Original post by spirituality - Google News and software by Elliott Back

Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:15 pm (GMT -5)
US Catholic Bishops in Wisconsin and Connecticut Drop Opposition to Abortion-Causing Emergency Contraception

The Pontifical Academy for Life has opposed provision of the morning after pill for any reason

by John-Henry Westen

LifeSiteNews.com

Monday April 30, 2007

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/apr/07043003.html

HARTFORD, April 30, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Catholic Bishops Conferences of Wisconsin and Connecticut have dropped opposition to provision of the abortifacient morning after pill at Catholic hospitals for rape victims. Laws in both states are going forward to mandate such use of the morning after pill in all hospitals, Catholic ones included.

The decision is more controversial in Wisconsin where legislators who have previously opposed such measures have dropped their opposition seeing that the Catholic Church has come out as unopposed to the legislation. In Connecticut however the proposed law, as it stands, does not require a pregnancy test before the administration of the morning after pill and thus the Bishops conference is maintaining its opposition to the legislation.

The drug acts both to halt ovulation, if that has not yet occurred, and also to cause an abortion, if fertilization has taken place, by making the lining of the uterus unable to sustain pregnancy.

The bishops are basing their decisions on an interpretation of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops document: Ethical and Religious Directives (E.R.D.) for Catholic Health Care Services which states at no. 36 with regard to a woman who has been raped: "If after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation the process by which spermatozoa in the ampullary portion of a uterine tube become capable of going through the acrosome reaction and fertilizing an oocyte." However, the document adds: "It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum." (see the document: http://www.usccb.org/bishops/directives.shtml )

The only public Vatican statement on the morning after pill condemns its use outright. The Pontifical Academy for Life states that "the absolute unlawfulness of abortifacient procedures also applies to distributing, prescribing and taking the morning-after pill. All who, whether sharing the intention or not, directly co-operate with this procedure are also morally responsible for it." (see the full Vatican statement here: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdli… )

The problem lies not so much in theology but in science. What the US Conference document is aiming at is preventing conception after rape, rather than abortion. However, pregnancy occurs not at implantation of the unborn child in the uterus, but at fertilization which can occur within minutes after intercourse. Further, normal pregnancy tests based on a hormone known as hcG is accurate only if a woman is at least one week pregnant by the time of the test, since the body’s chemical changes resulting from pregnancy which are picked up by the devices must be at a detectable level. This takes at least five days rather than minutes or hours.

Should a woman have been impregnanted by the rape, a pregnancy test would likely not detect it within the first couple of days after the rape, thus taking the morning after pill in such a scenario would cause an abortion even though the pregnancy test had shown no pregnancy.

In testimony before the Wisconsin Senate Committee, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference noted that Catholic hospitals were in fact already administering the morning after pill with the use of pregnancy tests. Kim Wadas, Associate Director for Health Care at the Conference, told the committee, "Catholic hospitals in Wisconsin can and do treat victims with emergency contraception." (see the full testimony here: http://www.wisconsin.nasccd.org/bins/wisconsin/content/pages…|pages/Advocacy/Testimony/sb129tst-EC%20treatment.pdf )

Dr. John Shea M.D., who has for some years specialized in researching and reporting on life issues, is the medical consultant to LifeSiteNews.com. He notes that since the administration of abortifacient drugs may place an innocent human life at stake, surety is required that the woman in question is not yet pregnant. That absolute certainty cannot be provided by science, he says. He compares the doubt about whether the woman is already pregnant to the classic example of the hunter’s doubt about whether a movement behind a bush is caused by deer or a human being. "You can’t shoot unless you’re certain it’s a deer," he says.

Famed Catholic moral theologian Msgr. William Smith, who teaches at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York, concurs. "It’s wrong to say, you can use anything that has abortifacient properties. Emergency contraception is double talk … it’s what I call ‘verbal engineering’. Catholic hospitals are not free to prescribe or provide anything with abortifacient properties without contradicting their witness."

However, with Bishops Conferences and theologians differing so widely on these matters of life and death, pro-life Catholics are being urged to contact the Pontifical Academy for Life for clarification on these vital points.

To politely request that the Pontifical Academy for Life clarify the situation write:

pav@acdlife.va

Original post by mattpruett@faith-net.net (Faith Community Church of Canton NC) and software by Elliott Back

Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:18 pm (GMT -5)
Catholic Church in Mexico Demands Physicians Resist Mexico City Abortion Law

Interior Ministry begins proceedings against the Church for violating laws prohibiting its involvement in politics

By Peter J. Smith

LifeSiteNews.com

Monday April 30, 2007

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/apr/07043005.html

MEXICO CITY, April 30, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Catholic Church in Mexico called upon doctors at city-run hospitals in Mexico City to resist the new abortion law and conscientiously refuse to perform abortions.

