Catholic news net
July 2008 – Month Of The Most
Precious Blood
A Catholic Information Website Listing Local Events
And News Of Interest For Minnesota
– Posted Monthly (updated frequently)
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Last updated: Jul.
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Dick Houck: of the Catholic Defense League Newsletter is
concerned about the removal of the University
of St. Thomas from
Archdiocesan authority, being placed into the hands of a board of lay trustees.
For information regarding this, see: www.reclaimust.org
July 14, 2008: Father John LeVoir has
been named by Pope Benedict XVI as the new Bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm.
Father LeVoir most recently served at the parishes of
St. Michaels and St. Marys in Stillwater.
Caution:
July 19, 2008: A so-called “retreat” is being held at St. Olaf’s
Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis,
which has invited a speaker billed as a “priestess” who will present a workshop
on “Prayer Centering and Inner Awakening.” This is entirely the New Age
religious philosophy, and you are advised that this is not in accordance with
the teachings of the Catholic Church, and you are advised not to attend.
On Temptations:
“Many seek to flee
temptations, and fall worse into them. We cannot conquer by flight alone, but by patience and true humility we become
stronger than all our enemies. He
who only resists them outwardly and does not dig out the root, will profit
little, the temptations will return and he will find himself in a worse
condition. By degrees and by patience you will, by God’s grace, better overcome
them than by harshness and your own importunity. Take council the oftener in
temptation, and do not deal harshly with one who is tempted; but pour on
consolation, as you would wish it to be done to yourself. Inconsistency in
one’s mind and insufficient confidence in God is the beginning of all
temptations. As a ship without a helm is thrown about the waves, so one who
neglects his resolutions is tempted in many ways.” –St. Louis
de Montfort-
Bible Studies
September ?: St. John the
Baptist Catholic Church in Savage will host Jeff Cavins
live, who will present, “James and Psalms” on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 am to
Noon. For information contact: Andi at: 952-890-9434
ex 3.
September ?: St Paul
Catholic Church in Ham
Lake will host Jeff Cavins Live with “James and Psalms” for the Bible study.
This will be Tuesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Register online at: www.churchofsaintpaul.com
September ?: Nativity of Mary Catholic Church in Bloomington, Mn will host Jeff Cavins live,
who will present, “Catholicism and Psalms.” This will be Thursday evenings from
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For information, contact the parish office at:
952-881-8671.
September ?: Holy Name of
Jesus Catholic Church in Medina, Mn will host Jeff Cavins live on Thursday mornings from 10:00 am to Noon,
with the Bible study covering, “James and Psalms.” For information, contact Barb at:
763-473-7901 or register online at: www.hnoj.org
Conferences And
Lectures
Currently: Applications are being taken for admission to the
Catechetical Institute, an ongoing formation resource for Catholic adults who
wish to deepen their knowledge of the Catholic Faith and further their
spiritual formation. The St. Paul Seminary has
invited Jeff Cavins to oversee the initiative, which
will consist of four modules on the four pillars of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church. The first module is an eleven-lesson series titled, “The
Creed: The Story in Miniature.” Actual classes will not begin until September
15, 2008. Applications are reviewed and only 150 students will be accepted at a
cost of $250 per module. For admission, contact: www.saintpaulseminary.org or call:
651-962-6890. To be added to the mailing list, go to: catechetics@stthomas.edu
August 8-9, 2008: The Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office of St. Paul and Minneapolis is sponsoring their annual regional conference
with the theme from Pope John Paul II, “Cast Out Into The
Deep: Moving The Church From Maintenance to Mission.”
Featured speakers are Bishop Sam Jacobs, Sister Linda Koontz and Mother
Lucy of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also included is a separate
Youth Track. The event is being held at the Totino Grace High
School, 1350
Gardena Ave. NE in Fridley, MN.
For information, call: 763-571-5314 or e-mail: joleneccro@usfamily.net
September 24-28, 2008: The Holy Name Society is sponsoring a National
Convention in Minneapolis,
with the theme, “Proclaim The Name Of The Lord.” Speakers include Dr. Scott
Hahn, Archbishop John Nienstedt, former Archbishop
Flynn, and other speakers. The event will be held at St. Olaf’s Catholic
Church, in downtown Minneapolis
at a cost of $175 per person. This Conference is open to members of the Holy
Name Society only. For information, see: www.nomensanctum.org
or e-mail aahns@nomensanctum.org or
call Mike Gores at: 651-458-8142.
September 27, 2008: Dr. Scott Hahn will be speaking on the topic of, “Swear
To God,” at St. Olaf’s Catholic Church, 8th Street
and Second Avenue
in downtown Minneapolis.
