tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88460186102284603642024-03-13T00:33:40.180-07:00The New Catholic Revival Forum"As the third millennium of the redemption (proceeds), God is preparing a great Springtime for Christianity, and we can already see its first signs. Christian hope sustains us in committing ourselves fully to the new evangelization and to the worldwide mission." John Paul IIthe converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-27458811936948104492010-10-08T17:30:00.000-07:002010-10-08T17:38:19.382-07:00What is at Stake this November<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IDfVZRJcu5s&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IDfVZRJcu5s&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-1826733385194067502010-10-08T17:02:00.000-07:002010-10-08T17:12:43.302-07:00Catholics: Get Out and Vote!<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u7So1r6FuQc?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u7So1r6FuQc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-42389963488648655852010-10-08T17:01:00.002-07:002010-10-08T17:40:22.942-07:00Action Works!Republicans to reclaim marriage and life issues on their agenda!<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
Great news! <br />
<br />
So many of you emailed the Republican House leader's office last week urging the party not to backtrack on its commitment to life, liberty and marriage that you brought the email servers down. We have just been informed that the Republican leadership WILL now include references to marriage and federal funding of abortion in their election agenda.<br />
<br />
Thank you for acting so promptly! Before your action this was a dead issue -- you helped turn attitudes around, a great victory.<br />
<br />
But now we must keep the momentum, so we're asking you to do two things today: <br />
1. Commit to participate in the PRAY and ACT campaign for forty days of prayer and fasting (if possible) beginning today, September 20 through October 30. CLICK HERE to download a Pray and ACT guide to get you started.<br />
<br />
2. Provide your personal financial support to help fuel this Manhattan Declaration movement. This is a very low overhead operation with no staff. But we need funds to keep the website operating. Our resources are very low at the moment and we very much need your help. Visit the Manhattan Declaration website to make a donation. <br />
<br />
Help us encourage a growing, vibrant movement of Christians from across denominational and confessional lines, to impact our society with Christian truth. <br />
<br />
Thank you and God Bless you, <br />
<br />
Timothy George <br />
Chuck Colson<br />
Robby Georgethe converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-59621033860319930522010-10-08T17:01:00.001-07:002010-10-08T17:01:50.840-07:00Manhattan Declaration Statement on Republicans and the Nov ElectionTell Republican leaders to back life, marriage, and liberty<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
To all those who have signed Manhattan Declaration:<br />
<br />
We are writing you because we need you to act.<br />
<br />
We have just learned that the Republican congressional leadership--feeling supremely confident that they can win back Congress campaigning only on economic issues--seems poised to promote a mid-term election agenda that does not even mention the party's historical commitment to life, marriage, and religious liberty. <br />
<br />
The Manhattan declaration is a non-partisan movement of Christians from all denominations and political persuasions. Our fidelity to Scripture, however, compels us to speak on public issues which affect our most fundamental moral commitments--as well as the common good of our nation. <br />
<br />
We long for the day when both of our great political parties embrace a culture of life, a defense of the traditional family, and a commitment to religious liberty. For the one party which has in recent years officially supported these issues to now retreat would be a dreadful and highly symbolic act. <br />
<br />
So we urge you in the strongest terms possible to talk to or e-mail your congressmen and senators, Democrat and Republican alike, urging them to support the Manhattan Declaration. <br />
<br />
We also ask you to e-mail the offices of Republican House leader John Boehner and Republican Whip Eric Cantor urging them not to backtrack on the Republican Party's commitment to life, liberty, and traditional marriage. Or you can call Rep. Boehner's office at (202) 225-4000, or Rep. Cantor's office at (202) 225-0197.<br />
<br />
Some high-profile conservative leaders have in recent weeks weakened their support of traditional marriage. We know the supporters of so-called gay "marriage" are well-financed and aggressive. But this struggle within the Republican Party tells us we've got to do a better job of making our case. <br />
<br />
Use the arguments so well articulated in the Manhattan Declaration. And remember, your job is not just to sign a statement or even get others to do so, important as that is; it is for you to become an advocate.<br />
<br />
This alarming news has been verified to be true. But if you act right now, we believe there is a good chance that the Republican Party will stand by its principled positions. <br />
<br />
God bless you, and continue to follow the Manhattan Declaration website for reports on this issue and other resources.<br />
<br />
<br />
Respectfully,<br />
<br />
Chuck Colson<br />
Dr. Robert George<br />
Dr. Timothy George<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Manhattan Declaration is a non-partisan statement of conscience in defense of human life, traditional marriage and religious freedom. Visit us at ManhattanDeclaration.orgthe converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-79689096664477278332010-10-08T16:20:00.000-07:002010-10-08T17:22:56.357-07:00Congressional Candidates Try to Silence Pro-life CriticsCongressional Candidates Try to Silence Pro-life Critics <br />