In a letter read at all Sunday Masses, the Catholic Primate of Mexico, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, declared that the law was unjust and demanded that medical professionals refuse to perform abortions out of conscience, disregarding the law’s prohibition of conscientious objection.

"We call on all of those of good conscience not to be responsible for the abominable act," stated the letter of Mexico City’s Archbishop. "We remind the doctors, nurses, health care workers and all those affected by this unjust law, that they can invoke their human right to conscientious objection."

Last Thursday, the Mexico City government legalized abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, although elsewhere in Mexico abortion remains illegal except in cases of rape, incest, and severe fetal birth defects.

The Catholic Church has vowed to fight against the new abortion law even as the Interior Ministry begins proceedings against the Church for violating laws prohibiting its involvement in politics. On Wednesday, the Ministry filed administrative proceedings against Mexico City Archbishop Norberto Rivera Carrera and his spokesman Hugo Valdemar for breaking the Law of Religious Associations and Public Worship.

Archdiocese spokesman Hugo Valdemar Romero has stated that any doctors and nurses who perform abortions and any lawmaker who supported Mexico City’s abortion law would incur the penalty of excommunication.

Romero vowed the Church would not cease its campaign against abortion, despite the Government’s proceedings against the Church.

"For the Church, this is just the beginning," Romero was quoted as saying on Friday. "The Cardinal has promised the Holy Father to work earnestly in favor of life, and that work will be carried out intensely, not only by the Archdiocese, but all over the country."

Original post by mattpruett@faith-net.net (Faith Community Church of Canton NC) and software by Elliott Back

Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:22 pm (GMT -5)

Vennari-”Hate Crimes” Bill May Outlaw Christianity

Voice of Catholic Radio

John Vennari

April 29, 2007

Link to original

This week on VOCR, John Vennari of CFN discussed the pending hate crimes bill currently going through the U.S. Congress and the effect it could have on Christian in the U.S. You can listen to it here.

_________________
http://www.traditionalcatholicradio.org

Original post by mattpruett@faith-net.net (Faith Community Church of Canton NC) and software by Elliott Back

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Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:49 pm (GMT -5)

ADL Honors Dr. Eugene Fisher For His Landmark Contributions To Catholic-Jewish Relations

Washington, DC, April 29, 2007

Link to original

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today honored Dr. Eugene Fisher with its distinguished ADL Dr. Joseph L. Lichten Award in Catholic-Jewish Relations. Presented during the League’s annual Shana Amy Glass National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., the award recognizes Dr. Fisher’s pioneering role in helping to promote and further dialogue between Catholics and Jews.

Dr. Fisher, the Associate Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is a layperson and the only full-time professional in charge of Catholic-Jewish relations in the United States. For the last 30 years, he has been a central figure in the implementation of Nostra Aetate, the part of the Second Vatican Council’s reforms that forever changed the nature of the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish community.

"Gene Fisher has been ahead of his time – time and time again – on the many social, political, and theological issues facing Catholics and Jews as we worked to reconcile after a tragic 2,000-year history," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "His dedicated efforts over the past three decades have left us with a series of invaluable materials for the work of reconciliation between Catholics and Jews." (full remarks)

Dr. Fisher has lectured widely throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Australia. He has published 20 books and monographs, and more than 250 articles in major religious journals, many of which have been translated into French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish and German for publication in Latin America and Europe.

He has participated in countless interfaith programs in the U.S., Israel and the Vatican and worked closely with ADL and the League’s Director of Interfaith Affairs Emeritus, Rabbi Leon Klenicki, to pioneer interfaith educational projects. Dr. Fisher helped to develop teaching materials about the Jewish roots of Christianity and the need for Catholics to confront the anti-Semitism embedded in church life: through its liturgy, history, Passion Plays, seminary training and Bible study.

In accepting the award, Dr. Fisher said, “In 30 years much has indeed changed, and I am glad to have been a part of it. Nostra Aetate worked. All generations of Catholics – almost two now – have been raised differently.”

The ADL Joseph L. Lichten Award in Catholic-Jewish Relations was established in 2005 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Nostra Aetate and Vatican II. The first award was presented to Walter Cardinal Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and President of the Pontifical Commission on Religious Relations with the Jews, in Rome on December 15, 2005.

The Award is named in honor of Joseph Lichten, ADL’s longtime Director of Catholic-Jewish Relations, who was present throughout the deliberations of Vatican II and was one of the significant figures in the history of the Second Vatican Council.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

Original post by mattpruett@faith-net.net (Faith Community Church of Canton NC) and software by Elliott Back

Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:15 pm (GMT -5)


Got a Catholic question? Boy, 7, has the answers

By Philip Turner, Religion News Service

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-04-27-boy_N.htm?csp=1

WASHINGTON — Among the faithful gathered at the 7 a.m. Mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Capitol Hill, one face in the front pew always stands out.

