St Michael Society

Category Archives: prolife

New “Morning After” Takes Life Up to Five Days After Conception

June 18, 2010

Please join us in supporting this petition drive by Students for Life. The FDA Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs just approved what they claim is a contraceptive drug, ella. But the ella drug is more than a contraceptive drug, it is also a pill which destroys the life of a human embryo.

Read more below from Students for Life and please sign the petition.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Lucy McVicker, 703-351-6280, lmcvicker@studentsforlife.org

SFLA Reaction and Petition Against FDA Approval of New Abortifacient Drug
www.ellacausesabortions.com

Arlington, VA – On June 17th, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs approved “ella”, a dangerous abortifacient drug, for sale within the U.S. The drug now goes before the FDA for final approval.

While being billed as a contraceptive pill, “ella” does not only prevent conception from occurring but it can also terminate the life of an existing human embryo. Women can take the drug up to five days after intercourse, well after life has been created. Because “ella” blocks the progesterone receptors needed for the continued development of the human embryo, “ella” causes an abortion if taken after conception occurs. This makes “ella” an abortion drug, not a contraceptive drug.

Kristan Hawkins, SFLA’s Executive Director, stated, “Because of the deceptive tactics by Planned Parenthood and their abortion industry allies, many women will take this drug thinking it will only prevent pregnancy. However, if they take it after fertilization – when a new human life, separate from the mother and father is created – ‘ella’ will cause an immediate abortion.”

In response to the FDA Advisory Committee’s decision of this new super-abortifacent, Students for Life of America has launched a petition, www.ellacausesabortions.com, against the FDA decision, addressed to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. “We want the Secretary to know that pro-life Americans will not tolerate these new life destroying and deceptive tactics from the abortion industry,” said Kristan Hawkins.

Students for Life of America is a non-profit organization dedicated to equipping the pro-life generation with the resources they need to end abortion in America. Since launching its historic Field Program in 2006, SFLA has helped start over 350 new student pro-life organizations and trained thousands of pro-life students. For more information on SFLA, please visit www.studentsforlife.org.

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Students for Life of America
4141 N. Henderson Rd., Suite 7
Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: 703.351.6280 Fax: 866.582.6420
www.studentsforlife.org

Also posted in abortion, contraception, Healthcare – 0 Comments

Andrea Bocelli: Almost Aborted, Devout Catholic

June 4, 2010

Award-winning pro-life blogger Jill Stanek has posted a great piece “Almost Aborted: Tenor Andrea Bocelli .” Her story links to video of the esteemed opera singer sharing his personal connection to abortion, which is both moving and beautiful:

This is a powerful reminder that every life truly is special and worth fighting for despite difficulty, pain, risk and even “expert” opinion. I’m inspired by Mrs. Bocelli having the courage to continue with her pregnancy even while knowing her child may have a severe disability. Only God could have foreseen that her child would bring so much joy – to her and to millions of people around the globe – through the gift of his voice.

It’s sad to think of how many people like Andrea we are missing today because parents feared a disability for their child and thought it was better to abort. There are so many friends, colleagues and family members we should have in our lives, but don’t. Let Andrea’s story inspire those facing difficult pregnancies, and remind us to encourage and support those who parent children with disabilities. God blesses each child with gifts, talents and the ability to touch so many lives regardless of their ability or disability.

This isn’t the first time Bocelli has publicly stood for what he believes in. As a devout Catholic, he declined the invitation from friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holms to sing in their wedding ceremony in 2007 because of his faith. He attended the post-ceremony festivities, but did not join them for the Scientology wedding “because I’m Catholic. I didn’t think it was respectful for my religion to be there.”

What a class act. Bocelli follows his faith and his heart in a respectful yet assertive way. Hollywood could stand to benefit from a whole lot more than singing lessons from him.

Also posted in abortion, catholic, Catholic art, Catholic culture, Catholic Life, Catholic Moment – 0 Comments

Earth Day: Nature’s Greatest Gift

April 22, 2010

UPDATE: The Daily Caller published an opinion piece by St Michael Society editor Patrick Looby on this ad campaign. Check it out here.

CatholicVote.org has created another masterpiece to commemorate Earth Day and celebrate what should be considered our world’s greatest natural resource … people!

Rock star pro-life blogger Jill Stanek shares which cities it is running in here and deems the organization “ever-hip” and “ever-relevant.” Watch the YouTube video capturing the reactions from those in Chicago who have already experienced the campaign firsthand.

Hats off to you, CatholicVote.org!