Written by Michael Tennant <br />
Friday, 08 October 2010 09:40 <br />
0According to the Associated Press, Americans United for Life, a pro-life organization, is running ad campaigns against 12 Democrats, nearly all incumbents, who voted for — or support — ObamaCare. AUL argues that these candidates should be defeated on the grounds that the healthcare law fails to prevent taxpayer funds from being spent on abortions. The group points out, for example, that while the House of Representatives had passed an amendment to the bill banning federal funding of abortion under ObamaCare, the amendment was not in the final version, yet these allegedly pro-life Democrats voted in favor of the bill anyway.<br />
<br />
“Democrats have argued that an executive order signed by President Barack Obama is added insurance that federal money won’t pay for abortions under the reformed health care system,” says the AP. “[AUL] said Obama’s order could be appealed or overruled by courts — and was necessary only because the law didn’t clearly ban federally funded abortions in the first place.” Furthermore, the AP reports, “AUL says the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service found that ‘abortion restrictions ... would not appear to apply to using federal money in pre-existing condition insurance plans that states must create as part of the reforms.”<br />
<br />
When states began rolling out their high-risk insurance plans this summer, it quickly became clear that some of them could indeed cover abortions, forcing the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a statement saying that “in all … states, abortions will not be covered in the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) except in the cases of rape or incest, or where the life of the woman would be endangered.”<br />
<br />
While to the casual observer this might appear to settle the matter, it demonstrates just how fragile the ban on federal funding of abortions under ObamaCare really is. Without statutory language mandating such a ban, it is entirely at the discretion of the executive branch. Executive orders and department regulations can be changed in the blink of an eye and, as AUL noted, executive orders in particular may not even be enforceable in court. Thus, legislators who claim to be pro-life yet favor ObamaCare are placing their professed pro-life principles at the mercy of the President and other executive-branch personnel — reason enough to suspect that politics trump principle for such persons and that they should therefore be defeated.<br />
<br />
Two of the candidates targeted by such ads — one by AUL ads, the other by similar ads sponsored by the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List — are fighting back. However, they are not defending themselves by offering up an alternative view of their votes for ObamaCare or otherwise trumpeting their pro-life votes. Instead, in the time-honored tradition of politicians, they are attempting to silence the opposition.<br />
<br />
In Pennsylvania, attorneys for the campaign of Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, the target of an AUL radio ad, sent letters to four Erie-area radio stations asking them to stop broadcasting the ad because it is “slanderous, inaccurate and falsifies ... Dahlkemper’s stance on abortion.” They also not-so-subtly threatened the stations with the loss of their broadcasting licenses: “We’re hopeful that the radio stations won’t air the ads and be responsible and honor their (Federal Communications Commission) licenses,” Erie attorney Philip Friedman told the AP.<br />
<br />
The AP explains that “Stations can’t censor or pull ads paid for by a specific candidate, but they can be held responsible for the content of third-party ads, according to FCC regulations. Stations don’t have to absolutely confirm third-party ads, but should investigate any claims brought to their attention to rule out blatant falsehoods.” That, in a nutshell, is the prime reason not to put the government in charge of deciding who gets to broadcast and who doesn’t: A station can broadcast government propaganda all day long and call it news; but let that same station air an issue ad whose veracity is to some degree a matter of opinion, and the target of the ad can browbeat the station into pulling it with the threat of having its FCC license revoked.<br />
<br />
Ohio Rep. Steve Driehaus, likewise, is using legal threats to prevent the SBA List from posting billboards claiming that by voting for ObamaCare he voted for taxpayer-funded abortion. Politico reports that Driehaus has filed a criminal complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission alleging that the billboards are illegal because the law forbids anyone to “post, publish, circulate, distribute, or otherwise disseminate a false statement concerning a candidate, either knowing the same to be false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not.” (One wonders how many whoppers Driehaus has told in his decade-plus career in politics.)<br />
<br />
The commission will hold a hearing on October 14, after which it will decide if the complaint has merit. “If it agrees to move forward,” says Politico, “a second hearing will decide whether to send the complaint to a prosecutor or to issue a letter of reprimand. The commission doesn’t have the power to order the billboards taken down.”<br />
<br />
In fact, the billboards have not even been erected yet; Lamar Advertising, hired to erect them, has agreed to wait for the commission’s ruling before proceeding. Of course, with fewer than three weeks separating the first hearing from Election Day, even a favorable ruling for the SBA List wouldn’t leave much time for the billboards to be posted before the polls open; and if the case were to go to trial, it is virtually certain that the election would have long since passed by the time a verdict came down.<br />
