The Cornerstone (10/4/2020)

As per USCCB Secretariat of Pro Life Actvities (10/1/2020 email) Why aren't prayers for the confirmation of a pro life Supreme Court Justice and the re-election of a pro life president mentioned? ‌ Featuring monthly intentions in support of... Print Lee este mensaje en español. PRAY FOR LIFE October 2020 ‌ ‌ Intercession May mothers in need experience Christ's loving care as we seek to live out His Gospel of Life. Prayers Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be Reflection Twenty-five years ago, Pope St. John Paul II wrote that the Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus’ saving message to the world (Evangelium vitae 1). In taking on human flesh, dwelling among us, and sacrificing his very life for our redemption, Christ reveals the profound dignity of every human person. Jesus calls each of us to “care for the other as a person for whom God has made us responsible” (EV 87). The Gospel of life is intrinsic to the whole Christian life and foundational to the decisions we make on a daily basis. For, “the Gospel of God’s love for man, the Gospel of the dignity of the person and the Gospel of life are a single and indivisible Gospel” (EV 2). ​ Let us reflect on how we personally live out the Gospel: Do I help pregnant and parenting mothers in need? If a friend became pregnant in challenging circumstances, would she know she could come to me for loving support for her and her baby? Do I know of the places in my community where she could receive material help if she needed it? ​ Through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, may Our Lord grant us the grace to truly and courageously live his Gospel of life. Acts of Reparation (Choose one.) This month we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Seek Our Lady’s intercession by praying a Rosary for this month’s intention. Give up coffee, sweets, or snacks for a week. Offer some other sacrifice or prayer that you feel called to do for this month’s intention. One Step Further On October 22 the Church celebrates the feast of Pope St. John Paul II. In honor of his feast day, read a brief summary of Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life). Did You Know? October is Respect Life Month, and this year’s theme is “Live the Gospel of Life.” Dive deeper into what it means for our daily lives. As per USCCB Marriage (10/1/2020 email),

"Legal/Policy Updates Indy Catholic Teacher Case - On September 8th, both the U.S. Dept. of Justice and the Indiana state attorney general filed amicus curiae briefs with the state supreme court in favor of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in a lawsuit filed by a teacher who was let go for being in a same-sex "marriage." Protecting Women's Shelters - On September 11th, the USCCB filed public comments with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in support of a proposed regulation that would grant temporary and emergency shelters flexibility with respect to an earlier rule that would otherwise force them to accommodate people (such as in sleeping and showering spaces) based on their self-asserted "gender identity." Conversion Therapy - On September 17th, Louisville, KY, became one of the latest cities to ban 'conversion therapy' for minors. Dozens of towns of all sizes have been pursuing such bans to stop a harmful [sic] practice, but they tend to do so in an overbroad manner that could limit the ability of mental health professionals to talk with patients about accepting their given body or living chastely. New Terms in Law - On September 21st, Congress passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, which appears to contain the first use of the term 'LGBTQ' in a federal statute. The president is expected to sign it into law. Protecting Women's Sports - On September 22nd, Senator Kelly Loeffler introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2020. The bill would define policies that allow males to participate in student athletic activities designated for women and girls as a violation of Title IX for recipients of federal funding in education. Back to School - New 'LGBTQ-inclusive' curricula took effect in Illinois and New Jersey as the new school year got underway in September. California - In September, California passed laws that will make prisons generally place [sic?] and accommodate people based on 'gender identity,' require 'LGBT' data in COVID reporting, lower penalties for same-sex conduct against minors (to match the penalties for conduct against minors of the opposite sex), and set up a $15 million fund for 'gender confirmation' medical procedures. The legislature also sent the governor a bill require corporations to have 'LGBT' persons on their boards. Foster Care & Adoption - The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia on November 4th. In June, the USCCB had filed an amicus curiae brief in the case, in which the ability of Catholic foster care and adoption services to continue to operate without being mandated to place children with same-sex couples is at stake."

• In a promotional flyer, Francis House's "The Path to Joy: Understanding the Meaning of Suffering" does NOT even mention Saint Pope John Paul II's On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering but mentions writings from priests with questionable theology (e.g.,  Teillhard de Chardin and Richard Rohr).  Francis House is also promoting the dopey old enneagram (cf, 9 Paths to Holiness & Wholeness)."  Why aren't our shepherds and priests protecting the flocks from garbage?

  "John Paul II warns with regard to the `return of ancient gnostic ideas under the guise of the so-called New Age: We cannot delude ourselves that this will lead toward a renewal of religion. It is only a new way of practising gnosticism - that attitude of the spirit that, in the name of a profound knowledge of God, results in distorting His Word and replacing it with purely human words. Gnosticism never completely abandoned the realm of Christianity. Instead, it has always existed side by side with Christianity, sometimes taking the shape of a philosophical movement, but more often assuming the characteristics of a religion or a para-religion in distinct, if not declared, conflict with all that is essentially Christian'.(6) An example of this can be seen in the enneagram, the nine-type tool for character analysis, which when used as a means of spiritual growth introduces an ambiguity in the doctrine and the life of the Christian faith....It must unfortunately be admitted that there are too many cases where Catholic centres of spirituality are actively involved in diffusing New Age religiosity in the Church "(Jesus Christ: The Bearer of the Water of Life: A Christian Reflection on the "New Age", February 2003)

• Fast Children’s Rights Response to “Why do you oppose gay marriage?” (Them Before Us, 9/29/2020)

• Join the St. Michael Prayer Campaign to Defend Life and Family (HLI, 9/28/2020)

• Church leaders condemn anti-Christian harassment in India (Crux, 9/29/2020)

• Urge your Senators to Confirm Judge Amy Barrett to Supreme Court (AFA ACTION, 9/28/2020)

• Alice von Hildebrand on the Lost Sense of the Supernatural and Feminism (National Catholic Register, 9/27/2020)

• Cardinals and Political Leaders Address Conference, Highlighting ‘Forgotten’ Persecuted Christians (National Catholic Register, 9/24/2020)

• New Bill Would Ban Biological Males From Women's Sports (DailySignal, 9/23/2020)

• CMA Concerned After YouTube Censors Medical Comments Regarding COVID-19 (Catholic Medical Association, 9/17/2020)

• Democrat Casey and Republican Toomey failed to sign the 9/1/2020 letter  from other U.S. Senators asking for a ban on the abortion pill.
• Democrat Casey, Republican Fitzpatrick, and Republican Tooney failed to sign the 8/12/2020 letter asking for an end to tax breaks for abortion.
• Two Lower Bucks Catholic h.s. alumni vie for the same seat in Congress.... (7/7/2020)

As per Pharmacists for Life International....