The doors open at 11:00 am with Registration and the Holy Rosary at 11:40 am. The
first talk is at Noon, followed by refreshments and a break to review Catholic
books, tapes and materials for purchase. The second session begins at 1:45 pm
with Q & A following. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass bill begins at 4:00
pm, and fulfills Sunday Mass requirements. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10
for youth ages 18 and under. Seating is limited and pre-registration by
September 20th is required. Register either on the web at: www.nomensanctum.org or snail-mail at: 2008 Conference, 2119 Viburnum Trail, Eagan MN
55122.
October 10-12, 2008: The Fargo Marian Eucharistic Conference for 2008 has
the theme, “Lord, To Whom Shall We Go.”
Speakers include: Father Benedict Groeschel,
Father Andrew Apostoli, Father Glenn Fontana, Father
Mitch Pacwa, Father Clement Machado, Father Joseph
Christensen, Father Michael Tapajna, Father Bill Halbing, Immaculee Ilibaqiza, Michael O’Brien and Bishop Samuel Aquila. The speakers have not yet been announced. A
children’s program will be available. See: www.fargodiocese.org/marian
Other Excellent Conferences
Located Out-Of-State
June 28-July 4, 2008: A family weekend is being sponsored by the
Archdiocesan Office of Faith, Family and Fun, to be held at Familyland
in Bloomington, Ohio. In addition to daily Mass and age
specific activities to promote the Faith, there will be a bonfire sing-along,
family Rosary, family square damaging, family games, jungle gym, swimming,
horseback riding, sports that include softball, basketball and volleyball. For
information, see: www.familyland.org.
Other dates include: July 12-18, July 26-Aug 1, and Aug. 9-15.
August 1-3, 2008: A
special conference for former Jehovah’s Witnesses is being held at the Holiday
Inn and Resort in Weirton, West Virginia. The Conference is for those
former Witnesses who have become Catholic, or those former Witnesses who are
interested in investigating the Catholic Church, for those who have lost loved
ones to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and for anyone desiring information on how to
deal with Jehovah’s Witnesses socially or through apologetics. For information
see: www.catholicxjw.com
August 2-3, 2008: The National Catholic Family Conference being held
in San Diego, California, will host such speakers as Father Joseph Fessio, Jesse Romero, Dr. Scott Hahn, Kimberly Hahn,
Auxiliary Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Diocese
of San Diego, Professor Michael Barber, and Ken Hensley. To register online
please visit either of the following two sites: www.CatholicRC.org
or www.NationalCatholicFamilyConference.org For information, or to register by phone call toll free
877-526-2151.
August 7-10, 2008: The 20th Annual Courage & Encourage
Conference is being held in Medway, MA (Boston)
with speakers Father Paul Check, Dale O’Leary, Dawn Stefanowicz,
Father Donald Timone and Father John Harvey. Some of
the speakers are directly involved in pastoral ministries, as well as a
presentation by a psychologist, and a Courage member will also give a
presentation. Workshops are part of the Conference, as is daily Mass,
Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary, Healing Prayer Service, and personal
testimonies. For information call: 21-268-1010 or see: www.CourageRC.net
August 9, 2008: A Conference in recognition of the 40th
year of Humanae
Vitae is being held in Oakland,
California and will include as
speakers, Archbishop Raymond Burke, Ralph McInerny,
and Janet Smith. For information see: www.cornerstoneconference.org
September 12-14, 2008: Totus Tuus
is sponsoring a Family Conference centered on “The Eucharist, Family and
Presence at FamilyLand in Bloomingdale Ohio. There will be
daily Mass, and throughout the conference, speakers include Bishop Robert
Carlson, Jerry Coniker, Katrina Zeno and Scott Hahn. For information call: 1-800-77-family.
October 11-12, 2008: In celebration of the Catholic Church in the United
States 200th Anniversary for Boston, New York, Philadelphia and
Louisville (Bardstown) were established as diocese in 1808, the Magnificat publication is sponsoring the Magnificat Pilgrimage of Hope in Boston, MA, and will
feature liturgical celebrations, talks by well-known Catholic speakers,
break-out sessions with the Magnificat editorial
team, music and cultural events, and also a theatrical presentation. A single
attendee for 2 days is $150 or a couple for 2 days is $200, A Saturday only
one-day pass is $70 or a Sunday only one-day pass is $80. Anyone who might be interested, go to: www.magnificat.com click on:
“Discover Magnificat” and then click on:
“Pilgrimage of Hope.”
Do
You Know The 12 Fruits Of The Holy Spirit?
Charity,
Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness
Generosity,
Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-Control, Chastity
Education
Although Jay Matthews: is not
an educator, he became a self-appointed evaluator of schools in this country.
Mr. Matthews is a journalist for Newsweek and the Washington Post. With no
qualifications to do so, he devised a “Best Schools” formula, which listed the
top 100 schools in America.
