Catholic Fire

The government is considering allowing over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill, but only to women 18 and older . The surprise move Monday revives efforts to widen access to the emergency contraceptive almost a year after it was thought doomed.The Food and Drug Administration notified manufacturer Barr Laboratories Inc. early Monday that it wanted to meet within seven days to iron out new steps the company must take in its three-year battle to sell the (abortifacient) pill, called Plan B, without a prescription to at least some women.

Via A Catholic Life: I received this information from the Catholic Community Forum as well as the Divine Mercy Podcast :August 2nd is the feast of Portiuncula. A plenary indulgence is available to anyone who will: 1. Receive sacramental confession. 2. Receive the Holy Eucharist. 3. Enter a parish church and, with a contrite heart, pray the Our Father, Apostles Creed, and a prayer of his/her own choosing for the intentions of the Pope. Confession should be within 8 days before or after the feast day and Holy Communion as close to the day as is possible. Please tell every Catholic person you know that remission of the punishment for all sins committed from the day of baptism to the reception of the indulgence is available. If you want to read more about the feast of Portiuncula, please visit this website: Catholic Under the Hood .

Grand Jury fails to issue indictments in late-term abortion death of Texas teen. Wichita, KS - Jul 31, 2006 Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston has issued a statement indicating that the Grand Jury and concluded its work and failed to indict abortionist George R. Tiller on charges related to the third- trimester abortion death of Christin Gilbert, who died after Tiller aborted her in January, 2005. Operation Rescue President Troy Newman released the following statement:“We believe the lack of indictment by the Grand Jury is the result of corruption and cronyism at the local and state level. Nola Foulston, is a personal friend of Tiller’s and should never have been involved in the investigation in any way. The Kansas Board of Healing Arts, which earlier cleared Tiller in Christin’s death is beholden to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who is in Tiller’s pocket due to massive campaign contributions. We will continue to work to find avenues that are not corrupted by Tiller’s blood mone...

7/31/2006 By Janice Shaw Crouse The Guttmacher Institute, the think tank for Planned Parenthood, has recommended public funding of contraceptive services and supplies for young women and women in poverty. While their headline focuses on poor women, the fine print also includes young women. The recommendation, in effect, helps Planned Parenthood get around parents in order to provide contraception for teenagers and to get the federal government to satisfy Planned Parenthood's gluttony at the federal trough. Moreover, the public has a right to know that Planned Parenthood's idea of contraceptive services includes abortion and they are the largest abortion provider in the nation. It is worth noting that the institute's research was funded through a federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. Guttmacher's just-released email alert claims that since the year 2000 one million more women are in need of contraceptive services; that's a little over 17 mil...

There has been a lot of media hype about Mel Gibson drinking while driving and then making some pretty despicable and bigoted remarks about Jews and behaving in a belligerent manner when arrested. Mel has been fighting alcoholism for a long time -- the temptation to drink is a problem alcoholics must overcome on a daily basis. While many Hollywood stars have recovered from charges of driving while intoxicated and then saying and doing some pretty stupid things , Mel's reported remarks have renewed the charges of anti-Semitism that swirled around his 2004 film "The Passion of the Christ." However, he realizes that he made a mistake and has apologized for it. "After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed." The lengthy statement continued: "I apologize to anyone who I have offended. Also, I take this opportunity to apologize to the deputies involved for my belligerent behavior." Most...

We are very blessed to have Father Joseph Mary on Relevant Radio on August 11th from 1-2pm. You can listen on-- 820am or www.relevantradio.com . Mary Gail Reding Relevant Radio Brief Biography of Fr. Joseph Mary Brown Fr. Joseph Mary Brown was born in Bardstown, KY, the third of seven children. He graduated from Christendom College in 1985 with a B.A. in Philosophy. In 1991, he joined the Congregation of St. John (an active-contemplative Community founded in France in 1975) in Laredo, TX, where he did his Novitiate. From there, he was sent to France to continue his formation, and in 1996, he was sent to their house in Peoria, IL. Ordained in 1997, Father now serves as the Superior of the Community's English-speaking Novitiate House in Princeville, IL. The following is a list of websites associated with the community of St. John: www.communityofstjohn.com/ -- The Community of St. John in the United States. www.stjean.com This is the main website of the community in France.Supp...

