to school from scratch to be comfortable with the surroundings of the Church. I’d been there before.” Voight said he could ...

ROME (CNS) -- A Brazilian pop singer has been dropped from the Vatican's annual Christmas concert because church officials feared she would use the occasion to promote the use of condoms. Daniela Mercury was invited to sing in the Vatican's audience hall Dec. 3, in a program to be taped and aired in Italy Dec. 24. The performers were expected to meet with Pope Benedict XVI. [Entire Story]

Our prayers for religious vocations (particularly in Europe) are being answered. 550 women in Rome chose to enter the cloister this year. Praise the Lord! More praying nuns in the cloisters means more conversions.

Via In Toon With the World .

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday this week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. Although the case centers around a New Hampshire law that requires parental notification before a minor child obtains an abortion, the broader legal issue could either open the floodgates or slam the door on future challenges to abortion laws. Continue reading "Chief Justice Roberts to Hear First Abortion Related Case" Via Tim at Pro-life Blogs.

The weekend edition of the London Times carries a report on the latest British medical scandal: that up to 50 babies survive botched abortions every year in Britain. Doctors are increasingly uneasy about aborting babies who could be born alive. “If viability is the basis on which they set the 24-week limit for abortion, then the simplest answer is to change the law and reduce the upper limit to 18 weeks,” said Campbell, who last year published a book showing images of foetuses’ facial expressions and “walking” movements taken with a form of 3-D ultrasound. “If a baby is born alive following a failed abortion and then dies (because of lack of care), you could potentially be charged with murder,” said Shantala Vadeyar, a consultant obstetrician at South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, who led the study. Such kind, compassionate men these "doctors" are. What do they think they're doing to begin with? Now their hands are caught in the cookie jar and there might be...

Life Decisions International (LDI) will release a revised edition of The Boycott List on Thursday, December 1, 2005. The List identifies corporations that are boycott targets due to their support of Planned Parenthood, the world's primary abortion-advocacy group. "So far, as a direct result of the commitment, action and prayers of pro-family people, a minimum of 122 corporations have agreed to stop funding the abortion-committing goliath," said Thomas Strobhar, chairman of LDI's Board of Directors. It is estimated that the boycott has cost Planned Parenthood more than $35 million since the Corporate Funding Project (CFP) began nearly 14 years ago. "This should be a testament to those who believe it is impossible to change corporate philanthropic behavior." Corporations slated to appear on The Boycott List for the first time include: AIG (financial/insurance), Altria (Phillip Morris, Nabisco, and Kraft products, Post cereals, etc.), Circuit City (retail elect...

Christ the Lord, Son of the living God, light from light, will lead us into the light of his justice. Trusting in Him, we pray:- Come, Lord Jesus. Inexhaustible light, dawning to remove the shadows that surround us, wake our faith from its slumber. Let us walk safely all the day happy in the brightness of your presence. Teach us to serve you perfectly so that all men may see it, and know. Come to create a new Earth for us where justice and peace may reign. ~ Taken From the Morning Prayer, Liturgy of the Hours Dear Jesus, help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Thy spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine. Shine through me, and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus! Stay with me, and then I shall begin to shine as Thou shinest, so to shine as to be a light to others; the light, O Jesus, wi...

1. Split a large combination pizza with thirty friends. 2. Replace the gourmet fudge and truffles in candy dishes with paper clips. 3. Substitue carrot and celery sticks as in between meal snacks for cherry cheesecake slices. 4. When you go out to eat, order a side salad and eat half; save the leftovers for another meal. Croutons make an excellent dessert. 5. Talk and sing incessantly at parties and social gatherings. The more you move your mouth for these activities, the less energy you will have for chewing. Also, you can't eat and talk or sing at the same time. 6. Bring two cookies into the TV room instead of a box. Give the rest of the box to your kids or your spouse. 7. Prepare your smoothie with skim milk instead of Hagen Daas.

"I ask you all to prepare for Advent with spiritual fervor, drawing from the word of God and the Eucharist interior energy for welcoming the Lord who comes." " Advent is a special time to train ourselves in vigilance as preparation for our Christmas encounter with Christ, who has shown himself to be king and lord in the glory of heaven." "Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church’s year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.…" "It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope." ~ Pope Benedict XVI "Advent is a time of fervent hope. Bu...