However, serious questioning arises when one considers that the major criteria
for arriving on his list, is whether or not the school ascribes to the
International Baccalaureate educational program, a program that measures a
school’s success by its acquiescing to the goals set forth by the United
Nations, rather than any school board. Case-In-Point: Mr. Matthews has also
co-authored a book with Ian Hill, the former Deputy Director General of the
International Baccalaureate. Thus a school on his list cannot necessarily be
judged by awards and recognitions it receives.
Washington, DC: An
education program that gave school vouchers to low-income families to send
their children to private or parochial schools may be terminated. Approximately
80% of the children in the program are black while the remainder are mostly
Hispanic. Their parents overwhelmingly favor the program, stating that their
kids are far more successful in these other schools than in the public school
system. Opponents believe that the funds for this program are shortchanging
public schools, and that the money should be directed there. –WallStreetJournal-
Minnesota, Shakopee: Shakopee Middle Schools
seriously embarrassed a 12 year old girl by presenting graphic sexually
explicit materials as part of a sexual education program which was presented in
the presence of both boys and girls. The class was also told about the sexual
changes in the bodies of both the boys and the girls. Parents were very
concerned because they were not appropriately informed about the curriculum,
and believe that the boys and girls should be separated when being educated
about these matters, to avoid embarrassment of either, due to the ages of the
students. The School Board and principal have stated they will change their
actions. (fortunately, Governor Tim Pawlenty forced
the Minnesota
legislature to back down from attempting to pass legislation that would have
included information about birth control and STD’s, by threatening to veto the bill if the
legislature passed it, so this did not become part of the curriculum for now) –CPO-
For Your Information
August 15, 2008: is the cutoff date for you to submit the name of an
outstanding “Champion For Life” who is outstanding in promoting the dignity of
human life; such individuals may teach about the dignity of human life, or
someone who serves those with disabilities, someone who works at a center for
challenging pregnancies, or someone who volunteers with the elderly. Four
awards will be given in the categories of: 1) Parish, 2) School,
3) Adult, and 4) Youth over the age of 18. The awards will be given on
October 9, 2008 at a luncheon with Archbishop Nienstedt
at the University Club, 340 Cedar
Avenue in St.
Paul. Nomination forms can be found at: www.archspm.org/family or call Sonya at: 651-291-4515.
A Remarkable Collection: of artifacts from the Vatican
will be on display from September 27, 2008 through January 11, 2009 at the Minnesota History Center.
Volunteers are needed for the display, and anyone interested should go to: www.mhns.org/volunteers
July 24, 3008: National Family Planning Week is hosting a
Mississippi River Cruise for all engaged or married couples to have a “date
night” together. The cost is $35 per couple and with boarding on Harriet Island at 6:30 pm. To download the registration form, go to: www.archspm.org/family
Archbishop Nienstedt’s Office:
has informed the staff of St. Joan of Arc church that they would not be
permitted to hold their annual “gay pride” prayer service, which was to be held
in conjunction with the Twin Cities Gay Pride celebration. It was suggested
that the focus of their gathering be more of a “peace service” instead, without
involving mention of homosexuality. This request of the Archbishop is
unquestionably in line with the teachings the Catholic Church has always had on
the issue, and is not an opinion separate from Catholic doctrine.
Qatar, Doha: Mass was celebrated
at a new church in that Moslem country a month ago. It is expected that a
school run by nuns will be added. This is the result of fruitful
inter-religious dialogue, although in most other Moslem countries, this would
not be the likely outcome. –SpiritDaily-
Padre Pio: is claimed to have met Archbishop LeFebvre, according to a book titled, Padre Pio Gleanings by Pascal Catanco,
which was recently translated into English. On page 58, according to Professor
Bruno Rabajotti, who witnessed the event, Padre Pio stated to the Archbishop, “Never cause discord among
your brothers and always practice the rule of obedience; above all, when it
seems to you that the errors of those in authority are all the more serious.
There is no other road than that of obedience, especially for those of us who
have made this vow.” Archbishop LeFebvre, it is
claimed, then said to Padre Pio, “I will remember
that, Father.” But Padre Pio replied sternly, “ No,
you will forget. You will tear apart the community of faithful, oppose the will
of your superiors and even go against the orders of the pope himself and this
will happen quite soon…you will forget the promise you made here today, and the
whole Church will be hurt by you. Don’t set yourself up as a judge, don’t take
powers that do not belong to you, and do not consider yourself as the voice of
God’s people, as God already speaks to them Do not sow discord and dissention.
However, I know this is what you will do!” –SpiritDaily-
Bishop William Murphy: of Rockville Centre, New York, has declared there will be no
further “Communion Services” in his diocese.