When the Senate approved a bill last week prohibiting taking a teenager to another state for an abortion without her parents' knowledge or consent, abortion advocates claimed the practice rarely occurs. However, the director of a Maryland abortion business says it routinely gets calls from teens wanting to avoid parental involvement laws. Teenagers in Pennsylvania's York County are apparently heading to the Hagerstown Reproductive Health Services abortion business in neighboring Maryland. They appear to be wanting to avoid a Pennsylvania state law that requires parental consent for a minor girl to have an abortion and requires all women to wait 24 hours to have an abortion after getting information on fetal development and abortion's medical risks and alternatives. The HRHS abortion facility sits just 8-10 miles away from the Pennsylvania-Maryland border and it regularly advertises in York County's Yellow Pages. "It's clear to us that we receive calls from youn...

Today I am praying for... success for Birgitta as she begins her PhD comps. Sandra Miesel's husband, John, who is in his last days of life, suffering from a cancerous brain tumor. May the Lord give her and her family an abundance of graces and fill their hearts with peace. all Jesuits that they will follow in the footsteps of their spiritual father, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and be blessed with his virtues and charisms. an immediate cease-fire and peace in the Middle East. an end to abortion, the closing of all abortion mills, and the conversion of all abortionists and their staff. respect for all human life from the moment of conception to natural death. a special intention. all previous prayer intentions posted here. Thank you for praying with me for these special intentions. If you have a prayer need, please leave a message in the comment box or email me. I will pray for your intention at daily Mass and during my Holy Hour.

"The single deepest problem of most young people and adults in our country is with chastity. Having said this, one important conclusion follows. The weakest word I could use is to speak of the “price" of eternal life. In our sex-intoxicated culture, the price of maintaining one's chastity is nothing less than a living martyrdom. I mean this literally. Ordinary adolescents will not survive the demonic pressure on their purity. Ordinary men and women will not survive, ordinary priests and bishops will not survive. Ordinary religious will not survive. Nothing less than heroic chastity is necessary, and the price of heroism is a deep faith, even at the sacrifice of one's life, in Christ's teaching that only the pure of heart shall see God." ~ Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. To read Father Hardon's talk Chastity and Eternal Life , go here .

"Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly." ~ Saint Ignatius of Loyola Prayers of St. Ignatius of Loyola Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Your wounds hide me. Permit me not to be separated from You. From the wicked foe defend me. At the hour of my death call me. And bid me come to You. That with Your saints I may praise You For ever and ever. Amen. "Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous. teach me to serve You as You deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight, and not to heed the wounds; to labor, and not to seek to rest; to give of myself and not to ask for reward, except the reward of knowing that I am doing Your will." Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my ...

Pro-life with Christ has a creative music video from YouTube here. The music is good and the message is excellent. (Parental guidance is advised because of a few pictures of aborted babies that flash up.)

* Who are we? What is the purpose of life? What is life all about? Is life only about doing our work? Is life only about making money? Is life only about getting what I want? Is life only about eating, working, sleeping and doing it all again the next day and the day after that and the day after that? Is there anything more to life? Does life offer us any other possibilities? Yes life does offer us another possibility. We are offered eternal life by God . We can get lost in everything we see around us or we have the possibility of living with faith knowing who we really are, sons and daughters of God. If we get lost in everything we see around us and give in to the temptations of the moment we will find ourselves in a mess. Think of who we really are. We are created by God to be happy with him for ever in heaven . Think of what eternity with God is going to be like. Our whole life here on earth is only like a drop in the ocean compared to eternity with God. Think of what life with Go...

Pope Benedict XVI appealed Sunday for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East, hours after the deadliest attack in nearly three weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas. "In the name of God, I appeal to all those responsible for this spiral of violence, so that they immediately put down their arms on all sides," the pope told pilgrims and tourists at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome. Pausing slightly, he repeated the word "immediately." "I appeal to governing leaders and to international institutions not to spare any effort to obtain this necessary cessation of hostilities ," the pontiff said. Much of the international community has been calling for an immediate cease-fire, but Israel and the United States have resisted, saying a settlement should address enduring issues between Lebanon and Israel and disable Hezbollah. The faithful in the papal palace courtyard chanted "Peace! Peace! Peace!" ...

You Are Sunrise You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be. What Time Of Day Are You?

1. One book that changed your life: The Holy Bible 2. One book that you’ve read more than once: Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux 3. One book you’d want on a desert island: The Holy Bible 4. One book that made you laugh: A Marriage Made in Heaven or Too Tired for an Affair - by Erma Bombeck 5. One book that made you cry. Amazing Grace for Those Who Suffer - by Cavins and Pinto 6 One Book that You wish had been written: The Joy of Living in an Abortion-Free World 7. One book that you wish had never been written: The Da Vinci Code - By Dan Brown 8. One book you’re currently reading: Saintly Women of Modern Times - by Joan Carroll Cruz 9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Sophia House - by Michael D. O'Brien Via Moneybags. I tag everyone who wants to participate.

