Fr. Barron comments on the HHS Contraception Mandate

Great video by Fr. Robert Barron!

Courtesy: Word on Fire Ministry - Fr. Robert Barron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kcd-frYV6s

March for Life Recap

I recently attended the annual March for Life in Washington D.C. and, as always, it was an event to behold.  There were, as always, thousands upon thousands of people littering the streets of the city.  The vigil Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was, as always, absolutely packed, as was the Youth Rally Mass at the Verizon Center, which filled capacity and that overflow crowd filled the Armory.  As always there was no media, apart from EWTN, that paid any sort of serious attention to the March. 

One of the things that stuck out to me the most at this year’s march was an incident that happened right in between the Supreme Court and the Congress building.  This point is the sort of climax of the whole March and where it actually ends.  As usual there was a group of Pro-Choice activists, no more then 30-50, protesting while standing at the end of the March but they were surely outnumbered by the thousands and thousands of Pro-Life supporters constantly filing past them.  My eyes caught though a solo newscaster for NBC standing just to the side of the Supreme Court.

 As he went on-air he started talking about a completely different news story and only mentioned in passing that there were demonstrators around him, which was the cause of the overwhelming sound.  The scene was so sadly comical because although the right to life issue is felt so strongly by so many people and yet the media absolutely refuses to acknowledge it.

Conscience or Law of the Land Part 2

The Catholic bishops of the United States called “literally unconscionable” a decision by the Obama Administration to continue to demand that sterilization, abortifacients and contraception be included in virtually all health plans. Today's announcement means that this mandate and its very narrow exemption will not change at all; instead there will only be a delay in enforcement against some employers.
“In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences,” said Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The cardinal-designate continued, “To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable.It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom. Historically this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty."
The HHS rule requires that sterilization and contraception – including controversial abortifacients – be included among “preventive services” coverage in almost every healthcare plan available to Americans. “The government should not force Americans to act as if pregnancy is a disease to be prevented at all costs,” added Cardinal-designate Dolan.
At issue, the U.S. bishops and other religious leaders insist, is the survival of a cornerstone constitutionally protected freedom that ensures respect for the conscience of Catholics and all other Americans.
“This is nothing less than a direct attack on religion and First Amendment rights,” said Franciscan Sister Jane Marie Klein, chairperson of the board at Franciscan Alliance, Inc., a system of 13 Catholic hospitals. “I have hundreds of employees who will be upset and confused by this edict. I cannot understand it at all.”
Daughter of Charity Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, voiced disappointment with the decision. Catholic hospitals serve one out of six people who seek hospital care annually.
“This was a missed opportunity to be clear on appropriate conscience protection,” Sister Keehan said.
Cardinal-designate Dolan urged that the HHS mandate be overturned.
“The Obama administration has now drawn an unprecedented line in the sand,” he said. “The Catholic bishops are committed to working with our fellow Americans to reform the law and change this unjust regulation. We will continue to study all the implications of this troubling decision.”

Conscience or Law of the Land?

"Obama administration has drawn an unprecedented line in the sand. The Catholic bishops are committed to working with our fellow Americans to reform the law and change this unjust regulation. We will continue to study all the implications of this troubling decision. In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences.To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable." (Cardinal Designate Dolan, Abp of New York, President, USCCB)

A Statement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius: January 20, 2012

"In August 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule that will require most health insurance plans to cover preventive services for women including recommended contraceptive services without charging a co-pay, co-insurance or a deductible.  The rule allows certain non-profit religious employers that offer insurance to their employees the choice of whether or not to cover contraceptive services."

"This rule is consistent with the laws in a majority of states which already require contraception coverage in health plans, and includes the exemption in the interim final rule allowing certain religious organizations not to provide contraception coverage. Beginning August 1, 2012, most new and renewed health plans will be required to cover these services without cost sharing for women across the country." 


Courtesy:
www.catholic.org
For More info go to:
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=44489

March for Life 2012

The 39th annual March for Life is set for this Monday, January 23rd, 2012 in Washington D.C.  The March continues to be a wonderful spectacle to behold.  Thousands upon thousands converge on the nation's capital year after year at this event despite absolutely minimal media coverage and no promotion.  Many of those who come are to no surprise Catholic.  Yes, it is not uncommon to stop at a rest area while on the road to D.C. and see yourself surrounded by Roman collars and Franciscan habits.


Washington D.C. is set once again as a great gathering place this Monday as the battle for life wages on. Don't miss out.


For more info check out:
http://www.marchforlife.org/

Dolan Among New Cardinals For the Church

2012-01-06 Vatican Radio
“The world, with all its resources, is incapable of providing humanity with the light to guide it on its path”, said Pope Benedict XVI Friday marking the Feast of the Epiphany with pilgrims present in St Peter’s Square for the midday Angelus., during which he also announced a consistory for the creation of new cardinals.
“We can see as much in our day”, he continued “Western civilization seems to have lost its way, it is sailing blind. But the Church, through the Word of God, sees through this fog. She does not possess any technical solutions, but keeps Her eyes fixed on the goal, and offers the light of the Gospel to all people of good will, to every nation and culture”. 
After the Marian prayer, the pontiff addressed best wishes to the Eastern Churches, which according to the Julian calendar, celebrate Christmas tomorrow. "May every family and every community – the Pope said – be full of the light and peace of Christ the Saviour."
Before the greetings in different languages, he recalled that today is also the Children's Missionary Day, organized by the Pontifical Society for Holy Childhood. "Children around the world - said Benedict XVI – gathered in groups, are educated in a missionary awareness and support many projects of solidarity for their peers. Dear children and young people! May your heart be open to the world, like the heart of Jesus, but be mindful also of those who live next to you, always ready to lend them a helping hand. "
And to help the Church in this mission, to his own joy and the joy of thousands gathered in the square below, the Holy Father announced a consistory for February 18^th next, during which he will create 22 new Cardinals. 18 of them will be cardinal-electors, which means they are eligible to vote in conclave.
Ten of the Prelates to be elevated to the college of cardinals are drawn from the Curia. Most notably – and first on the list – Archbishop Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and US native, Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, Pro Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Eight of the cardinals-elect are resident bishops. Of note the names of two North Americans, Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto, Canada, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, USA. The Holy Father also named two resident bishops from the great continent of Asia: His Beatitude George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro Malabar (India) and John Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong (China).
Pope Benedict also announced that one bishop and four priests who have distinguished themselves in their commitment to the Church, will be made cardinals in the February consistory although they will not be eligible to vote in conclave having passed the age limit of 80 years. Among these Jesuit Fr. Karl Becker, Professor Emeritus of Dogmatic Theology of the Pontifical Gregorian University.

The Pope concluded by inviting all faithful to pray for them, "asking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, so they may always bear witness with courage and dedication to their love for Christ and his Church."
Of the 22 cardinals, 16 are from Europe (7 Italian), 4 from the Americas, 2 from Asia.
There are currently 214 members of the College of Cardinals, 125 of whom are eligible to vote in a papal election.

Two New Yorkers to be Canonized in 2012

Two American religious figures - one a native American, the other the director of a hospital are expected to be canonized as saints later this year. The Blessed Kateri Tekawitha and Blessed Mother Marianne Cope have had miracles associated with their intercession. Both were renowned for their 

life's work in rural New York.

Blessed Mother Marianne Cope