He states that this action, “Brings into conformity with the liturgical
norms of the Church.” The order applies to parishes, schools and social and
charitable organizations that had adopted the practice of offering
“celebrations of the word” and distributed Communion although no Mass was
scheduled. –CatholicNewsService-
The Archdiocese Of Boston: is not out of the woods with its problems, as some
of the city’s beautiful traditional Catholic Churches are being closed, even
though they are well-attended and financially viable. One parish had the Tridentine Mass since 1990, but that was removed from them
and relocated to another church. The parish successfully petitioned again to
restart the Tridentine Mass, and tripled the
attendance. However, the Archdiocese deemed it necessary to close the Church at
the end of June. Additionally, the Boston Archdiocese has buckled under, through
Cardinal O’Malley’s decision to turn over the six area hospitals to an
independent lay board subject to the attorney general’s demands, thus insuring Massachusetts new laws
that require all medical facilities to dispense emergency abortifacient
contraception. The Archdiocese may speak up on matters of Catholic issues only
if it files written notice with the public charities division of the attorney
general’s office ahead of time. (what might have happened if the Archdiocese
had threatened to close all its hospitals and permitted the huge influx of
people to be absorbed by the public hospitals, which they could not possibly
handle…this is what Cardinal John O’Connor of New York did years ago, and the
State backed down)
Virginia, Richmond: A disturbing report has come in from the Richmond
diocese where four women employed by Catholic Charities not only saw to it that
an illegal minor immigrant was fitted with a contraceptive device, but when it
failed, the Catholic Charities employees procured an abortion for the woman by
actually driving her to the facility, and signed the consent form. The
now-dismissed employees claim that they did not know it was wrong to take this
action on the girl’s behalf.
From The Vatican
Papal Nuncio: Archbishop Pietro Sambi, commented that Pope Benedict XVI’s
visit to the United States
led to his “discovery” by the American people as a leader who is “Attentive on
what happens in the heart of the man of today, and as a bearer of substantial
and life-giving answers offered with clarity and humility.” He stated that the
American people responded with “Affection, attention, respect and love.” Even
the truculent press responded with “Interest, respect and liking” of the
Pontiff. Archbishop Sambi believes the Holy Father’s
message of Hope was the connection, and that the Pope also spoke of the United States
as a place where “Religious diversity of expressions is not only tolerated, but
appreciated as the nation’s ‘soul’ and a fundamental guarantee of human rights
and duties.” The Nuncio notes that the trip instilled a new courage in American
Catholics, and that parishes are reporting many faithful who had for some time
abandoned their religious practices have returned to confession and Sunday
Mass.
The Vatican: was instrumental in leading 111 nations to sign a
peace treaty in Dublin,
that would prohibit the production, use, transfer or stockpiling of cluster
munitions. Cluster bombs are now to be considered illegal, and are to be phased
out over the next eight years. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi led the Holy See’s delegation to the International
Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions. A quote from Pope Paul VI was used,
“Weapons destroy reciprocal trust, require an enormous amount of spending and
impede projects of peace and solidarity.” The Vatican delegation had little sympathy for
those manufacturing the weapons who complained about the economic loss to them,
stating that, “The harm suffered by the nations against whom they will be used
and the harm they cause their victims is much greater” than considerations
about economic loss.
A Plenary Indulgence: is being offered in celebration of the “Year Of Saint Paul” which is being celebrated from June 28, 2008
to June 29, 2009, even for those who are not able to travel to Rome. For specific
information see: www.vatican.va or www.annapaolino.org
The
Pave The Way
Foundation: a New York-based
organization, brought a group of Jewish Holocaust survivors who wished to
personally thank the Pope for the Catholic Church’s intervention in saving
their lives during World War II. They wanted to aid in clearing up
misunderstandings about the Church’s role during the Holocaust. A Rome
television news agency videotaped these eyewitness testimonies, which will
clearly showed the secret activities of Pope Pius XII and his household who
labored to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jews. A second initiative will occur in September,
when a Symposium on Pope Pius XII will be held with various expert panelists
will present historical newspaper accounts, documents and eye witness testimony
from those who survived, to an audience of over 100 Jewish religious,
educational and community leaders from around the world. –Zenit-
Islamic-Catholic
Panel Reached 5 Conclusions: from a
meeting at the Vatican
that had the theme, “Christians and Muslims as Witnesses of the God of Justice,
of Peace, and of Compassion in a World Suffering From Violence.” The results of
a committee headed by President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious
Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, and the
President of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue, Professor Hamid bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie, agreed
on the following: 1) “From the inherent dignity of each human being stem
fundamental rights and duties,” 2) “Peace if a gift from God and also requires
the commitment of all human beings, and particularly believers, who are called
to be vigilant witnesses to peace in a world afflicted by violence in many
forms,” 3) “Christians and Muslims believe that God is compassionate and
therefore they consider it their duty to show compassion towards every human
person, especially the needy and the weak,” 4) “If authentically practiced,
effectively contribute in promoting brotherhood and harmony in the human
family,” and 5) “Justice is a priority in our world; it requires, beyond the
implementation of the existing legal provisions, the respect of the fundamental
needs of individuals and peoples through an attitude of love, fraternity and
solidarity. There can be no true and lasting peace without justice.” This is a
successful step towards a harmonious relationship with our Islamic brothers.
