Catholic Fire

News You Can Use: Grocery Cost Cutters First Sebelius Hearing Generates More Questions than Answers on Abortion In Memory of Terri on the 4th Anniversary of Her Death Fr. Baron Reviews Slumdog Millionaire Cardinal George: Notre Dame Decision an "Extreme Embarrassment" Holy Cross Superior General Asks Obama to Rethink His Position on Abortion Laura Ingraham Reacts to Notre Dame Scandal Bishops to enforce cannon 915 in DC '57 grad of Notre Dame Phil Donohue Debates Fr. Morris on ND Scandal Obama Nominee compares mothers to “slaves,” “losers in the contraceptive lottery” Patrick Buchanan: Is Notre Dame Still Catholic? Stop Sebelius! Confirmation Hearings Begin Tomorrow Catholic Church in America Has Bred Her Own Destroyers: Obama Exploiting it St. John Climacus: My Favorite Quotes Parental Rights: Who will raise your kids? Dolan On Notre Dame Decision: "They made a big mistake" Notre Dame Alumni Protest Obama Invitation Our Lady of Guadalupe, Miracles, and Hum...

As grocery prices continue to rise, how do you control your shopping at the grocery store so you don’t need a government bailout? The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts a 2 to 3% increase in grocery prices this year, on top of the 6% increase from 2008. A report out of Chicago shows a box of cereal is up almost 40 cents, a can of chicken noodle soup is up 20 cents and a jar of baby food is up 25 cents. Here are a few suggestions on how to be a smart shopper: Bread. Go to a bakery outlet store. Sometimes the price of bread can be half of what it would be at the grocery store. Rain Checks. Ask for rain checks on out-of-stock sale items. Also, watch for more stores offering deeper discounts. Avoid Loyalty Shopping. Don’t be afraid to switch stores to get better deals. Loyalty shopping is costly and retailers will respond. One bright spot for shoppers is that fresh fruits and vegetable prices have begun leveling off and even dropping, according to the USDA. Three agricultural economi...

WASHINGTON -- In response to today's first Senate confirmation hearing, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser expressed disappointment with the lack of information revealed about Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' stance on abortion: "Americans - and women in particular - deserve answers about Governor Sebelius' ties to the abortion industry. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sebelius will wield great influence with regard to national abortion policy, particularly the use of taxpayer funds to provide and promote abortion on-demand. Only Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) asked about her positions on protecting the conscience rights of medical providers and preserving the longstanding Hyde Amendment to prevent taxpayer funded abortion, and I thank him for his diligence. Unfortunately, Governor Sebelius' non-responses to these important matters left much to be desired. "The governor's signature of right to know legislation in Kansas was appreciated, but...

Today is the fourth anniversary of the death of Terri Schindler Schiavo. My heart still aches at the tragic loss of the life of this innocent woman. The nation grieves for her and remembers her gentleness, the love and zest she had for life. God permitted her tragic death for a reason and she was truly a martyr in the pro-life movement. Her death was a dramatic wake-up call to all those in this country -- it alerted us all to the horrible tragedy of euthanasia, which has become so commonplace in our society today. It caused some of us who were indifferent, apathetic, or unaware to take a long, hard look at the reality of what is going on in our society and to become more pro-active to prevent this same situation from happening to ourselves and others in the future. It strenghtened the resolve of those of us who were already actively involved in the pro-life movement to work and to pray even harder and to persevere in our efforts. I am still in awe of her family -- her parents and sibli...

I haven't see this film yet, but here on some reviews from other Catholic bloggers: Julie D. at Catholic Media Review. Margaret at Minnesota Mom Have you seen it yet? What did you think of it? H/T: Creative Minority Report

Speaking as the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, this weekend Cardinal Francis George of Chicago said that the University of Notre Dame's decision to host and honor President Obama at their commencement ceremony this year was an "extreme embarrassment" to Catholics . " Whatever else is clear, it is clear that Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation," George told the crowd at a conference Saturday on the Vatican document Dignitatis Personae. The conference was hosted by the Chicago archdiocese's Respect Life office and Office for Evangelization at the Marriott O'Hare hotel. In a video obtained by LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) today, Cardinal George prefaced his remarks by noting that as USCCB president he does not have jurisdiction or authority over other bishops, but nonetheless has "some moral authority, without any kind of jurisdiction or any sort of real authority." "As ...

