Catholic Fire

Arthur at the Angry Twins has a darling children's version of the Seven Sacraments. Amy Proctor blogs about her appearance on the Montel Williams Show. Suzanne at Big Blue Wave reports on the possible overturn of Doe vs. Bolton , which if overturned would signal the beginning of the end of legalized abortion in America . Moneybags blogs on a new Christian movie coming out in December entitled "Nativity". Catholic - Pushing - Sixty has an excellent post on St. Elizabeth of the Trinity. College Catholic reports on his encounter with radical feminism/paganism when one of the founding mothers of 1960’s radical feminism, and an outspoken advocate for Gay Marriage and Abortion, Gloria Steinem, visits his campus.

Jay at Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate is having a birthday today. Go visit him and leave your greetings.

Madonna vs. Veggies: NBC's Anti-Christian Bent (CWA) The NBC television network has made several decisions this season that are being viewed as anti-Christian. The network has cut references to "God" and the "Bible" out of the Veggie Tales cartoons it began airing this fall. Meanwhile, the network is going ahead with plans for a Madonna concert special to air November 12 that features her mocking the crucifixion of Christ by descending to the stage on a cross wearing a crown of thorns. Bob Knight, Director of CWA's Culture & Family Institute has more on these outrages, as well as the new NBC show "Studio 60" which also mocks Christians. Click here to listen. Read what Bill Donahue of Catholic League has to say about it here. To locate your local NBC affiliate to complain visit: http://www.nbc.com/nbc/header/Local_Stations/

God Our Father, Giver of life,we entrust the United States of America to Your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for Your glory and dwell among Your people. Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation's leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind Your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing Your will. Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, Patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the "culture of death." Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen!

Lord,* Creator of Life,* You have blessed us* with the privilege of bringing new life into the world. Open our hearts and minds* to recognize Your special gift of children* and Your great love for each of us* created in Your image and likeness.* Through love* You sent your Son Jesus* to redeem us and through love* He entered our world as an unborn child in the womb of Mary,* His mother.* We now turn to Mary* for her prayers and intercession* as we struggle to protect* innocent unborn children from decisions that seek to destroy them.* Following Mary's example* as mother and disciple,* let us proclaim the truth of our faith,* assist those in crisis* and protect those most vulnerable, unwanted and unloved. Amen.

Senator Ken Salazar (Co.) Senator Tom Carper (De.) Senator Bill Nelson (Fl.) Senator Daniel Inouye (Hi.) Senator Evan Bayh (In.) Senator Kent Conrad (ND) Senator Byron Dorgan (ND) Senator Herb Kohl (WI) WASHINGTON -- A bill to generally require notification of one parent before a minor obtains an out-of-state abortion died Friday when Senate Democrats voted overwhelmingly to block it. Hours before Congress adjourned for pre-election campaigning, 57 senators voted to remove the final procedural obstacle to S. 403, which would have cleared the bill for transmission to President Bush for his signature. But 57 was three votes short of the 60 required under Senate rules to break through a procedural roadblock erected by the Senate Democratic leadership. The Senate Democratic leadership had been obstructing the progress of the legislation for months. This week, pro-life Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tn.) made a bold attempt to overcome the minority's obstructionism by forcing t...

Saint Jerome, one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church (the other three being St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, and St. Gregory the Great), was the pre-eminent scholar and translator of Sacred Scripture in the history of the Church. He was the translator of the Vulgate version of the Bible. St. Jerome was born in Dalmatia around 340-342 AD. Having grown up a wealthy pagan, Jerome visited Rome at about 20 and was converted and baptized. He went to study theology in the famous schools of Trier, and later set out to the Syrian desert in order to live as a hermit. He was ordained a priest in Antioch and at the age of 40 he went to Constantinople, where he met and befriended St. Gregory of Nazianzus (one of the four great Greek Doctors of the Church). He became the secretary of Pope Damasus, who commissioned the Vulgate from him, which took him 30 years to write. His harsh temperament and his biting criticisms of his intellectual opponents made him many enemies in the Church and in Rome...

The Pope's Golf Game The Israeli prime minister and the pope agreed to oppose each other in a round of golf. The match was supposed to promote friendship and understanding between the Jewish and Catholic faiths, but both men wanted to win nonetheless. There was one problem. The pope had never played golf. "Find a cardinal who plays the game well to stand in for me," he directed his private secretary. "There aren't any who are very good," the secretary answered. "But what about this? What if we make Jack Nicklaus a cardinal and have him represent you?" "Sounds good to me," the pope said. The arrangement was made and the match was played at St. Andrews. That night, the pope asked his secretary for a report. He was stunned by the news that Nicklaus had lost. "Cardinal Nicklaus shot a 69, but lost by three shots," the secretary ruefully told the Pope. "Who in the world could have beaten Jack Nicklaus on a day when he shot a 69?...