The Shroud Of Turin: has not been on display since the year 2000, but will
again be brought out in 2010 in the city of Turin,
Italy,
where it is currently kept in a climate-controlled urn in the chapel of the
Turin Cathedral. The Holy Father commented, “The Shroud will provide an
appropriate moment to contemplate that mysterious face which silently speaks to
the hearts of men, inviting them to recognize therein the face of God.” The
Shroud’s display will be part of the plans for the 2009-2010 pastoral year
which focuses on the contemplation of the Passion of Christ.
A Document: titled, “Rescriptum ex audi-entia” written by Cardinal Bertone,
the Vatican Secretary of State, was sent to all the Bishops of the world,
regarding the admittance of those persons with homosexual tendencies to
religious vocations. He states, “While profoundly respecting the persons in
question, those who practice homosexuality present deep-seated homosexual
tendencies or support the ‘gay culture,’ cannot be admitted to the seminary or
to holy orders.” –TheWanderer-
An Attempt Is Being Made: to have a medieval Church in Turkey returned to the Catholic
Church from its status of being a museum. 2008 is being celebrated as the year
of St. Paul, who was born in Tarsus, and it would be appreciated if it
could once again become a place of worship. The Moslem Turkish government
barely tolerates Christianity, and does not permit Catholic priests to wear
their collars, black suits or cassocks, although the local officials have
permitted Masses to be said if they remove the Cross and all other Christian
religious symbols when the Mass is over. Hopefully there will be a thaw with
the Turkish government, which would be a positive sign of a degree of religious
freedom in that country.
Hong Kong: Assistant
Bishop John Tong Hon was requested by the Vatican
to represent the Catholic Church at the opening ceremony in Beijing at the Olympics later this year. It
is believed that there are between 8 and 12 million Catholics in China,
who are divided between the state-approved church and the true underground
Church there. Relations between the Church and the Chinese government are
unfriendly, and it is hoped this may be a way to initiate a thaw in relations. –SpiritDaily-
In The Know About Our Times
Psalm 81 2 “Listen, My people, to My warning, O Israel,
if only you would heed! Let there be no foreign god among you, no worship of an
alien god. I am the Lord your God, Who brought you from the land of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. But my people did not heed my voice
and Israel
would not obey, so I left them in their stubbornness of heart to follow their
own designs.” ……Does this not sound like it was written for today with the god
of sports, of materialism, of needless shopping, making oneself into god and
gratifying every whim? And from the look of things, He is granting to us what
we insist we want more than Him; the culture we have made, rather than His way
of Truth and Love.
Priests Are Hiding Out: in the country of Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) because
they are on the wanted lists of soldiers and militia groups and have had death
threats, after speaking out against the corrupt President Robert Mugabe, who is
running for re-election. The reprisals came after the Catholic Church and other
denominations spoke out against the country’s deteriorating human rights
situation. The inflation rate is 160,000% and food is not only scarce, food is
being withheld from those who did not vote for the incumbent President. This
country, like so many, needs our prayers.
Steven Mosher: head of the
Population Research Institute, has a new book out titled, Population
Control: Real Costs, Illusory Benefits. He chronicles the false allegations
of overpopulation of our world, insisting that the world is not overpopulated,
has never been overpopulated, and never will be overpopulated. The methods to
achieve this population control, consisting of abortion, sterilization and
contraception, are what have really taken the toll on the human spirit. Undoubtedly, another excellent book.
The Federal Supreme Court:
has confirmed in a 5-4 decision, that the 2nd Amendment to the
Constitution, which is the right to bear arms, does apply to citizens owning
guns for their own protection. How is it possible that 4 of the Justices don’t
understand the Constitution; this never needed clarification before.
Michigan: In May, the Supreme Court of that State upheld Michigan’s Marriage
Amendment that “prohibits public employers from providing health insurance
benefits to their employees who qualify as same-sex domestic partners.” Even if
the radically-liberal 9th
District Court in California can’t seem
to understand the will of the people on this matter, Michigan has, and this decision should be
widely covered in the mainstream media, which it has not been.
In England:
Adoption agencies in that country are shutting down after the passage of “gay
equality laws” which will not permit denying homosexual couples the “right” to
adopt a child. Since this is clearly not in keeping with Catholic Church
teachings, there is no other option available. This is the same course of action
taken by adoption agencies in Massachusetts
after the passage of gay “marriage” laws in that state.