Also posted in abortion, catholic, Catholic culture, Catholic Life, Catholic Moment, Healthcare, personhood – 1 Comment

Miracles: New Book Documents Visions, Miracles Through Humble Priest

April 14, 2010

Remember the many miracles Jesus performed in his 33 years on earth as revealed in the Bible? And when He promised the gift of miracles would persist in the Church (Mark 16:17 )?

According to the humble priest and author of a new book – whom several of the St. Michael Society editors have had the priviledge to know – miracles were not just made manifest in the days of old; Jesus is performing them through believers in this very day in age. Fr. Stefan Starzynski shares:

I personally believe that Jesus never intended his miracles to lessen or cease, but we slowly began to accept the idea that miracles are rare in the Church; they are usually associated with very holy men and women or holy places like Lourdes, France,” Father Stefan shared. ” With this belief, came a reduction in the number of miracles. Many people conclude that because I am not a saint, Jesus would not work a miracle through me. I believe that Jesus is once again moving his hand to work great signs and wonders among his people to awaken a skeptical age.

Read about Fr. Stefan’s new book Miracles: Healing for a Broken World below. We’d highly recommend this moving and inspirational book as a gift or personal read. Visit Amazon.com or call 1-800-348-2440 to purchase a copy.

MIRACLE STORIES, VISIONS DOCUMENTED IN NEW BOOK INSPIRE RENEWAL OF FAITH AND HOPE FOR MANY

NEW BOOK SHOWS HOW GOD AND THE BLESSED MOTHER WORK THROUGH A HUMBLE PRIEST

WASHINGTON, DC – “The existential miracles that have happened through Father Stefan have become a new flame of hope set to rekindle the mind of the contemporary Christian and a world in desperate need of hope.” So writes Reverend Father Boniface Ewah in his brilliant introduction to a new book by Father Stefan Starzynski titled: Miracles: Healing for a Broken World (Published by Our Sunday Visitor).

The book not only documents how God is working through Father Stefan, who worked closely for months with Blessed Mother Theresa, it also demonstrates the amazing power of prayer and faith that is often lacking in today’s modern society. Indeed Father Stefan reveals how prayer and faith are unequivocally linked to the various miracles Father Stefan outlines in the book supported by full and beautiful, if not heart wrenching, testimonials from the various individuals on the receiving end of these miracles.

Through prayer, faith and his increasingly popular Healing Mass, Father Stefan recounts numerous stories ranging from the healing of the sick, including babies, to miraculous events that occurred on his ordination day to the death of a newborn baby that through prayers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe inspired the Paul Stefan Homes for Expectant Mothers . Father also addresses visions he has received that have lead to miraculous events all of which are supported by the witnesses themselves in subsequent chapters at the end of the book, titled “Testimonials.”

Writing in his book, Father Stefan uses Church history and tradition to help readers understand the concept of miracles in every day life. “Why are miracles important? We live in an unbelieving time. It is readily accepted that God worked miracles in the early Church to convert Pagan Rome and to establish his Church.”

“I personally believe that Jesus never intended his miracles to lessen or cease, but we slowly began to accept the idea that miracles are rare in the Church; they are usually associated with very holy men and women or holy places like Lourdes, France. With this belief, came a reduction in the number of miracles. Many people conclude that because I am not a saint, Jesus would not work a miracle through me. I believe that Jesus is once again moving his hand to work great signs and wonders among his people to awaken a skeptical age.” In reading Miracles: Healing for a Broken World, few will disagree.

To purchase the book, visit Our Sunday Visitor website at www.osv.com or call 1-800-348-2440.

Also posted in Books, catholic, Catholic culture, Catholic Life, Catholic Moment – 0 Comments

The Feast of the Annunciation

March 25, 2010

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, I am struck by two things: the significance of our Lord taking the same human form as each of us began our lives, and how the Virgin Mary said “yes!” to a life of pain and suffering, knowing her Son would be King but that His crown would be very different from other rulers.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and said,

Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

The angel did not say “Mary, God is sending a great military leader and you are to be his earthly mother.” Or “would you care to sit on a golden throne with the Son of God, eat fine food and drink the finest drink for the rest of your life?” No, the angel Gabriel told Mary that God Almighty wanted her to give birth to a tiny baby – His baby, their baby – and that God was sending the Holy Spirit to knit that divine child in her womb! So it’s not a coincidence that this feast day falls nine months to the day before Jesus’ birth on December 25^th.

It’s also not a coincidence that Jesus first took the form of a human being as a tiny embryo – vulnerable, microscopic and completely dependent upon the nourishment of fellow human being, for whom he would eventually suffer and die to save.