<br />
Both Dahlkemper and Driehaus are trailing significantly in the polls, Dahlkemper by 13 percentage points in an October 6 poll by The Hill and Driehaus by 12 points in a late-September poll by SurveyUSA, which may explain their desperation. That does not, however, excuse their unconscionable attempts to muzzle their critics in violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution they have both sworn to uphold as members of Congress. For that, if for nothing else, they deserve to go down in defeat.<br />
<br />
Photo: Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, D-Pa., during a mock swearing-in photo shoot on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 6, 2009: AP Imagesthe converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-11806827825810878002010-05-25T21:32:00.000-07:002010-05-25T21:32:11.508-07:00Tamara Lowe: Worth the two minutes!!!<object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WUQYJ77qa50&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WUQYJ77qa50&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-24402805868662046502010-05-22T17:01:00.001-07:002010-05-22T17:01:30.277-07:00Fr. Ricardo: Pentacost<object width="660" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jYyqZB99Ick&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jYyqZB99Ick&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="660" height="405"></embed></object>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-3514350921427442772010-05-21T18:51:00.000-07:002010-05-22T18:52:31.060-07:00Fr. Ricardo: Ascension<object width="660" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q6Q0i6d0aUo&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q6Q0i6d0aUo&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="660" height="405"></embed></object>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-63553830646837054992010-03-31T16:02:00.000-07:002010-03-31T16:06:45.269-07:00HAVE A BLESSED TRIDUUM AND A HAPPY EASTER<b>JIM</b>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-6285923318811739132010-03-15T16:28:00.000-07:002010-03-15T16:39:27.985-07:00HOLD THE LINE ON THE SO CALLED HEALTH BILL: STAND WITH STUPAK<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4TTC6FJphWA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4TTC6FJphWA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic Leaders have gone back on their word. They refuse to remove abortion subsidies from the healthcare bill.<br />
<br />
Rep. Bart Stupak has steadfastly opposed these attempts to hijack healthcare reform with big bailouts for the abortion industry. <br />
<br />
Stupak is standing strong on principle and refuses to roll over. <br />
<br />
Call these pro-life Democrats. Tell them Stupak is standing up for the little guy. Tell them to “Stand With Stupak.”<br />
<br />
Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.)<br />
D.C. Office: (202) 225-3611<br />
Flint Office: (810) 239-1437 <br />
<br />
Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.)<br />
D.C. Office: (202) 225-6211<br />
Duluth: (218) 727-7474 <br />
<br />
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio)<br />
D.C. Office: (202) 225-4146<br />
Toledo: (419) 259-7500 <br />
<br />
Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.)<br />
D.C. Office: (202) 225-4636<br />
Evansville: (812) 465-6484 <br />
<br />
Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-Ohio)<br />
D.C. Office: (202) 225-5705<br />
Marietta: (740) 376-0868 <br />
<br />
Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio)<br />
D.C. Office: (202) 225-2216<br />
Cincinnati: (513) 684-2723<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.paramountcommunication.com/newsletters/catholicvote/petition/standwithstupak.aspx">http://www.paramountcommunication.com/newsletters/catholicvote/petition/standwithstupak.aspx</a>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-50318589959825650092010-02-18T19:11:00.000-08:002010-02-18T19:31:54.842-08:00WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION? CNN VIDEO<a href="http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2010/02/18/chance.iran.nuclear.iaea.report.cnn">http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2010/02/18/chance.iran.nuclear.iaea.report.cnn</a><br />
<br />
"The United States and its allies fear that Iran aims to develop the capacity to build a nuclear bomb. Iran denies it, saying its nuclear program is designed for civilian energy and medical use."<br />
<br />
"The report highlighted concerns about rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Iran and Israel. Israel has often been the object of rhetoric by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has said the Jewish state "must be wiped off the map" politically. The United States has had to assure Israel that its interests will be protected to keep its military on the sidelines."<br />
<br />
you be the judgethe converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-41549371726991187492010-01-29T14:00:00.000-08:002010-01-29T14:00:00.469-08:00FROM CATHOLICVOTE.ORG ON THE TEBOW SUPERBOWL AD<a href="http://www.catholicvote.org">http://www.catholicvote.org<br />
</a><br />
Pro-aborts writhe as Tebow stands strong, and what you can do to stand strong for him<br />
By Joshua Mercer on Friday, January 29 2010 at 11:01am <br />
<br />
Here's a post from Thomas Peters over at the American Papist blog (now located at CatholicVoteAction.org). I'm reprinting here to give context as to why this Tim Tebow petition is so important:<br />
<br />
It still amazes me how vicious pro-abortion advocates can be, especially when they don’t get their way, or sense that their “cause” is being threatened in a serious way.<br />
<br />
