Wonderful Pro-Life video just released for 40 Days for life competition

The Scourging and Crucifixion in Anime style Video

The film is a bit violent (as it was 2000 years ago), but it has the happiest ending - the one we all hope for. Jesus, I Trust in You,

Act to defund Planned Parenthood NOW

Senate vote on Planned Parenthood, health law funding, set for Thursday | LifeSiteNews.com

Now is the time. This is the opportunity for Pro-Lifers to make the world a safer place.
Click here to find information to contact your U.S. Senator.

Let us remember the Great Pope John Paul II

Victory for Life and Fiscal Sanity: U.S. House Votes to Defund Planned Parenthood

By Deacon Keith Fournier

2/18/2011

Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - On Friday, February 18, 2011 the U.S. House of Representatives, by a margin of 240-185, voted to cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood. The vote did not proceed along strict party lines. The vote did however reveal those members who have a conscience and care about what the American people truly want and those who do not.

Those who voted to cut off tax dollars to this organization are to be commended. That included 11 Democrats. Those who voted against this legislation, including 7 Republicans, ought to be publicly exposed. The one who voted "present" may be the worst offender. We will find out the names of the members in each category and inform our readers. The champion of this legislation was Rep. Mike Pence, who said after the historic vote:

"This afternoon's vote is a victory for taxpayers and a victory for life. By banning federal funding to Planned Parenthood, Congress has taken a stand for millions of Americans who believe their tax dollars should not be used to subsidize the largest abortion provider in America. I commend my colleagues in both parties for taking a stand for taxpayers and a stand for life. I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to support this legislation and end federal funding of Planned Parenthood once and for all."

We commend Congressman Pence and others, like Pro-Life Champion Congressman Chris Smith, whose courage and tenacity have led to this important vote. We urge our readers to pray fervently for those in the Senate who will soon be asked to consider this legislation. We also encourage everyone reading this article to continue to make their support of this legislation crystal clear to their own Senators. 

In 2009 I examined Planned Parenthood's 2007-2008 Annual Report. As a 501 c3 organization (with an affiliated "Action fund" for its more overtly political efforts) they have to make the report available to the public. I well understand the role and function of such reports having led not for profits groups in the past. It keeps members, supporters and friends aware of the organizations use of their funds and gives the organization the opportunity to self promote.

Planned Parenthood is built on a lie. They dress themselves up as a "Health Care Provider" while they include the taking of the lives of innocent children in the womb as a "service" under their offering of "reproductive services". They have insinuated themselves into the global delivery of "medical services" receiving massive government funding as this report clearly confirms. Included in these "medical services" is the killing of children in the womb.

There is nothing "reproductive" about abortion, it always kills a human person. It is certainly not a service to the child, the mother, the father or society. Nor is it "health care". Funding it is morally repugnant. Extracting tax dollars from all of us to do so is immoral and maddening..

Their 2007 - 2008 Report took their claims to a level of audacity which I had never seen. As a part of their outreach to "clergy" who condone their work, they honored a woman who referred to the killing of children in the womb through surgical strikes and chemical weapons as "Sacred Work" and "Prophetic Work".

They gave her the "Davis Award", named after Reverend Tom Davis, a minister in the United Church of Christ and his wife. Davis wrote a book entitled "Abortion -- Is it Necessary?" in which he contended that the "sacred work of justice," requires that America provide abortions to women. He is the chair of the "Clergy Advisory Board" of Planned Parenthood.

In the early paragraphs of their 2007- 2008 report they claimed "Planned Parenthood is the leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider, with 93 years under our belt. And in the near future, we will play a unique role in helping to shape the health agenda for the new administration." They certainly succeeded in their prediction. The current Administration is has become their greatest ally. However, today's important vote portends a change is in the air.

Thursday evening brought a three hour long, impassioned floor debate over this legislation. The defenders of the indefensible, using our tax dollars to fund the work of Planned Parenthood, used their tired old rhetoric, calling the proponents of the legislation, including women, of waging a "war on women". Fortunately, they failed. 