James Higgins, 7, has been attending daily Mass since he was 3 years old. His parents, Stephen and Lauren, never have to drag him out of bed or away from his Lucky Charms to get him there either.

"I have it in my heart to go," said James, decked out in a blue sweat suit, a Red Sox jacket and cap. He’s currently undecided between a career with the Red Sox — or as the first American pope.

Given this boy’s encyclopedic knowledge of the church, the safe money is on the Vatican job.

He rarely stops swinging an imaginary baseball bat, trotting bases in a fantasy diamond and making crowd noises. When asked if the best part of his day is Mass, he looks at you with the quizzical nature that only a first-grader can muster.

"No way," he says. "PE is."

Still, James is really proud of a nearly 200-day communion streak — he hasn’t missed a day since last October, when his pastor gave him a special dispensation to receive his First Communion a year and a half early.

James has amassed a knowledge and understanding of all things Catholic that would send even the most devout nun’s head spinning. The Nintendo you might expect to find in his room has been displaced by a small table of statuary, crucifixes, icons, saints cards and a mini Vatican flag. Plus a few baseball cards and a Red Sox pennant.

He once gave a lecture on the life of St. Patrick to the other members of his pre-kindergarten class.

You might think it would be easy to stump a 7-year-old. Not this 7-year-old. Even the priests at St. Peter’s say they can’t do it.

"What are the 10 commandments?"

James spouts them back, correctly. It takes about eight seconds.

"Give me something hard," he says, "really hard!"

"OK, what’s the feast day of Saint Augustine of Hippo?"

James sighs and shrugs, disappointed he didn’t get something more difficult.

"Aug. 27," he says.

He stops, pauses and corrects himself. "I mean Aug. 28th. Saint Monica is the 27th." He’s correct.

Sts. Peter Damascene, Basil the Great, Bonaventure, Joan of Arc, Margaret, Titus — name this kid a saint and he’s got the feast day and vital stats on their life.

His favorite saint? St. James the Greater (they do have the same name, after all). Feast day? July 25.

He can also explain the joys and sorrows of Mary, how all the martyrs of the church have died, the seven deadly sins, the corporal and spiritual works of the Holy Spirit, the 14 holy helpers, and the 33 "doctors" of the church — in order, including the pope who appointed them.

Speaking of the church’s most eminent theologians, who was No. 8?

James sits and thinks, rolling his eyes as if scanning reams of church history in his head. St. John Chrysostom, the doctor of preachers, he says 30 seconds later. Born in A.D. 345, to be precise.

Just to be sure, he asks his father to check. He’s correct.

After a thorough 20-minute pop quiz, there just aren’t any more questions.

"Day in and day out, even though it’s early, I see his face at Mass and it inspires me," said the Rev. Bill Hegedusich, the associate pastor at St. Peter’s. "He’s a child, but he has that enthusiasm that we are all called to have."

Since taking an interest in baseball, James has had to balance his dream of becoming pope with visions of playing at Fenway Park.

James plays an active role at the early morning Mass. Sitting in the front pew, he’s always the first to stand or kneel. His distinctly youthful voice stands out from the congregation. After Mass, he cleans up the altar, bowing reverently at each stage of the process.

"It’s incredible," said his dad, Stephen, who sparked James’ interest in the Mass with his own daily attendance. "As his faith builds, so does mine — they feed off each other and I’m able to teach him more about everything else."

During a summer trip to Boston, the Higginses went to Fenway, but made it a point to teach James that there are many Catholic ballplayers, including James’ favorite player, Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell.

James’ sister, Elizabeth, is 5.

James’ parents consider him their miracle child. He was born 10 weeks premature on All Souls Day, and was given just a slight chance of surviving. Around age 3, James became infatuated with Mary, often hugging and kissing statues of her.

Since then, his mother said simply, being Catholic "is a way of life for him."

"We try to incorporate faith in everything we do, but we’ve always tried to do it so it’s fun," said his dad. "It’s about associating one with the other to make it part of everyday life. That’s what it should be."

Original post by mattpruett@faith-net.net (Faith Community Church of Canton NC) and software by Elliott Back

Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:30 pm (GMT -5)


German Authorities Decree Ceasefire in Homeschooler Case – For Now

By Peter J. Smith

ERLANGEN, Germany, April 30, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – German authorities have decided to leave 16 year old German homeschooler Melissa Busekros and her family in peace for now reports the International Human Rights Group (IHRG).

In a letter to the family’s attorney, the Erlangen Jugendamt (Youth Welfare Office), which was responsible for seizing Melissa from her home in February – affirmed that they were going to “de-escalate” the situation and allow Melissa to remain with her family as long as the Busekros family would continue to dialogue with the authorities.