For all their talk about respect of mothers, of choice, and of differences of opinions, none of those things apply to actual pro-life people. Or in this case, the mother of Tim Tebow (I explained the background to this story earlier in the week here).<br />
<br />
I’ll just excerpt one example. I think it’s important for us to read this and realize the level of anger we are facing. This from Tommy Craggs at DeadSpin:<br />
<br />
I’m guessing the Tebows’ ad, for spanky Jim Dobson’s Focus on the Family, will extol the glories of family and motherhood and the value of children and other seemingly innocuous fare; it will also be 30 seconds of anti-abortion dog-whistling to the Christian right on a frequency somewhere beyond the range of only CBS executives. The moral, implicit or otherwise, will be: don’t terminate your pregnancy; that blastocyst might turn into Tim Tebow.<br />
<br />
Now, the Tebows are entitled to their own God, and James Dobson to his tax write-offs, and I suppose CBS can bend its own rules and behave as cravenly as it wishes. But the Tebows’ message should be called for what it is, and what it is is outright quackery that doesn’t differ appreciably from my going on television with a toy stethoscope and urging America to start treating itself with leeches.<br />
<br />
Breathtaking, isn’t it? And this sort of vitriol is not even limited to individuals. As Matt Archibold points out, the Center for Reproductive Rights, in a letter to CBS, is flat-out claiming Tebow’s mom is a liar.<br />
<br />
The wider audience however – those who are not passionately pro-life or pro-abortion – are seeing both sides of this issue for who they are, and that’s always a good thing for pro-lifers. In fact, online and Facebook support for Tim Tebow are extremely strong, as social-media-watching blog Mashable notes.<br />
<br />
Here at CatholicVote, we believe in supporting Tim Tebow, the brave choice of his mother, and the smart decision made by the CBS executives. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://WWW.CATHOLICVOTE.ORG">http://www.catholicvote.org</a>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-25888779972806901002010-01-16T11:33:00.001-08:002010-01-16T11:45:37.935-08:00Update on the Manhattan Declaration(FORWARDED FROM)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://manhattandeclaration.org">manhattandeclaration.org<br />
</a><br />
Dear colleague,<br />
<br />
Thank you for your support of the Manhattan Declaration.<br />
<br />
It is off to an amazing start - over 370,000 signers and growing. And it is indeed historic: Evangelicals, Catholics, Anglicans, and Eastern Orthodox Christians uniting to give common witness to the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage, and religious liberty for all persons. <br />
<br />
But we need your help: our goal is one million signatures.<br />
<br />
The marketing pros tell us we will never get to a million signatures without expensive advertising. But we want to prove them wrong. And we can: just think if each person who has signed the Declaration were to get just two others to sign. That would be one million people standing arm in arm in defense of the most vital moral truths in our society.<br />
<br />
Remember, too, we are not just collecting signatures; we seek a movement of people defending the truth in the public square. We are already witnessing signs of this: Christians in Mobile, Alabama called us 13 days before Christmas to tell us they were planning a large ecumenical gathering for the 23rd of December. I (Chuck Colson) agreed to speak. At 6:00 AM on December 23, 2,000 citizens, led by clergy from all over the city, gathered in a packed hall in the Convention Center for a rousing rally. Seldom have I seen so much excitement in one room - and all of this was accomplished just by word of mouth with only 11 days to organize!<br />
<br />
Just ten days ago, Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, Archbishop Wuerl of Washington, DC, Archbishop Dolan of New York and Archbishop Kurtz of Louisville reached out to all of their brother Catholic bishops asking them to spread this document throughout their dioceses and encourage their clergy and faithful to study it and join as signatories.<br />
<br />
The Archbishop of Detroit has planned a grassroots effort throughout his archdiocese. The Bishop of Phoenix has already organized a grassroots effort there.<br />
<br />
We are also receiving many reports of evangelical gatherings in a number of areas - and many evangelical pastors referring to the Manhattan Declaration in their sermons.<br />
<br />
This bold and exciting movement needs to reach 100 or 200 cities in America. Why not? Can you help? We are urging you to encourage your pastors and community leaders to do what these other cities are doing. Organize ecumenical meetings organized around the Manhattan Declaration; get other concerned citizens to join the effort. Get on the internet or phone and ask friends to join you. If you let us know you want to organize something we can help link you up with others in your area.<br />
<br />
As with any grassroots movement, the strength and energy has to come from the people. We have no staff and limited budget. We're people who care passionately and deeply about life, marriage, and liberty. So here's what we are asking you to do.<br />
<br />
<br />
Pray fervently. Great movements of faith have always spread on the wings of prayer. <br />
Know the issues. If you study this Declaration - and a study guide is available on our website - then you can winsomely explain and defend it to your neighbors and friends. The document itself makes a great apologetic defense for these moral truths. <br />
Look for resources on this website as we're able to post them, and search the websites of the Christian organizations that offer resources in these three areas. You can see the names of the various leaders who have signed the Declaration and then visit their websites. <br />