What would have happened if Mary said “thanks, but no thanks?” Or if fear, poverty, inconvenience or any number of other circumstances won instead of her free will and courage? Her fiat is a model to us all – especially mothers and fathers who feel unprepared to bring an unborn child to term – because “through Him all things are possible.”

For those parents, let us ask our Virgin Mother’s intercession in praying,

Hail Mary, full of grace

The Lord is with thee;

Blessed art thou amongst women

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary,

Mother of God,

Pray for us sinners now

And at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Also posted in abortion, catholic, Catholic culture, Catholic Life, Catholic Moment, lent, personhood, Saints – 0 Comments

Culture of Death Knocks on Congress’ Door, Catholics Called to Action – Day of Prayer and Fast

March 13, 2010

Last week was a crazy and confusing week given the latest twists and turns emanating from the final days of the health care battle. Pro-government run health care forces are doing all they can to play parliamentary games to try and pass pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia, government imposed health care on the American people, despite the peoples’ fairly obvious objection — over and over again.

SMS has covered the health care debate ad nauseum. This is because of the tremendous life-altering impact health care “reform,” as proposed by pro-abortion/euthanasia forces in Washington, mainly President Obama and his allies in Congress, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, will have on the American people and our culture. Obama, Pelosi and Reid are trying to pull out every trick in the book to force the American public, the taxpayer, to fund elective abortion on demand and sign up for policies that lead to rationing of care, as well as force doctors to perform abortions and engage practices that ration care.

A new study out by the New England Journal of Medicine says that almost 1/3 of Doctors say they would leave the health profession if the Obama Democrats version of health care passes. Yet we see little of this in the national media.

The USCCB issued a Call to Action that will appeared in many bulletins on Sunday urging Catholics to call their Represenatives and Senators and once again make our voices heard in defense of the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death. It also declares that a conscience protections clause must be in the final bill, protecting the rights of doctors, nurses and other pro-life medical professionals who refuse to engage in life ending practices or counseling on abortion or euthanasia.

You can read the Call to Action and bulletin insert here.

Additionally, SMS is asking our supporters to pass the word in joining Bishop Paul Loverde, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, VA in his call for Monday, March 15th to be a national day of prayer and fast to protect the sanctity of life in any health care legislation that comes from Congress.

Learn more about the fast here.

Make no mistake, the health care bill that will be voted on this week will include taxpayer funding for abortion, will lead to rationing of health care and is devoid of sufficient protections for pro-life doctors, nurses and medical professionals. The culture of death is knocking on Congress’ door. Given that no life-protecting measures are in the bill to be voted on next week, SMS urges our supporters to call their Representatives and Senators and tell them to vote NO!

Call your Congressman at 202-225-3121

Call your Senator at 202-224-3121

Also posted in abortion, activism, assisted suicide, bishops, Catholic culture, Catholic Politicians, End of Life, Healthcare, prayer request – 0 Comments

Join Us in Taking Bishop Loverde’s Declaration to Fast & Pray National

March 13, 2010

As we near the end of the healthcare debate, the Most Rev. Paul Loverde, Bishop of the Arlington Diocese of Northern Virginia, has declared tomorrow Monday, March 15th a day of prayer and fasting for the intention of “protecting the life, dignity, health and conscience rights of every human person in any legislation that Congress considers.”

The St Michael Society applauds this initiative and, with your participation, can help make this a National Day of Fasting and Prayer.

Bishop Paul Loverde

Catholic teaching tells us that our support for the dignity of life includes access to affordable health care. This support, however, cannot come at the expense of the respect for life at all stages, from natural conception to natural death …

… Through our fasting and prayers, we ask the Lord to lead the hearts and minds of our nation’s leaders as they make crucial decisions concerning the protection of life.

Read his full letter here, and please pass this onto fellow Catholics to join us in solidarity for these crucial intentions.

You can also brush up on the power of “true” fasting here.

Also posted in abortion, bishops, catholic, Catholic Life, Catholic Moment, Healthcare, prayer request – 0 Comments

Choose Life

February 18, 2010

If you have the opportunity to attend daily Mass on this second day of Lent, you will hear a familiar phrase that has become a rallying cry for the pro-life movement. So much so, that it has even become a popular bumper sticker and has made its way onto official state license plates.

From the book of Deuteronomy we are told to “Choose life.” But what is most striking about this passage from which we pro-lifers draw inspiration is that it is much more than a plea for human rights. The context of the reading is more of a political message from God warning that a nation that does not choose life, will not only be guilty of destroying life, but will also destroy its identity as a nation and will lose favor and protection from God.