“This is a great victory for the Busekros family, but the situation is not completely resolved,” said Joel Thornton, president of the IHRG. “We are considering it a significant half-time lead, but not the final win.”

Last Monday, Melissa Busekros decided on her own initiative to return to her family on her 16th birthday making a daring trip in the dead of night and arriving on her doorstep at 3AM. Under German law, Melissa Busekros is entitled to far more rights after turning 16, allowing her to determine her own custody and freely choose to live with her family. (http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/apr/07042301.html)

Although Hubert and Gundrun Busekros are relieved that the Government may finally leave them and their daughter in peace, IHRG reports that threats of state action still remain over their heads. While the Erlangen Jugendamt may finally have decided to save face on the situation, the fact is the Busekros family received nearly identical assurances in the past. The Judgendamt – an organisation created by Nazi Chancellor Adolf Hitler in 1939 to enforce his 1937 ban on home schooling and to control families politically – made similar statements before it plunged the Busekroses into a nightmare stretching across 3 months that began when police officers whisked away their daughter in a dramatic raid.

Moreover, an activist court may take action on the basis of two conflicting psychiatric evaluations of Melissa Busekros and her “school phobia.” Prior to Melissa’s arrest, a state-appointed psychiatrist gave her a poor evaluation judging her to suffer “school phobia.” Afterwards, a positive evaluation was performed by a psychologist at the clinic where she was being held by German authorities.

Although neither of the two evaluations on record give the Jugendamt the legal authority to seize Melissa, the Busekros’ attorney Dr. Hildebrant has already asked a higher German court to recognize the findings of the new evaluation and remove any basis for seizing Melissa again.

“The bigger battle is to continue to pray for and support this family so the government does not come back in and take her back,” Thornton previously told LifeSiteNews.com. “We don’t want this to become a half-time moment, where everyone takes a breath and we start all over again.”

Melissa Busekros’ violent seizure from her family by police forces in February for the crime of home schooling brought greater international attention to the plight of Germany’s persecution of home schooling families. Many of these families still face enormous persecution including punishing fines and loss of custody of their children by German authorities.

To contact the mayor of Erlangen:

Mayor of the Town of Erlangen

Dr. Siegfried Balleis

Rathausplatz 1

91052 Erlangen

Fon: +49 [0] 9131 86-0

Fax: +49 [0] 9131 86-26 92

Mail: ob@stadt.erlangen.de

To write the Busekros family:

Busekros Family

Schallershofer Straße 72a

D-91056 Erlangen

Germany

To contact the German embassies in Canada and the United States:

In Canada:

German Embassy

1 Waverley Street

Ottawa, ON, K2P 0T8

Tel.: 613-232-1101 Fax: 613-594-9330

Email: germanembassyottawa@on.aibn.com

In the US:

German Embassy

4645 Reservoir Road NW

Washington, DC, 20007-1998

(202) 298-4000

The embassy can be e-mailed from its website: http://www.globescope.biz/germany/reg/index.cfm

Related coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:

German Homeschooler Melissa Busekros Home with Family after 3 Month Ordeal

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/apr/07042301.html ;

_________________
http://www.geocities.com/demographic_crash

Original post by mattpruett@faith-net.net (Faith Community Church of Canton NC) and software by Elliott Back

Original post by spirituality - Google News and software by Elliott Back

Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:47 am (GMT -5)
Video - Fr. Elias - Clearing the Air: Anti-Religious Liberty Bill HR 1592

Monday, April 30th, 2007 (WWW.AIRMARIA.COM)

Clearing the Air #4 - Fr. Elias Clears the Air on Hate Crimes

VIDEO AT http://airmaria.com/vlog/view.php?sn=4&vp=176&prefx=main&plyrnb=1&ttl=Clearing%20the%20Air

Ave Maria!

Fr. Elias gives an emergency SOS for all those who care about the most cherished freedoms we have in America, Religious Liberties and Free Speech. The House of Representatives is voting on a bill this week that, if passed, will make it a crime to preach our religious convictions that homosexuality is disordered. This totalitarian measure challenges the very foundations of our republic and could spell the end to freedom of worship all because a very small group cannot tolerate any criticism.

We must pray to God that this bill does not pass and we must take action to protect our rights on this issue. Please take some time to contact your legislature by going to:

http://www.traditionalvalues.org/hc/

Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us!

I have contacted my senators and representative; I hope we will all do the same. Our rights are being taken one at a time and we cannot afford to just let it pass!

Original post by mattpruett@faith-net.net (Faith Community Church of Canton NC) and software by Elliott Back

Original post by spirituality - Google News and software by Elliott Back