Of utmost importance, get your own church involved. As pastors preach, the movement will spread. Prayer meetings and Bible studies on the Declaration are being conducted in many churches, which is a great step. <br />
Make full use of Facebook, Twitter, and all the devices available today for social networking. Or just go to gatherings in your own community and speak out on this issue. Cultures are changed over the backyard fence, the barbeque grill, and in hair salons - always from the bottom up. Do everything you can possibly do to educate others. <br />
Organize local gatherings like the one in Mobile. If you want an audio or video of Chuck Colson's talk at the event, you will be able to see it on the website in the next few days. You can also read a firsthand report on how they did this. <br />
If you are a pastor or ministry leader let us know if you would like to be added to the Additional Signers list on the website. <br />
Just think what might happen in our land if one million courageous Christians declared their uncompromising allegiance to Jesus Christ and to biblical faithfulness on some of the most urgent moral issues of our day. <br />
<br />
May God give us the strength to do what He is so clearly calling us to do. From our perspective, this is a cause worth giving every last ounce of effort and energy we have.<br />
<br />
Dr. Robert George<br />
Dr. Timothy George<br />
Chuck Colson<br />
<br />
<a href="http://manhattandeclaration.org">ManhattanDeclaration.org<br />
</a>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-23456843724726949312010-01-16T11:22:00.000-08:002010-01-16T11:30:31.799-08:00A New Message from the AUL: Join the Virtual March for Life(FORWARDED TO YOU FROM THE AMERICANS UNITED FOR LIFE WEB SITE)<br />
<br />
Dear Friends,<br />
<br />
On January 22, 1973 the U.S. Supreme Court handed down their Roe v. Wade decision. Every year since, on the anniversary of this tragedy, Americans have gathered in Washington, DC for the annual March for Life. This remarkable showing of support for life has literally brought millions of people to our nation's Capital over the years, but millions more have been unable to take part and stand for life. Until today.<br />
<br />
AUL Action is excited to announce the first ever, Virtual March for Life! If you are unable to join fellow Americans in Washington, DC you can still stand and be counted by going to <a href="http://VIRTUALMARCHFORLIFE.COM">VirtualMarchforLife.com</a> now.<br />
<br />
It's very easy to do and will only take seconds. Go to this website, choose an avatar for yourself and then we will place “you” in front of the U.S. Capitol building alongside other Americans marching online.<br />
<br />
With a health care bill that includes taxpayer funding for abortion hanging in the balance, this is an important, historic opportunity to get the attention of politicians in Washington. In this critical moment, every American must be heard regardless of where you are. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are coming to Washington, DC to join the most important March for Life in history, and you can be there through the Virtual March for Life!<br />
<br />
Please go to VirtualMarchforLife.com now to show your support for life, then forward this email to your friends and family and ask them to stand for life today. VirtualMarchforLife.com also has one click tools so you can share this important event with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.<br />
<br />
So much is at stake in this moment. How many more lives will be lost if the Congressional majority rolls back existing law that protects life and protects us from having our tax dollars used to fund abortion? Please stand and be counted among those who are marching for life and please ask everyone you know that doesn’t want their tax dollars to fund abortion to join us at <a href="http://virtualmarchforlife,com">VirtualMarchforLife.com </a>now.<br />
<br />
For Life,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.<br />
President & CEO<br />
Americans United for Lifethe converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-71196856487150591402009-11-27T18:07:00.000-08:002009-11-27T18:39:31.874-08:00The Manhattan Project Speaks Out ForcefullyMANHATTAN DECLARATION SUMMARY<br />
<br />
To Sign the Declaration, Go to: <br />
http://manhattandeclaration.org/<br />
<br />
Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family. We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. <br />
<br />
These truths are (1) the sanctity of human life, (2) the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife, and (3) the rights of conscience and religious liberty. <br />
<br />
Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. <br />
<br />
Human Life<br />
<br />
The lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are ever more threatened. While public opinion has moved in a pro-life direction, powerful and determined forces are working to expand abortion, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Although the protection of the weak and vulnerable is the first obligation of government, the power of government is today often enlisted in the cause of promoting what Pope John Paul II called “the culture of death.” We pledge to work unceasingly for the equal protection of every innocent human being at every stage of development and in every condition. We will refuse to permit ourselves or our institutions to be implicated in the taking of human life and we will support in every possible way those who, in conscience, take the same stand.<br />
<br />
Marriage<br />
<br />
