Catholic Fire

Alexa is hosting this week's Catholic Carnival at Frank, in a Sense, and Mirth and what a wonderful job she's done there! Great graphics accompany each story in her entertaining theme. Check it out! You'll love it! Here are just a few of my favorite posts: In An Opportunity for Virtue , Denise Hunnell shares an article written by Tony Snow. She focuses on probably the one most important issue his article brings up: that every challenge in life is an opportunity to practice virtue. "Being Human, Part II" ...by Marcel at Aggie Catholics AKA Mary's Aggies is a great pro-life post. Elena at My Domestic Church writes about the feelings she and her husband shared when they went back to Flint, Michigan where her husband was born and raised. Her post is titled, "Sometimes You Really Can't Ever Go Home" . Therese Garcia's post, "Be Fruitful and Multiply ~ Your Many Gifts of Love" . Therese is a guest writer at Heidi Hess Saxton...

Jill Stanek's "Obama's biggest lie about supporting infanticide" is a must read and its up at World Net Daily. Down, But Not Out ... Leticia's first article for National Catholc Register: "...is a compilation of the latest research being done for treatment of Trisomy 21 or Down syndrome. I also mention the crucial discovery of the cause of Trisomy 21 by my patron saint, Dr. Jerome Lejeune." At Zenit, we learn that YouTube has pulled a video from their site that unmasks a supposedly unbiased film project as a pro-abortion initiative, and has yet to give any reason as to why it was removed. Check out the story here. In Grave New World -- the Curt Jester discusses the idea of screening embryos for possible cancer-causing genes and the evil idea that cancer patients would be better off had they never been born. Abortion and the Modern Arabs -- Get Religion looks at the difference between Muslims and Arabs on abortion Waiting for Justice: Will the Grand ...

I received the following information via email from Fr. Fr. Tom Euteneuer, President of Human Life International: Clergy Pledge of Assent to Humanae Vitae I am happy to send you our "Clergy Pledge of Assent" to the papal encyclical Humanae vitae which we are trying to get into the hands of as many priests as possible this summer. I would personally appreciate if you could print out the version of it provided in this email and show it to priests, permanent deacons and seminarians and encourage them to sign it and send it to HLI. Note, first of all, that we have already sent this to our email list of priests who signed up for the "Humanae Vitae Priests" newsletter so there is no need for you to give it to those already on our list. However, you can encourage them to sign it online if that is easier! (See www.humanaevitaepriests.org .) When I wrote to the clergy I told them that "it is HLI's desire and purpose to tell the world that we will not be silent abou...

From Operation Rescue: KS Governor’s Office Covers Up Secret Party Honoring Abortionist Tiller - Photos show "Catholic in name only" Governor Sebelius honoring late-term abortionist George Tiller (the Killer), who pumped huge amounts of money into her campaign. From Jill Stanek: Breaking news: Mother of 13-year-old suing DC Planned Parenthood for $50 mil: botched abortion; infertility Obama's Confusion about the Holocaust From Jill: "..I am disgusted that Obama would decry the Holocaust on one hand while promoting the most atrocious of abortions on the other. He understands the concept of humans committing atrocities against other humans. He just cherry-picks applications." Selling Babies Online Leticia at Causa Nostrae Laetitae: Defending the Dignity of the Unborn in Bioethics Circles Genevieve Kineke at Feminine-Genius: Shouting into a maelstrom

Tampa, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Four women who were injured emotionally and spiritually by their abortions and regret their decisions confronted supporters of Barack Obama at a rally this week in Florida. The members of the post-abortion group Operation Outcry stood on the sidewalk holding signs that read “My Abortion Hurt Me." MORE LifeNews also reports one of the members of the post-abortion group as saying: "What surprised me the most was that many people that spoke to us were pro-life and didn't have a clue about Barack Obama’s liberal voting record." I found this to be true when Barack Obama was running for U.S. Senator as well. At that time, I was a resident of IL and served on a community voter's board for a local newspaper (which was very liberal.) I was the token conservative. No one there seemed to know what Barack Obama stood for, yet they were impressed with his charisma, his looks, and the canned speech he gave at the Democratic National Convention. Tha...