Most merciful Father, this Advent I desire to rededicate myself to the pursuit of holiness. May I live these days of grace united with the Blessed Virgin Mary in loving awareness of the presence of the One who changes us -- Jesus your Son. In my vigiliant expectation of Christ's coming, make me especially attentive to the wisdom of Sacred Scripture proclaimed in the liturgies of this holy season. May this blessed time of preparation be for me an occasion of conversion and spiritual rebirth. May each moment of my Advent bring me closer to You in faith, hope, and love through Emmanuel -- Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

President Clinton died and knocked at the Pearly Gates. "Who goes there?" inquired St. Peter. "It's me, Bill Clinton". "What bad things did you do on earth?" Clinton thought a bit and answered, "Well, I smoked marijuana, but you shouldn't hold that against me because I didn't inhale. And I lied, but I didn't commit perjury." After several moments of deliberation St. Peter replied, "OK, here's the deal. We'll send you someplace where it is very hot, but we won't call it 'Hell.' You'll be there for an indefinite period of time, but we won't call it 'eternity.' And don't 'abandon all hope' upon entering, just don't hold your breath waiting for it to freeze over."

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has an interactive Advent Calendar up at their website. For each day, there is either a Scripture passage or an action suggestion.

NEW YORK -- The recent flurry of publicity surrounding the Ortho Evra contraceptive patch has resulted in some doctors refusing to prescribe the deadly drug. The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that some doctors do not want to take chances after the manufacturer began including warnings of fatalities and stroke related to the patch. Lee Shulman, incoming board chair of the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals and a consultant to Ortho-McNeil, said the company expected a "decrease in use" of the patch. Via Pro-life News Check out After Abortion's article "It was only a matter of time. ORTHO EVRA® ALERT" for further discussion and comments. I thank God that someone is coming their senses before it is too late. Like Annie, at After Abortion , if I was one of those duped and who'd suffered from these effects of this Patch, I, too, would probably be giving at least a local law firm a call to discuss my options. Or at least, I'd hope my surv...

A 14 year old has died from using the birth control patch . How could such a tragedy occur? As Peter from marchTogether.com mentions in his article, Her Life is Done , Ortho Evra makes birth control products which guarantee death and other life complications for women who take their products, yet they are allowed to continue selling them anyway. I know someone within my extended family who was young, healthy, and energetic in her early twenties who used this patch; within a short period of time she developed a huge tumor located close to her heart as a result of using the patch and had to undergo major surgery to have it removed. She still has reduced strength in the arm and in the muscles on that side of her body and the surgery took place several years ago. Just because a drug is legal and approved by the FDA does not mean it is safe to use. Many physicians prescribe drugs without explaining the dangers of using them or the adverse consequences to the patient -- physically, emotiona...

Advent reminds us that God took flesh in Jesus Christ through Mary's "Yes" and He came to live among us as one of us on this earth. He was like us in all ways but for one -- He was without sin. He dealt with the sinfulness of the people He encountered in the marketplace -- the hypocrisy and judgmental nature of the Pharisees, the adulterous behavior of Mary Magdalene and those who wanted her stoned for her sins, while they most likely were the ones who were her accomplices in serious sin. Like us, He dealt with people who refused to believe the truth when it hit them in the face. And what did He do to convert them? He continued to speak the truth to them and above all, He loved them. Can we do the same? Can we love fallen away Catholics like John Kerry, Senator Durbin, and Senator Ted Kennedy enough to pray for them daily? Can we love them enough to do penance for them? Our Lord died for them. Let us unite our prayers and sacrifices with His this Advent as we prepare for ...

In the article Que Sera Sera I discussed the need for Christians and Christian churches to have and set moral standards on abortion. The Catholic Church established guidelines which do exactly that. The American Life League posted the guidelines at http://www.all.org/hp5.htm . Titled "Catholic Leadership Conference Statement on political action", moral guidelines are presented. The topic of abortion is addressed with the following statements: # The first obligation of government is the protection of innocent human life from conception[2] to natural death. The Church teaches that justice requires this protection. This truth can also be known through reason unaided by revelation. On the specific "life issues" in law and public policy – direct abortion[3], euthanasia, and the killing of unborn life for medical research, Catholic teaching is unequivocal; the defense of innocent human life is an imperative. # Catholic voters must first make decisions about their votes ...

Pope Benedict XVI paid a visit to Rome's Sacred Heart Catholic University on Friday to address students on the occasion of the beginning of the academic year. The Pope, knowing the devastation to the faith of millions of Catholic students which has taken place in Catholic universities, asked pointedly of students at Catholic Universities "How do they leave? What culture did they find, assimilate, develop?" Even if young people survive with their faith intact until university or college age, statistics show they will lose their faith in so-called Catholic higher education. A large study which gained massive attention in 2003 found that by the time they graduate, students at many Catholic colleges are significantly more opposed to Church teachings, pray less, and are in many ways less religious than when they were freshmen. The study, based on annual surveys by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute (HERI), surveyed students at 38 Catholic colleges finding that: · W...

You are Woodstock! Which Peanuts Character are You? brought to you by Quizilla . I had to take this quiz -- I love Charlie Brown. Via Emergent PDX .

