Tag Archives: Christian

Andrea Bocelli: Almost Aborted, Devout Catholic

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.

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Giving Up Sex – At Least in New York

A very interesting story in the New York Post this week talks about how women in New York are foregoing sex in favor of a celibate life because it is more rewarding than waking up all the time to men who don’t know their names.

 “Not having sex is like giving up junk food,” says [Katie Lee] Arnold. “Sex in New York for me had become like the 99-cent package of Ding Dongs on the corner.”

Celibacy is truly a rebellious act since it goes directly against the culture. The HBO hit show “Sex and the City” (SATC) about four single women and their various outside-of-marriage sexual escapades has become the standard to which women compare themselves. Which SATC girl are you quizzes? are plentiful online, asking women if they prefer “Wham-bam-thank you ma’am quickies?” to the “A little dirty talk and some lively role-playing?” What kind of message does this send to women and the men who pursue them? Not a good one.

Celibacy, and its closely related cousin, the virtue of Chastity, is not something our culture looks kindly upon, yet it’s what the Catholic Church has espoused since the beginning. A Church teaching that’s against the culture, you ask? Really? God truly knows what is good for us, even though it may be unpopular.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2339: “Chastity includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery which is a training in human freedom. The alternative is clear: either man governs his passions and finds peace, or he lets himself be dominated by them and becomes unhappy.”

The New York Post article doesn’t say whether these women have any religious tendencies but they are on the right track. But on a practical level, what to do with that sexual energy that’s not going where it used to go?

“I totally sublimate all of my sexual energy into making wedding dresses because I feel like I need something constructive to channel my energy into,” says Colette Komm, a 28-year-old couture designer who lives on the Upper West Side.

Another woman decided to channel her energy into writing. There are lots of things to channel that energy – train for a marathon, take up a new hobby, write letters to your grandparents, pray the Rosary, volunteer, take a bike ride…..

Celibacy until marriage is a great thing. You may be surprised how rewarding it is.

So go ahead – be a rebel.

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Another Installment of Rev. Paul Scalia on The Mass

The Mass in Slow Motion

Six talks detailing the action and meaning of the Mass Offered by Rev. Paul Scalia.

Part 5:

 

Part 4:

 

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The Mass in Slow Motion – Part 3

The Mass in Slow Motion

Six talks detailing the action and meaning of the Mass Offered by Rev. Paul Scalia.

Part 1:

 

Part 2:

 

Part 3:

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Archbishop Chaput – JFK Speech on Faith Was ’sincere’ but ‘wrong’

CNA News has an interesting story concerning Archbishop Chaput.

Houston, Texas, Mar 2, 2010 / 06:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Monday evening, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver delivered a talk at Houston Baptist University, in which he criticized President John F. Kennedy’s historic campaign speech on his faith impacting his possible presidency as “sincere, compelling, articulate – and wrong.” The archbishop called on his audience to get involved in the Christian “vocation” of being engaged in public service, at a time when religion is being increasingly ignored in the political sphere

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For the 10th Time on Tape: Planned Parenthood Covering Up Child Rape/Abuse:

President Obama released his healthcare bill yesterday which gives an astounding $11 billion to “Community Health Centers” like Planned Parenthood. Today, Live Action Films, led by undercover student journalist Lila Rose (a Catholic by the way), released their 9th video, the 10th clinic, showing Planned Parenthood deliberately covering up child sex abuse.

The new undercover footage shows staff at a Milwaukee, WI Planned Parenthood abortion clinic counseling a purportedly 14-year-old girl not to tell anyone about her 31-year-old boyfriend and coaching her how to obtain an abortion without her parents’ consent.

In the video, after hearing the girl is 14 and her boyfriend is “much older,” the counselor says whether or not the situation will be reported by clinic workers “depends on the person you’re disclosing that information to.” When the girl says that her boyfriend is 31, the counselor tells her, “You don’t have to say anything” about the statutory rape and instructs her, “Just give them the information that’s needed.” The counselor also confirms that the 31-year-old “boyfriend” will be paying for the abortion.

The new video, ninth in a series from Live Action documenting similar behavior in 5 other states, comes amid recent controversy about Planned Parenthood’s compliance with state laws regarding minors and abortion.

Just a couple weeks ago, the Alabama Dept of Health put a Planned Parenthood clinic in Birmingham on probation for a year for several violations, including giving 2 abortions to a 13-year-old girl within 4 months and never notifying her parents. This is the same clinic that Lila Rose went undercover in, posing as an underage girl with a much older boyfriend and wanting an abortion.