In fact, the reading doesn’t even really focus on the victims of evil much at all, but takes it as a given that killing kills. (Something that astonishingly we need to remind people of today) Rather, the passage explains that nations that turn their backs on the natural law as outlined in the commandments of God, and therefore turn their backs on life itself, will cause its own destruction. No nation can stand if it does not ‘choose life’.

As we begin this season of Lent, with all of its focus on sacrifice and penance to prepare ourselves for the memorial of Christ’s victory over death, let us remember to pray for and encourage those who serve in government and represent our nation before God, that they will present to Him a nation that does indeed listen to the natural law – one that always chooses life.

“Moses said to the people:
“Today I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God,
will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen,
but are led astray and adore and serve other gods,
I tell you now that you will certainly perish;
you will not have a long life
on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy.
I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:
I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse.
Choose life, then,
that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God,
heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.
For that will mean life for you,
a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD swore
he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.””

Also posted in Catholic Life – 0 Comments

Obama Nominee Tried to Take Away Catholic Church Tax Exemption

February 5, 2010

Dawn Johnson, Nominated to head Justice Dept. Office of Legal Counsel

As the St. Michael Society continues with our petition drive urging the resignation of Obama’s faith based initiatives advisor Harry Knox for his attacks on Pope Benedict XVI, there is yet another Obama friend and nominee that has a record of hostility against Catholics. Dawn Johnson, nominated by the President to head the Office of Legal Counsel in the Justice Department, in the 1980s tried to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Catholic Church over the church’s position in defense of the unborn.

Bill Donahue, President of The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, fired back at a recent New York Times editorial encouraging her nomination.

“BASELESS CONCERNS” OVER DAWN JOHNSEN?

February 4, 2010

Catholic League president Bill Donohue directs his comments at an editorial in today’s New York Times:

If someone were nominated to serve in a major legal position in a Republican administration who previously tried to take away the tax exempt status of Islamic mosques and institutions—for purely political reasons—everyone knows that he or she would never be given a hearing.

So why is Dawn Johnsen’s nomination to head the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel still being considered? She tried in the late 1980s to take away the tax exempt status of the Roman Catholic Church, all because she wanted to silence the Church’s voice on abortion. Yet the New York Times audaciously asserts today that the “baseless objections” and “baseless concerns” of her critics should be ignored.

Since when are objections to proven instances of bigotry considered “baseless”? Would it be “baseless” to object to someone who wants to deny Muslims the same tax exempt status afforded Catholics, Protestants, Jews and others? Would not such a person be branded a bigot who is unfit to serve in any administration, especially in a high post in the Justice Department? If the answer is obvious, then why is her nomination even alive?

Between the appointment of Harry Knox, and the nomination of Ms. Johnson, Catholics are growing increasingly concerned about a trending disdain for Catholics by the President and his Administration. This is why it is so important for Catholics to speak out and take action in every way we can to defend our faith. Please remember to sign our petition urging the resignation of Harry Knox.

Also posted in abortion, Anti-Catholicism, Pope Benedict XVI – 10 Comments

Bella’s Eduardo Versteragui Endorses Catholic Candidate for Illinois Governor

January 29, 2010

If you know anything about Catholic rock stars, chances are you have heard of Eduardo Versteragui. He’s the Mexican actor whose compassion, love and generosity for a mother and her unborn child stole our hearts in the award-winning 2006 film “Bella.”

Versteragui has an inspiring personal history, having transformed his life and mission as an actor after coming to Hollywood and converting to the faith. Since his conversion, he has been extremely proactive in helping spread the pro-life message in entertainment media and the political arena.

His latest endorsement is to campaign on behalf of Adam Andrzejewski, a pro-life Roman Catholic running for Illinois state Governor.

Versteragui has issued a short video explaining why he is supporting Andrzejewski and the importance of electing a Governor who adheres to our Catholic values. As a politician who is “proudly pro-life,” Veesteragui enthusiastically shares that ”his position on the pro-life issue is as powerful as it is refreshing.” The video concludes in text, reminding viewers that Illinois is where President Obama began his political career and where he voted against the “Infant’s Born Alive Act.”

Well worth the two minute watch on YouTube:

Andrzejewski’s primary race is this Tuesday, February 2^st and he is gaining momentum among five candidates, all of whom are separated by just eight points in the polls. His wife Kerry and their three daughters are parishioners of St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Hinsdale, IL.

Support his campaign and visit http://www.adamforillinois.com/