| American Life League Associates Newsletter
June 30, 2008
Vol. 5, No. 27
From Associates
- Houston Coalition for Life – As you may recall, HCL notified us some time ago that Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas had purchased a seven-story, 78,000 square foot building in Houston in order to establish the largest freestanding abortion mill in the Western Hemisphere where abortions could be committed through all nine months of pregnancy.
Texas Families against Planned Parenthood is a coalition of numerous pro-life groups from across Texas and was recently organized to oppose this expansion by PPHST. Last week, TFAPP distributed a public notice to 678 general contractors throughout the Houston metro area educating them on the project and requesting they pass up any invitations to bid. TFAPP has also developed a web site, which includes a petition against the expansion.
Because there are several well-known colleges in Houston, young people from around the country attend school there, so this new facility can and will affect families outside of Texas. Planned Parenthood has referred to this killing center as a "flagship" facility and intends for it to be a hub for the southern part of the U.S. and South America; floor plans even show hotel rooms in the building! Whether you reside in Texas or not, please visit www.TexasFamilies.org and sign the petition today!
- Pharmacists for Life International – The latest ALL Report focuses on the American Medical Association's most recent attacks on pro-life pharmacies and conscientious objection for pharmacists. It also notes PFLI's response to these attacks. See the video athttp://www.allreport.blip.tv/#1023110.
- Coalition for Moral Cancer Research – Cara McLaughlin, founder of one of our newest Associate groups, the Coalition for Moral Cancer Research, invites everyone to visit the group's web site www.coalitionformoralcancerresearch.org and read new information recently obtained by the Coalition concerning human embryonic stem cell research, the American Cancer Society and the research industry in general.
- Children of God for Life – COG for Life invites everyone to also visit its web site www.cogforlife.org and vote in a new poll. COG for Life wants to know if you, when given the choice, would purchase safe, ethically acceptable alternatives to aborted fetal vaccines to determine the market potential for such products.
Tip of the month – Humanae Vitae
In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's courageous and prophetic encyclical Humanae Vitae, we continue the series of articles by Monsignor Vincent Foy addressing the immorality of contraception, which first appeared in Celebrate Life in 2002. It is our prayer that these articles will help you to understand the grave moral evil of contraception and embolden you to educate others.
Contraception is Anti-Church
By Msgr. Vincent Foy
The Catholic Church has been described as the continuation of the salvific mission of Christ to the world. Vatican II tells us, "The Church has the duty by divine mandate of going out into the whole world and preaching the Gospel to all men," and goes on to underscore the work of evangelization as the fundamental duty of the people of God in saying: "Let all realize that their first and most important obligation toward the spread of the Faith is this: to lead a profoundly Christian life" (Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church, n.30). The saints are missionaries "par excellence." If all Catholics led holy lives, the whole world would soon be Catholic.
Today the greatest enemy of the Church's missionary activity is not the world around her, but the deep internal wound of the contraceptive mentality. This wound impedes the Church's mission in many ways.
Unity in teaching the truth, including the teaching of the Gospel of Life, is essential to evangelization. Tragically, that unity does not exist. After the publication of the encyclical Humanae Vitae in 1968, twelve national Conference of Bishops so distorted the teaching of the encyclical as to virtually destroy it. Among the worst statements were those of the Bishops of Belgium, the Netherlands, West Germany and Canada. Illustrative of the worst is the Canadian bishops' "Winnipeg Statement." Paragraph 26 declares that in some circumstances, spouses "may be safely assured that whoever follows that course which seems right to him does so in good conscience." Added to the erroneous teaching of some hierarchies was that of numerous dissenting theologians, including, Karl Rahner, Hans Kung and Andrew Greeley.
Those who contracept are spiritually dead – objectively unfit for reception of Holy Communion and incapable of supernatural merit. They are far from giving the example of a Christian life. Given that the majority of spouses of childbearing age in Europe, the U.S., Canada and other countries are contracepting, one can see how large a block this is to the Church's Christ-given mission of converting the world.
Widespread contraception, with suicidal birthrates, leaves the Church without adequate vocations to the priesthood, religious life and missionary work. Religious vocations and a faithful, dedicated laity generally come from families faithful to the Church.
The contraceptive mentality reduces the Church's ability to withstand attacks. The more Catholics are reduced in relative numbers, the more likely they are to be oppressed. Catholics become victims of a secularized press and other media, discriminated against by civil laws and unable to respond effectively.
The principle means of overcoming the contraceptive mentality is prayer. Out of prayer will come the grace to support those efforts and groups fighting bravely on behalf of life. The Church, our Mother, through whom we are born into grace and have the hope of salvation, is in peril. Pope John Paul II said: "Prayer is the basic prerequisite to save the Church."
May we pray with the breviary oration:
Father, help us to work generously for the salvation of the world so that Thy Church may bring us and all mankind into Thy presence. Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Next month: "Contraception is anti-society"
News
- Bishop of Saltillo denounces contraception, says condoms are not effective against venereal diseases
The bishop of Saltillo, Mexico, has publicly denounced a local condom distribution program in his state, calling condoms "palliatives" and noting that they encourage sexual irresponsibility and superficiality, according to local and national media reports.
Contraceptive use, says Bishop Raúl Vera Lopez, "makes human beings irresponsible". "[Condoms] separate the relationship from its personal dimension, leaving a superficial, purely sensual relationship that is producing very irresponsible people."
Lopez denies the oft-repeated claim that condom promotion is an effective way to fight AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases, which have continued to spread despite many years of such programs.
- A Dark Past
Margaret Sanger, whose American Birth Control League became Planned Parenthood, was the founding mother of the birth control movement. She is today considered a liberal saint, a founder of modern feminism, and one of the leading lights of the Progressive pantheon.
- Late-term abortion facility in Dallas to close - eighth closure since bishop began prayer at clinics
The Catholic Pro-Life Committee has reported that Aaron Women's Health Center, a late-term abortion facility in Dallas, will be closing its doors on June 28. Aaron's was one of three abortion clinics in Texas authorized to perform late-term abortions on unborn babies older than 16 weeks gestation.
- Breakthrough: Sticks and stones may break bones, but study shows adult stem cells can heal them
Scientists have continued to expand the horizons for adult stem cell therapies, with new research revealing the latest stem cell breakthrough for people whose broken bones fail to heal, especially sufferers of osteoporosis.
- Pfizer eyes new use for stem cells
Big drug companies have largely stayed away from testing exotic stem cell treatments. But now, Pfizer is betting that a radical new adult stem cell treatment may be able to stave off diabetes-induced retina damage, a leading cause of blindness.
See also: http://www.forbes.com:80/feeds/ap/2008/06/23/ap5143644.html
- Euthanasia provider to Alzheimer's patients: The best remedy is death
Euthanasia provider and activist Dr. Philip Nitschke has released controversial statements that essentially instruct anyone who believes they are suffering from Alzheimer's disease to avoid obtaining a diagnosis in favor of seeking a doctor who can help them commit suicide as quickly as possible.
Closing thought
"Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words – go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves."
– Matthew 10:14-16
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