Colorado, Denver:
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, the nation’s largest association of
agnostics, atheists and secularists, has a large billboard posted that states,
“Imagine No Religion,” which cost them approximately $3000. This foundation has
also successfully halted a city-sponsorship of a day-of-prayer, threatened
another lawsuit for a city subsidy for the Council of Colorado Churches’ annual
Easter sunrise services, and unsuccessfully tried to litigate the removal of
the Ten Commandments from the Capitol grounds. –SpiritDaily-
The Institute For Humanist
Studies: made up of mostly atheists, is advocating more
holidays to honor, “secular saints,” such as Charles Darwin.
Switzerland: Environmentalism is one thing, but radical environmentalism is entirely
another. The Swiss legislature added an amendment to their Constitution several
years ago, that included the dignity of animals, plants and other organisms.
Recently a bioethics panel was instructed to further clarify and define this
law, which they did through issuance of a document titled, “The Dignity of
Living Beings with Regard to Plants.” The report states that “The random and
meaningless destruction of plants is a violation of the plant’s
‘dignity’.” They consider this “capital
punishment” for plants. This, as is happening all too often, advocates that
human beings are of secondary importance on this planet. It is a sign of our
times.
Oprah Winfrey: recently sponsored a
virtual classroom promoting a book titled, A New Earth by Tolle, where 10 million people, once a week for 10 lessons,
came together for the author’s training. He teaches: we are light, sin means
missing the point of exit, we have a choice to either evolve or die, heaven is
not a location but an inner realm of consciousness, the source of all energy is
within you, and Jesus is an archetypical figure-He is every man and woman.
Oprah was so pleased that she said, “Being able to share this material with you
is a gift and a part of the fulfillment of my life’s purpose.”
Medjugorje Monthly Message
June 25, 2008:
“Dear Children, Also today, with great joy in my heart, I
call you to follow me and to listen to my messages. Be joyful carriers of peace
and love in this peaceless world. I am with you and I bless you all with
my Son Jesus, the King of Peace. Thank you for having responded to my
call."
On Their Way To Sainthood
Mother Molokai: was actually
Sister Marianne Cope of Syracuse,
New York. In 1888 she was called
by God to administer to the lepers in the Hawaiian Islands,
where she eventually oversaw the women, as did Father Damien DeVeuster care for the men. When Father Damien died, she
stepped into his role, and oversaw the improvements to the entire leper
community. She died on Molokai in 1918 and was
beatified on May 14, 2007. She will be another saint from our country.
Other News
The June 24, 2008: edition of
the Wall Street Journal, (p,A17) had this to point out
about a presidential candidate: “Mr. Obama is for using tax dollars to fund
abortions, and against restrictions on partial-birth abortion. In the Illinois
Senate, he voted against legislation protecting a child who was born alive
despite an abortion. In sum, if you want to know what Mr. Obama's policies
mean, it's this: taxpayer-funded abortion on demand.” This Election Is Also About Who Will Reside
On The Federal Supreme Court And Decide The Matter Of Abortion For This Nation
For The Next 30 Years.
Brokeback Mountain: is in the
process of being written as a musical for the stage, as is Al Gore’s recent
book on the environment.
Director Ron Howard: and actor Tom
Hanks are quite upset with the Vatican, which refused permission that would
allow them to film their upcoming movie, “Angels and Demons,” anywhere around
the Vatican or other Catholic sites. This new movie is a pre-quel to their earlier heretical film, “The DaVinci Code.” Mr. Hanks and Mr. Howard are unable to
understand why they are not being permitted to further exploit the Catholic
Church, which they are attacking in their films.
Prayer Intentions From The Holy Father
For July, 2008
General
Intentions:: That there may be an
increase in the number of those who volunteer to
serve the Christian Community with generous and prompt availability
Mission Intentions: That World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia
may kindle the fire of divine love in
numerous young
people and render them sowers of hope for a new
humanity
Prayer Opportunities And Retreats
July 4-5, 2008: The World Apostolate of Fatima is sponsoring an
all-night Prayer Vigil at St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church, 1154 Seminole Ave
in West St. Paul.
For information, contact Ellie Sonday at:
651-457-3285.
July 18-19, 2008: Marriage Encounter enables married couples (one man
and one woman) to discover God’s vision of marriage and family life based on
Judeo-Christian concepts, beliefs and morality. The weekend programs are open
to people of all faiths, and to those of no religious affiliation; all are
invited. Marriage Encounter weekends are held monthly in the Twin Cities. For
information, visit: www.marriages.org or call: 651-454-3238.
