Brown Pelican Society of Louisiana

As we approach the United States’ traditional holiday of Thanksgiving, moving toward the Christian, and very American, celebration of Christmas, I am seeing more uncertainty, sadness, and fear than I can recall previously in my own lifetime. I have to admit I experience these things myself. Many good people might think that I should be above and beyond such emotions. Perhaps, but we are all human, and for better or for worse we all experience emotions of different types and degrees.

With unemployment somewhere between 10-15% in the United States at the present time, depending upon which region of the country you reside in, one can understand the uncertainty, the sadness, and the fear. My Grandmother used to say, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” She had lived through the Great Depression, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam war. She could tell you stories about days that were not so prosperous, not so happy, not so totally filled with hope. Yet, the sun always eventually came out again.

Jesus often said things like “Fear is useless. What is needed is trust;” and “Let your hearts not be troubled..;” etc. We would do well to remember this at a time when it is often not easy to be certain, happy, and without anxiety and fear. I have recently lost my closest ally and co-worker in the history of my ministry. My God-daughter Tamra traveled well over a million miles with me, worked very hard, and enabled more than 300 events, often the only person working in my office and assisting me. Her husband Matt is mostly responsible for all of the videography and technological growth we have enjoyed. They are moving on to other things, and although my heart is broken at the loss, I can only wish them every blessing for the future. Their hard work and talent blessed millions of souls through the years. Sometimes it is brutally hard to go on, for all of us. Yet, time will go on with us or without us.

Change can be traumatic. Often the older you are, the harder it is to endure change. I am not good at it, I must admit. Look at what has happened to the United States in our lifetime. If you think the trend is positive, we’re on a far different page. Seemingly caught in a fog of indecision, poor leadership, and rapidly evaporating wealth, America is dying. The cause is moral, not economic. If we end up with the curse of socialism, know very well that it was because we refused to “repent and believe the Good News, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

Like so many other small businesses, our sales are at an all-time low, and although we are not a charity, many charities are about to wither up and die because support for them has likewise withered up and nearly died. Yet, what can good people do? They have to feed, clothe, and house their children and themselves before they can do anything else. Resources are shrinking. Needs are relentlessly constant….

…Hope is the key word in this little note to you. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches in paragraph #1817:

“Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.” “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23).

God bless you always,

Fr. John Corapi

SOURCE:  http://www.fathercorapi.com/Webpage.aspx?WebpageId=31&CategoryId=25&utm_source=email_marketing_system&utm_medium=email&utm_content=7417001&utm_campaign=Father%20Corapi%20Newsletter%20-%20From%20Thanksgiving%20to%20Christmas%3A%20A%20Message%20of%20Hope

Bishop Tobin to Congressman Patrick Kennedy: ‘What does it mean to be a Catholic?’

Rep. Patrick Kennedy / Bishop Thomas Tobin

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) – Among those Catholics in public life who openly defy the clear teaching of the Catholic Church concerning the inviolable dignity of every human life from conception to natural death is Representative Patrick Kennedy. The son of the late Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, he represents Rhode Island’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. The Congressman was to have had a meeting with his Bishop Thomas J. Tobin concerning his very public defiance on this matter, but that meeting has now been postponed at Kennedy’s request.

We bring to our readers the full text of a letter which Congressman Kennedy received from his Bishop, Thomas J. Tobin. This letter was in response to Kennedy’s public defiance against the truth revealed in the Natural Law, confirmed by science, affirmed in Scripture and the Tradition and taught infallibly by the Magisterium (teaching office) of the Catholic Church concerning the fundamental Human Right to Life. This matter recently surfaced when Kennedy publicly contended with the Church over the US Bishops’ heroic insistence that the proposed “Health Care Reform” which recently cleared the House not provide funding for abortion.

It passed only after the Pro-Life Amendment named after a faithful Catholic Democrat, Bart Stupak, corrected the lethal nature of its impact on our youngest neighbors in the womb. Kennedy and other Catholics such as Speaker Pelosi had simply lied when they said the legislation, prior to this essential Amendment, would not have had the effect of funding the killing of children in the womb with our tax dollars. The battle on this front is far from over.

As Catholics called to stand in solidarity with all the poor, including those whom Mother Teresa called the “poorest of the poor”, our youngest neighbors, we have had to contend with the lies of these Catholics for far too long. Patrick Kennedy is only one of too many. Kennedy told reporters on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 that he has postponed the meeting with his Bishop. He indicated he finds it “very disconcerting” that Bishop Tobin will not keep the content of their discussion “private”. This is, of course, one of the great subterfuges used by Catholics like Congressman Kennedy and others who openly defy the Church, cause scandal and confuse many in their perfidy.

