in Pennsylvania's First Congressional District
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania's_1st_congressional_district http://archphila.org/pastplan/MAPS/Arch.pdf
and the Central Garden State

Saturday, February 28, 2015

"Neither respectability nor political correctness is worth one comma in the Apostles' Creed"


None of us - neither laity nor clergy - should fear sharing the light that the Church brings to the darkness of our time.  We should not be afraid to share alerts from the USCCB* and/or the Pa Catholic Conference from the pulpit, in parish bulletins, and on parish bulletin boards....



The USCCB* and/or the Pa Catholic Conference facilitate requests for leaders in Washington, to....







https://www.marriagemarch.org/

"The March for Marriage is set for Saturday, April 25th [at 10 a.m, near the Capital in DC] which is within days of when the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral argument on the cases before them that will decide the legal status of marriage.  This case could prove to be the Roe of marriage, or it could be a great win for us" (Brian Brown, National Organization for Marriage).
If the Archdiocese does not organize buses to the March (It has done so for the first two Marches; keep an eye on www.phillycatholiclife.org.), Amtrak can take you from Trenton to DC's Union Station in 2.5 hours (about $52, each way).
*In addition to "ALERTS CENTRAL" the USCCB notes that "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment" and "Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition, Justice for Immigrants."
 

As per LifeNews.com
  • "The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the nomination of pro-abortion Loretta Lynch as the next Attorney General, replacing pro-abortion Eric Holder in that top spot in the Obama administration. Lynch’s nomination now heads to the full Senate....Contact your senators at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm and urge a No vote on Lynch’s nomination."
 

On a state level, the Pa Catholic Conference facilitates requests for our leaders in Harrisburg, to.... 

  • Oppose HB 300 / SB 300 (As the Pa Catholic Conference explains, “In other states, this law has shuttered Catholic adoption agencies and trampled religious liberty….Simply put, this legislation is intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith.")
As per the Pa Pro Life Federation:  


 As per LifeSiteNews.com



As per the American Life League,
  • "Please sign the petition asking Cardinal Dolan to step down as Grand Marshall" of the so-called St. Patrick's Day Parade (In Cardinal O'Connor's time, that parade could have rightly been called St. Patrick's!)
Starting near St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City's March 17th Parade goes up Fifth Avenue, as far as 81st Street. There at parade's end in 1980, this blogger saw the backs of a large group of apparently inebriated young men, as they relieved themselves against the wall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  While I may have been in my own "wild and crazy" college years, I was embarrassed. As a first generation Irish Catholic New Yorker, that scene contributed to the worst stereotypes of my people.

In 1984, a priest out of Philly arrived on Broadway and took Gotham by storm.  John Cardinal O'Connor had a feistiness ready to counter Big Apple brazenness with the loving truth of the Gospel.   He fought to recapture the authentic identity of Catholic institutions.  An unexpected friendship developed between O'Connor and New York City's brash mayor, Ed Koch, who was often on the opposite end of the philosophical spectrum:
"In New York as elsewhere, the Roman Catholic Church operates a network of institutions and projects, ranging from schools and hospitals to child care agencies and housing rehabilitation. Almost all of these activities involve public funds. In several areas, the city contracts with church agencies to carry out public functions, such as the care and placement of foster children. The Mayor takes the position that if there is a 'youngster who is sexually active, and who will be sexually active no matter what,' then his or her foster care program should encourage the use of birth control.

"The Cardinal, not surprisingly, insists on allowing 'Church-sponsored agencies to administer their programs according to their own principles.' As it happens, Catholic foster care programs now accept youngsters of other religious faiths. Even so, the issue is one of philosophy: contraceptive use by non-Catholics is no less immoral than it is for Catholics. If we pursue the Mayor's plan, the Cardinal adds, we may someday find condoms 'stashed into cereal boxes for little kids to discover as prizes'....

"The Cardinal links the Holocaust with what he sees as murdering the unborn: the one was, and the other is, intentional killing. Moreover, he does not regard his church's intervention in this area as an attempt to impose its will on other citizens. In his reading of natural law, this is a debate with only one valid side.....

"with the advent of the Mayor's Executive Order 50 in 1980, ...private agencies receiving funds from the city could not refuse to hire people because of their 'sexual orientation or affectional preference.' Thus Catholic charitable organizations receiving city funds might have to hire social workers who openly admitted their homosexuality....[The Church] would consider hiring a homosexual social worker 'as long as such an individual was sincerely trying to be chaste.' Needless to say, this is not what the Mayor and other promoters of Executive Order 50 had in mind" (NY Times, 3/26/89).