July 20, 2008: Monthly Family Adoration is held monthly at St. John’s Catholic Church, 835-2nd Ave NW in New Brighton. Confessions
begin at 2:15 pm and adoration starts at 3:00 pm. Father Mark Dosh from St. John the
Baptist Catholic Church in Excelsior, Mn will lead the
adoration. Fellowship will follow.
July 26, 2008: A Day of Reflection and Honor for Birth Mothers will
be held at Lumen Christi Catholic Church, 2055 Bohland Ave
in St. Paul from
9:30 am to 4:30 pm. There will be professional presentations, small group
discussions, a healing ceremony and Mass.
The cost is $5. For information, call: 651-291-4438.
August 3, 2008:
Mal l:6
“A son honors his father, and servants their master; If then I am their
Father, where is the honor due me?” The 9th Annual Celebration in
honor of the Feast Of God The Father Of All Mankind will be held at St.
Bonaventure Catholic Church, 901 East 90th Street in Bloomington, Mn. Prior to this, the 8 day Consecration Prayer begins on
July 27th and concludes on August 3rd. Mass will be held
at 1:00 pm, followed by the Consecration, and refreshments will follow the
celebration with a cold lunch available, with a free will donation. For
information, contact Rose at 952-938-5913.
August 8-10, 2008: Rachel’s Vineyard, an international organization
offering healing to those women and men who have had the experience of abortion
in their lives, is offering a retreat locally in the Cities. For information
contact Nancy Blom at: 952-882-2072. For information
see:
http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/weekend/retreats-by-location-usa.htm
September 5-7, 2008: A silent Ignatian Retreat
sponsored by Miles Christi will be held at the Retreat
Center in Buffalo, Mn for women and young women. For
information, contact Karen Hastreiter at minnesota@spiritualexercises.net
or call: 651-451-1132.
September 19-21, 2008: A silent Ignatian Retreat
sponsored by Miles Christi will be held at the Retreat
Center in Buffalo, Mn for men and young men. For information,
contact Karen Hastreiter at minnesota@spiritualexercises.net
or call: 651-451-1132.
Pro-Life
LifeNews
July 20-26, 2008 is Natural Family Planning Week, with the theme set
by the USCCB as, “Married Love and the Gift of Life.” Each parish will receive
a copy of the document and a poster for NFP week.
Sarah Palin: is not only a working mom, but is the Governor of
the State of Alaska
who, over the age of 40, had a down syndrome child. To her critics she said
that every child is a gift from God, and that she welcomed the addition to her
family.
Nationwide: Across the country, pro-life drug stores are
springing up to offer alternative medical services by those pharmacists who do
not wish to surrender their religious and moral convictions in patient care.
These pharmacies will stock the same drugs as other pharmacies, with the
exception of contraceptive measures or the Plan B pill. Washington
State, California, New Jersey and Illinois,
by their state laws, forbid pharmacists to refuse filling abortifacient
contraceptives, these businesses believe it is within the proprietor’s rights
to adhere to his moral conscience, since customers are free to take their
business elsewhere. Contraception is not essential for a woman’s health; in
fact, it can very well place her health in danger.
Arizona, Phoenix: Although physicians have testified before Arizona legislative
committees that partial-birth abortions are never necessary to protect a
woman’s health, a bill to the contrary is before both houses waiting for a
vote. A second measure introduced would permit nurse practitioners to perform
first-trimester surgical abortions, although an opposition bill has also been
introduced, which would prohibit nurses from doing these abortions. Meanwhile,
the Arizona Board of Nursing has voted to permit nurse practitioners to perform
aspiration abortions up through 16 weeks of pregnancy. However, Attorney
Deborah Sheasby from the Center for Arizona Policy
believes that laws already on the books prohibit nurses from overstepping their
boundaries, and may be filing suit.
Brazil,
Brasilia: This nation, where abortion is permitted only in
cases of rape, or when the mother life is in danger, UNAIMOUSLY voted down an
attempt by a committee to introduce a bill that would legalize abortion on
demand at any time for any reason. Although it is unfortunate that abortion is
permitted for any reason in that nation, this is a huge victory in favor of
Life in that country.
California, Sacramento: The November ballot will offer voters the
opportunity to determine if there will be parental notification when a minor
daughter is considering an abortion. More than 1.2 million signatures were
submitted to the secretary of State, in a State where a parent must sign a consent
form for a minor to use a tanning salon because of the health risks.
Canada,
Ottawa: Approval has been given by the National Association
of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities in permitting the “morning after pill” to be
sold over the counter. Canada
is the fifth country to permit o-t-c sales, along with Norway, the Netherlands,
Sweden and India.
England,
London: The British Parliament has voted to permit
human/animal hybrids, which combines the DNA of both. These created embryos
would then be killed within 14 days of creation, for purposes of embryonic stem
cell research.