In her recent story written before the vote, Catholic Online's Jennifer Hartline said of Congressman Pence,  "Pence is among many pro-life heroes in Congress who are actively pursuing the permanent defunding of Planned Parenthood.  He's certainly gotten Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richard's attention with his Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act."

"Between the Pence amendment and the Live Action videos that reveal PP's utter disregard for children's welfare and safety and their disdain for the law, Richards knows that PP's federal gravy train is under serious threat of derailment."

She is referring to Cecile Richards, the President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America who lobbied hard to prevent the passage of this amendment.

Jennifer Hartline continued, "Finally, the political facade is being melted away and many Americans are beginning to see Planned Parenthood for what it truly is; an organization that profits from the destructive sexual activities of minors and adults - and quite possibly criminal sexual activities - and the wanton extermination of babies.  And thankfully, many more Americans are asking, "Why should we pay for this?" 

"We shouldn't be paying for this.  Let the vocal and wealthy celebrities and abortion advocates in the country donate to their pet cause and keep PP operating if they choose, but keep our tax dollars out of it.  I choose not to fund PP.  I choose to value and protect my neighbor in the womb.  I choose life.  What about it, Cecile?  Aren't you supposed to be pro-choice? Thanks to Pence, Chris Smith of NJ and other unyielding defenders of life, the current Congress is poised to finally defund Planned Parenthood permanently."  

Cecile Richards responded after Friday's vote in these words, "The outcome of this vote is not a surprise, but it is radically out of step with mainstream American values and it is out of line with the issues voters want Congress to focus on." No, Ms. Richards, it is your organization which is out of step with mainstream American values and we are determined to stop paying its tab.

Next stop is the US Senate. Representative Pence had a message for his colleagues there, "I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to support this legislation and end federal funding of Planned Parenthood once and for all." We must all help to ensure they get the message loud and clear.

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Catholic Online asks that you join with us and help in this vital mission bysending this article to your family, friends, and neighbors and adding our link (www.catholic.org) to your own website, blog or social network. Let us broadcast, we are PROUD TO BE CATHOLIC!

ProLifeCon

Pro-life internet activists will gather at Family Research Council headquarters on January 24th, 2011 for ProLifeCon, the premier conference for the online pro-life community.  The event will be webcast live, and will feature experts and legislators to inform you about the cutting edge of the pro-life movement and give you ways to make a difference on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and the rest of the online world.
Event Schedule:

• 8:30 - 8:35 a.m. emcee Jill Stanek: Welcome & Introduction
• 8:35 - 8:50 a.m. Abby Johnson (Author, Unplanned)
• 8:50 - 9:05 a.m. Lila Rose (Live Action)
• 9:05 - 9:25 a.m. Panel: Taking the Pro-Life Message to Urban Audiences Online: Dean Nelson (Care Net) & Ryan Scott Bomberger (The Radiance Foundation)
• 9:25 - 9:35 a.m. Michael J. New, Ph.D.
• 9:35 - 9:50 a.m. Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.)
• 9:50 - 10:05 a.m. Special Announcements
• 10:05 - 10:15 a.m. Tony Perkins (Family Research Council)
• 10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Terrence McKeegan (C-FAM)
• 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. Kristan Hawkins (Students for Life)
• 10:45 - 11:00 a.m. Jeanne Monahan (Family Research Council)
• 11:00 - 11:15 a.m. David Bereit (40 Days for Life)
• 11:15 - 11:30 a.m. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.)

(from http://www.frc.org/prolifecon)

The Presence is Real

Another reminder that there is no such thing as a pro-choice Catholic!

Golfing with the Trinity, it's infallible

I just came across this speaker, Dr Ray Guarendi. He has been featured on EWTN and is very inspirational. He is the father of 10 and a practicing clinical psychologist. The second half of the clip talks about artificial contraception and the teaching authority of the Church.

Music with Meaning - Third Day - "Carry My Cross" and "Thief"

This is the song that got me hooked onto Third Day's music. It is from the album Wherever You Are, which is a supreme work of Christian rock music. Their new album Move is also a great return to form. The atmospheric build up and the emotion in the song say enough for themselves. Third Day have done a few songs  in this vein, where they are singing from the point of view of Biblical characters. This is the best one, but Thief (sung from the point of view of the repentant thief who was crucified with Jesus) is not far behind. These songs just help me to really get into the Gospels on a different level. The emotions that are put in the songs create an almost supernatural connection.