What is different in this instance is the clear, courageous and commendable response of his Bishop, Thomas J. Tobin. He is using this as an opportunity to not only assist the Congressman by exposing his dangerous error and thereby assisting him to embrace the truth, but he is using it as an opportunity to stop this subterfuge before it continues to lead others astray.

He published his letter to the Congressman in the ”Rhode Island Catholic” in his regular column entitled “Without a Doubt” which can be found on the website of the “Rhode Island Catholic” at http://www.thericatholic.com/opinion/detail.html?sub_id=2632

******

Dear Congressman Kennedy

BY BISHOP THOMAS J. TOBIN

Since our recent correspondence has been rather public, I hope you don’t mind if I share a few reflections about your practice of the faith in this public forum. I usually wouldn’t do that – that is speak about someone’s faith in a public setting – but in our well-documented exchange of letters about health care and abortion, it has emerged as an issue. I also share these words publicly with the thought that they might be instructive to other Catholics, including those in prominent positions of leadership.

For the moment I’d like to set aside the discussion of health care reform, as important and relevant as it is, and focus on one statement contained in your letter of October 29, 2009, in which you write, “The fact that I disagree with the hierarchy on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic.” That sentence certainly caught my attention and deserves a public response, lest it go unchallenged and lead others to believe it’s true. And it raises an important question: What does it mean to be a Catholic?

“The fact that I disagree with the hierarchy on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic.”

Well, in fact, Congressman, in a way it does. Although I wouldn’t choose those particular words, when someone rejects the teachings of the Church, especially on a grave matter, a life-and-death issue like abortion, it certainly does diminish their ecclesial communion, their unity with the Church. This principle is based on the Sacred Scripture and Tradition of the Church and is made more explicit in recent documents.

For example, the “Code of Canon Law” says, “Lay persons are bound by an obligation and possess the right to acquire a knowledge of Christian doctrine adapted to their capacity and condition so that they can live in accord with that doctrine.” (Canon 229, #1)

The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” says this: “Mindful of Christ’s words to his apostles, ‘He who hears you, hears me,’ the faithful receive with docility the teaching and directives that their pastors give them in different forms.” (#87)

Or consider this statement of the Church: “It would be a mistake to confuse the proper autonomy exercised by Catholics in political life with the claim of a principle that prescinds from the moral and social teaching of the Church.” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2002)

There’s lots of canonical and theological verbiage there, Congressman, but what it means is that if you don’t accept the teachings of the Church your communion with the Church is flawed, or in your own words, makes you “less of a Catholic.”

But let’s get down to a more practical question; let’s approach it this way: What does it mean, really, to be a Catholic? After all, being a Catholic has to mean something, right?

Well, in simple terms – and here I refer only to those more visible, structural elements of Church membership – being a Catholic means that you’re part of a faith community that possesses a clearly defined authority and doctrine, obligations and expectations. It means that you believe and accept the teachings of the Church, especially on essential matters of faith and morals; that you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish; that you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly; that you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually and financially.

Congressman, I’m not sure whether or not you fulfill the basic requirements of being a Catholic, so let me ask:

• Do you accept the teachings of the Church on essential matters of faith and morals, including our stance on abortion?
• Do you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish?
• Do you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly?
• Do you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually and financially?

In your letter you say that you “embrace your faith.” Terrific. But if you don’t fulfill the basic requirements of membership, what is it exactly that makes you a Catholic? Your baptism as an infant? Your family ties? Your cultural heritage?

Your letter also says that your faith “acknowledges the existence of an imperfect humanity.” Absolutely true. But in confronting your rejection of the Church’s teaching, we’re not dealing just with “an imperfect humanity” – as we do when we wrestle with sins such as anger, pride, greed, impurity or dishonesty. We all struggle with those things, and often fail.

Your rejection of the Church’s teaching on abortion falls into a different category – it’s a deliberate and obstinate act of the will; a conscious decision that you’ve re-affirmed on many occasions. Sorry, you can’t chalk it up to an “imperfect humanity.” Your position is unacceptable to the Church and scandalous to many of our members. It absolutely diminishes your communion with the Church.

Congressman Kennedy, I write these words not to embarrass you or to judge the state of your conscience or soul. That’s ultimately between you and God. But your description of your relationship with the Church is now a matter of public record, and it needs to be challenged. I invite you, as your bishop and brother in Christ, to enter into a sincere process of discernment, conversion and repentance.

It’s not too late for you to repair your relationship with the Church, redeem your public image, and emerge as an authentic “profile in courage,” especially by defending the sanctity of human life for all people, including unborn children. And if I can ever be of assistance as you travel the road of faith, I would be honored and happy to do so.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of Providence

******

We thank Bishop Thomas Tobin for his clarity, courage and the genuine pastoral concern shown toward Congressman Kennedy. We also thank the Bishop for his uncompromising defense of those whose lives are threatened by the continued rebellion of too many Catholics in public life who openly reject the truth,confusing many in the process and causing serious scandal.