Pope Benedict XVI walks on a path the last day of his summer retreat at Les Combes in the northern mountains of Italy July 28. Pope Benedict arrived at his summer villa in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 28 after an 18-day vacation in the Alps. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano) Meeting with reporters outside the chalet, Pope Benedict said, "We should not be silent; we should do everything possible to get our message to the powerful." "Our primary instrument is prayer," he said. "Naturally, it is a cry not only to God, but also to men." He also told reporters that following events in the Middle East, joining several Alpine communities for prayers for peace, reading, and working on speeches and a book did not take away from his vacation. However, he said, "as a vacation" his July 11-28 stay in Les Combes "was too brief. Now work begins again, but slowly." A reporter also asked him how things were going after more than a year as pope; he s...

Martha and Mary were sisters, related not only by blood but also by religious aspirations. They stayed close to our Lord and both served him harmoniously when he was among them. Martha welcomed him as travelers are welcomed. But in her case, the maidservant received her Lord, the creature her Creator, to serve him bodily food while she was to be fed by the Spirit. No one of you should say, "Blessed are they who have deserved to receive Christ into their homes!" Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege from you. As he says, "Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to me." ~ from a sermon by Saint Augustine Patron: Butlers; cooks; dietitians; domestic servants; homemakers; hotel-keepers; housemaids; housewives; innkeepers; laundry workers; maids; manservants; servants; servers; single laywomen; travellers.

(CBS4 News) HIALEAH Hialeah Police Homicide Detectives are investigating the gruesome discovery of a dead baby’s body inside of an abortion clinic but conflicting stories may prove there's more to the discovery than meets the eye. The body was found at “A Gynecologists Diagnostic Center,” 3671 West 16th Avenue in Hialeah. Witnesses tell police that a young woman, whose identity has not been released, arrived at the clinic last Thursday at roughly 22 weeks pregnant for an abortion procedure. Police say the woman arrived the next day after the procedure complaining of severe pain. Workers at the clinic explained to her that the doctor was not available and she'd have to wait. The woman was taken into a recovery room and according to witnessess, gave birth in the clinic. An anonymous caller, who police believe to be a clinic worker, alerted officials that the baby was born alive and possibly killed. When officials arrived, however, there was no body to be found.CBS4's Dave Mal...

A Reader, Josh, with some very interesting comments wrote to me recently, in regard to my post " HLI TO DURBIN: "GET OUT OF OUR FAMILY ROOM..." I will respond to each comment in blue so you can differentiate between our statements. Josh: It seems to me that you genuinely do care about those girls who find themselves in a position to get an abortion. Your concern for their physical, social, mental, and spiritual welfare is laudable, and I am glad that such persons as yourself are still out there. However, I also see that your beliefs are the primary motivation for all of this. I, therefore, must respectfully disagree with your opinions. Thank you, Josh. It sounds as if you are not in favor of my Catholic pro-life beliefs and that you may be feeling some discontent with the Church's teachings on life. Is that correct? Please know that I would probably do this kind of work whether or not I was Catholic or pro-life -- when I was away from the Church for many years, I c...

Today I am praying for... renewed strength spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally for our Holy Father and for an outpouring of graces upon him. a speedy and successful recovery from cancer surgery for Cardinal Francis George. continued healing for Fr. P. from his stroke. Daniel's priestly vocation. Moneybag's priestly vocation. a holy and fruitful retreat for Fr. K. the apostolates of the Brothers of St. John. Jason whose preliminary test results indicate that he may have Hepatitis C. Barb's special intention. the closing of all abortion mills and the conversion of abortionists and their staff. that married couples will stop using contraception and use Natural Family Planning in accordance with God's will. a special intention. all previous prayer requests posted here.

Cardinal George has cancer surgery, second operation to stop bleeding By Michelle Martin Catholic News Service CHICAGO (CNS) -- After five hours of surgery to remove his cancerous bladder July 27, Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George was brought back into the operating room late that night to repair a small blood vessel in his pelvis that was bleeding. A notice from his medical team July 28 said, "Although the episode of postoperative bleeding represents a complication ... it is not an unusual occurrence and is not expected to have a significant impact on Cardinal George's recovery." The notice was posted on www.luhs.org -- the Web site of Loyola University Medical Center, where the surgery took place. The second surgery, which began shortly before midnight, lasted two hours, the notice said. It said Dr. Robert Flanigan, who conducted the first surgery, also did the second with the assistance of Dr. Fred Luchette, chief of Loyola's Surgical Intensive Care Unit. It said ...