The head of the Holy Cross religious order that founded the University of Notre Dame has written to U.S. President Barack Obama and asked him to rethink his positions on abortion and other life issues. U.S. Father Hugh W. Cleary, Holy Cross superior general in Rome, said that when Obama receives an honorary degree from the Indiana university and delivers the commencement address in May, he should take to heart the objections of Catholics who have been scandalized by the invitation. Father Cleary asked the president to use the occasion to "give your conscience a fresh opportunity to be formed anew in a holy awe and reverence before human life in every form at every stage -- from conception to natural death." Click here for the full story.

Here is a video from this morning where Laura Ingraham appeared on Fox and Friends to discuss the Notre Dame Scandal.

Bishop Naumann KS City previously denied Governor Kathleen Sebelius Communion in her home diocese, but what happens if she is confirmed as HHS secretary and moves to DC and creates a scandal by publicly receiving Communion there? Archbishop Wuerl and Bishop Loverde of Virginia have agreed to back up the enforcement of Canon 915 in DC., which states: "Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion." This will send the message to other bishops that if they choose to pronounce members of Congress from their dioceses unfit for communion, their authority will be respected in D.C. and across the Potomac in Virginia. The ramifications are enormous: For example, if Sean Cardinal O'Malley of Boston stated publicly that Sen. John Kerry was in violation of Canon 915, he would not have been able to receive communion at Pope Benedict XVI's ...

This is a must see debate between ND alum and fallen away Catholic Phil Donohue and Fox News religion analyst Father Jonathan Morris, on the controversial decision of the University of Notre Dame to invite President Obama to give this year's commencement address. I saw this on Facebook the other day and am glad it's out on YouTube now. Phil Donohue talks about everything but the real issue at hand. Fr. Morris consistently tries to get him back on track by stating he would love to discuss these issues with Donohue another time, but the topic here is Obama's opposition to Life in context with being honored at Notre Dame. It's on YouTube in two parts: H/T: Jill Stanek

Dawn Johnsen, nominee to head the White House Office of Legal Counsel, faces criticism from a pro-life group for her opposition to the federal partial-birth abortion ban and her comments characterizing pregnant mothers as “inevitable losers in the contraceptive lottery” and comparing pregnancy to slavery or being hit by a drunk driver. The Senate Judiciary Committee on March 19 approved Johnsen’s nomination by 11 to 7 for a full vote on the Senate floor. (CNA article) Across the country, Susan B. Anthony List members expressed outrage at Johnsen’s nomination, sending over 26,000 letters of opposition to their U.S. Senators. Johnsen was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 19th by a vote of 11-7. While Johnsen served as the legal counsel for National Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League (now NARAL Pro-Choice America), she authored numerous legal opinions rejecting any and all restrictions on abortion. Some notable quotes from Johnsen’s amicus curiae brief in ...

By Patrick J. Buchanan By inviting Barack Obama to deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary degree at Notre Dame, the Rev. John Jenkins has polarized the Catholic community nationwide — and raised a question. What does it mean to be a Catholic university in post-Christian America? Are there truths about faith and morality that are closed to debate at Notre Dame? Or is Notre Dame like London’s Hyde Park, where all ideas and all advocates get a hearing? To Catholics, abortion is the killing of an unborn child, a premeditated breach of God’s Commandment “Thou Shalt Not Kill.” The case is closed for all time. Any who participate in an abortion are excommunicated. Catholic politicians from Nancy Pelosi to Joe Biden who support a “woman’s right to choose” have been denounced from pulpits and denied Communion. Entire Article What do you think? Is Notre Dame still a Catholic institution of higher education in your eyes?