Florida, Sarasota: Habitat For Humanity of Sarasota
has terminated its relationship with Planned Parenthood. The organization had
originally intended to purchase a plot of land from Planned Parenthood for $10
and would then build a multi-family housing. This would have permitted Planned
Parenthood to fulfill a zoning requirement in order to obtain an occupancy
permit for a new abortion facility. Thanks to the American Life League, the
matter was taken to the public, which led to huge numbers of phone calls. The
publicity eventually led Habitat to pull out of the deal. –TheWanderer-
Kansas, Kansas City: “Catholic” Governor Kathleen Sebelius,
a strong supporter of abortion supposedly aligned with Kansas Planned
Parenthood, has been told by Archbishop Joseph Naumann
that she may not partake of Holy Communion until such time as she changes her
position on abortion, a procedure which clearly is not in keeping with the teachings of the
Catholic Church. There are also allegations of her being involved with
laundering abortion industry money for distribution to Kansas Democrats.
Massachusetts, Boston: The Governor of Massachusetts, Devel
Patrick, led the fight for, and pushed through a bill that will spend $1
Billion dollars over the next 10 years, which will be used to create a bank of
embryonic stem cell research lines for public and private research, upgrade
facilities at colleges to accommodate the research, and then provide grant
money to them. This is an economic measure being taken so that Massachusetts can be
competitive in the marketplace.
Mexico,
Mexico City: The Mexico Supreme Court continues to hear arguments on a lawsuit to
overturn a law passes by the city of Mexico
City, which allows abortions up to 12 weeks of
pregnancy. In 1997 the Mexico Constitution added language that provided
nationality to all people, including “The newborn and the conceived person,”
and therefore, Constitutionally, the embryo is a person. This is a major case
for that nation.
Minnesota, St. Paul: Governor Tim Pawlenty,
undoubtedly after a tidal wave of phone calls and e-mails, vetoed the
Kahn-Cohen Cloning Bill, which would have legalized human cloning for purposes
of stem cell research at the University of Minnesota, would have required
researchers to kill all the cloned human beings or face felony charges, and
would have required taxpayers to pay for these experiments on human Life.
Congratulations to our Governor who did not cross even more moral boundaries.
However, the University still continues to kill human embryos at its Stem Cell
Institute in Minneapolis.
Minnesota: Hutchinson: The Thomas More Law Center has filed suit on behalf
of a 12 year old youth who was told by the school, to turn his t-shirt
containing a pro-life theme, inside out because it would not be permitted in
school. The suit is being filed on the basis of Freedom of Speech.
Washington State, Olympia: The former Governor of the State of Washington,
Booth Gardner, has Parkinson’s Disease, and is determined to take the lead with
Initiative 1000, which would permit assisted suicide in that State. It is not
only the disability groups that are extremely concerned about this development,
but Gardner’s
own 46 year old son, who finds the measure abhorrent. His son intends to join
with a coalition of groups and residents against the bill.
Washington, DC: Virtue Media is producing a television commercial
with Norma McCorvey, the “Roe” in “Roe vs Wade” legal case that went to the Supreme Court in 1973.
She states that back then, she was a very confused 21 year old with one child,
and facing an unplanned pregnancy. She goes on to state that the attorneys used
her divorce case to promote their pro-abortion agenda, because in truth, she
never did have an abortion, and has three children today. She is hoping that
the commercial will change hearts and minds on abortion.
Washington, DC: The Alliance Defense Fund filed a lawsuit and was
successful in defending Coast Guard Officer Joseph Healy, who refused to submit
to being vaccinated with a vaccine derived from fetal tissue cells obtained
from abortions. The Catholic Officer stated that this violated his moral and
religious beliefs. The Coast Guard backed down, after initially pressuring
Healy to submit to their directives. This decision has ramifications for all
those fighting in our nation’s services.
Washington, DC: The 2008 Gallup Values and Beliefs Poll indicated
that 85% of the public opposes human cloning. Also, 51% oppose abortion, yet
there is a disconnect since 62% believe it is alright to perform embryonic stem
cell research. A surprising 51% favor assisted suicide and believe it to be an
acceptable practice.
Washington, DC: A Zogby Poll conducted in May, 2007 indicated that 83% of
parents want their kids to wait until marriage before having sexual relations.
And now the National Abstinence Education Association is organizing a national
march and rally in Washington,
which will feature one million parents in support of the education program for
teens and young adults.
Washington, DC: The National Education Association (NEA) will be
seeing many pro-life leaders from across the country protesting outside their
annual convention this month. In the past, the NEA has overstepped its
boundaries from education to endorse abortion, along with pro-abortion groups,
which is not in keeping with the mission of the organization. Pro-life teachers
and students are welcome to join the protest.
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