I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...' I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in. He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them....

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 At about 10:10 am, when C.S., and her son, were on-site at the gate of the Tiller Abortion Facility, a young black lady in her 20's came walking across Bleckley Street toward Tiller's gate, intending to go into his facility. C.S. approached her before she got to Tiller's gate, and encouraged her to talk. She is six weeks pregnant, and she told C.S. that her boyfriend, (who was not with her) wants her to have an abortion… because he does not want a baby. C.S. was able to re-direct her to the ProLife Choices Medical Clinic, next door to Tiller's for a free sonogram, and she kept her from going into Tillers. C.S. walked with her to Choices' door, and introduced her to the receptionist at Choices Medical Clinic. She remained there at Choices beyond the end of C.S.'s shift. C.S. describes her as a beautiful black lady in her early 20's, well dressed, alone, and in an emotionally distressed mood. C.S. shared this event with J. D., when J.D....

Image Source: Praying & Sending the Rosary Around the World This week's Catholic Carnival is up and is being hosted by Sarah at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering. It has a beautiful rosary theme and a wide variety of great posts. Here are a few of my favorite posts there: Alexa's post " Blessed are the Pure of Heart ," in which is she bares her heart and testifies to Our Heavenly Father’s infinite mercy and compassion. You'll learn about her late husband and how prayer played a part in the struggle that she holds up to us as a gift, one she shares with grace. Elizabeth's " Playing Elizabeth to Their Mary , in which she shares a view of the Visitation from within. As an "aged Elizabeth," she found herself ministered to by many women, and it felt, she says, as though "I'd been mothered by the Blessed Mother herself." Kate's I'll Never Walk Alone. When God designed marriage, he knew what he was doing. Kate discover...

A survey released by Feminists for Life of America has found that many college students who become pregnant are unaware of resources available to them or don't have access to good resources. FFL president Serrin Foster noted in a news release that when pregnant students look for resources, "either they can't find them or the resources are inadequate or expensive." One pregnant student noted that without resources, "it sure doesn't feel like I have much of a choice." The survey, Perception is Reality , is part of an ongoing effort by FFL to monitor and establish resources for pregnant students on college campuses. Stories from students have shown that students who become pregnant are often immediately referred for an abortion by campus health center officials and are not given any information about other options or resources. Surveys have found that lack of resources or support, and pressure and coercion from others, are leading factors for abortion. A su...

Mothers, be sure to have some tissue handy for his final comment. From the Today Show, May 6... According to an email from Bella's promoters, Bella was the #1 selling dvd in Amazon's love/romance category yesterday and #5 on the entire Amazon site. Promoters are encouraging store buyers to get Bella at Walmart because it's the largest dvd retailer in the world. Read my review of Bella here. Via Jill Stanek.

Via Heart Mind and Strength: Beginning Monday, May 19th, Lisa and I will be hosting a new show for The Catholic Channel Sirius 159 . The new show, Fully Alive! with Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak, will air weeknights from 10p-Midnight Eastern (7-9pm Pacific). We'll have the opporunity to interview the best and brightest secular and Christian authors on marriage, family and general psychology topics and relate their work to the Catholic vision of the human person. Plus, we'll take your calls to help you find faithful solutions to the problems that stand in the way of your coming fully alive in Christ. PS. We'll also continue our terrestrial radio program, Heart Mind and Strength which airs weekdays from Noon-1pm Eastern on the Ave Maria Radio Network.

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for May is: "That Christians may use literature, art and the mass media to greater advantage in order to favor a culture which defends and promotes the values of the human person". His mission intention is: "That the Virgin Mary, Star of evangelization and Queen of the Apostles, may still guide today with maternal affection the missionaries, both men and women, throughout the world, just as she accompanied the Apostles in the early stages of the Church".