Urgent Action Alert! CALL YOUR SENATOR TODAY! Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will testify tomorrow, March 31, at 10:00 am EDT before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to examine her nomination to the cabinet post of Secretary of Health and Human Services. This hearing is a courtesy and no vote will be taken on her nomination at that time. Sebelius will then appear before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee for examination on Thursday, April 2, at 10:00 AM EDT. They will vote on her confirmation. If the vote is not unanimous, her nomination will then go to the full Senate. "Gov. Sebelius is unfit to serve as Secretary of HHS because she owes her career to support from the radical the abortion lobby. As HHS Secretary, she will have a platform whereby she can influence abortion policy, which could cost thousands of innocent lives," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "The fact that she entertained late-term abortionist George Tiller and ...

Via LifeSiteNews.com: The Catholic Church in America has bred her own destroyers, graduating from doctrinally corrupt catechetical programs, schools and colleges two generations of pro-abortion politicians. Barack Obama, in his effortless Alinskyite style, has exploited this phenomenon to the hilt, seeking out Catholics such as Joe Biden and Kathleen Sebelius to serve as his agents of destruction. The controversy this week at Notre Dame is one more snapshot of this self-implosion. Here we have the American bishops' most prominent university planning to confer an honorary degree upon Obama even as he accelerates the destruction of its moral teachings. Were Saul Alinsky alive today, he would have to smile at the ease of it all. Obama can not only thwart the Church at every crucial turn and still retain the Catholic vote; he can even expect over the next few years prizes and pats on the back from Catholic colleges for doing so. Jesuit Georgetown University is no doubt itching to honor...

It is sheer lunacy to imagine that one has deserved the gifts of God. You may be proud only of the achievements you had before the time of your birth. But anything after that, indeed the birth itself, is a gift from God. You may claim only those virtues in you that are there independently of your mind, for your mind was bestowed on you by God. And you may claim only those victories you achieved independently of the body, for the body too is not yours but a work of God. A chaste man is someone who has driven out bodily love by means of divine love, who has used heavenly fire to quench the fires of the flesh. A person is at the beginning of a prayer when he succeeds in removing distractions which at the beginning beset him. He is at the middle of the prayer when the mind concentrates only on what he is meditating and contemplating. He reaches the end when, with the Lord, the prayer enraptures him. Humility has it signs: ...poverty, withdrawal from the world, the concealment of one's ...

Though efforts to pass a constitutional amendment protecting parental rights have failed in the past, two U.S. legislators are preparing to reintroduce the idea this week; and this time, they say, the effort is backed by more than 60 congressional members. Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., who introduced a parental rights amendment by himself last year, told the Agence France-Presse that he will be joined by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., on Tuesday as they renew the fight. According to a statement released to AFP by Hoekstra's office, the amendment "would clearly outline in the U.S. Constitution that parents, not government or any other organization, have a fundamental right to raise their children as they see fit." Click here to read the full story. More Information: Parentalrights.org

Archbishop Timothy Dolan appeared on today's "Sunday Insight" with Charlie Sykes, and was asked if the University of Notre Dame made a mistake by inviting President Barack Obama to speak at the school's graduation ceremony. Dolan responded: "They did, and I say that as one who loves and respects Notre Dame. They made a big mistake. There's a lot of things that President Obama does that we can find ourselves allied with and working with him on, and we have profound respect for him and pray with him and for him. But in an issue that is very close to the heart of Catholic world view, namely, the protection of innocent life in the womb, he has unfortunately taken a position very much at odds with the Church." Click Here to watch Archbishop Dolan on Sunday Insight With Charlie Sykes. H/T: American Papist and The Deacon's Bench .