The institution of marriage, already wounded by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is at risk of being redefined and thus subverted. Marriage is the original and most important institution for sustaining the health, education, and welfare of all. Where marriage erodes, social pathologies rise. The impulse to redefine marriage is a symptom, rather than the cause, of the erosion of the marriage culture. It reflects a loss of understanding of the meaning of marriage as embodied in our civil law as well as our religioustraditions. Yet it is critical that the impulse be resisted, for yielding to it would mean abandoning the possibility of restoring a sound understanding of marriage and, with it, the hope of rebuilding a healthy marriage culture. It would lock into place the false and destructive belief that marriage is all about romance and other adult satisfactions, and not, in any intrinsic way, about the unique character and value of acts and relationships whose meaning is shaped by their aptness for the generation, promotion and protection of life. Marriage is not a “social construction,” but is rather an objective reality—the<br />
covenantal union of husband and wife—that it is the duty of the law to recognize, honor, and protect.<br />
<br />
Religious Liberty<br />
<br />
Freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized. The threat to these fundamental principles of justice is evident in efforts to weaken or eliminate conscience protections for healthcare institutions and professionals, and in antidiscrimination statutes that are used as weapons to force religious institutions, charities, businesses, and service providers either to accept (and even facilitate) activities and relationships they judge to be immoral, or go out of business. Attacks on religious liberty are dire threats not only to individuals, but also to the institutions of civil society including families, charities, and religious communities. The health and well-being of such institutions provide an indispensable buffer against the overweening power of government and is essential to the flourishing of every other institution—including government itself—on which society depends. <br />
<br />
Unjust Laws<br />
<br />
As Christians, we believe in law and we respect the authority of earthly rulers. We count it as a special privilege to live in a democratic society where the moral claims of the law on us are even stronger in virtue of the rights of all citizens to participate in the political process. Yet even in a democratic regime, laws can be unjust. And from the beginning, our faith has taught that civil disobedience is required in the face of gravely unjust laws or laws that purport to require us to do what is unjust or otherwise immoral. Such laws lack the power to bind in conscience because they can claim no authority beyond that of sheer human will. Therefore, let it be known that we will not comply with any edict that compels us or the institutions we lead to participate in or facilitate abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or any other act that violates the principle of the profound,inherent, and equal dignity of every member of the human family. Further, let it be known that we will not bend to any rule forcing us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality, marriage, and the family. Further, let it be known that we will not be intimidated into silence or acquiescence or the violation of our consciences by any power on earth, be it cultural or political, regardless of the consequences to ourselves. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God’s.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://manhattandeclaration.org/"></a>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-39079392215237643222009-10-20T20:32:00.000-07:002009-10-20T20:38:21.476-07:00Blog: Pope Announces Vehicle for Intake of Large numbers of AnglicansWhispers in the Loggia by Rocco Palmo <br />
<br />
Responding to a rising tide of requests in recent years for full communion from conservative Anglicans who've sought refuge under Rome's umbrella following their Communion's global troubles, this morning the Holy See preemptively announced a forthcoming Apostolic Constitution establishing a "single canonical model" for the intake of large numbers of Anglicans, fulfilling a century-old desire to integrate disaffected Anglicans into the Catholic Church "while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony. <br />
<br />
For more, go to:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com">http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com</a>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-33613559155834268492009-09-28T19:09:00.000-07:002009-09-28T19:24:03.824-07:0040 Days for Life: you can participate at Over 200 locations countrywide, including San Marcos, CA<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/On9jankGqB0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/On9jankGqB0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />go to:<br /><br />www.40daysforlife.com <br /><br />www.40daysforlife.com/sanmarcos/the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-23431071254614264802009-08-08T21:52:00.000-07:002009-08-08T22:02:56.155-07:00ABORTION IS AT THE HEART OF OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE PLAN<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/H9CCpvj690A&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/H9CCpvj690A&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-53538490103361883502009-08-08T21:48:00.000-07:002009-08-08T21:52:12.320-07:00http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9CCpvj690A&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ekeepabortionoutofhealthcare%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embeddedthe converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-41972677648316111662009-08-07T20:16:00.000-07:002009-08-07T20:37:21.794-07:00You may be hearing a lot more about BlackwaterA former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company have made a series of explosive allegations in sworn statements filed on August 3 in federal court in Virginia. The two men claim that the company's owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."
