I don't want kids so close together...

This following is from an email I received:
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A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even one year old and I'm pregnant again.

I don't want kids so close together.

So the doctor said: 'Ok, and what do you want me to do?'

She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of two babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.'

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!'

'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.'

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!
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The sad act remains, however, that there are some so-called human beings who would not object to the doctor's suggestion. Some would even call it a laudable and worthy plan. Some would even go so far as to deny medical treatment to the born alive so that they would die (B. Hussein Obama, for instance)...

We need to pray and do penance for our national crimes with hope that God will forgive us our millions upon millions of sins.

Election III—Assault on Conscience and Reality

Fr Thomas Euteneuer writes in Spirit & Life:

November 4th was not just a historic date in history because of the election of the nation’s first black president; it also marked a new division that was established in our country between those who have consciences formed in the truth and those who don’t. I have constantly spoken of the need to battle for America’s very soul, but I am seeing that there is more at stake here: we are engaged in a battle to define reality, and the outcome of that battle undoubtedly determines the fate of souls.... (emphasis added)

Continued here.

Bishop Robert Hermann: On a correctly informed conscience

"My conscience is my guide." For many people, following this principle is a disaster. Some terrorists follow their conscience. Some suicide bombers follow their conscience. We can use this principle to justify whatever course of action suits us....

[Pope John Paul II states]: "Sin darkens the intellect. Old spiritual books used to say that as a commonplace, but today it has been largely forgotten. Those who live conscientiously by the Commandments are better judges of morality than clever people who live in sin. That can sound arrogant, but it is simply the truth. As Cardinal (John Henry) Newman (the famed 19th-century Catholic convert) put it, it is a better ethical disposition that enables some to discover the truth. Cardinal Newman also spoke of an ‘ethical incredulity’ that blocked some from accepting genuine evident miracles. Courage to face the truth, a desire to know the truth and humility in accepting it from others or from a higher authority such as the New Testament and official Church teaching play a greater part in having right moral and religious beliefs than native intelligence or cleverness...."

For anyone really willing to grow in the spiritual life, I would encourage such a person to select either the Scripture passage or a Church teaching that bothers them deeply. Then I encourage such a person to study all that the Catholic Church teaches about such an issue, especially in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I also encourage such a person to prayerfully reflect as to why such a teaching bothers them so deeply. It usually points to rebellion or self will....

Man Sues Bible Publishers over Verses on Homosexuality

A Michigan man is suing Zondervan Publishing and Thomas Nelson Publishing, claiming biblical references to homosexuality as a sin violate his constitutional rights and have caused him emotional pain and mental instability.

Bradley LaShawn Fowler, 39, is seeking $60 million from Zondervan and $10 million from Thomas Nelson, The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press reported. He is representing himself in both claims.

Which constitutional right might this be? Maybe he should try to sue God?

Fowler claims the Bible has made him an outcast and contributed to physical discomfort and periods of "demoralization, chaos and bewilderment."

Sounds more like his conscience is bothering him.

The Pledge of Assent to Humanae Vitae for Laity

We've heard and read about the "Pledge of Assent to Humanae Vitae for Priests" which was posted at Humanae Vitae Priests.

Now, John Mallon advises us that

"the day you’ve all been waiting for has arrived! The Pledge of Assent to Humanae Vitae for Laity has arrived and is featured this week on both the Spirit & Life website and Humanae Vite Priests.

Please pass this on to your friends and family and notify your pastors that a downloadable pdf version is available for use as a bulletin insert. Please help make this a great success!"

Spirit & Life

Humanae Vitae Priests

Of course, faithful Catholics will have already freely given their assent to this most important document from Pope Paul VI. However, if it be God's will, an outward act of pledging one's assent to Humanae Vitae might be the example and help from which others, not sufficiently open to God's graces, might be spared their difficulties, doubts, or hostility toward the Church's teaching.

Me, Me, Me! I Believe in Me!

Carl Olson writes:

Priestette: "I believe in the supremacy of conscience...

"...and my conscience has led me all along to be an ordained Roman Catholic priest."

That is Toni Tortorilla, a lesbian "counselor and spiritual director" who, according to a June 17th article in The Oregonian, "ministers to about 90 people in Portland and in Eugene who call themselves the Sophia Christi Catholic Community." I've written about Tortorilla before, as she has performed pretend Masses here in Eugene, Oregon, where I live. She is now back in the (very accommodating) media limelight because a second priestette underwent a pretend ordination in the Portland, Oregon, area a few days ago, as announced on the blog of another priestette, Bridget Mary, who is active in Call to Action...

That's probably Bridget Mary Meehan - she's usually at all of these events...You know, tending her "flock."

Malformed and dead consciences reign supreme in the minds of wild-eyed heretics and schismatics...Dressing up like priests, they look like clowns. They're so lost and they enjoy leading others over the cliff. Pray for them and for those they lead astray!

'Pro-Life' Drugstores Market Beliefs

When DMC Pharmacy opens this summer on Route 50 in Chantilly, the shelves will be stocked with allergy remedies, pain relievers, antiseptic ointments and almost everything else sold in any drugstore. But anyone who wants condoms, birth control pills or the Plan B emergency contraceptive will be turned away....

How long will it take before culture of death supporters file a lawsuit against this pharmacy and its owners?

"I'm very, very troubled by this," said Marcia Greenberger of the National Women's Law Center, a Washington advocacy group. "Contraception is essential for women's health. A pharmacy like this is walling off an essential part of health care. That could endanger women's health."