A Notre Dame alumni group has inititiated a protest against their alma mater for inviting Barack Obama to give the commencement address and offer him an honorary degree. Project Sycamore is urging protest of Notre Dame's decision. Here is their letter to ND President Fr. Jenkins: We wish to express our astonished dismay at, and deep disappointment in, the decision to invite President Barack Obama to deliver this year’s Commencement Address and to confer upon him an honorary degree. President Obama’s statements and executive and legislative actions identify him as unremittingly hostile to the moral claims of the unborn and accordingly to a central teaching of the Catholic Church. By virtue of his position, he is now the nation’s leading champion of virtually unrestricted abortion rights. Notre Dame is the nation’s leading Catholic institution. Its action will be publicized widely by enemies of the Church and by pro-abortion advocates as a sign that the pro-life position is too “i...

We read in the Book of Leviticus how the Lord tells Moses about the serious crime of offering children to Molech, referring to the Canaanite custom of sacrificing children to the god Molech. The little victims were first slain and then cremated. (Leviticus 20,1-5 and 18,21). In the Americas, five centuries ago, cruel human sacrificing rituals were performed in the Aztec empire. Between 20,000 and 50,000 were sacrificed a year. The rituals included cannibalism of the victims limbs. Most of them were captives or slaves, and besides men they included women and children. The early Mexican historian Ixtlilxochitl estimated that one out of every five children in Mexico were sacrificed. The climax of these ritual killings came in 1487 for the dedication of the new and richly decorated with serpents temple of Huitzilopochtli, in Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City), when in a single ceremony that lasted four days and four nights, with the constant beating of giant drums made of snakeskin, the Aztec ...

Hillary Clinton asks who painted the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe! Check out Patrick Madrid's Caption Contest.

Watch this to the end. H/T: Creative Minority Report

A fourth American Bishop has come forward to criticize Notre Dame on the decision of the Catholic University to honor President Barack Obama by inviting him to be this year's commencement speaker and awarding him with an honorary doctorate. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo from the Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston had the following comments in regard to the Notre Dame Scandal in the Texas Catholic Herald : "... I want to venture a comment on the recently released statement of the University of Notre Dame; that statement noted that the President has accepted an invitation to give the Commencement Address this year as well as receive an Honorary Law Degree. The news release then outlines the fact that a number of other Presidents have given the Commencement Address at Notre Dame and have thus highlighted, in effect, the university’s importance. I find the invitation very disappointing. Though I can understand the desire by a university to have the prestige of a commencement address by ...

Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy

Make Your Voice Heard! Take the survey; sign the petition Tiller in Much Bigger Trouble Now Tiller Charged With 11 Counts By KSBHA Breaking: Sebelius Signs Woman’s Right to Know and See Act BREAKING: JURY FINDS TILLER NOT GUILTY! Bishop Aymond: Notre Dame "does not live up to its Catholic identity" Sebelius Confirmation Hearing Scheduled for April 2 Owner of the Nation's Largest Privately Owned Abortion Chain, Dies in Montana Plane Crash Defense Rests in Tiller Case: Prayers Needed Bishop Olmstead to Fr. Jenkins: Inviting Obama is "a public act of disobedience to the Bishops of the US" Report: Obama Administration to Pressure Archbishop Burke St. Margaret Clitherow Tiller admits he profited hundreds of thousands of dollars due to Neuhaus

Bishop Olmstead has made his voice heard - now it's your turn! Take the survey! http://www.realcatholictv.net/ndobama/nobamavid04.php Sign the Petition: http://notredamescandal.com/

A 6-member jury finds Tiller not guilty but the state Medical Board moves to revoke his license for same charges plus fraud! While it was frustrating that Tiller escaped conviction for 19 misdemeanors this afternoon, he is in MUCH bigger trouble right now . Tiller’s use of one doctor, dependent on him for her entire salary – was a defiant criminal act, and although the jury today didn’t see that, the state Board of Healing Arts—under a new Executive Director, Jack Confer—absolutely described that relationship as “symbiotic" and as clearly banned under the late-term law! They are charging Tiller with 11 counts of fraud, unprofessional conduct and failing to use an independent second referral. The Board has issued the first step in revoking Tiller’s medical license! Please pray for all the members of the Board. H/T: Kansans for Life. Related Posts: Tiller Charged With 11 Counts By KSBHA BREAKING: JURY FINDS TILLER NOT GUILTY!

