I wasn't going to do this, but then I read the whole list. I can't resist.
Planned Parenthood is holding their own "40 Days" vigil. Here are some of the days...
"Day 2: Today we pray for compassionate religious voices to speak out for the dignity and autonomy of women." Well, now lets take a look at what the Catholic Bishops have to say in the documents of the Second Vatican Council. "The hour is coming, in fact has come, when the vocation of women is being acknowledged in its fullness, the hour in which women acquire in the world an influence, an effect and a power never hitherto achieved. That is why, at this moment when the human race is undergoing so deep a transformation, women imbued with a spirit of the Gospel can do so much to aid humanity in not falling." Isn't it kind of them to pray for our bishops?!?
"Day 14: Today we pray for Christians everywhere to embrace the loving model of Jesus in the way he refused to shame women." ...and encouraged the killing of innocent children! Oh. Wait. Huh?
"Day 19: Today we pray for all pregnant women. May they be surrounded by loving voices." Like this woman, who is surrounded by love for her and for her sweet child.
"Day 23: Today we give thanks for the strong women in our lives who have given us examples of good decision-making." Like Mary who said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word." And the countless other women who courageously and lovingly have given up their bodies for new life.
"Day 29: Today we pray that all women will know that they are created in the image of God, good and holy, moral and wise." ...and then that they will read beyond Genesis 2, and humbly accept that they are fallen creatures who still to this day are fully capable of making wrong choices and remain always in need of a Savior.
"Day 35: Today we pray for girls everywhere, that they may have every opportunity for education, sport, health, art, and vocation." ...unless they are currently in the womb of another girl who would rather not have them exist.
"Day 36: Today we pray for the families we've chosen. May they know the blessing of choice." ...and be thankful that the circumstances of their existence were not slightly altered so as to be less convenient or desirable to their parents, which would have resulted in them not being "chosen." Do we really want our children to know they are so meaninglessly disposable?
"Day 37: Today we pray for women to claim their equality and demand their rights as citizens." ...except their right to life, if they have the out-of-their-control misfortune to be deemed "unwanted" at a time when they cannot possibly speak for themselves.
Showing posts with label Pro-Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pro-Life. Show all posts
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Well, I AM Going to Talk About It
On Friday, the Heath and Human Services Department of the Obama Administration passed a regulation that will require employers to include coverage of contraceptives and sterilization procedures in their health care plans regardless of their moral beliefs.
In other words, the Catholic Institutions (schools, hospitals, etc.) that have employees who receive health care benefits will have to PAY for contraceptives.
THAT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM!
In case you didn't know, the Catholic Church sees the use of artificial contraceptives as grave matter. This means that their use, when combined with full-knowledge of the gravity and full-consent to the usage, puts Catholics in a state of MORTAL SIN, which completely cuts them off from GOD and His Church.
THAT IS A REALLY BIG DEAL!
Catholic Institutions, which make up the single largest charitable organizations in the world, provide medical attention to the SICK and DYING of any religion, and have pioneered the education system, CANNOT comply with this regulation.
CANNOT! Period.
So what does this mean? Well (unless I'm completely erring in my understanding of the situation) either (1) the entire Catholic Church in the United States becomes complete sell outs, sacrificing the fullness of Truth, the sacredness of Tradition, and spitting in the face of all Divine Revelation, (2) Catholic Institutions stop providing heath care to their employees (which Catholic Social Teaching would have a big issue with), or (3) these institutions courageously stand up for the Truth the Catholic Church boldly proclaims and suffer the consequences.
So you see, this is kind of a BIG DEAL. It kind of MATTERS.
Setting aside the fact this appears to be a blatant contradiction of our Constitutional rights to religious freedom, people should be talking about this. People should be fired up!
But there has been (in my humble opinion) a strange and unexpected amount of silence regarding the issue.
Well, not anymore.
I'm saying something.
Click here to read a better explanation of the situation.
Click here to see how the bishops are responding.
Click here to read who is in support of the ruling.
Click here to see what you can do about this now.
And above all else PRAY! Pray for the courage of the leaders of the Church. Pray for the lawmakers and leaders of our country. Pray for the conversion of hearts that will allow LIFE to be known as something precious to value, not something negative to prevent. Pray, pray, pray.
In other words, the Catholic Institutions (schools, hospitals, etc.) that have employees who receive health care benefits will have to PAY for contraceptives.
THAT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM!
In case you didn't know, the Catholic Church sees the use of artificial contraceptives as grave matter. This means that their use, when combined with full-knowledge of the gravity and full-consent to the usage, puts Catholics in a state of MORTAL SIN, which completely cuts them off from GOD and His Church.
THAT IS A REALLY BIG DEAL!
Catholic Institutions, which make up the single largest charitable organizations in the world, provide medical attention to the SICK and DYING of any religion, and have pioneered the education system, CANNOT comply with this regulation.