We ask our readers to pray that Congressman Kennedy would prayerfully receive this loving and needed correction and then reschedule his meeting with this good Shepherd. We also ask our readers to increase their prayer for all of our Bishops as they continue to contend for the truth about life and pastor the flock of God entrusted to them.

http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=34816

By Kathleen Gilbert, November 24, 2009, LifeSiteNews.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Rasmussen poll released Monday revealed support for President Obama’s health care overhaul at an all-time low, with only 38% of respondents favoring the Democrats’ plan, and 56% opposed. 

The health care numbers were the lowest of the nearly two dozen Rasmussen tracking polls conducted since June, which had not dipped below 41% support.  Rasmussen also reports that the survey, which was ongoing during Saturday’s procedural vote on the measure in the Senate, showed a slight decrease in support following the vote. Continue reading →

….Matthews’ behavior is just the worst of what is being directed toward Tobin and the bishops in general by the mainstream media . . . Dr. Deal Hudson: ‘I’m sure Bishop Tobin isn’t the least bit intimidated by what happened on Hardball….

By Deal W. Hudson, Ph.D., Inside Catholic, 11/25/2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Inside Catholic) – From all the various attacks on the Catholic bishops in the past week, including the startling outburst of irrationality from Chris Matthews, I have come to the conclusion the Democrats are itching for a showdown.
http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=34914

Readers should take a look at Bill Donohue’s take on the Matthews “interview” with Bishop Tobin. I especially like this comment:

“No non-Catholic would ever treat a bishop this way. But too many liberal Catholics, especially Irish Catholics, think they are exempt from the same standards of civility that apply to others. They are flatly wrong.”

Matthews’ behavior is just the worst of what is being directed toward Tobin and the bishops in general by the mainstream media.

This concerted attack leads me to view the decision of Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) to reveal the request from Bishop Tobin that he not present himself for communion as calculated and premeditated, rather than spontaneous, as I first thought.

As I explained to Dylan Ratigan on his MSNBC show yesterday, the bishops are huge supporters of the public option aspect of the health care bill, a fact which is being overlooked in the liberal protest against their refusal to acquiese on abortion funding.

The viciousness and pervasiveness of the attack on the Catholic bishops, who are usually looked upon as allies by the political left — think of immigration and the Iraq War, to take two recent issues — demonstrates, once again, how much abortion advocacy is a first principle of most leftwing thinking.

I’m sure Bishop Tobin isn’t the least bit intimidated by what happened on “Hardball.” He is asking himself why he went on the show in the first place, especially if someone on his staff told him it was a good idea.

Why are so many bishops so hesitant to just say it like it is?

“It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage, and such only, as he believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent both in order of time and degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.”

–James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance, 1785

http://patriotpost.us/

Today’s stories:

Bishop vs. Politician;

 Manhattan Declaration causes waves;

Obama’s Abortion Double-cross;

Anglican’s head challenges Pope;

New Shroud of Turin research

Read the Manhattan Declaration and sign on to it

By Patrick B. Craine, November 24, 2009, LifeSiteNews.com

LINCOLN, Nebraska – Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska explained in an interview with LifeSiteNews.com today his reasons for dropping the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) collection in his diocese, saying that CCHD head Bishop Roger Morin was “a little bit too dismissive” of concerns brought against the organization.

Bishop Bruskewitz is one of four bishops confirmed so far to have chosen not to take up the collection this year for the national CCHD, the USCCB’s domestic anti-poverty arm.

“We question the ideology of [CCHD],” the bishop explained in the interview, “and … we are shocked at the scandalous participation with the ACORN organization and also the participation with other organizations of questionable moral values or standards.”

The organization came under fire in the months leading up to this past weekend’s national collection due to reports documenting how numerous grantees have promoted or are promoting activities contrary to Church teaching, including abortion, contraception, and same-sex “marriage.” In fact, the Reform CCHD Now coalition announced last week that $1.3 million is allocated to questionable groups.  Additionally, critics have charged CCHD with favoring “left-leaning” groups in the spirit of infamous community organizer Saul Alinksy.

CCHD ceased funding ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), a liberal network of community activism groups, last year due to concerns about “financial management” and “political partisanship.”  CCHD had given ACORN over $7 million in grants during the previous ten years.  ACORN came under renewed scrutiny this year after sting operations caught several ACORN offices condoning child prostitution and sex trafficking. 