Cardinal O'Connor did not shy away from confronting prominent Catholic politicians, who were offering dopey statements as to how they could personally oppose  abortion while publicly supporting it!  For his forthrightness on moral topics, he was often an object of scorn and attack:
"While some 4,500 people demonstrated outside St. Patrick's Cathedral yesterday, several dozen disrupted the Mass at 10:15 A.M. to protest John Cardinal O'Connor's recent statements on abortion, homosexuality and AIDS.
"Some of the protesters chained themselves to pews inside the cathedral, while others shouted or lay in aisles....
"The police said 111 people were arrested, including 43 inside the church....
"Cardinal O'Connor, who has frequently called homosexual acts a sin and has opposed the use of condoms, counseling abstinence instead, told the parishioners during the service, 'Never respond to hatred'....
"He later said that he thought it was 'kind of ironic that I'm accused of not doing enough.' He said he had consistently advocated increased government spending on AIDS care and research. Cardinal O'Connor also said the archdiocese was devoting 10 to 12 percent of its health-care beds to people with AIDS, 'and expanding.'
"The protest was co-sponsored by the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, or Act-Up. The Women's Health Action Mobilization, or Wham!, also joined the protest. A spokeswoman said the group is devoted to securing 'reproductive freedom for all women'....

"About 100 counter-demonstrators gathered to support the Cardinal and to protest what several said was an encroachment on religious freedom.
"Mayor Edward I. Koch, who attended the Mass, criticized the demonstrators, saying 'If you don't like the church, go out and find one you like - or start your own'....
"Protesters said yesterday's action was prompted by what they said was Cardinal O'Connor's growing verbal assault on abortion and on the use of 'safe sex' with condoms as a precaution against AIDS.
"In October, the Cardinal expressed his admiration for Operation Rescue, an anti-abortion group that frequently blocks entrances to abortion clinics. In a speech at the Vatican in November, he re-stated his view that distributing condoms or clean needles was an inappropriate way to combat the spread of the AIDS virus. In a phrase frequently condemned by demonstrators yesterday, he said, 'Good morality is good medicine.'
"The Cardinal has also denounced violence against homosexuals and against people with AIDS" (NY Times, 12/11/89).

Cardinal O'Connor famously resisted allowing groups in the March 17th Parade, under banners advocating practices absolutely inconsistent with Catholic teaching.  Yet when I first heard about that, my thoughts went back to those not-yet-house-broken young men of 1980. How could the religious identity of the parade be insisted upon, when such disgraceful behaviors were tolerated? From what I later heard, Cardinal O'Connor quietly got much of that nonsense cleaned up.
"Avowing love and prayers for homosexuals, the Cardinal warned that he 'could never even be perceived as compromising Catholic teaching' by entertaining their admission as an identifiable group in the city's 232d parade up Manhattan's showcase avenue in honor of St. Patrick....

"The faithful listened to the prelate's every word and joined in the hymn 'Glorious St. Patrick.'

"'In the war against sin,' they sang, 'In the fight for the faith/Dear Saint, may thy children resist to the death.'

"The Cardinal's sermon was up to the spirit of that hymn as he ringingly vowed from the pulpit: 'Neither respectability nor political correctness is worth one comma in the Apostles' Creed'....

"Patricia O'Brien, a 30-year-old marcher with St. John's University, talked about life being a vale of tears that does not allow attention to every marcher.  'Everybody's a sinner,' she said as the music played and the rain descended. 'You don't have a banner if you eat too much or drink too much or live in sin with someone. You march with your own county'" (NY Times, 3/18/93).

In Cardinal O'Connor's time, the March 17th Parade could very rightly be called St. Patrick's!



Cardinal Dolan is absolutely a congenial man. A year ago, I ran into him on a NYC street and asked him to pose for a "selfie."  He immediately obliged and swung his arm around my back, like we were old pals. He is a nice, nice man.  However, his actions regarding the parade seem incoherent and tantamount to an insult to the memory of Cardinal O'Connor - and all struggling to keep a grasp on the truth about marriage/family.
As per LifeNew.com,
  • "Amnesty International Pressures Ireland to Legalize Abortions, Ignores Human Rights for Babies"

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

People may not like what we have to say about the sancity of human life and marriage/family. BUT, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?

Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?
Christ Jesus it is who died or, rather, was raised—
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us. (Rom 8: 31b-34)
None of us - neither laity nor clergy - should fear sharing the light that the Church brings to the darkness of our time.  We should not be afraid to share alerts from the USCCB* and/or the Pa Catholic Conference from the pulpit, in parish bulletins, and on parish bulletin boards....

The USCCB* and/or the Pa Catholic Conference facilitate requests for leaders in Washington, to....






https://www.marriagemarch.org/

"The March for Marriage is set for Saturday, April 25th [at 10 a.m, near the Capital in DC] which is within days of when the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral argument on the cases before them that will decide the legal status of marriage.  This case could prove to be the Roe of marriage, or it could be a great win for us" (Brian Brown, National Organization for Marriage).
If the Archdiocese does not organize buses to the March (It has done so for the first two Marches.  Keep an eye on www.phillycatholiclife.org.), keep in mind that Amtrak can take you from Trenton to DC's Union Station in 2.5 hours (about $52, each way).

*In addition to "ALERTS CENTRAL" the USCCB notes that "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment" and "Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition, Justice for Immigrants."

 

On a state level, the Pa Catholic Conference facilitates requests for our leaders in Harrisburg, to.... 