CANNOT! Period.
So what does this mean? Well (unless I'm completely erring in my understanding of the situation) either (1) the entire Catholic Church in the United States becomes complete sell outs, sacrificing the fullness of Truth, the sacredness of Tradition, and spitting in the face of all Divine Revelation, (2) Catholic Institutions stop providing heath care to their employees (which Catholic Social Teaching would have a big issue with), or (3) these institutions courageously stand up for the Truth the Catholic Church boldly proclaims and suffer the consequences.
So you see, this is kind of a BIG DEAL. It kind of MATTERS.
Setting aside the fact this appears to be a blatant contradiction of our Constitutional rights to religious freedom, people should be talking about this. People should be fired up!
But there has been (in my humble opinion) a strange and unexpected amount of silence regarding the issue.
Well, not anymore.
I'm saying something.
Click here to read a better explanation of the situation.
Click here to see how the bishops are responding.
Click here to read who is in support of the ruling.
Click here to see what you can do about this now.
And above all else PRAY! Pray for the courage of the leaders of the Church. Pray for the lawmakers and leaders of our country. Pray for the conversion of hearts that will allow LIFE to be known as something precious to value, not something negative to prevent. Pray, pray, pray.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Birth Control Commercials
Have you ever noticed how Birth Control Commercials are drenched in selfishness?
I'm literally sad when I watch them.
You know, I can conceive of a woman who uses birth control without understanding the extent of her choice. I do not automatically accuse that woman of selfishness. However, those commercials express and present birth control in a very selfish light.
The way that the commercials present children as desirable only when convenient is a selfish presentation. There are several commercials that go from "I don't want a kid a right now" to "Maybe I don't want to wait" and back to "On second thought, not now." All the while, showing scenes of child doing something well-behaved and cute alternated (in pace with the changing thoughts) with scenes of them causing some kind of mischief.
It's all about how the woman feels in the moment; it is not at all about the value of new human life. It places great weight on the importance of a woman's fleeting desires.
The child is presented as wanted and worthwhile only under certain circumstances. This is a far cry from the unconditional love a child deserves.
Perhaps you think that I'm over reacting.
Here's the thing though. The decision to have children should not be made based on convenience. Having a baby is not convenient. Raising a child is not convenient. Nurturing a family is not convenient. In fact, these are beautifully complicated and chaotic things. At times they are decidedly inconvenient.
But the thing about babies and children is that the gift that they are is to be celebrated even when they flushed your new watch down the toilet again right after they poured syrup all over the living room carpet. They are a blessing that perfect those around them. They teach to us to love by demanding that we hold on to less and less of our own selfishness as we learn to give more and more of the love we receive.
This is not something that women with the birth control commercial mentality understand. In fact, I'm sure that there are moments when the holiest mothers in the world struggle to hold on to that vision. The difference is that some women choose it anyway.
Those are the joyful women. Those are the women I strive to be most like.
I'm literally sad when I watch them.
You know, I can conceive of a woman who uses birth control without understanding the extent of her choice. I do not automatically accuse that woman of selfishness. However, those commercials express and present birth control in a very selfish light.
The way that the commercials present children as desirable only when convenient is a selfish presentation. There are several commercials that go from "I don't want a kid a right now" to "Maybe I don't want to wait" and back to "On second thought, not now." All the while, showing scenes of child doing something well-behaved and cute alternated (in pace with the changing thoughts) with scenes of them causing some kind of mischief.
It's all about how the woman feels in the moment; it is not at all about the value of new human life. It places great weight on the importance of a woman's fleeting desires.
The child is presented as wanted and worthwhile only under certain circumstances. This is a far cry from the unconditional love a child deserves.
Perhaps you think that I'm over reacting.
Here's the thing though. The decision to have children should not be made based on convenience. Having a baby is not convenient. Raising a child is not convenient. Nurturing a family is not convenient. In fact, these are beautifully complicated and chaotic things. At times they are decidedly inconvenient.
But the thing about babies and children is that the gift that they are is to be celebrated even when they flushed your new watch down the toilet again right after they poured syrup all over the living room carpet. They are a blessing that perfect those around them. They teach to us to love by demanding that we hold on to less and less of our own selfishness as we learn to give more and more of the love we receive.
This is not something that women with the birth control commercial mentality understand. In fact, I'm sure that there are moments when the holiest mothers in the world struggle to hold on to that vision. The difference is that some women choose it anyway.
Those are the joyful women. Those are the women I strive to be most like.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Dangers of Moral Relativism: 2nd Grade Style
Me: Many years ago, our government made a law that says that babies inside their mom's bellies are not human. Many people in our country believe that you are not really a person until after you are born. This means that many people do not love babies inside their moms as much as they should. But God has taught us through the Church that the moment a baby starts being inside its mother, that baby is a human life that is loved by God and should be loved by us.