“It’s so extremely controversial,” the bishop said about CCHD.  There have been “many negative resonances about it from people throughout the diocese and beyond the diocese,” he said, adding that the “controversial character made it appear that [CCHD] was not effective” in meeting its purposes.

His diocese doesn’t “rule [CCHD] out entirely,” he said, but he would only reconsider the collection if there were “some changes in the organization itself, or its purposes, or its goals.”

The collection “served very little purpose for us,” he said, noting that the Lincoln diocese has not received funds from CCHD.  “We do have a very extensive Catholic Social Services, St. Vincent de Paul activity here in the diocese,” he said, “which supplies the needs of those who are impoverished, of those who need assistance to come out of poverty.”

Bishop Roger Morin, chairman of the USCCB’s subcommittee on the CCHD, delivered a passionate plea in defense of the organization at last week’s USCCB plenary meeting.  While pledging their commitment to ensure grantees’ respect for Catholic teaching, he decried the “outrageous” allegations made by CCHD’s critics that it funds pro-abortion or anti-family organizations.

But Bishop Bruskewitz expressed displeasure with Bishop Morin’s report, saying the bishop did not adequately consider the criticisms brought against the CCHD.

“I didn’t think [the report] took into account sufficiently the negatives that have been bantered about with regard to the organization,” he said.  He said Bishop Morin was “obviously defending the organization he had been involved in different areas,” and now for which he’s the chairman.

The report, further, “lacked some of the interests” that concerned people “have brought to the fore,” he said.  “I think he was perhaps a little bit too dismissive of them.”

Nevertheless, he maintained that he has “no objection” to people supporting CCHD should they choose.  If “people [who] like this organization … want to send money to it, even from my diocese, they can,” he said.  “But I’m not going to take up the collection.”
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Four US Bishops Did Not Take up Collection for Embattled CCHD
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/nov/09112305.html

$1.3 Million in CCHD Funds Going to Questionable Groups: Reform Coalition
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/nov/09112306.html

SOURCE: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/nov/09112410.html

Father Edward McIlmail, LC

Luke 21:12-19Jesus said to his disciples: “Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

Introductory Prayer: Jesus my Savior, thank you for another day and another chance to grow in holiness with your grace. I love you and wish to make you the true center of my thoughts, desires and actions.

Petition: Lord, help me face the difficulties of practicing my faith day-to-day.

1. Persecution Opposition from the world is the price we pay for following Christ. No pain, no gain. Why should that surprise us? If living the Gospel were easy, all the world would be saints. But the Gospel is demanding. It rubs against our fallen human nature. It demands of us — and even makes us unpopular. Why? Because people who do good are a thorny reminder to those who don´t. It shouldn´t surprise us that the neighbors look down on us for having so many kids. Or that the guys in the dorm snicker at us for living chastely. Or that the boss overlooks us for a promotion because we wouldn´t donate to that pro-abortion group last Christmas during the company fund drive. Do I realize that to be a Christian is to be persecuted?

2. No Defense When Christ tells us not to prepare our defense he´s not telling us to sit back and do nothing. Rather, he wants us to use our talents for the Kingdom. Christ is inviting us to trust that ultimately the victory of good over evil belongs to him. God has his time and place for everything. In the meantime we are called to build the Kingdom wherever we can — in our families, our offices, our schools, our communities. How am I building the Kingdom in the areas around me?

3. Wisdom from Above “I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking .…” When we stay close to Christ in prayer and deed, he takes over our lives little by little. And that´s good. Our selfishness fades. Our heart grows. We die to ourselves. “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). But we have to ask ourselves: Do we really<i/> believe in the Gospel? Do we believe in it enough to use Christ´s words when we have to respond to the nonbelievers around us? How often do we identify ourselves as Catholic in public?

Conversation with Christ: Lord, you know it´s not easy to be seen as your friend. People laugh at us — if they don´t feel sorry for us. They don´t understand where we are coming from. Help me understand some of the loneliness you must have felt when you went against the world´s standards. Help me be faithful to you regardless of the cost.

Resolution: In conversation or in an e-mail I will use a line of Christ’s wisdom from the Gospel.http://www.regnumchristi.org/english/articulos/articulo.phtml?se=363&ca=975&te=735&id=20302

By Karen Schuberg, CNSNews, November 24, 2009


Musician Jon Bon Jovi, right, and Cardinal Justin Rigali appear at a news conference on Wednesday, July, 8, 2009. (AP photo)

 (CNSNews.com) -  A top Roman Catholic cardinal told CNSNews.com that there is “no way” Catholic members of Congress can support the Senate health care reform bill as long as it includes a provision that allows tax dollars to go to insurance plans that cover abortion. 
 