500 Crosses for Life London

Yesterday there was a great procession in support of life. It was an ecumenical march from Westminster Cathedral to Westminster Abbey covering both Lambeth Bridge and Westminster Bridge as well as the Houses of Parliament. The most touching part of the procession was the Mourning Session at Westminster Bridge where roses were thrown into the river Thames to remember those whose lives have been lost to abortion, as well as the mother’s who have been injured.

When we began at Westminster Cathedral each person was given a white cross to carry and we were introduced to the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe (which I had the privilege of carrying J). This icon is very special as it shows Our Lady pregnant with Jesus (as signified by the brown belt around her waist).
We were told that this icon was chosen as it has been responsible for the most conversions in history (9 million).

During the procession we sang songs and prayed the Chaplet of the Precious Blood. This is a devotion to the shedding of Jesus’ blood. Each of the sheddings is followed by 5 Our Father’s and Glory be. The 7 blood sheddings are: 1) The Circumcision; 2) The Agony in the Garden (Jesus’ sweat turned to blood); 3) The Scourging at the Pillar; 4) The Crowning with Thorns, 5) The Way of the Cross; 6) The Crucifixion; and 7) The Piercing of His Heart

The mourning session on Westminster Bridge consisted of the reading of names symbolising those children killed by abortion as 50 red roses were thrown into the Thames River one by one to the sound of the funeral bell.

We also recited the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. It was a beautiful moment standing in Palace yard (across from Westminster Palace) at the analemmatic (“human gnomon“) sundial with it’s motto from Shakespeare’s Henry V: “To carve out dials quaintly, point by point, thereby to see the minutes how they run: how many makes the hour full complete, how many hours brings about the day, how many days will finish up the year, how many years a mortal man may live.”


What a great testimony it was. And as our MC put it: we were not there to make a political statement, we were there to witness through prayer.
We ended the memorial at the memorial to innocent victims of oppression, violence and war around the world. “All you who pass by, is it nothing to you?” it states very appropriately.

“Blood Money" in London

Yesterday, 28th of October 2010, at the Coronet Cinema in Notting Hill Gate the UK premiere of the  film "Blood Money" took place. This was organised by the “40 Days for Life” team in London.

The theatre was a very appropriate setting as it was very much like a womb (at least to me). We all felt safe and warm and the walls were a warm red colour. The place was full and almost 400 people poured into the beautiful 19th century theatre for almost half an hour before the screening.

Upon entering the theatre participants were given plenty of materials:  the book "A Pure Heart Create for Me (Theology of the Body Today)" edited by Robert Colquhoun, his booklet "Finding Love in a Superficial Age" (referencing Loveundefiled.blogspot.com), and a number of leaflets, including "50 ways to help Unborn babies and their mothers" by Randy Alcon; "icare" by Human Life Alliance (www.humanlife.org), some leaflets by SPUC (Society for the Protection of Unborn Children) and The Good Counsel Network (wonderful angels that work in abortion counselling every day). Most importantly, we were given a small life-size replica baby as he/she would be at 10-12 weeks from conception.

Robert Colquhoun did a short introduction to the film by talking about the first edition of 40 days for life in London (he is the UK Campaign Director) and to the movie. It is great for London to be united to 238 cities around the world. Best of all the fruits of the campaign were revealed, so far 6 cases are confirmed of babies being allowed by their mothers to live. A small drop against the 200,000 abortions which occur each year in the UK, but each life is unbelievably precious. The London campaign has also seen the distribution of 10,000 copies of the “icare” pro-life magazine. Before the movie began Robert relayed a story to us about a group of people being stuck on a raft in stormy weather. Of these people all had life belts holding them into the raft except for one pregnant woman. As the seas grew rougher she was thrown overboard. What did the rest of the group do? Did they decide to write to the local Member of Parliament to complain about the lack of life belts? Did they form a committee to discuss the tragedy and how it can be prevented? Did they blame the person steering the raft? No, the only thing to do was to extend a life line and save her immediately. That, Robert said, is the situation we are in now: We need to act to save these woman who feel they have no choice but to abort.