You are a Social Conservative (31% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (33% permissive) You are best described as a: Totalitarian Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test I learned from taking this that Pope John Paul II and I are one in our way of thinking, which is good to know. Via EgOshAkE

This is a first . I have never heard a priest or bishop speak to their congregation about the dangers of embryonic stem cell research from the pulpit and, believe me, it was and still is a major issue, facing the people in IL. It makes one wonder what their afraid of -- if it's losing their congregation -- then it's too late, they have already lost them. If it's losing the money to pay for their churches, what good are the churches, if the truth is not spoken in them? I am proud of these bishops in Missouri who have decided to speak out about the evils of embryonic stem cell research and are encouraging their parishioners to become involved in this issue. I pray that other Catholic clergy throughout the world will emulate them.

This is the classic tale of love and misunderstanding, which unfolds in class-conscious England near the end of the 18th century. The five Bennet sisters – Elizabeth, or Lizzie, Jane, Lydia, Mary, and Kitty – have been raised well aware of their mother’s obsession with finding them all husbands, thus, securing their futures. The feisty and intelligent Elizabeth, however, strives to live her life in a more independent manner, as encouraged by her father. When wealthy bachelor Mr. Bingley takes up residence in a nearby mansion, the Bennets are in a flurry of excitement over the new, prospective mate for one of the girls. Eldest daughter Jane, quiet, poised, and beautiful, is intent on winning Mr. Bingley’s heart. Bingley has come to town with his wealthy friend, Mr. Darcy, a tall, handsome young man, who encounters second-eldest daughter Elizabeth at a ball, and the first meeting, has Darcy refusing an invitation to dance with Lizzie. From then on, there are many misunderstandings betwee...

How can I think of food at a time like this? It's Simple. I ate sensibly this Thanksgiving and didn't gorge myself. I only had one serving of turkey, cranberries, candied yams, broccoli, green beans and about two tablespoons of stuffing. I had to save room for dessert -- black forest cake and pumpkin pie. Then, at the movies I only had a few handfuls of popcorn with my rootbeer. Anyway, there is a wonderful recipe for Roast Lamb with Port Wine Sauce at Speculative Catholic . I love lamb and it is one of the best foods for building up your immune system due to the amount of zinc in it. Zinc is critical not only to immune function, but for wound healing, and normal cell division. Zinc also helps stabilize blood sugar levels and the body's metabolic rate, and is necessary for an optimal sense of smell and taste. As far as the nutritional value of the port goes, highly publicized studies of the French, particularly in Lyons, claim that a moderate consumption of red wine might...

Saint Bonaventure is praying for you! To learn more about this eloquent saint go to the Patron Saint Index at http://www.catholic-forum.com Which Saint Would You Be? brought to you by Quizilla What can I say? It's Thanksgiving and I'm on a quiz frenzy -- I'm just not into football. This is a lot more fun. Find out more about St. Bonaventure here and here . A Seraphic Doctor of the Church (because he revealed a certain warmth toward others as a divine fire), a friend of St. Thomas Aquinas, a restorer of perfect calm and peace within his order, filled with the virtue of charity, possessing a strong devotion to Our Blessed Virgin Mary (He describes Mary as the Mirror of God through which we see Jesus.), and a love for the Eucharist -- not too shabby. I'll assume his identity -- better yet, he is someone I can emulate and ask his intercession for assistance in my own feeble attempts to be holy and to abandon my will to the will of God. Prayer of St. Bonaventure Pierce, O m...

Your Eyes Should Be Gray Your eyes reflect: Intensity and drive What's hidden behind your eyes: A sensitive soul What Color Should Your Eyes Be?

You Are The Stuffing You're complicated and complex, yet all your pieces fit together. People miss you if you're gone - but they're not sure why. What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

Funky Dung has an excellent post entitled "Shut up and Fill the Prescription" which was written by a good friend of the blog host, a licensed pharmacist and a committed Catholic, who addresses the issue of refusing to dispense oral contraceptives. Here are some excerpts from that post. The groups that are pushing for pharmacists like me to "shut up and fill the prescription" argue that no matter what I believe about birth control, the decision occurs between a woman and her physician and I should not push my "morality" into the situation. I should not councel any patient about how this drug works (by the way, when was the last time your doctor told you how any drug works?) so that she can reconsider her decision, I should not warn her that birth control has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer or can cause life-threatening thromboembolic events (blood clots) including stroke, I should not tell her about other side effects such as peripheral e...