At the National Press Club on Nov. 20, CNSNews.com asked Cardinal Justin Rigali, the archbishop of Philadelphia: “The Senate health care bill that Majority Leader Reid released this week permits tax dollars to go to insurance plans which cover abortion.  And my question is: Would it be a mortal sin for a Catholic member of Congress to vote for this bill knowing that this provision is in it?”

“Well, first of all,” Rigali responded, “the Catholic Church and, therefore, individual Catholics, are completely against abortion. So our position is that, first of all, a health care bill can be a great, great blessing to our country. The bishops of the United States have been in favor, for long years, in favor of universal, affordable health care for everyone. So this, this is something that is extremely important.
 
“But we make a distinction between health care and killing,” Rigali continued. “So abortion is out of the question–as we’ve spoken about the value of human life. And everyone is called upon to do everything possible to see that when we are trying to get laudable health care—and that’s what we hope to get—laudable health care, but certainly abortion will be excluded from that.  So we exhort everyone of good will that this is for the good of our country. This is for the good of individuals. We have to make sure that health care doesn’t end up as killing. So everyone is challenged to make his or her contribution, and we’re counting on legislators to make sure this is not part of what is going to rule the lives of people.”
 
When asked in a follow-up question whether it would be a mortal or venial sin, or not sinful at all, for a Catholic member of Congress to vote for the health care bill knowing that it would provide tax dollars to health insurance plans that cover abortion, Rigali said that people need to follow a well-formed conscience, and that a well-formed conscience would recognize that abortion is “absolutely wrong” and that there is “no way in the world” a health care bill can be supported if it includes a provision allowing tax dollars to go to abortion coverage.
 
“People have to follow their conscience, but their conscience has to be well-formed,” said Rigali. “And you have to make sure that when it is a question of doing something that has a provision, if it has a provision in it for abortion, then this is absolutely wrong by every standard and not by the standards of the Catholic Church as you see here today.  It’s the standards of Christian, standards of the natural law. 
 
“Everyone is called. Yes, no, any bill, any bill that has abortion in it is in our opinion to be rejected,” Rigali continued. “But keep in mind that health reform as such is a wonderful, wonderful thing. But a bill that includes it, there’s no way in the world that it can be supported and if it comes down to that.  Once again we have the coming down as we examined in other questions. If it comes down to that, then we would urge, urge, a rejection because health reform is necessary, it has to be reformed, and it can’t be killing.” Here is a transcript of the exchange between CNSNews.com and Cardinal Justin Rigali:
 
CNSNews.com:  “The Senate health care bill that Majority Leader Reid released this week permits tax dollars to go to insurance plans which cover abortion. And my question is: would it be a mortal sin for a Catholic member of Congress to vote for this bill knowing that this provision is in it?”
 
Cardinal Rigali:  “Well, first of all, the Catholic Church and, therefore, individual Catholics, are completely against abortion. So our position is that, first of all, a health care bill can be a great, great blessing to our country. The bishops of the United States have been in favor, for long years, in favor of universal, affordable health care for everyone. So this, this is something that is extremely important.
 
“But we make a distinction between health care and killing. So abortion is out of the question, as we’ve spoken about the value of human life. And everyone is called upon to do everything possible to see that when we are trying to get laudable health care—and that’s what we hope to get—laudable health care, but certainly abortion will be excluded from that.  So we exhort everyone of good will that this is for the good of our country. This is for the good of individuals.     We have to make sure that health care doesn’t end up as killing. So everyone is challenged to make his or her contribution, and we’re counting on legislators to make sure this is not part of what is going to rule the lives of people.”
 
CNSNews.com: “All right.  So would it be a mortal sin or a venial sin or even sinful at all for a Catholic lawmaker to vote in favor of a bill that still has that provision in it that would cover abortions?”
 
Cardinal Rigali: “People have to follow their conscience, but their conscience has to be well-formed. And you have to make sure that when it is a question of doing something that has a provision, if it has a provision in it for abortion, then this is absolutely wrong by every standard and not by the standards of the Catholic Church as you see here today.  It’s the standards of Christian, standards of the natural law. 
 
“Everyone is called. Yes, no, any bill, any bill that has abortion in it is in our opinion to be rejected. But keep in mind that health reform as such is a wonderful, wonderful thing. But a bill that includes it, there’s no way in the world that it can be supported and if it comes down to that.  Once again we have the coming down as we examined in other questions. If it comes down to that, then we would urge, urge, a rejection because health reform is necessary, it has to be reformed, and it can’t be killing.” 