The movie itself was very informative, though it suffers from trying to attack the scourge of abortion from too many directions in such a short time. We are introduced to the misuse of the judiciary, the eugenics movements and planned parenthood (originally the Birth Control League) and the lie of “safe“ abortion. But as there is so little available about the subject in the mainstream media we have this movie  to pin our  hopes on, and it does deserve this. It is narrated by Dr Alveda King, a niece of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.. "Blood Money" is very focused on the United States. For most of the initial 30 minutes there is intensive scrutiny of the judicial system and how abortion was made widely available to the people in the US through circumventing the constitution and disregard for medical facts. The movie then it gets more moving with the testimonies of women who experienced abortion, with Carol Everett who used to run the abortion clinic (her testimony http://www.priestsforlife.org/testimony/everett.htm) being the star of the movie and in my opinion a separate movie could be made based on her story. There are various high profile pro-life speakers in the movie: Father Frank Pavone from "Priests for Life"; Father Thomas Euteneuer (ex-director of Human Life International); Troy Newman; Joseph Scheilder from "Pro Life Action League", abortion and then anti-abortion pioneer Dr Bernard Nathanson (his testimony http://www.aboutabortions.com/Confess.html); and others from ALL (American Life League), the  Justice Foundation, and others. It is very moving to see the testimonies of so many shedding light on the pain that woman suffer and how many attempt suicide after having abortion (teenage girls being 6 times more likely to try after an abortion).

Artistically the movie is not going to win any awards. There is also not as  much suspense or emotional involvement as there is in the trailer (which is great) but instead it is packed full of  facts and opinions.

I would encourage Pro-Life newcomers and truth seekers to see this film. It provides a great introduction to the topic and can inspire those who are currently in the confusion of being pro-choice to re-evaluate  their beliefs based on logic and reason. Murder is murder.

I would like to end with the prayer Robert prayed before the film. “We pray for a day when no more babies die, and no mother’s cry.” Amen

LISTEN (a Biblical meditation)

In 2007 I attended a retreat day with some religious brothers from the Taize community in France. The community is an ecumenical Christian community who witness to the faith. Each year around 100,000 young people go to Taize. The brothers mostly just listen to the young people. Many of you will also be familiar with the popular Taize songs. These are simple, repetitive chants which are very meditative. These songs also encourage a deep meditation and listening to God.

I would like to share with you the importance of listening to God as shared by one of the brothers. This is done through reference to various passages of Scripture.

The first passage is know as Shema Yisrael. This is the centrepiece of Jewish morning and evening prayer services. This prayer is found in the book of Deuteronomy 6:4 “Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God. The LORD is the only God.” As we can see, the first word is “Listen.” This is the beginning and end of prayer - to be open to listening attentively.

This is  again highlighted in the story of God calling out to Samuel. Samuel is asleep and hears a voice calling in the night. Samuel assumes it is Eli calling him and he runs to wake up Eli and ask him what he wants. Eli tells him that he did not call him and instructs Samuel to return to sleep. This happens a second and a third time. On the third occasion Eli realises that it is God calling Samuel (who was sleeping in the room containing the Ark of the Covenant) and instructs him as follows- “Go lie down," Eli told Samuel. "When he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD. I'm listening.'" (1Sam 3:9).
Samuel does as instructed and the Lord instructs him.

We now see the same theme appearing in the New Testament. At the baptism of Jesus: A voice came out of the cloud and said, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him!" (Luke 9:35)

And when one of the scribes ask Jesus which is the most important commandment what is the first word Jesus says?
“Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. “ (Mar 12:29). Listen.

Sometimes when we pray we are so busy listing our petitions that we don’t wait for the answer. We don’t join with Samuel in saying “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening.” We need to spend time in the School of Silence in the presence of the Lord and listen to wait he moves our hearts towards. Let us pray that we can find the time, courage, and patience to do so.

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)

'Babies'

The Truth about the Catholic Church