in this issue:
crusade to defend our catholic church: CANON 915
euthanasia: TERRI SCHIAVO
model law: NRLC STARVATION AND DEHYDRATION
planned parenthood: TEXAS
politics: ONLINE POLL
united way: VANCOUVER
web news: RECOMMENDED SPANISH WEB SITES / SPAIN
zinger: EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS
reflection for prayer: ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA
crusade to defend our catholic church
CANON 915: A recent article discusses Archbishop Sean O’Malley of Boston, who made an official statement saying he would not deny Holy Communion to anyone.
(Reading: “U.S. bishops cost-to-coast cop out: Boston Bishop O’Malley says ‘It is not our policy to deny Communion,'” Catholic Citizen, 10/3/03; Canon 915 fact sheet, American Life League)
euthanasia
TERRI SCHIAVO: Barbara Kralis, director of the Jesus Through Mary Foundation, writes, “Many Catholic laity have been ‘dumbed down’ by lack of magisterial teachings from the pulpits on the Gospel of Life and thereby are confused today on what should be done with Terri Schiavo’s life. Just as not one U.S. bishop has ever publicly warned he would deny Holy Communion to a manifest sinner if he approached the altar (as other world bishops have courageously done), be he a pro-abortion politician, a manifest gay activist, or a renown Mafia figure, not one U.S. bishop has intervened on Terri’s behalf to stop her very public, very horrific attempted murder.”
(Reading: “Open letter to the USCCB,” Barbara Kralis, 11/2/03)
model law
NRLC STARVATION AND DEHYDRATION: The 10/31/03 issue Communique failed to point out that the bullet points were drafted by Julie Grimstad of the Center for the Rights of the Terminally Ill. A further commentary on the crisis in pro-life logic will be sent as a special issue of Communique on Monday.
planned parenthood
TEXAS: Six weeks ago, Austin Area Pro-Life Concrete Contractors and Suppliers Association chairman Chris Danze announced that no concrete supplier within 60 miles of Austin was willing to work on a new Planned Parenthood abortion facility. The main contractor announced this week he’s dropping the project because of the boycott. Planned Parenthood said the work would be completed, despite the “campaign of harassment and intimidation.”
(Reading: “Contractor quits abortion clinic project,” Associated Press, 11/5/03)
politics
ONLINE POLL: Priests for Life posts the following question on their web site: “Consider the situation of three candidates running for office, where candidate A is 100% pro-life but does not have enough support to be elected, candidate B opposes most abortions, and candidate C supports practically all abortions. If the race will be won by either B or C, would you vote for B rather than A?”
COMMENT: The web site purports to be Catholic, which means that the organization knows that an abortion is an act of murder, a heinous crime, an offense against God. So, we are confident that the results of this odd poll will help Fr. Frank Pavone and his allies begin an education campaign designed to share the truth that holding a position equivalent to “B” or “C” is a mortal sin. As Christ said, “whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, you do to me.” In his message “In God’s image: Building a culture of life,” John Cardinal O’Connor said, “Is it too shocking to say about every baby who is put to death, every frail person, everyone vulnerable, that we are putting Christ Himself to death?” A vote for candidate “B” or “C” is a vote for the fundamental pro-abortion principle of moral relativism which today masquerades as “choice.” Since “B” and “C” are disqualified from describing themselves as “pro-life,” the only Catholic alternative is candidate “A.” When we as Catholics put our trust in God, and support His awesome Truth, amazing things happen. We hope that Priests for Life is successful in sharing this awesome message.
united way
VANCOUVER: Archbishop Adam Exner, OMI, of Vancouver, Canada pulled archdiocesan endorsement of activities including the local United Way campaign. The archbishop has acted on a number of occasions because of “agendas which are worrisome and harmful to the Church and to society.”
(Reading: “Policy for in-school credit unions fuels controversy,” B.C. Catholic, 9/29/03)
web news
RECOMMENDED SPANISH WEB SITE: Human Life International’s Hispanic division, Vida Humana Internacional, offers it own bilingual website in Spanish and English. It includes an electronic library with subjects related to pro-life/family matters, a bilingual catalog and the latest pro-life/family news in Spanish. It also has a special online counseling section in Spanish for women considering abortion, as well as for women who have aborted.
SPAIN: The 10/31/03 issue of Communique listed a web site that has subsequently been found most deficient. Communique does not endorse this web site.
zinger
EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS: Columnist Michael Kinsley, avid supporter of embryonic stem cell research, poses this question to President Bush: “How can you restrict embryonic stem cell research because it encourages the creation and destruction of embryos and yet praise the fertility industry that creates and destroys embryos by the thousands (and would supply the embryos for stem cell research, if it were allowed)?”
COMMENT: Excellent question, Michael. We are betting Bush will not answer; his pragmatism will get in the way.
(Reading: “Kabuki and stem cells,” Washington Post, 10/31/03)
reflection for prayer
ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA: Beloved daughter, everything I give to man comes from the love and care I have for him. I desire to show my mercy to the whole world and my protective love to all those who want it.
But in his ignorance man treats himself very cruelly. My care is constant, but he turns my life-giving gifts into a source of death. Yes, I created him with loving care and formed him in my image and likeness. I pondered, and I was moved by the beauty of my creation. I gave him a memory to recall my goodness, for I wanted him to share in my own power. I gave him an intellect to know and understand my will through the wisdom of my Son, for I am the giver of every good gift and I love him with a father’s constant love. Through the Holy Spirit I gave him a will to love what he would come to know with his intellect.
(Reading: “Dialogue on Divine Providence,” St. Catherine of Siena)