 

Baby at 5 months gestation

Rigali, the archbishop of Philadelphia, is also the chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee for Pro-life Activities.The USCCB, which speaks for approximately 300 active bishops in the United States and is headed by Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, has sent several letters to members of Congress urging lawmakers to bar taxpayer-funding of abortion in health-care reform bills. On July 17, for example, the USCCB sent a letter to all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, saying, “We have in the past and we must always insist that health care reform exclude abortion coverage or any other provisions that threaten the sanctity of life… No health care reform plan should compel us or others to pay for the destruction of human life, whether through government funding or mandatory coverage of abortion.” 
 
The letter was signed by Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, chairman of the Domestic Justice Committee.
 
On August 11, Rigali sent congressional representatives a letter to underscore the USCCB’s July 17 letter to Congress, writing, “Much-needed reform must not become a vehicle for promoting an ‘abortion rights’ agenda or reversing longstanding policies against federal funding and mandated coverage of abortion.”
 
On Sept. 30, the USCCB called on senators to bar federal funding of abortion in health care reform, saying, “We urge you to … support a fair and just health care reform bill that excludes mandated coverage for abortion and upholds longstanding laws that restrict abortion funding and protect conscience rights.  No one should be required to pay for or participate in abortion.  It is essential to clearly include longstanding and widely supported federal restrictions on abortion funding/mandates and protections for rights of conscience.” 
 
The letter continued, “So far, the health reform bills considered in committee, including the new Senate Finance Committee bill, have not met President Obama’s challenge of barring use of federal dollars for abortion and maintaining current conscience laws.  These deficiencies must be corrected.” 
 
The Sept. 30 letter was signed by Murphy, Rigali, and Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the Committee on Migration.
 
On Oct. 8, the USCCB sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives, saying, “We continue to urge you to … exclude mandated coverage for abortion, and incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights.  No one should be required to pay for or participate in an abortion.  It is essential that the legislation clearly apply to this new program longstanding and widely supported federal restrictions on abortion funding and mandates, and protections for rights of conscience.”
 
The bishops added that they “will have to oppose the health care bill vigorously” if safeguards against federal funding of abortion are not realized. The letter was signed by Murphy, Rigali, and Wester.
 
On Nov. 6, the USCCB sent an urgent message to House members, imploring lawmakers to “support an amendment to keep in place current federal law on abortion funding and conscience protections and to oppose a closed rule that would prevent the House from voting on this crucial matter.” 
 
“Without such protection we will have to oppose the current legislation until this fundamental flaw is remedied,” wrote Bishops Murphy, Rigali, and Wester.
 
Pastors of all the Catholic churches across the nation also were called upon by the USCCB to do their part to resist federal funding of abortion in health-care reform.  On Oct. 29, the USCCB sent bulletin inserts to almost 19,000 parishes, the same day the House of Representatives unveiled its 1,990-page health care plan. The insert was headlined, “Tell Congress:  Remove Abortion Funding & Mandates from Needed Health Care Reform.”
 
The insert further urged parishioners to contact House members and senators to address conscience protection concerns and to “fix these bills with pro-life amendments” to ensure federal funds are not used to cover abortion through the health care bill.
 
“Health care reform should be about saving lives, not destroying them,” read the insert.
 
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the USCCB, issued a statement on Nov. 9 in which he praised and thanked the House of Representatives for passing the Stupak amendment, which bars federal money from going to elective abortions.
 
The Stupak amendment, sponsored by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.), would prohibit federal funds from paying for any part of any health insurance plan that covers abortion. It passed in the House on a bipartisan vote of 240 to 194, after heavy lobbying by pro-lifers, including staff from the USCCB, and after Stupak and at least 40 other Democrats threatened to kill the health care bill unless allowed a vote on the amendment.
 
In passing the Stupak amendment, “the Representatives honored President Obama’s commitment to the Congress and the nation that health care reform would not become a vehicle for expanding abortion funding or mandates,” wrote Cardinal George.
 
“The Conference [USCCB] will remain vigilant and involved throughout this entire process to assure that these essential provisions are maintained and included in the final legislation,” he said.
 
At the National Press Club, Rigali spoke alongside other prominent Christian clergymen and scholars about the release of the Manhattan Declaration, a statement that proclaims the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and religious liberty. 
 
Those in attendance included Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C.; Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr. of Hope Christian Church; Prof. Robert George of Princeton University; George Weigel, distinguished senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and founding president of the James Madison Foundation; Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council; and Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family.

Rev. Robert A. Sirico, president of the Action Institute, which seeks to promote Judeo-Christian ideas with free market principles, attended the event at the National Press Club where CNSNews.com asked Cardinal Rigali about the sinfulness of a Catholic member of Congress voting for a health care reform bill that funds abortion. Fr. Sirico offered commentary on the cardinal’s answer.

“When you ask if something is a mortal sin or a venial sin, you’re asking a question with regard to the individual act,” said Fr. Sirico.