<br />
<br />Mr. Prince intentionally deployed to Iraq certain men who shared his vision of Christian supremacy, knowing and wanting these men to take every available opportunity to murder Iraqis. Many of these men used call signs based on the Knights of the Templar, the warriors who fought the Crusades.
<br />
<br />Mr. Prince operated his companies in a manner that encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life. For example, Mr. Prince's executives would openly speak about going over to Iraq to "lay Hajiis out on cardboard." Going to Iraq to shoot and kill Iraqis was viewed as a sport or game. Mr. Prince's employees openly and consistently used racist and derogatory terms for Iraqis and other Arabs, such as "ragheads" or "hajiis."
<br />
<br />Among the additional allegations made by Doe #1 is that "Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq." He states that he personally witnessed weapons being "pulled out" from dog food bags. Doe #2 alleges that "Prince and his employees arranged for the weapons to be polywrapped and smuggled into Iraq on Mr. Prince's private planes, which operated under the name Presidential Airlines," adding that Prince "generated substantial revenues from participating in the illegal arms trade."
<br />
<br />To read the whole article go to:
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090817/scahill">http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090817/scahill</a>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-80926806832900776402009-07-18T20:50:00.000-07:002009-07-18T21:20:22.070-07:00Pope Benedict XVI New Encyclical: CARITAS IN VERITATE1. Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. <strong>Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth. Each person finds his good by adherence to God's plan for him, in order to realize it fully: in this plan, he finds his truth, and through adherence to this truth he becomes free (cf. Jn 8:22).</strong> To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity. Charity, in fact, “rejoices in the truth” (1 Cor 13:6). All people feel the interior impulse to love authentically: love and truth never abandon them completely, because these are the vocation planted by God in the heart and mind of every human person. The search for love and truth is purified and liberated by Jesus Christ from the impoverishment that our humanity brings to it, and he reveals to us in all its fullness the initiative of love and the plan for true life that God has prepared for us. In Christ, charity in truth becomes the Face of his Person, a vocation for us to love our brothers and sisters in the truth of his plan. Indeed, he himself is the Truth (cf. Jn 14:6).<br /><br />2. Charity is at the heart of the Church's social doctrine. Every responsibility and every commitment spelt out by that doctrine is derived from charity which, according to the teaching of Jesus, is the synthesis of the entire Law (cf. Mt 22:36- 40). It gives real substance to the personal relationship with God and with neighbour; it is the principle not only of micro-relationships (with friends, with family members or within small groups) but also of macro-relationships (social, economic and political ones). For the Church, instructed by the Gospel, charity is everything because, as Saint John teaches (cf. 1 Jn 4:8, 16) and as I recalled in my first Encyclical Letter, “God is love” (Deus Caritas Est): everything has its origin in God's love, everything is shaped by it, everything is directed towards it. Love is God's greatest gift to humanity, it is his promise and our hope.<br /><br />To Continue click here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/enyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html">http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html</a>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-90114480586730127262009-06-25T20:57:00.000-07:002009-06-25T21:03:09.626-07:0028th Anniversary Message from Our Lady of MedjugorjeHappy 28th Anniversary! Today is a very special day. Today we celebrate 28 years of Our Lady appearing in Medjugorje. Thank you Blessed Mother for your messages throughout these years, for your patience, for your love, and for your help in bringing us closer to your Son Jesus. Thank you Jesus for sending us your Mother, and for all the graces you have given us through Medjugorje.<br /><br />Message of June 25, 2009 <br /><br />"Dear children! Rejoice with me, convert in joy and give thanks to God for the gift of my presence among you. Pray that, in your hearts, God may be in the center of your life and with your life witness, little children, so that every creature may feel God’s love. Be my extended hands for every creature, so that it may draw closer to the God of love. I bless you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.medjugorje.org">http://www.medjugorje.org</a>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-63009793320593095742009-05-27T16:17:00.000-07:002009-05-27T16:32:38.118-07:00California Constitutional Amendment UpheldCalifornia Supreme Court justices upheld the California Marriage Amendment, known as Prop. 8, yesterday in a 6-1 ruling. The justices said the ruling addressed only the narrow issue of whether the state's constitution was properly amended. Here's what CatholicVote.org had to say:<br /><br />The California Supreme Court yesterday rejected attempts by homosexual activists to throw out the constitutional amendment passed by 52% of California voters last November.<br /><br />You may recall that we filed an amicus brief in this important case on behalf of you – and all the members of CatholicVote.org. In our brief, we argued that activists seeking to void the will of the people in California is “utterly inconsistent with the root premise of the constitution… that ‘all political power is inherent in the people ... [that] government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require.’”