"As far as abortion is concerned, it's part of the fifth, not the sixth, commandment: 'You shall not kill.' We have to presume this is obvious and always stress that the human person begins in the mother's womb and remains a human person until his or her last breath." ~ Pope Benedict XVI

Rome, Sep. 29 (CWNews.com) - Nearly 18 months after his death, Pope John Paul II remains the subject of intense public interest, as new books and exhibits in Rome attest. On September 27, an exhibition of artwork honoring Pope John Paul II was opened at the basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the former Vatican Secretary of State, present for the opening ceremony. The exhibit features the work of the painter Giuseppe Afrune, who produced a number of portraits of the Pontiff. In October, the society of the Divine Savior will open another commemorative exhibit, at the Cesi palace near the Vatican, recalling the 28 years of John Paul's pontificate. This exhibit will feature the works of Lorenzo D'Andrea, who sought to captue the personality and charisma of the late Pope in his artwork. On October 3, the Edimond publishing house will release a book entitled John Paul II: secrets of a pontificate, by the journalist Franco Bucarelli. Prominent among the o...

WE ARE ALL GOD’S CHILDREN (30:00) True story of a young woman’s struggle with an unplanned pregnancy and her search for truuth, highlights society’s false ideas about happiness. In the face of this young woman’s dawning realization that actions have lifetime consequences, she learn ther e is abundant life, love, and hope when the teachings of the Church come first in making a moral choice. Sunday October 1, 2006 6:30 AM Eastern Time Sunday October 1, 2006 3:30 AM Pacific Time SUFFERING IN SILENCE (30:00) Program about women coming to terms with the emotional and spiritual effects of having had an abortion. Sunday October 1, 2006 5 PM Eastern Time Sunday October 1, 2006 2:00 PM Pacific Time WE’LL STAND UP FOR YOU (30:00) This story looks into the heart of a young woman who deals with an unexpected pregnancy by having an abortion. This story is de dicated to all women that have suffered the pain of abortion in hope that they can begin the journey back from death to life and from pain ...

September 29, 2006 - A new Catholic activist organization, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, has issued a voter guide that will be distributed to Catholics between now and election day. Commenting on the 12-page booklet is Catholic League president Bill Donohue: “The voter guide is a slick attempt to get the abortion albatross off the necks of Catholic Democrats, but it’s a failed effort—the noose is still there. Instead of listening to James Carville and Paul Begala, who have counseled Democrats to drop their opposition to parental notification laws and their support for keeping partial-birth abortion legal, the best Catholics in Alliance can do is say it is opposed to abortion. But it makes it painfully clear that it will never join any effort to ban any abortions, including partial-birth. Alexia Kelley heads the new group, and in 2004 she worked as a religion advisor to John Kerry in the closing weeks of his campaign. Kerry is an advocate of keeping partial-birth abortion l...

The three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the only angels named in Sacred Scripture and all three have important roles in the history of salvation. Saint Michael is the "Prince of the Heavenly Host," the leader of all the angels. His name is Hebrew for "Who is like God?" and was the battle cry of the good angels against Lucifer and his followers when they rebelled against God. He is mentioned four times in the Bible, in Daniel 10 and 12, in the letter of Jude, and in Revelation. Michael, whose forces cast down Lucifer and the evil spirits into Hell, is invoked for protection against Satan and all evil. Pope Leo XIII, in 1899, having had a prophetic vision of the evil that would be inflicted upon the Church and the world in the 20th century, instituted a prayer asking for Saint Michael's protection to be said at the end of every Mass. Christian tradition recognizes four offices of Saint Michael: (i) to fight against Satan (ii) to rescue the souls of ...

Prosecutor says pregnant 10-year-old failed to trigger assault investigation Via WorldNet Daily Posted: September 28, 2006 By Bob Unruh My Comments are in blue. Kansas Attorney General Phil Kline believes that it is his job to see that the laws are followed, but he ran into a brick wall when he concluded the laws that apply to the abortion industry, such as reporting an assault when a 10-year-old has an abortion, ALSO must be upheld. He soon found out why: hundreds of millions of dollars that American taxpayers each year turn over to Planned Parenthood, a leading provider in the abortion industry. So now he's working on taking that wall down, one brick at a time. He told WND in an exclusive interview that he's not giving up, and he'll win because the law is on his side. "We've got them on the hill they will die on," he told WND in an interview. "They are defending abortion clinics as safe havens for child rapists." When he was elected in 2002, he no...