Fr. Sirico drew a distinction between the objective moral status of an act and the subjective moral culpability of the person who commits it.

“When we’re talking about the broad morality of the thing, we’re talking about as it exists in natural law,” he said.  Abortion and funding abortion violate the natural law and are gravely immoral. But for a person to commit a mortal sin, Sirico said, three conditions must be met: the act must be gravely wrong, the person must know it is gravely wrong, and the person must deliberately choose to do it.

“So, the reason the cardinal seemed like he wasn’t answering the question directly is because you can’t judge this along every congressperson, because it depends on their individual knowledge and their individual act of free will,” Sirico said.

“And so, it is grave, and if a person knows that it’s grave, and acts upon it freely, they may have committed a mortal sin,” he said.
 
The Catholic Catechism says: “For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: ‘Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: ‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother. The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger. Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin.

Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense. But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man.”

 

….Matthews showed how inept he is as an interviewer,
how misinformed he is as a Catholic,
how rude he is as a person and
how threatened he is by the Moral truth . . .
Matthews feigned respect by repeatedly calling the Bishop “Your Excellency”, but his manner of proceeding revealed he has no respect for the Office. Matthews, a professing Catholic, also does not understand his own faith. He does not understand that his own Church’s unwavering opposition to the taking of all innocent human life at every age and stage is the ground of every social justice issue….

By Deacon Keith Fournier, Catholic Online, 11/24/2009


Chris Matthews should be fired for his offensive and impolite Interview of Bishop Thomas Tobin. Then, he should sign up for the Right of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and learn the Catholic faith all over again.

 MSNBC News: (212) 664-4444

Monday, November 23, 2009Tobin Does the Thunderdome

Amid the recent escalation of his monthlong public dispute with Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy given the latter’s pro-abortion rights stance and panning of the church’s engagement in the health-care reform debate, Bishop Thomas Tobin

of Providence made his highest-profile media turn to date, appearing on MSNBC’s Hardball earlier tonight.

Be advised that, as the segment begins with a clip of the (in)famous “Houston speech”

given by the eight-term Democrat’s uncle during his historic run for the Presidency, Chris Matthews’ intended trajectory presents itself even before he starts yelling….

That said, here below, the full vid:

SOURCE:  http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/

“Wish not so much to live long as to live well.”

–Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1746

http://patriotpost.us/

By Patrick B. Craine, November 23, 2009, LifeSiteNews.com

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – While many U.S. bishops have publicly acknowledged problems with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) has confirmed that at least four bishops opted to not take up this year’s national collection.

A controversy has erupted in the U.S. Church in recent weeks after evidence came to light showing that numerous CCHD grantees have promoted issues and practices in violation of Catholic teaching, including abortion, contraception, and same-sex “marriage.”  In response to the revelations a coalition of Catholic organizations, the Reform CCHD Now Coalition, formed, calling for a boycott of the November 21-22 national CCHD collection.

Shortly thereafter Bishop Roger Morin, chairman of the USCCB’s subcommittee on the CCHD, delivered a passionate plea to the bishops’ plenary meeting last week, pledging the CCHD’s commitment to ensure grantees’ respect for Catholic teaching.

Nevertheless, at least four bishops will not contribute to the national CCHD fund this year: Bishop John O. Barres of Allentown, Pennsylvania; Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska; Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, Wisconsin; and Bishop Robert J. Baker of Birmingham, Alabama.

Bishop Barres has suspended the collection for this year, though he may continue it in future years, said diocesan communications director Matthew Kerr in an interview with LSN.  Kerr said that Bishop Barres gave no reason for the suspension and also that, as a new bishop, he is “reviewing a lot of things.”

Further, Bishop Bruskewitz has chosen not to take part in the CCHD collection, says diocesan chancellor Fr. Daniel Rayer.  It had normally been included in a combined collection, he said, but they have now dropped it for the first time.  Bishop Bruskewitz was not available to comment further today.

As he did last year, Bishop Morlino chose to allocate the national campaign’s portion of the collection to a different cause.  Last year, the funds were sent to the Hurricane Ike recovery fund, and this year he allocated the contributions to the Little Sisters of the Poor, who have an international outreach to the elderly.

In a November 11th letter to the faithful of his diocese, Bishop Morlino assured them that the diocesan portion would continue to support “important tasks of assisting the poor of our own diocese.”

He insisted, however, that their money would not be allowed to support groups violating Church teaching.  “In light of recent discussions and protests regarding money from CCHD going to fund ACORN and other entities which do not uphold, and sometimes act in opposition to, the teachings of the Church,” he said, “I feel it necessary to make clear that your money will not go to such groups.”