Student: Why is it so bad that some people don't believe it?
Me: It's bad because it isn't the truth.
Student: But why can't a person just believe whatever he wants to? Nobody else has to believe it, just him.
Me: It's a problem because it teaches other people that it's okay to believe what is wrong. It's never just about one person believing something. Plus, it's the government's responsibility to take care of everyone in the country. When they teach people that it's okay to believe things that aren't true, they aren't doing a very good job of taking care of people, are they?
Student: No. They aren't. I wish that governor would listen to all those people telling him he is wrong.
*** Just to clarify, we were not talking about one SPECIFIC governor. My students are second graders, fine distinctions are still difficult.***
Student: Why is it so bad that some people don't believe it?
Me: It's bad because it isn't the truth.
Student: But why can't a person just believe whatever he wants to? Nobody else has to believe it, just him.
Me: It's a problem because it teaches other people that it's okay to believe what is wrong. It's never just about one person believing something. Plus, it's the government's responsibility to take care of everyone in the country. When they teach people that it's okay to believe things that aren't true, they aren't doing a very good job of taking care of people, are they?
Student: No. They aren't. I wish that governor would listen to all those people telling him he is wrong.
*** Just to clarify, we were not talking about one SPECIFIC governor. My students are second graders, fine distinctions are still difficult.***
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Impact of Every Life
In light of the upcoming anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I've been remembering and reflecting on this post by Elizabeth Foss.
Elizabeth writes beautifully about how a baby changes everything. The last paragraph of her blog resonates deeply within me. She talks about how her family paused when her youngest baby was born. The family embraced its newest member, grateful for what she brought and who she will become. They allowed the power of her life, her existence, to impact them. And they changed. They never went back to life exactly as it was before the baby. Rather, they allowed themselves to be changed for the better, because they fully encountered the value of human life.
Sarah Anne (the baby referred to in Elizabeth's blog) has been blessed to be born into a family that knows her value. She has a family that understands that her very existence is something so extraordinary, so sacred, that it cannot be ignored or dismissed. Not only that, but the family also sees that she is a gift meant to change them in such a way that they become holier, more open to God's grace, and more in love with Him.
This is value and power of every single human life.
It is a tragedy that so few children are born into families like Sarah's. It is an even greater tragedy that so few children are ever given the chance to be born. Truly, their lives too have sacredness and purpose.
The beauty of the Pro-Life movement is that, not only are people working tirelessly to fight for all babies that are currently or will one day be in the womb, but also that we are giving those babies who have been lost the chance to have their impact.
Although their parents and those closest to their lives may never know the changes and goodness God meant for them to bring, we who are fighting in their honor do. When we stop for a day to march, or for a minute to pray, we are doing for the unborn children what the Foss family did for Sarah Anne. We are allowing their existence to have an impact on us. Through our actions and prayers, we are begging the world to do the same.
And because of those babies, we are changed.
Their lives are not in vain. The sacredness God has given them is far too powerful.
Elizabeth writes beautifully about how a baby changes everything. The last paragraph of her blog resonates deeply within me. She talks about how her family paused when her youngest baby was born. The family embraced its newest member, grateful for what she brought and who she will become. They allowed the power of her life, her existence, to impact them. And they changed. They never went back to life exactly as it was before the baby. Rather, they allowed themselves to be changed for the better, because they fully encountered the value of human life.
Sarah Anne (the baby referred to in Elizabeth's blog) has been blessed to be born into a family that knows her value. She has a family that understands that her very existence is something so extraordinary, so sacred, that it cannot be ignored or dismissed. Not only that, but the family also sees that she is a gift meant to change them in such a way that they become holier, more open to God's grace, and more in love with Him.
This is value and power of every single human life.
It is a tragedy that so few children are born into families like Sarah's. It is an even greater tragedy that so few children are ever given the chance to be born. Truly, their lives too have sacredness and purpose.
The beauty of the Pro-Life movement is that, not only are people working tirelessly to fight for all babies that are currently or will one day be in the womb, but also that we are giving those babies who have been lost the chance to have their impact.
Although their parents and those closest to their lives may never know the changes and goodness God meant for them to bring, we who are fighting in their honor do. When we stop for a day to march, or for a minute to pray, we are doing for the unborn children what the Foss family did for Sarah Anne. We are allowing their existence to have an impact on us. Through our actions and prayers, we are begging the world to do the same.
And because of those babies, we are changed.
Their lives are not in vain. The sacredness God has given them is far too powerful.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Truth in the Words of a Child
"When I see that picture, the first thing I think of is how special and lucky I am to have God use me that way… I feel very thankful that I was in that picture."
Read the full story here...this is truly an extraordinary young man.
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