Photo: Giuliani in line to receive Holy Communion at Papal Mass (courtesy of AP) Cardinal Egan released a statement today addressing the fact that Rudy Giuliani received Communion at the Papal Mass in New York. This is the first time a Cardinal, let alone a bishop, has addressed a pro-abortion Catholic politician receiving Communion since Archbishop Burke publicly stated that he would deny John Kerry Communion should he present himself in his diocese. The following is a statement issued by Edward Cardinal Egan: “ The Catholic Church clearly teaches that abortion is a grave offense against the will of God. Throughout my years as Archbishop of New York, I have repeated this teaching in sermons, articles, addresses, and interviews without hesitation or compromise of any kind. Thus it was that I had an understanding with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, when I became Archbishop of New York and he was serving as Mayor of New York, that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known sup...

Domini Sumus , the host of this weeks' Catholic Carnival, cleverly asks: "Suffering from Pope withdrawal? Get your B16 supplement in this week's Catholic Carnival in which we remember some of the papal events of the past week." There are some great posts there -- click here to read them.

What Is The First And Foremost Right Of All Women?

The ultimate foundation of the value and the dignity of man, of the meaning of his life, is the fact that he is God's image and likeness! ~ Pope John Paul II

Following their private meeting in the Oval Office today, a joint communique was released by President Bush and Pope Benedict. Full text: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and President George W. Bush met today in the Oval Office of the White House. President Bush, on behalf of all Americans, welcomed the Holy Father, wished him a happy birthday, and thanked him for the spiritual and moral guidance, which he offers to the whole human family. The President wished the Pope every success in his Apostolic Journey and in his address at the United Nations, and expressed appreciation for the Pope’s upcoming visit to “Ground Zero” in New York. During their meeting, the Holy Father and the President discussed a number of topics of common interest to the Holy See and the United States of America, including moral and religious considerations to which both parties are committed: the respect of the dignity of the human person; the defense and promotion of life, matrimony and the family; the education ...

Are you ready for the Holy Father’s visit? In this post, I hope to provide all that you need to get the most out of the Holy Father’s visit to the U.S.A. to enable it to be a memorable and spiritually enriching experience for you and for all Americans. Christ our Hope “The one who has hope lives differently, the one who has hope has been granted the gift of a new life.” ~ Pope Benedict, Spe Salvi, 2 The Need for Prayer This past Sunday, April 13, in Rome, the Holy Father asked for prayers for "spiritual renewal" that would result from his upcoming apostolic journey to the United States. He said: "This Tuesday I leave Rome for my visit to the United Nations and the United States of America. With the various groups I shall meet, my intention is to share our Lord's word of life." "In Christ is our hope! Christ is the foundation of our hope for peace, for justice, and for the freedom that flows from God's law fulfilled in his commandment to love one anot...

"Butterfly" By Jill Stanek I spoke in Nashville last week, home of country music. There a friend handed me a CD and told me I needed to listen to it. He remarked, as I well knew, that pro-life songs we often receive are well-intentioned but sub par. But he said this one, Butterfly, was different. My friend was right. I am in love with this song. I have been playing it over and over. Listen at its MySpace site. The band Bluefield is currently on the road promoting Butterfly, and the band has been surprised to meet hesitation by radio stations.... Despite its uphill flight, Butterfly has ascended to the 60s on the country music charts.... Continue reading my column today, "Butterfly," on WorldNetDaily. com . Image Source

on the film festival's website . Or click on the links here: High School Category Wrinkles in Time - WINNER Blood Out - Honorable Mention College Category The Poet - WINNER Open Category Mad World - WINNER Able - Honorable Mention For a list of the judges go here These films are powerful! Via Carl Olson at Insight Scoop. Previous Post: A Call for Pro-life Films: Cinema Vita Film Festival