I heard some vague information about this on the five 0'clock news this evening and now Operation Rescue is reporting on it: Tiller could still lose his medical license Wichita, KS – Just after a jury in Sedgwick County, Kansas, returned not guilty verdicts in the criminal case against late-term abortionist George Tiller, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts released to the public a petition it filed in December listing eleven allegations against Tiller’s license. According to a statement released by the KSBHA, “ Violations alleged include performing an abortion on a fetus that was viable without having a documented referral from another physician not legally or financially affiliated with him; unprofessional or dishonorable conduct or professional incompetency; and commitment of acts likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public.” The KSBHA also indicated that the case they have filed against Tiller is independent from the criminal charges and will proceed in its own merits. T...

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has signed a bill ensuring that clinics give women and girls seeking abortions a chance to see ultrasound images before performing the procedure. The legislation was signed Friday and takes effect July 1. It also requires clinics to offer abortion patients a chance to listen to the fetal heartbeat. Sebelius signed the measure as she awaits U.S. Senate confirmation as federal Health and Human Services secretary. The bill amends a state law requiring doctors to obtain a patient's informed consent before performing an abortion. I'm happy she took my advice! Previous Posts: What's a "Personally Pro-life" but Profundly Pro-death Governor to do? Sebelius Confrimation Hearing Scheduled for April 2

Via LifesiteNews: WICHITA, Kansas - A Kansas jury has declared late-term abortionist George Tiller not guilty on 19 counts of performing illegal late-term abortions. Tiller was accused of breaking a non-affiliation law that required an independent doctor to sign off on late-term abortions, verifying that the abortions are needed to save the life of the mother or avoid major bodily harm. The prosecution alleged that Tiller's close association with abortionist Ann Kristin Neuhaus, to whom Tiller regularly sent patients to receive the requisite second opinion, turned Tiller's facility into a "one-stop shop" for abortions. During closing arguments today, Assistant Attorney General Barry Disney made the case that, based on Tiller's own notes and on his own words during the trial, he and abortionist Ann Kristin Neuhaus were financially affiliated, in violation of the law. Disney pointed to evidence and testimony that Tiller consulted on Neuhaus' fee and approved th...

Bishop Aymond, of Austin has released the following statemen t : Statement regarding the University of Notre Dame As was announced recently, the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., is presenting President Barack Obama with an honorary degree and have asked him to give the commencement address. I, along with many other Catholics, express great disappointment and sadness that a Catholic university would honor someone who is pro-choice and who holds many values contrary to our Catholic belief. In the midst of such a sad situation, as Catholics we must continue to be pro-life and to proclaim with even greater strength the values of Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church. In my opinion, it is very clear that in this case the University of Notre Dame does not live up to its Catholic identity in giving this award and their leadership needs our prayerful support. H/T: Aggie Catholics Help Stop the Scandal at Our Lady's University. Join the petition opposing Notre Dame...

Via Politico.com today : Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius moved a step forward in the confirmation process ... ... Thursday as two Senate committees set hearing dates. Sebelius will appear Tuesday before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and on April 2 before the Finance Committee. The Kansas governor is slated to fill the only remaining vacancy in the Cabinet. President Barack Obama had nominated former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to serve as HHS secretary, but he withdrew from consideration in early February amid questions about his taxes. *** When I read this on KAKE News last night , I thought that they planned this out so well. Just as Tiller's trial concludes, Sebelius' confirmation is scheduled. As a pro-death protector of Tiller and late-term abortion, she has no business serving as HHS Secretary. But she fits in so well with pro-death Obama's agenda... I don't know what will happen on April 2, but I am going to begi...