St. Wenceslaus was born around 907 near Prague, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). His father was killed in battle when he was 13 years old, leaving the kingdom to be ruled by his ambitious mother, the pagan. Drahomira, who encouraged an anti-Christian government. Wenceslaus was raised by his grandmother, St. Ludmilla, who saw to it that he was educated in the faith. Drahomira resented her mother-in-law Ludmilla's influence over her son Wenceslaus, and sent men to kill Ludmilla. Drahomira's rule was so cruel in Wenceslaus' name that he was compelled on behalf of his subjects to overthrow her and assume power for himself. Wenceslaus was eighteen years old when he succeeded his father to the throne. Without regard for the opposition, he worked in close cooperation with the Church to convert his pagan country. He ended the persecution of Christians, built churches and brought back exiled priests. As king, he gave an example of a devout life and of great Christian charity, with...

Via Jill Stanek and Pro-life blogs : September 27,2006 - This just in from DC: "Senator Frist filed cloture on ccpa/ciana tonight, as soon as was possible. Cloture will ripen in 30 hours. Then we will vote. And we need to win." Yes! Good for Senator Frist! A very real pro-life legislative drama is unfolding. Next, 60 senators must vote aye to stop a filibuster and get this important pro-life bill to the President's desk. Session ends Friday. We must all call our senators TOMORROW -- which means today, Thursday, September 28. (my addition) To find your senator's phone number, go here. To learn more about the Parental Notification Bill, go here.

The following is excerpted from a statement by Cardinal William H. Keeler, Chairman, Committee for Pro-Life Activities, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. September 26, 2006 Catholic parishes across the United States are preparing once again to celebrate Respect Life Sunday, falling this year on October 1. This is a time to acknowledge, with gratitude and a profound sense of wonder, the mystery of human life: Because each of us is created, loved and redeemed by God, every human life is priceless, deserving respect and protection. We pause, too, to thank those who help foster respect - in pregnancy care centers, hospices, legislative assemblies, home, schools and workplaces. Because of their efforts we can point to continuing signs of progress toward a culture in which human life is cherished. Young people are leading the way through their enthusiastic involvement in pro-life education and activism. …. Public sentiment overall is changing as well. Today only a small minority...

Today I am praying to Jesus through the intercession of Mother Mary and St. Vincent de Paul for the following intentions: for peace and unity within the Catholic Church. that the Lord will continue to guide government leaders and give them wisdom. that God will strengthen all pro-life advocates and give them the grace to persevere in their apostolates. for the passage of the Parent Notification Act in the Senate. for the special graces for Moneybags for the trial he is going through at this time and for the person who is trying to intimidate and persecute him for expressing his opinion. for this prayer request at Relapsed Catholic . for healing and a home for C.'s brother who is being forced out his home by his wife. for A. who is considering having an abortion that she will give life to her child. for special graces for Aimee who is on a mission trip to Mozambique where she is assisting with the care of orphans. for the healing of two young women who wish to be free of same sex at...

St. Vincent de Paul was an apostle of charity, and one of the greatest French saints. He was born in Gascony (France) in 1581 to a peasant farmer. Following his studies under the Franciscans at Dax, he was ordained a priest at age 20. Five years later, he was traveling by sea when his ship was captured by Moorish pirates who carried him to Africa sold into slavery. He was freed in 1607 when he converted one of his owners to Christianity. When he returned to France, he became a parish priest near Paris and later, a chaplain to the galley-slaves. He founded a religious congregation of priests called the Lazarists, (who are now known as Vincentians), for missionary work. With the help of St Louise de Marillac, he founded the Sisters of Charity, who were the first congregation of women to care for the poor and sick outside of the convent. He devoted his whole life to serving the poor. He died in 1660 in Paris, France and was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737. St. Vincent de Paul is the...

You Are a Fortune Cookie You're a rather normal person, except that you have extraordinary luck in life. People want to be around you (even when they're a little sick of you), in hopes of being lucky too! What Kind of Cookie Are You? Via Happy Catholic .

Via Steven Ertelt at LifeNews.com: Columbus, GA -- Police have arrested the mother and two cousins of a 16 year-old girl who are accused of forcing her to drink turpentine in an attempt to kill her baby in an abortion . The arrests follow the apprehension of a Maine teenager's parents who are accused of driving her to New York in a bid to make her have an abortion. In the Georgia case, 44 year-old Rozelletta B. Blackshire was charged with cruelty to a child and criminal abortion Columbus Police Sgt. Debra Bohannon indicated. The teenager's cousins, 26 year-old Shonda Y. Blackshire of Columbus and 28 year-old Monica M. Johnson of Eufaula, Alabama, were also arrested on Friday and charged with attempting to cause a criminal abortion. If convicted, the women could get up to 10 years in prision. According to an AP report, there is no evidence as to whether the turpentine caused any health issue for the teenager, who is three months pregnant, or her baby. "There's no medic...

