Catholic Fire

The recently released videos featuring Planned Parenthood employees bartering body parts of aborted infants are startling and appalling. This brings forth dialogue about the human person and the dignity of life, the argument for which is not based upon sentimentality or compassion but rests firmly upon a belief in the existence of God.

January 22 is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the day established by the Church of penance for abortion, has been formally named as the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 is to be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion. Today is the forty-first anniversary of the U. S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. The horror of a single human life being deliberately taking is compounded by the sanction of such an act by the government and so many of its politicians (many of whom assert that they are Catholics). The bishops of our nation have asked all Catholics to fast and do extra penance today as a small reparation for the millions of abortions committed in our country, and for the legal approval of these actions. Those who op...

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville  Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops elected Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky , as its next president. Archbishop Kurtz, 67, has served as the conference vice president since 2010. Judie Brown, cofounder of American Life League, the nation’s oldest Catholic pro-life group, issued this statement: “We humbly offer our prayers and support to His Excellency Archbishop Kurtz. He has a reputation as placing abortion, euthanasia, and other challenges to protecting the dignity of the human person at the forefront of his priorities as a teacher and shepherd. The fact that His Holiness Benedict XVI appointed this prelate encourages us. “With his experience in social programs, we hope that Archbishop Kurtz will take the reins of social justice programs at USCCB to advance this important work of the Church. His leadership in this area will ensure that social justice is not separated from social moral...

(Romereports.com) Pope Francis issued a message to the Knights of Columbus in light of their 131th Supreme Convention in San Antonio, Texas. The letter is directed to Carl A. Anderson, who serves as the Supreme Knight. In it, the Pope expressed his appreciation for the “ideals of faith and fraternity embodied by the Order, its commitment to the Church’s mission, and the many works of charity and evangelical witness.” Pope Francis also highlighted the role the Knights of Columbus play in helping Catholics as “protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.” He urged each Knight to “bear witness to the authentic nature of marriage and the family, the sanctity and inviolable dignity of human life, and the beauty and truth of human sexuality.” He also expressed his gratitude for the clear example of Faith the Knights of Columbus show each day.

It looks like this:

Pope Benedict XVI urged Catholic pharmacists to stop selling drugs that prevent pregnancy or assist in euthanasia. At the World Congress of the International Alliance of Catholic pharmacists in Poland, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged all the pharmacists not to deviate from their own consciences in the name of the market laws and reminded them that they must respect Church’s moral laws instead. He was referring to a medication that can terminate or prevent pregnancy and help with the execution of euthanasia. Read the rest of the article here.

Coach Dave Daubenmire interviews Alan Keyes 05/09/09 before being arrested at Notre Dame University in South Bend Indiana for a peaceful demonstration against abortion. This is an awesome interview!

Notre Dame response has updated their website with this breaking news: "We have received official permission to hold a prayerful and constructive demonstration on the South Quad of the University of Notre Dame between 11am and 4pm on the day of Commencement. The students of this coalition would like to extend an invitation to all those interested in joining us on campus on May 17th as we respectfully give witness to Notre Dame's Catholic identity and pro-life principles. An official schedule for this demonstration will be posted on NDResponse.com in the next 48 hours." ~ Via American Papist.

WHEREAS, trisomy is the presence, within a person’s cells, of an extra set of chromosomes instead of the regular two. WHEREAS, the most common trisomies in newborns are trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). WHEREAS, trisomy pregnancies can present unusual complications and can be more at-risk than non-trisomy pregnancies. WHEREAS, the life of every child is precious, regardless of the number of chromosomes he or she may possess. WHEREAS, parents should take advantage of the local support groups and online communities that offer education, encouragement, and counseling for those managing trisomy pregnancies or raising trisomy-affected children. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the state of Alaska, do hereby proclaim March 2009 as: Trisomy Awareness Month in Alaska, and give full support to raising awareness and education for all forms of trisomy, as well as efforts supporting families experiencing trisomy, and to helping p...

Via CNA: House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s photo-op with Pope Benedict XVI turned sour when the Pontiff used the 15-minute meeting to reaffirm the teachings of the Catholic Church on the right to life and the duty to protect the unborn. No photo of Nancy Pelosi and the Pope will be forthcoming, since the meeting was closed to reporters and photographers. The two met in a small room in the Vatican just after the Pope's weekly public audience. Immediately after the meeting, the Holy See’s press office released a statement saying, "following the general audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage." "His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the ...