Some of you may have seen the major news story of the private plane that crashed into a Montana cemetery, killing 7 children and 7 adults. But what the news sources fail to mention is that the Catholic Holy Cross Cemetery owned by Resurrection Cemetery Association in Butte - contains a memorial for local residents to pray the rosary, at the 'Tomb of the Unborn'. This memorial, located a short distance west of the church, was erected as a dedication to all babies who have died because of abortion. What else is the mainstream news not telling you? The family who died in the crash near the location of the abortion victim's memorial, is the family of Irving 'Bud' Feldkamp, owner of the largest for-profit abortion chain in the nation. Click Here For The Full Story. We warned him, for his children's sake, to wash his hands of the innocent blood he assisted in spilling because, as Scripture warns, if "you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you". (E...

Via Operation Rescue: Wichita, KS - The defense rested in the criminal trial of late-term abortionist George Tiller today. Judge Clark Owens sent the jury home for the day while attorneys for both sides worked in chambers to hammer out the jury instructions that will be presented to the panel of six tomorrow after closing arguments. Concluding her testimony today was former Tiller attorney Rachel Pirner, whose demeanor under the questioning of Assistant Attorney General Barry Disney was argumentative, and at times obnoxious. Pirner did testify, however, that while the Kansas Board of Healing Arts issued a clarification on the second physician rule, indicating that the second physician had to be a "Kansas" physician, it never issued any ruling or clarification regarding the prohibition on their financial and legal affiliation. Disney revealed that the Board has filed a "complaint" against Tiller alleging that Tiller had an improper affiliation with Neuhaus. Pirner d...

These are very strong words from Bishop Olmsted, especially these two lines: "It is a public act of disobedience to the Bishops of the United States." "I pray that you come to see the grave mistake of your decision, and the way it undercuts the Church's proclamation of the Gospel of Life in our day." Get the full story at American Papist. Help Stop the Scandal at Our Lady's University. Join the petition opposing Notre Dame's decision to host and honor President Barack Obama at commencement. http://notredamescandal.com/

Austin Ruse at The Catholic Thing shares the following: A reliable source tells me that someone representing the Obama administration is about to put pressure on the papal nuncio to the United States to get Archbishop Raymond Burke to be quiet. The Obama complaint is that Archbishop Burke, who is now head of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome, has supported another bishop in his chastisement of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius for her support of abortion. A few days ago Archbishop Burke gave an interview to the San Diego-based organization Catholic Action for Faith and Family, during which he took the gloves off about Sebelius, who has been nominated to head the massive U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He noted her “public association with some of the more notorious agents of the culture of death.” This, of course, was a reference to her hosting a party for the late-term abortionist George Tiller, currently on trial in Kansas for nineteen infractions of abortion restrictions...

Today is the feast of St. Margaret Clitherow, patron of businesswomen, converts, and martyrs. Margaret was born in Middleton, England, in 1555, of protestant parents. An attractive woman full of wit and cheer, she had a charming personality. In 1571, she married John Clitherow, a well-to-do butcher (to whom she bore two children). She was a good housewife, capable in business, dearly loved by her husband, whose only regret was that she would not attend church. A few years later, she entered the Catholic Church. Her zeal led her to harbor fugitive priests, for which she was arrested and imprisoned by hostile authorities. Recourse was had to every means in an attempt to make her deny her Faith, but the holy woman stood firm. Finally, she was condemned to be pressed to death on March 25, 1586. She was stretched out on the ground with a sharp rock on her back and crushed under a door loaded down with unbearable weights. Her bones were broken and she died within fifteen minutes. The humanit...

Wichita, KS – Accused late-term abortionist George Tiller took the stand in his own defense today and testified about his relationship to fellow abortionist Ann Kristin Neuhaus. Tiller is charged with having committed 19 post-viability abortions using Neuhaus even though she was illegally affiliated with him. Tiller testified that in 1999 the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts began to require that the second referral for post-viability abortions come from a Kansas physician, so that the Board would have jurisdiction over that physician should discipline ever become necessary. He considered challenging the constitutionality of the law in Federal Court. Tiller testified that on July 21, 1999, he received a call from Larry Buening, who was the Executive Director of the KSBHA at that time. Tiller said that Buening told him, “Why don’t you use Kris Neuhaus and that will take care of all of your problems.” Tiller admitted that Buening told him not to quote him because he would deny the conv...