Group Tells Knights Leader: "Act Now or Resign" ANAHEIM, July 27 / Christian Newswire / -- As the Knights of Columbus hold their annual convention in Orlando, August 1-3, we fellow Catholics are holding them accountable,” said Kenneth M. Fisher, founder and chairman of Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc. (CRCOA). “We ask the Knights, especially Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, to live up to their Catholic foundational principles by expelling all pro-abortion politicians from their ranks.” “It’s long past time,” Fisher continued, “for the Knights to end the scandal of allowing membership in good standing to pro-abortion politicians who blatantly defy Catholic morality and teaching, such as Massachusetts Senator Teddy Kennedy (Inactive), New York former Governor Mario Cuomo and many others. ”Fisher said his Concerned Roman Catholics group will start using its www.crcoa.com Website to spotlight pro-abortion politicians at the national, state and local levels who belong to th...

Victor I was the first pope from Africa. His reign extended from about 189 to 199. Conscious of the nature of baptism, Victor decreed that anyone baptized in an emergency should be treated as a Christian in full standing, not as a neophyte undergoing catechesis. A woman named Marcia, probably a Christian herself, had considerable influence on the Roman emperor and sympathy for the plight of the persecuted Church. She asked Pope Victor for a list of Christians condemned to the salt mines in Sardinia and secured their release, ushering in a lull in the ongoing persecutions. A troublesome controversy over when Easter should be celebrated occurred during the reign of Victor, with the result that Christians observed different days for the most important feast of the year. Victor decreed that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday, but a synod of Asiatic bishops convened by the bishop of Ephesus refused to abandon their custom. Victor excommunicated them, then--...

Commentary by Judie Brown I am often fascinated when reports on a topic converge within a very short period of time. You don't often see mainstream media accounts that deal with the victims of abortion or human embryonic stem cell research. But lately, there have been a number of them, and the reactions have been most telling. The first example came when White House press secretary Tony Snow had to apologize for using the word "murder" to describe the wanton killing of human embryonic children so that their stem cells can be used for research purposes. I was dumbfounded. What did Snow say that was so terrible, and why did he have to apologize? [Entire Story]

July 27, 2006 Yesterday, a coalition of hundreds of public notables released a statement, “ Beyond Same-Sex Marriage: A New Strategic Vision for All Our Families & Relationships,” that takes issue with gay activists who are limiting their efforts to legalizing same-sex marriage. Their goal is total societal recognition of “families and relationships” that “know no borders.” One of the 260 signatories is Rabbi Michael Lerner. Catholic League president Bill Donohue addressed this issue today: “ Rabbi Michael Lerner has been described by the Jewish Forward as Hillary Clinton’s ‘erstwhile guru’ and is unquestionably one of the most prominent—if not the most prominent—religious advisors to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). His book, The Left Hand of God: Taking Back Our Country From the Religious Right, has been described as providing ‘intellectual, political, and spiritual inspiration’ for Democrats. It would be instructive to know, then, whether the DNC agrees with Lerner ...

Washington, DC – On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate passed the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, which would prohibit the transport of minor girls across state lines for the purpose of obtaining an abortion. Operation Rescue believes that this is another step forward in a new movement to legislate restrictions on abortion, and ultimately lead to a national ban on the increasingly unpopular procedure. “The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act is yet another crack in the crumbling foundations of Roe v. Wade,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “We know that this legislation will save lives and further impair the ability of the abortion industry to profit from human suffering.” “The momentum in the legislative arena has clearly shifted to our favor,” said Newman. “Just 14 year ago, Congress and other legislatures across the country were thinking up ways to restrict Christians who were trying to save babies from abortion. Today, they are thinking up ways to stop abortion...

Cardinal Francis George I just finished watching WGN news and learned that Cardinal Francis George is scheduled to undergo surgery tommorrow to treat bladder cancer that was recently diagnosed. The surgery will take place at Loyola University Medical Center on Thursday. Cardinal George told the bishops that he expects to be in the hospital for about a week, but that his convalescence would probably take more than a month, as he is having the entire bladder removed. He was in remarkably good humor and even joked with the media. He said he and his doctors decided his whole bladder will be removed rather than chemotherapy.“I didn’t want chemotherapy because I didn’t want to lose my hair,” he joked. You can view a video clip here. Please join me in praying for him. Thank you!