I have found some real life inspirational stories for Thanksgiving that I hope will lift your spirits.. Here is one about some Catholic students in Garnerville, New York who are learning lessons of charity this holiday season. I liked this one about the teenager who is suffering from a rare form of cancer and is getting a break from his chemotherapy to come home to Newark, Ohio to be with family and friends at his Catholic high school. The last story is about a family in Salina, KS who are thankful for their adoptive son. Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgving ! This Thanksgving Day I will be thanking God for the blessing each one of you has been to me. God bless you! Jean

Pro-Life Group to Picket American Girl Place in Chicago The Pro-Life Action League will lead a picket by parents and their daughters at American Girl Place in Chicago on Friday, November 25, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, in protest of American Girl's ties to the pro-abortion advocacy group, Girls Incorporated. "The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year," said League Executive Director Ann Scheidler. "Our picket will reach thousands of shoppers on Chicago's Magnificent Mile with the unfortunate news that American Girl is funding Girls Inc., a group that strongly advocates abortion." Continue reading "Pro-Life Group to Picket American Girl Place in Chicago" Source: Pro-life Action League Press Release.

You are most gullible when it comes to SATIRICAL NOVELS and similar literature. The good news is that you're one of the smart few who don't swallow obvious smears and who actually know a bit of history. The bad news is that even though it may take a genius to pull the wool over your eyes, your eyes can still be fooled. Just remember that even the most intelligent satire ever written is only one argument in the debate. It is also often an argument more convincing for its rhetoric or artistry than for its substance, regardless of the quality of the substance. The first rule, therefore, is to make sure you have separated the satire's points from its spin; while the second rule is to hear out both sides before you decide which has won the debate. How gullible are you? What kind of anti-Catholic novel would be most likely to reel you in? brought to you by Quizilla Via Sancta Sanctis .

St. Augustine- Born a Roman in a fading Empire, Augustine spent his life trying to figure out what it was all about. He asked questions and investigated many possibilities but in the middle of his life he was called by God and became a Christian. He was a powerful thinker about varied moral and metaphysical issues. Augustine is the kind of philosopher you might turn to in a time of doubt for comfort and help. Which Philosopher are you? brought to you by Quizililla Via Sancta Santis.

Julie D. tagged me with this meme. The idea is to find your birthday verse in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. My birthday verse is 8:8 for August 8. Matthew 8:8 The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." Mark 8:8 They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over -- seven baskets. Luke 8:8 And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold. John 8:8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. Matthew and Luke are my favorites here. I will tag Speculative Catholic Catholic Pillow Fight Sancta Sanctis You're it!

By Jill Stanek State and local pro-life organizations form the political and educational nucleus of our movement. The importance of these groups cannot be overstated. Our one strength with politicians is our grassroots. Our one way around liberals and the mainstream press is by direct education. In my opinion, the foremost state pro-life organization is Right to Life of Michigan. I give thanks for this group today and want to spotlight its inner workings to assist other groups. One proof of RTL's success is the state's abortion statistics . In 2004, Michigan reported 26,269 abortions, a 46.5 percent decrease from a high in 1987 of 49,098. In addition, Michigan enjoys pro-life majorities in both its state house and senate political parties. But what I think sets RTL apart is its generous outreach to other states, from hosting pro-life events such as the recent Urban Outreach Seminar to offering its top-notch pro-life TV commercials to outside groups. Organizational scope RTL ha...

Miguel Augstin Pro was born January 13, 1891, in Mexico. From his childhood, he was known for his high spirits and happy personality. The son of an affluent mining engineer and a pious and charitable mother, Miguel had a special affinity for the working classes. At 20, he became a Jesuit novice and shortly afterwards was exiled due to the Mexican revolution. He traveled to the United States, Spain, Nicaragua and Belgium, where he was ordained in 1925. Father Pro suffered greatly from a severe stomach disorder. When his health did not improve after several surgeries, his superiors permitted him to return to Mexico in 1926. At this time, the revolutionary government in Mexico had banned all religious practice. The churches were closed and priests were in hiding. The government was particularly focused on finding and persecuting priests. Father Pro became a great master of disguise and spent the remainder of his life in a secret ministry to the Mexican Catholics who helped hide him from t...

Telling Some Stories Delivering a speech at a banquet on the night of his arrival in a large city, a visiting priest told several anecdotes he expected to repeat at meetings the next day. Because he wanted to use the jokes again, he requested the reporters to omit them from any accounts they might turn in to their newspapers. A cub reporter, in commenting on the speech, ended his piece with the following: "The priest told a number of stories that cannot be published."

Fr. Frank Pavone National Director, Priests for Life (Click here for Spanish Version) “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:38-40). To minister in the Lord’s vineyard is a privilege, and we are used to hearing that the vineyard belongs to him. It is his work, his people, his Church, and his “turf.” But, of course, that means that it isn’t ours, and sometimes we forget that. We like to “own” our work, and are all too ready to “defend our turf” against those who, in our view, are intruding upon it. This all too common tendency of fallen human nature is evident in the Scripture quoted above. John and the other apostles tried to stop someone from casting out demons. Why on earth did they do that? Isn’t casting out demons a good thing, and d...