Tiller Testifies State Medical Board OKd Him Doing Illegal Abortions Abp. Burke: Pro-aborts to be denied Communion Arizona Attorney General to Investigate Sexual Abuse Cover Up at Planned Parenthood The Catholic Carnival is up! NOTRE DAME STUDENT GROUPS DENOUNCE UNIVERSITY’S CHOICE FOR COMMENCEMENT SPEECH Archbishop Burke to address National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in DC The Terry Schiavo Story Shares New Information on the Case The Annuciation of the Lord

Wichita, KS -- Taking the stand in his own defense, embattled late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller defended himself on state charges of 19 counts of doing illegal late-term abortions. Tiller said during the trial that the head of the state medical board authorized him to use a second physician who worked for him. Tiller has been charged with 19 counts of violating a state law that requires an independent physician to sign off on the legitimacy of late-term abortions. He relied on fellow abortion practitioner Kristen Neuhaus , an employee of his, to provide the okay for the abortions instead of using an independent physician who could assess whether they were medically necessary. Attorneys for Tiller hinted on the first day of the trial that this would be the tactic they would use in an attempt to get him off the hook. Tiller attorney Dan Monnat told Sedgwick County District Judge Clark Owens and the six members of the jury that Tiller was acting under the approval of Larry Bu...

Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue went to Rome recently and conducted an interview with Archbishop Burke, who is completely uncompromising in his interpretation and application of Canon 915. He hits the ground running: "Mr. Terry: For the umpteenth time, I and the others are asking, under Canon 915 what should or should not be done? Archbishop Burke: The Canon is completely clear, it is not subject in my judgment to any other interpretations. When someone is publicly and obstinately in grave sin we may not administer Holy Communion to the person. And that, basically, for two reasons: number one, to prevent the person himself or herself from committing a sacrilege, and secondly, to protect the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist. In other words, to approach, to receive our Lord in Holy Communion, when one insists on remaining in grave sin, is such a violation of the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist, so that Communion must not be given to people who are publicly, obstinately, in ...

The Arizona Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation into Planned Parenthood, after the student-led nonprofit Live Action released videos with undercover footage from three Planned Parenthood of Arizona facilities. The footage shows employees at two Planned Parenthood facilities in Phoenix, AZ and one in Tucson, AZ disregarding mandatory reporting laws for sexual abuse, and offering secret abortions to sexually abused minors. (The videos can be viewed at http://www.LiveAction.org .) Live Action has sent complete footage from all three facilities to County Attorneys in Pima and Maricopa and to the Arizona Attorney General for use in prosecution. In response to receiving footage from the Tucson clinic, the office of the Pima County Attorney stated in a letter to Live Action that "this matter is under review and consideration by the Attorney General." State courts have found Planned Parenthood of Arizona negligent before for failing to report sexual abuse. Ari...

Evann at Homeschool Goodies in our hostess this week and she has done a terrific job! Here is a small sampling of the wonderful posts you'll find at Catholic Carnival 217: The Feast of the Annunciation: God can be found everywhere, if only you are looking. In Our Lady of the Links , Sarah at Behold Your Mother shares how she’s found God in her golf game. Pope Benedict was recently quoted: “One cannot overcome the problem with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, they increase the problem.” In Pope Ignites Condom Debate Christine at A Catholic View focuses on the facts behind his statement. Victor at Vatican 5000 recently toured the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. Obviously, any tour of the Vatican is best in person, but this picture tour of St. Peters Square and Plaza is a great alternative. My entry this week: The suffering of the mother of Christ continues. The recent Notre Dame decision to present Barack Obama with an award and to have him speak...