<br /><br />Less reported is the fact that voters crossed traditional political lines to pass this amendment. For example, 53% of Hispanics supported the amendment and African Americans voted in favor of the amendment by a whopping 70-30% margin!<br /><br />Unfortunately, the court also preserved thousands of ‘marriages’ between same-sex couples that were performed during the intervening period between yesterday’s decision, and a previous court ruling allowing same-sex marriage in California. These same-sex couples remain married under an illicit decision that has now been trumped by a vote of the people.<br /><br />All political posturing and rhetoric aside, marriage between a man and woman remains the best environment to raise a child, and the people of every state deserve the right to uphold this time-tested institution.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Brian Burch<br />CatholicVote.org<br /><br /><br />P.S. Our latest ad aired successfully on American Idol last week in six states. We have been deluged with responses from across the country. We pray and hope more than a few seeds have been planted. Of course once planted, these seeds will need to be watered. So yes, don’t worry, we have more coming soon.<br /><br />Many have asked about the music used in our recent ad. The song “Close My Eyes” is available for download via iTunes for $.99. And if you download it now, a portion of the cost goes directly to CatholicVote.org! Download the song now at iTunes.the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-32980714969349325162009-05-27T16:02:00.000-07:002009-05-27T16:10:59.379-07:00AUL on Sotomayor Nomination to US Supreme CourtAmericns United for Life writes...<br /><br />We’ve been working hard in the lead-up to the Supreme Court nomination to prepare . . . and today was the day. As you know, the President nominated Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor. We’ve spent the day responding to requests for a response from a pro-life perspective -- running from the Associated Press to the BBC to FOX Radio and more. <br /><br />The Washington Post gave AUL credit for leading the way in researching Sotomayor’s record and being one of the first pro-life groups to comment on her nomination. We want to keep you informed as this nomination process goes forward, so please stop by AUL.org for more background on Judge Sotomayor.<br /><br />So what do we think? Frankly, this is a very troubling nomination. In listing his requirements for a Supreme Court pick, President Obama highlighted “empathy” rather than loyalty to Constitutional principles. Now, we see what that means -- a judge who makes it clear she decides cases on feelings, not facts. She is a radical judicial activist who readily admits that she applies her personal political agenda when deciding cases.<br /> <br />In a speech at Duke Law School at 2005, Sotomayor said that her own Court of Appeals -- not the democratically elected legislature -- is “where policy is made.” Taking such “judicial action,” she said in a 2004 speech, is part of the “heroics of judges today; it may dwell in protecting our own turf and ensuring that it is we who interpret the law.”<br /> <br />Sotomayor’s philosophy of radical judicial activism is exactly the thinking that led to the Supreme Court turning into the “National Abortion Control Board,” denying the American people the right to be heard on this critical issue. She will further entrench the Court’s self-appointed role as the sole arbiter of abortion policy. Based on her judicial philosophy, we expect her to elevate unrestricted, unregulated, and taxpayer-funded abortion-on-demand to a fundamental constitutional right by reading the sweeping Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) into the Constitution. <br /><br />Pro-abortion groups are already lining up to endorse Obama’s choice. NARAL praised her “distinguished record of professional accomplishments,” while the National Organization for Women (NOW) said it would “celebrate” the nomination with a “Confirm Her” ad campaign. <br /><br />That’s why it’s so important we get out the truth about Sotomayor’s radical judicial activism. Our recent polling data shows 69% of the American people believe that “some federal judges have gone too far by doing more than just interpreting the law and instead are making new law.” Mainstream America will not tolerate the choice of a Supreme Court nominee who, instead of following her duty to uphold the Constitution, chooses instead to dictate her own personal political agenda.<br /><br />We need your help to make sure the next Supreme Court justice rules on facts, not feelings. Will you send a generous gift today? We want to send a loud and clear message that the American people will not tolerate a judge who believes in setting her own policy and “protecting [her] own turf.” But we need your help to keep pounding the message home during the confirmation process. Let’s show our politicians and the American people that a vote to confirm her would be a vote to strip Americans of the ability to choose for themselves how to regulate abortion. Thank you for standing with us! <br /><br />For Life,<br /><br />Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.<br />President & CEO<br />Americans United for Life<br /><br /><a href="http://www.aul.org">http://www.aul.org</a>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8846018610228460364.post-32758460217127617262009-05-13T12:42:00.000-07:002009-05-13T12:44:32.138-07:00Pope Benedict Historic Holy Land VisitFollow the visit on Vatican.com:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X7G3A0V2EE&feature=channel_page">http://www.youtube.com/vatican</a>the converted catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849494462899142932noreply@blogger.com0