Lies, lies, and more lies from the peddlers of death. Contraception is not essential to women's health but is a detriment to both women and unborn children. This is not about "health." Rather it's about forcing others to cooperate in the promotion of unhealthy evils.

It's similar, in a certain way, to the recent California Supreme Court forcing others to accept, embrace, or sanction sodomy and other immoral homosexual acts as "rights" when, in reality, these acts are crimes against nature and are opposed to life and the family.

...Karen Brauer [is] president of Pharmacists for Life International, which promotes a pharmacist's right to refuse to fill such prescriptions. The group's Web site lists seven pharmacies around the country that have signed a pledge to follow "pro-life" guidelines, but Brauer said there are many others.

One need only check into NaProTECHNOLOGY (Natural Procreative Technology), which:

is a new women's health science that monitors and maintains a woman's reproductive and gynecological health. It provides medical and surgical treatments that cooperate completely with the reproductive system.

Thirty years of scientific research in the study of the normal and abnormal states of the menstrual and fertility cycles have unraveled their mysteries.

The Washington Post is the source of this article.

Seven deadly sins alive and well today, says Jesuit journal

We witness more and more every day, which is why we posted weekly meditations on the Capital or Deadly Sins during Lent.

ROME (CNS) -- The seven deadly sins are still key to understanding and healing the social and personal ills plaguing humanity today, said an influential Jesuit journal.

The capital vices of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride are not outdated and have not been made irrelevant by psychotherapy or other mental health counseling, La Civilta Cattolica said.

The journal cited a survey commissioned by the British Broadcasting Corp. that found most people surveyed felt the list of deadly sins defined in the Middle Ages no longer applied to modern-day life and should be updated.

Some people would just love to abolish the list or modify it to reflect always changing circumstances - it's just too "Middle Ages" for contemporary sensibilities.

No link to the "La Civilta Cattolica" article as yet...
at Catholic News Service.

Every day seems like "News of the Weird" day

Colorado Gov. Ritter Signs Transgender Bill

... On Thursday, Ritter signed Senate Bill 200 which expands "ant-discrimination" law to cover sexual orientation, meaning not only homosexuality or bisexuality, but also "transgender status or another person's perception thereof."

... A major criticism of the bill by conservatives is that it appears to allow men who self-identify as "transgender" a legal right to demand to be able to user women's bathrooms, health club showers, bathhouses, and any other "public accomodation".

Importantly, the bill does not define "transgender".

...In other words, not only is there no legal definition for transgender, but there isn't even a solid dictionary definition for a court to rely on. Instead, transgender status is a matter of self-identification, rendering such a claim to be nearly impossible to prove or disprove....

And this governor is considered by some to be a faithful Roman Catholic?

at Human Events.

Anglicans need not believe in virgin birth....?

THE leader of the world's Anglicans has described the Christmas story of the three wise men as nothing but a "legend" and has said not all followers must believe in the virgin birth of Jesus.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has picked apart elements of the Christmas story, including how a star rose high in the sky and stood still to guide the wise men to Jesus's birth place.

Stars simply don't behave like that, he told the BBC during an interview....

He went on to say that while he believed in it himself, new Christians need not leap over the "hurdle" of belief in the virgin birth before they could join the church.

Do they really need to believe in anything at all before joing this group?



*** Update ***
A transcript of the actual discourse cane be read here...The media seems to have done a bit of disservice to to the facts.

Archbishop Niederauer on Church Role in Civic Arena

Introduction:

What is the proper relationship between religion and politics? Should there be any relationship at all? In recent years in this country those questions have arisen not only during election campaigns but also year round, every year. Often the ensuing debate generates more heat than light. As we approach another election year, the United States Catholic bishops have prepared a document entitled " Faithful Citizenship, " intended to apply Catholic moral and social teaching to the issues that presently confront voters. The bishops have issued such a document for each of the past seven presidential election cycles.

" Faithful Citizenship " is not a voter ' s guide, nor does it endorse particular candidates or parties. Instead, it is intended to help Catholics recognize and understand the implications of their faith for their conduct as citizens of this country. As Archbishop of San Francisco I am aware of the high level of political consciousness and energy in this Archdiocese, and of the rich and challenging diversity of its people. Accordingly, I believe it is appropriate to address some basic questions about the relationship between religion and politics, and to do so now, before candidates have been nominated and party platforms completed, so that we can look at these questions for their own value, and not misinterpret them as veiled endorsements or condemnations.

I have chosen the question - and - answer format. I want to prompt readers to obtain a copy of "Faithful Citizenship" when it is available at their parishes after the first of the year. That booklet will contain a much more complete treatment of this important topic.

A series of questions and answers follow...At first glance, I was rather surprised...I need to read it again.

Nevertheless, even this will be rejected by the hardhearted.

U.S. Bishops To Discuss Faith And Politics Statement...

...Will Focus On Helping To Form Consciences

The...USCCB will consider an updated statement on faith and politics at their 2007 November general meeting. The proposed statement focuses on the bishops’ role in helping to form consciences in political life.

“In this statement, we bishops do not intend to tell Catholics for whom or against whom to vote,” the draft states. “Our purpose is to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth. We recognize that the responsibility to make choices in political life rests with each individual in light of a properly formed conscience, and that participation goes well beyond casting a vote in a particular election.”

Color me skeptical - I'll wait to see the final document.

Source.