  • Oppose HB 300 / SB 300 (As the Pa Catholic Conference explains, “In other states, this law has shuttered Catholic adoption agencies and trampled religious liberty….Simply put, this legislation is intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith.")
As per the Pa Pro Life Federation:  

 As per LifeSiteNews.com

Sunday, February 22, 2015

updates to "alerts"

As per C-Fam, the Center for Family and Human Rights
  • "The Obama administration is getting ready to issue new rules requiring charities to provide abortions to child refugees entering the US without their parents....The public has until Monday to comment on the fast-tracked new rules....people can send comments to the Obama administration that the requirement[s] to perform, partner or refer for abortion or contraception are a violation of conscience rights."

The USCCB* and/or the Pa Catholic Conference facilitate requests for our leaders in Washington, to....
https://www.marriagemarch.org/
Mention of HJ Res 32, HR 824/S 435, and the upcoming March for Marriage are not only absent in the secular media, but they are absent from our pulpits and our parish bulletins!!!  The well kept "secret" is that it will start at 10 am , near the Capitol in DC:
"The March for Marriage is set for Saturday, April 25th which is within days of when the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral argument on the cases before them that will decide the legal status of marriage.  This case could prove to be the Roe of marriage, or it could be a great win for us" (Brian Brown, National Organization for Marriage).
In a personal communication, this blogger was advised that the Archdiocese WILL be organizing buses to the March, and that information will be posted on www.phillycatholiclife.org.  If that does not happen, keep this in mind:  From the Amtrak Station in Trenton, it's 2.5 hours to DC's Union Station. From there, it's walking distance to the activities.  Pastors should be attending; parishes should pick up train fares (i.e., about $52, each way) for any who find it burdensome.


*In addition to "ALERTS CENTRAL" the USCCB notes that "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment" and "Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition, Justice for Immigrants."

 On a state level, the Pa Catholic Conference facilitates requests for our leaders in Harrisburg, to.... 

As per the Pa Pro Life Federation:  
As per LifeSiteNews.com, 

Saturday, February 21, 2015

“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel”

This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (from tomorrow's Gospel).

Alerts

The USCCB* and/or the Pa Catholic Conference facilitate requests for our leaders in Washington, to....


 On a state level, the Pa Catholic Conference facilitates requests for our leaders in Harrisburg, to.... 
As per C-Fam, the Center for Family and Human Rights: "The Obama administration is getting ready to issue new rules requiring charities to provide abortions to child refugees entering the US without their parents.... people can send comments to the Obama administration that the requirement to perform, partner or refer for abortion or contraception are a violation of conscience rights."

As per the Pa Pro Life Federation: "Urge Your State Lawmakers Not to Co-Sponsor Assisted Suicide Bills"

As per LifeSiteNews.com, "Tell Canada’s Parliament to block Supreme Court ruling legalizing assisted suicide by using 'notwithstanding clause’"


In the News

  •  "'African values are not on sale,' the new Chairman of Communications for the African bishops has said....
'The African world view is that every life is sacred and useful and a treasure....the whole movement that in the name of family planning is pushing for what the Pope has called the 'culture of death', i.e. contraception, abortion and all such things that limits the existence of people, is abhorrent to the African....

'The Western world claims that every kind of right is a human right, and that every behavior must have the status of a human right. We say no. Not every human behavior has the status of a human right. There are human rights, and there are human behaviors....

'The African believes that his life is a gift, and it has worked well for Africa. That is why we still have a keen sense of family. That is why we have a keen sense of humanity. Your family does not stop with your father’s children or your mother’s children, but extends to other people who have any kind of kinship with you....

'Regarding the Synod on the Family, we see it as an opportunity to help stem the wave of anti-family values that are coming from the West, and from so-called 'modern civilization,' and from the media. The media is powerfully complicit in this....

'We think that Africa has the capacity to remind the world of the very essential things: of our humanity, the sacredness of human life, and about the beauty of the family, the beauty of accepting children from God as a gift, rather than as a burden. For many in the West, children have become a burden....

'I am an African bishop, and I can tell you that if I go to the Synod I will stand by what the Church has always taught" (Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of  Nigeria).

 

 What's Up with Our "Catholic" Institutions?

  •  Ask Archbishop Chaput that if a hospital does not act Catholic, that it NOT be allowed to call itself "Catholic."
  • Those of us who are alumni of Jesuit institutions applaud the University of Scranton president, but at the same time ask "What took so long/"  At the same time, we also must ask, "Are you covering contraceptives, including those which can act as abortifacients?
http://www.scranton.edu/about/presidents-office/emails/letters/2015/our-mission-healthcare.html
 http://www.scranton.edu/about/presidents-office/emails/letters/2015/our-mission-healthcare.html


Wednesday, February 18, 2015

alerts....

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops * (See "Project Life and Liberty: Postcard Campaign") and/or the Pa Catholic Conference facilitate requests for our leaders in Washington, to....
On a state level, the Pa Catholic Conference facilitates requests for our leaders in Harrisburg, to.... 

home page links

The 10 Commandments

The Beatitudes (from "Jesus of Nazareth")