Once thought of as blessings from God, babies are now merely commodities possessions to be tinkered with at whim. And, when they aren’t wanted, or when something goes wrong, we just discard them like trash and start over. Catholic clergy have spoken about this tragedy that has befallen our society, but not enough have used their voices, nor have they spoken loudly enough. We cannot sit back and watch this calamity unfold. It is time for them all to speak loudly.
The beautiful words of Blessed John Paul II are to be celebrated, pondered, and understood. This holy man truly loved all of God’s children born and preborn and taught that this is how we must live our lives. His inspiring words guide us and teach us. Let us not misunderstand them.
Catholic bishops and clergy have a responsibility to not only make their voices heard, but to teach those of the Catholic faith how to use their own voices. This means that the clergy must instruct and teach regularly about Catholic tenets and doctrine, yet we do not see this. As we see a continuing moral decline in our country, we realize now more than ever that we need to hear a roar rather than a whimper.
Satan may be depicted as a red-horned creature, but his appearance is much more insidious. He comes to us through other people, through actions, through thoughts all of which may seem rather innocuous unless you truly examine them. It’s all too easy for thoughts to creep into our heads and hearts that make sins seem “not so bad” and that’s how Satan works. He chips away at morality one stone at a time, until there’s nothing left.
By Paul E. Rondeau
The leadership of Girl Scouts of America, once a trusted purveyor of American values, has been moving to the left for over a decade.
Most Americans do not think of abortion as child abuse. But as Mother Teresa once said, “Any country that accepts abortion is . . . teaching its people . . . to use any violence to get what they want.”
Forty-one years have passed since the Supreme Court took away the rights of an innocent class of people and allowed them to be killed at will. Forty-one years of suffering have ensued. In addition to the millions of babies murdered, countless families ;mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, and other family members must live daily with the tragic loss of a child killed before he was born. But it is not too late to change minds and hearts to open them to a love for each and every human being. It is never too late to teach human beings how to love one another.
By Rey Flores
The time for Girl Scout cookies has come around again and you may be faced with the uncomfortable situation at work of a co-worker asking you to buy cookies to support his kid’s Girl Scout troop.
It’s normal to want to trust your doctor’s advice, to heed his every word when it comes to your own care, or the care of a loved one. You know he has taken the Hippocratic Oath and you believe he has your best interests at heart. But is that always the case? What happens when you have a serious or terminal illness? Will he still give you the care that everyone deserves? When it comes to POLST forms, education is key.
What happens when we make up our own set of ethics? What lengths will we go to to justify our evil actions to justify the murder of the preborn, the elderly, the infirm? Imagine the suffering that will result if we do not stand up and clarify the meaning of ethics and help others understand.
By Michael Hichborn
Two weeks ago, I was in Baltimore with a fellow ALL employee for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Fall Assembly and, despite Michael Sean Winters’ assertion that I was “lurking around, waiting to corner a bishop,” we did as we have done for the previous three years.
This time of year, we express our thankfulness more often. We tell others how we feel and maybe even perform works of charity. We remember those who cannot be with us or who have passed from this life. But let us never forget the smallest among us who never had the chance to live a life outside the womb. Let us not forget those who are sick or terminally ill. And let us always be thankful for the life we have been given and vow to make the lives of our fellow human beings better and more rewarding. For if we do not help others, who will?