Washington DC, Sep. 26, 2006 ( CNA ) - The next great frontier in law and culture, stemming from the same-sex marriage debate, is the legal redefinition of parenthood, says a new report issued by U.S. and Canadian family and law think tanks. The Revolution in Parenthood: The Emerging Global Clash Between Adult Rights and Children's Needs explores how the rights-based same-sex marriage movement places adult rights over the rights and needs of children. The report also explores the status of parenthood in society and the ways in which natural parenthood — the biological mother-father model — is being legally challenged and redefined by states. The report notes that states around the world are taking an increasingly active role in defining and regulating parenthood, moving far beyond its limited, historic, and child-centered role in finding suitable parents for needy children through adoption. In Canada, for example, the law that legalized same-sex marriage “quietly included the prov...

1. A Place You've Visited and Your Favorite Thing there. Rome, Italy, Vatican City 2. A Country You'd Like to Visit and Why France -- I would love to travel to Lourdes, LaSalette, and the other apparition sites as well as to the motherhouse for my Community. 3. A Place From History You'd Like to Visit and Why I would love to go back in time and to see the birth of Christ, the miracles he performed, and the Passion of Christ with my own eyes. 4. A Place You Know a Lot About Illinois 5. A Place You'd Like to Learn More About Australia 6. A Fictional Place You'd Like to Visit Narnia H/T to Cor Immaculate. I tag: Julie at Happy Catholic , Valerie at I am MY Kid's Mom , UKOK at Catholic Mum , Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii, and Jeff Miller, The Curt Jester. If there's anyone else who would like to do this, be my guest.

Nothing is known of the lives of Saints Cosmas and Damien except that they suffered martyrdom in Syria during the persecution of Diocletian. A church erected on the site of their burial place was enlarged by the emperor Justinian. Devotion to the two saints spread rapidly in both East and West. A famous basilica was erected in their honor in Constantinople. Their names were placed in the canon of the Mass, probably in the sixth century. Legend says that they were twin brothers born in Arabia, who became skilled doctors. Known as the "moneyless" and the "silverless", they never accepted money for their services, but offered them in the spirit of charity. When the persecution under Diocletian broke out, their very prominence rendered them marked objects of persecution. Being apprehended by order of Lysias, governor of Cilicia, they were arrested, tortured, and beheaded in the year 283. St. Cosmas and St. Damian are patron saints of medicine, doctors and pharmacists. ...

George Tiller, Late-term abortionist AKA "America's Doctor of Death" [We wanted to run this article for informational purposes. It exposes the need for the investigations of KS abortion clinics to continue. For many pre-born, viable children, these investigations may be literally a matter of life or death. -OR Staff] By Cheryl Sullenger Chairperson, Kansans for Truth In Politics Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline has been under fire in the media for his efforts to access abortion clinic medical records in an investigation of concealment of child rape and illegal late term abortions. Opponents of Kline’s investigations focus on the “privacy” of such medical records. But the privacy issue is merely a smokescreen – a slight of hand maneuver to divert the public’s attention from the true issue at hand, and that is that Kansas abortion clinics operate in a universe of their own making, totally separate from the laws that apply to all others, and in doing so flagrantly violat...

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The House of Representatives will vote on Tuesday on a Senate-passed bill to curb the evasion of state parental notification and consent laws. Both the House and Senate had approved bills to do that, but Senate Democrats prevented the creation of a final version of the measure to send to President Bush for his signature. The Senate and House passed two different versions of the legislation, designed to prevent taking minor teenagers to another state for a secret abortion with their parents knowledge or consent. When both chambers approve different bill, a conference committee is normally needed to craft a final version to be sent to the president. Senate Democrats blocked the committee from meeting and the House is hoping to force the Senate to vote on the block by combining the two versions of the Child Custody Protection Act into one and approving it. According to a National Right to Life legislative alert sent to LifeNews.com, once the House votes on...

(CTV via Reuters TV/Reuters) (Osservatore Romano/Reuters) (Osservatore Romano/Reuters) REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (ITALY) Sep. 25 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI reaffirmed the importance of dialogue between Christianity and Islam, at a September 25 meeting with envoys from Islamic countries and organizations. The Holy Father stressed the interests that Christians and Muslims share in upholding the importance of faith, in "a world marked by relativism and too often excluding the transcendence and universality of reason." The Pope did not refer directly to the controversial speech that he had delivered in Regensburg on September 12. But he did remark, near the beginning of his talk, that "the circumstances which have given rise to our gathering are well known." Vatican diplomats had worked quickly to invite Muslim diplomats to Castel Gandolfo, hoping to soothe the tensions that had arisen in the Islamic world after the Pope's talk. Pope Benedict spoke in F...