Whoops ... I mean cheesecake. It took me two days to bake it. The Curt Jester's 4th blogiversary was July 24th -- Go visit him and join in the party there.

"The pure soul is a beautiful rose and the Three Divine Persons descend from Heaven to inhale its fragrance." ~ St. John Vianney "Chastity is a lily among the virtues and makes men almost equal to the angels." ~ St. Frances de Sales "Chastity is the longed for house of Christ and the earthly Heaven of the heart." ~ St. John Climacus

Mary Beth Bonacci Quotes: "Chastity is freedom. Not just freedom from pregnancy and disease. It's freedom to live healthy dating years. Freedom to live our dating years to find out who we are." "Chastity is the freedom to dump losers. It's freedom to get people out of your life who shouldn't be in your life." "Chastity? Anyone can change the future....I honestly believe that a return to chastity, to respecting the language of sex is the only way we can return to love in the world."

“Durbin’s Debt to the Abortion Industry seems to Know no Bounds...” states prominent Roman Catholic Priest FRONT ROYAL, Va., July 26 / Christian Newswire / -- Human Life International issued the following statement regarding Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) procedural motion to halt the progress of the Child Custody Protection ACT (S. 403) that would protect a parent’s right to be involved in their minor daughter’s decision to have or not have an abortion. “Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) allegiance to the abortion industry seems to know no bounds. His cheap stunt yesterday to subvert the will of the American people to protect a parent’s fundamental right to be involved in the health care choices of their minor daughters must be reversed….” states the Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, President of Human Life International. “Durbin get out of our family room, and stop obstructing a parent’s right to be involved in the health care decisions of our children” states Jason Jones, Public Relations Director ...

Crisis pregnancy centers targeted in latest abortion lobby campaign salvo National Catholic Register July 21, 2006 Jennifer Roback Morse NORTH HAVEN, Conn. ( National Catholic Register commentary) – The abortion lobby must be desperate. They evidently feel threatened by little old ladies who give away free baby clothes to women in crisis pregnancies. The abortion lobby’s latest hyperventilation, a campaign calmly titled, “Crisis Pregnancy Centers: An Affront to Choice,” launches a very unsubtle, non-nuanced broadside against crisis pregnancy centers. After reading a few of the headlines of news stories dutifully publishing abortion lobby press releases, I decided to take a look at the study myself, to see if there was any substance to their claims. Read the rest of the entry >>> This is the best article yet that I've read on crisis pregnancy centers. Why we need to defend our right to help women who are in dire need is beyond me -- I don't recall Mother Teresa ever h...

Last month, through God’s grace and a leap of faith, Operation Rescue bought and closed a Wichita abortion mill. The building was opened to the public and to the media so the filthy and dangerous conditions would be witnessed and documented. Camera crews have photographed nearly every inch of the building where we estimate 50,000 babies died between 1983 and last month. Now, Operation Rescue must pay for the building and for extensive renovations that will turn this former, roach infested killing center into a beautiful Memorial to the Pre-born and an office suite where Operation Rescue will continue the work of closing even more abortion mills. You can help ... One abortion mill down and one to go in Wichita ...still praying my novena for the closing of the other one. Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us! Via Operation Rescue & Pro-life Blogs.

Glorious Saint Anne, we think of you as filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer. Heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present affair which I commend to you under you special protection. {mention your petition} Deign to commend it to your daughter, our Blessed Lady, and lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy conclusion. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face. With you and Mary and all the saints, may I praise and bless Him for all eternity. Amen. Good Saint Anne, mother of her who is our life, our sweetness and our hope, pray for me. St. Anne is also the patron of pregnant women, widows, grandparents, and mothers.

Today is the feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus. Joachim and Anne were a rich and pious couple who had been married for a long time, but found themselves childless. The couple prayed for an end to their barrenness and they promised to dedicate their first born to the service of God. An angel appeared to Anne and told her, "The Lord has looked upon thy tears; thou shalt conceive and give birth and the fruit of thy womb shall be blessed by all the world". Joachim also received the same message from the angel. Anne gave birth to a daughter whom she called Miriam (Mary). St. Anne is the patron saint of the province of Quebec, where the well-known shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre is located. She is patroness of women in labor and those who have difficulty conceiving; she is represented holding the Blessed Virgin Mary in her lap, who again carries on her arm the Both Joachim and Anne are the patron saints of grandparents....