If President Obama’s healthcare plan passes, Planned Parenthood will be getting billions of tax dollars to cover up child sex abuse cases like this.

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Pelosi Corrected By Bishop…. AGAIN!

This one almost slipped by unnoticed, but thanks to a friend I came across this recent public chastisment of Nancy Pelosi by Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco after comments she made last month about her disagreements with Church teaching.  Ms. Pelsoi, as only Ms. Pelosi can do, managed once again to completely misrepresent the faith she claims she so avidly follows.

Anyway, the news here is not Pelosi’s heretical ramblings.  Those have been well documented before.  The news here is that another bishop has risen to publically correct those ramblings – to make sure that the liberals no longer go unchecked when they pretend to evenagelize in the media. 

The St. Michael Society is happy to report on the courage and leadership that is being shown by many of our American bishops since the Obama-Notre Dame scandal.  This time, Archbishop Niederauer gets the props.  If you have a moment, send him your thanks, support and prayers.  (you can contact him at info@sfarchdiocese.org)

Here is his open letter to Nancy Pelosi on the real meaning of conscience, free will, and what it means to be a Catholic.

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Historic Christian & Catholic Manifesto on Hot Topics Released Today

Christian leaders, both Catholics and Evangelicals, said in no uncertain terms today that they will not be silenced when it comes to issues of grave moral concern including abortion, same-sex marriage and stem-cell research.

The leaders will be releasing a manifesto today called the Manhattan Declaration, as reported in the New York Times. It states:

 “We will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other antilife act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent.”

Cross Christian ethics are under attack. You may think the First Amendment protects these rights or that conscience clause language (which President Obama has already started the procedure to rescind) makes sure doctors and other medical professionals are not discriminated against or lose their jobs for refusing to do abortions or other life-ending procedures.

 They don’t, which is why it’s come to this.

 The Catholic Church and Christian leaders are not imposing their views on anyone but if forced to comply with laws that are contrary to moral absolutes, be assured will not yield.

 Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council said this today:

Without question there will be critics yelling ’separation of church and state.’ This is silly: we are imposing our denominational views on no one. We are bringing our faith to bear on public policy because we see the efforts of the Left as a frontal assault on human dignity, the American family, and the future of our children. For this reason, we will not retreat an inch and will make the case for life, marriage, and religious liberty in the public square.

 What an encouragement for all Catholics and Christians today who are struggling in their fight to uphold traditional morals and values in a world that has seemingly ignored all sense of right and wrong.

 It is our hope that the U.S. Congress reads and considers this manifesto seriously since the healthcare reform bills are in direct opposition to the sanctity of life in many regards.

 View the entire 4700 word manifesto here: http://demossnews.com/ManhattanDeclaration

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BREAKING: Docs Aren’t Backing Down on HCR

BREAKING: The pro-life movement, if they hasn’t already, is really kicking into high gear over healthcare reform and the doctors aren’t going down without a fight . Check out Dr. Sandy Christiansen and Dr. Ali Tsai, both OB-GYNs who say they will be forced to leave their profession if strong conscience protections are not put into healthcare legislation. Conscience protections were voted down in the Senate (see here) and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has a good explanation of why this is really bad for both doctors and patients here.

The short video also makes the great point that thousands of doctors will be forced to quit if comprehensive conscience protections aren’t in healthcare legislation and then what happens when millions of new patients flood the system and there aren’t a sufficient number of doctors to care for them?

Share this video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7MbRMQpFhw

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Catholic Bishops Ask for Your Help to Stop Abortion Funding

Congress is preparing to debate health care reform legislation.  The Catholic bishops of the United States strongly support genuine health care reform that protects the life and dignity of all, from the moment of conception until natural death. However, all current bills are seriously deficient on abortion and conscience rights, and do not yet provide adequate access to health care for immigrants and the poor.

With this link, you’ll find a special flier from the US Bishops Conference that you can share with others asking us to please contact your Representative and Senators immediately and urge them to fix these bills with pro-life amendments. 

Additionally this web address that allows you to send an email message to Congress with a click of a button. The bishops have asked for our swift action and the commitment of our prayers for this critical effort.  Thank you for your help.  We can help make sure that health care reform will be about saving lives, not destroying them.  

Let us pray:

That Congress will act to ensure that needed health care reform will truly protect the life, dignity and health care of all and that we will raise our voices to protect the unborn and the most vulnerable and to preserve our freedom of conscience. We pray to the Lord.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post is excerpted from a USCCB letter.

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