According to CCHD policy, every funded group must be vetted by the local bishop.  Of the collected funds, however, 25 percent remains in the diocese, while 75 percent goes to the national fund, which is then distributed to grantees throughout the nation.  So while a local bishop has control over which groups are funded in his own diocese, if his diocese contributes to the national fund he cannot personally ensure that the funds go only to grantees that are in line with Church teaching.

Bishop Baker held his second annual collection for the Church of Latin America in lieu of the CCHD collection.  In a November 6th letter, he informed the faithful of this collection for November 21-22 and extolled the good work brought about in the past by American Catholics’ donations to Latin America.

At the end, he wrote: “The offertory envelopes you have may include an envelope for ‘Catholic Campaign for Human Development,’ instead of the ‘Church in Latin America.’  If this is the case, just cross out the ‘Campaign’ name, and write in ‘Church in Latin America’ for this year.”

Stephen Phelan, communications manager for Human Life International, and spokesman for Reform CCHD Now, said he was “pleased” at the leadership exercised by these bishops.  “Of course we’re pleased that some bishops have chosen to suspend their support of the CCHD until serious reforms are made, or until they are sure that the groups they support do not oppose the Church in any way,” he commented.  “These are positive developments, and very much in keeping with the call of our shepherds to lead their flocks in service and in truth.”
 
“We continue to watch for major reforms at the national level, and stand ready to support the CCHD should these reforms happen,” he stated.  “We continue to pray that these reforms will take place and that the CCHD can be a cause that unifies Catholics instead of one that divides us.”
 

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

CCHD in Archdiocese of Chicago Says it is Working to Fix Problems 

CCHD Responds to Reform Movement

SOURCE: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/nov/09112305.html

Father Edward McIlmail, LC

Luke 21:5-11

While some people were speaking about how the Temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here — the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ´I am he,´ and ´The time has come.´ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this special time I have with you. It´s one of the few calm moments of the day. Your presence reassures me that I don´t have to endure the trials of the day alone. You are my strength and my peace. I wish to abide in your love.

Petition: Jesus, help me to keep hoping despite the crises in my life.

1. Temple of Doom For the Jews, the Temple in Jerusalem was the center of religious and cultural life. It contained the Holy of Holies, the sanctuary that once housed the Ark of the Covenant. The people were proud of the Temple, but Jesus warns them that the day will arrive when it will be destroyed (as indeed it was, in A.D. 70). Yet the end of the Temple will not be the end of religion. Jesus himself will remain with us, as he does to this day, in the Eucharist. Likewise, no matter what else passes away — our house, our office, our school — Christ remains. Does that belief fill me with confidence?

2. Be Not Deceived Jesus doesn´t directly answer the question about when the Temple will be destroyed. Rather, he tries to get his listeners to focus on what is really important: their faith. Our Lord warns them not to listen to the wrong people. Throughout the course of a normal day, to whom do we listen? Whose voices are on our radios, our TV sets? Who really has our ear day–by-day? Worldly talk-show hosts? The news media´s “instant experts”? MTV gurus? Jesus cautions us that the people we listen to might affect the quality of our lives — and the quality of our eternity. Do I judge carefully, then, the voices I listen to?

3. Do Not Be Terrified Tsunamis, floods, terrorist attacks, wars, abortion, euthanasia — is the world a nicer place today than in Jesus´ time? Our Lord was no stranger to bad news. He knew about the tower in Siloam that killed 18 people (see Luke 13:4) — and he knew what awaited him on Good Friday. Yet he always remained hopeful and encouraged the best in people. As his followers, we too must be witnesses to hope. We need to brighten the lives of those around us. More importantly we need to remind others that God will win in the end. “Good, not evil, has the last word,” Pope John Paul II told the general audience of Oct. 17, 2001, “God triumphs over the hostile powers, even when they seem great and invincible.”

Conversation with Christ: Lord, I know in my mind that you will win in the end. If only my heart would believe that, too! Grant me this grace. Grant that my life will show that kind of optimism at every moment.

Resolution: I will make a small sacrifice or offer up a special prayer for someone suffering today.

http://www.regnumchristi.org/english/articulos/articulo.phtml?se=363&ca=975&te=735&id=20302

Passing major legislation on Saturday night is a symptom of Potomac Fever

http://patriotpost.us/edition/2009/11/23/brief/

CCHD: Does it really stand for “the Catholic Campaign to Help Democrats”?

See all the videos on this subject
http://www.realcatholictv.net/defundcchd/

Glenn Beck: Education is key, and not just for our children. To that end, we will be conducting a series of conventions. These will be full-day experiences where you will be immersed in learning about topics ranging from self-reliance, community organizing, the economy and how to be a political force in your own neighborhood and country. The first one will be in Orlando at UCF Arena on March 27th.