Sen. Rick Santorum on Catholics in the Public Square
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Choose Life
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.””
“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.””
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.
Christoph Cardinal Schonborn Talks Faith, Reason, Abortion in DC
Recently two of our SMS editors got the chance to go to Mass and dinner with the Austrian, Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, the editor of the current Catholic Catechism and the author of a New York Times op-ed about intelligent design that was published in July 2005, one that the Holy Father said, as he told us, was “divinely providential.”
The Cardinal studied with then-Cardinal Ratzinger and remains close to the Holy Father. He is extremely brilliant yet has a gentle way about him and much to our delight, brings back memories of John Paul II.
Cardinal Schönborn spoke about nominalism and what it has done to modern science. He also spoke about gay rights and abortion and the importance of Catholic education institutions.
We were blessed to sit with the Cardinal, and pro-life champion Congressman Chris Smith, for dinner and speak with him about many topics, including the impact of the Internet on Catholics. He was very interested to learn about how Catholics are connecting online, which of course, as editors of SMS, we were happy to tell him about! We also discussed abortion (see below for the video for more on that topic).
The Cardinal urged us to defend natural law and the Catholic Church through the use of reason rather than sentiments. He said that nature helps us to understand the will of God and that “reality indicates something about God’s plan.”
The Cardinal on nominalism:
The Cardinal talks about abortion:
The Cardinal on having a dialogue of religions on grounds of reason:
Lessons from the Lectionary
I am not for a moment about to suggest that this is the way God intended us to interpret this, but for those who happened to attend daily Mass on the Friday before the MA special election and the anniversary of Obama’s inauguration, you were treated to this story about how the people complained against Samuel and demanded that they be given a king to rule over them as other nations have.
God, through Samuel, warned the people that if this were to happen, the king would quickly use his authority to tax them, take their property, oppress them with labor, and make their lives generally miserable, and that eventually they would complain to God to remove the king, and God would not listen to their complaints.
But, the people would not listen and insisted that they be given a king. And so, God told Samuel to give them exactly what they want. And wouldn’t you know – eventually they complained to God about the king. Funny how that happens.
And it is also funny how history just keeps repeating itself even into our day – when even in our free republic we get caught up in the moment and cry out for a king of sorts; someone to rule over us in a way where we don’t have to worry about anything. He will provide everything for us. And before we know it we get exactly what we wished for only to regret that moment of weakness.
If you ask me, that reading just happened to be in the right place at the right time for Americans to reflect on the choices we make through our voting, and the discernment we should take when deciding.
In fact, that whole series of readings was interesting given the events of the world. On Wednesday, January 20 – the anniversary of Obama’s inauguration – daily Mass-goers woke up to the news that MA had elected a republican senator, and were then treated to the story of David and Goliath for the first reading.
Just sayin’….
Catholic Bishops Again Slam Healthcare
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have a new insert for bulletins that urges Catholics to contact Congress now about healthcare reform legislation.
As long-time advocates of health care reform, the U.S. Catholic bishops continue to make the moral case that genuine health care reform must protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Health care reform should not advance a pro-abortion agenda in our country.
It’s very heartening to see the Bishops take such a powerful stance against the healthcare reform legislation and government funding of abortion. This bill, if passed, will be the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade. The Bishops know it and want all Catholics in this country to know it.
MESSAGE—HOUSE:
“I am pleased that the House health care bill maintains the longstanding policy against federal funding of abortion. I urge you to work to uphold essential provisions against abortion funding, to include full conscience protection and to assure that health care is accessible and affordable for all. Until and unless these criteria are met, I urge you to oppose the final bill.”
MESSAGE—SENATE:
“I am deeply disappointed that the Senate health care bill fails to maintain the longstanding policy against federal funding of abortion and does not include adequate protection for conscience. I urge you to support essential provisions against abortion funding, similar to those in the House bill. Include full conscience protection and assure that health care is accessible and affordable for all. Until and unless these criteria are met, I urge you to oppose the final bill.”
WHEN: Votes in the House and Senate on the final bill are expected in January. Act today! Thank You!
Here's the full bulletin insert: http://www.usccb.org/healthcare/UPDATED-bulletin-insert.pdf
Pro Life Hero Defies Party and Vows to Continue Fight
The New York Times today has a fascinating profile of Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan. Most readers of St. Michael Society are aware that Rep. Stupak is a pro-life hero, especially during the healthcare debate. His principled stand in the House of Representatives resulted in the passage of a truly pro-life amendment, which is attached to the House healthcare bill. The profile details the many attacks, some personal, hurled at Rep. Stupak.
Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you. – Matthew 5:11-12
Now the House and Senate will attempt to reconcile the two bills passed in each chamber. Rep. Stupak claims he has 10 or 11 other pro-life Democrats willing to stand with him to ensure that if any legislation passes it will be pro-life. Look for the attacks and pressure to escalate from pro-abortion forces. Leadership will attempt to pry away votes with bribes, threats and attacks. Projects and funding will be dangled in front of their noses. Others will be threatened with removal of key committee assignments.
For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul? – Matthew 16:26
But for the special few, among them Rep. Stupak, the personal attacks will come. Let’s pray for them. Pray that they remain strong and courageous in this fight.
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Science and Religion in Harmony
Happy New Year St. Michael Society readers. I wanted to take a moment to make you aware of Fr. Robert Barron, the Francis Cardinal George Chair of Faith and Culture at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. He has a website that you can find at www.wordonfire.org. Yesterday the Fr Barron delivered a great homily on religion and science. Using the reading concerning the three Magi that come to visit Jesus after his birth, Fr Barron explains to us how religion and science should work together and are not at war as some in the media would have us believe.
Here is the link: and I highly recommend that you subscribe to his homilies which are available on iTunes.
Since this is the time of year that many of us make New Year resolutions, I thought I would also share a fairly old but still appropriate column by Fr John McCloskey. In this column he gives all Catholics an easy and daily guide to draw closer to the Lord.
Georgetown University Administrative Ties to Planned Parenthood
Georgetown has once again found itself treading in controversial waters.
St. Michael Society editors have learned of the University’s administrative ties to the largest abortion provider in the United States: a current nursing adjunct instructor and former vice president, both of whom served in the upper echelon of Planned Parenthood for at least a decade each.
The first comes from the University’s own paper of record, The Georgetown Voice. According to the publication’s blog “Vox Populli,” a current adjunct instructor at Georgetown’s School of Nursing and Health Studies previously worked for Planned Parenthood – as President and CEO of local Ohio and Maryland chapters and for at least 10 years.
According to her curriculum vitae (download it here), Geidner-Antoniotti was President and CEO of the Mahoning Valley Planned Parenthood from 1990 to 1997, where she increased increased donor loyalty and giving and patient numbers. She held the same job from 1998 to 2000 with Planned Parenthood’s Maryland branch and was an acting project manager with Planned Parenthood Federation of America in the interim.
More recently, she was the CFO of the Whitman-Walker Clinic and has won a host of public awards. At Georgetown, Geidner-Antoniotti is involved with strategic planning and execution
The second was reported today by CatholicCulture.org :
Dr. Gary Lewis Filerman, who chaired the Department of Health Systems Administration at Georgetown University until 2008, is a former Planned Parenthood vice president, according to the university’s web site. Dr. Filerman, who began to teach at Georgetown in 2000, served as the Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s vice president for international development from 1993 to 1996, as president of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington from 1990 to 1991, and as a member of the board of directors of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington from 1986 to 1992.
For both Geidner-Antonoitti and Filerman, that’s at least a decade each working within the upper ranks of Planned Parenthood’s management. Not exactly something Georgetown could claim to ignore as they evaluated their resumes.
It’s a chilling discovery at any time of year, but perhaps even more disturbing as we’re reminded of what Planned Parenthood has done to desecrate Christmas in their annual “Choice on Earth” campaign. More on that by Jill Stanek here, complete with fundraising email from their 2009 campaign.
This discovery also comes just months after Georgetown complied with the White House request to “cover up all signs and symbols on the wall of the state behind where the President spoke” during his April 14th address at the University. Read that story reported by CNS News online here .
Pray that St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle and help Georgetown reclaim its Catholic identity.
Healthcare Bill Goes from Bad to Worse
Erick Erickson at Red State is reporting a troubling late addition to the Health Care Legislation. Quote from Red State:
Reid has slipped in a provision into the health care legislation prohibiting future Congresses from changing any regulations imposed on Americans by the Independent Medicare [note: originally referred to as "medical"] Advisory Boards, which are commonly called the “Death Panels.
One more reason to work to defeat this terrible legislation. Its important for Catholics not to give up and continue to let Congress know that this cannot stand. Here is a story that quotes the Bishops and other prolife leaders.
We at St Michael Society ask that you take a moment during this busy week to join the fight. Stop the Abortion Mandate has some great tools that you can use.
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