The personal responsibility of Catholics in public life to offer public witness to their faith

 Vatican Information Services (VIS) report that Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday last received a group of prelates from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Regions 4 and 6), at the end of their "ad limina" visit.
The entire text of Pope Benedict's address to the Bishop's published by the VIS is well worth reading and needless to say the issues he deals with are relevant everywhere today not only in the United States can be accessed on the following link. 
 I would like to highlight some of the points he raised  as set out below

[...] "At the heart of every culture, whether perceived or not, is a consensus about the nature of reality and the moral good, and thus about the conditions for human flourishing. In America, that consensus, as enshrined in your nation's founding documents, was grounded in a worldview shaped not only by faith but a commitment to certain ethical principles deriving from nature and nature's God. Today that consensus has eroded significantly in the face of powerful new cultural currents which are not only directly opposed to core moral teachings of the Judeo-Christian tradition, but increasingly hostile to Christianity as such.
[...] The legitimate separation of Church and State cannot be taken to mean that the Church must be silent on certain issues, nor that the State may choose not to engage, or be engaged by, the voices of committed believers in determining the values which will shape the future of the nation
[...] Many of you have pointed out that concerted efforts have been made to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices. Others have spoken to me of a worrying tendency to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience.
"Here once more we see the need for an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity endowed with a strong critical sense vis-a-vis the dominant culture and with the courage to counter a reductive secularism which would de-legitimise the Church's participation in public debate about the issues which are determining the future of American society. [...] In this regard, I would mention with appreciation your efforts to maintain contacts with Catholics involved in political life and to help them understand their personal responsibility to offer public witness to their faith, especially with regard to the great moral issues of our time: respect for God's gift of life, the protection of human dignity and the promotion of authentic human rights".

US midterm elections show massive rejection of Obama anti life policies

The majority of the nominal pro-life Democrats who along with Representative Bart Stupak provided the votes for the pro-abortion health care bill were sent packing as a result of voter outrage. Meanwhile pro-life Republicans such as Christopher (Chris) Smith (see photograph) were easily returned

The Democrats claimed at the time that the legislation that would allow a government-run health care program, which did not fund abortions and claimed that an executive order signed by President Barack Obama would ensure that was the case.

Pro-life voters however were not taken in and punished the betrayal in Tuesday’s election: Representatives Alan Mollohan, Steve Driehaus, Baron Hill, Chris Carney, Kathy Dahlkemper, Marcy Kaptur, Charlie Wilson, Brad Ellsworth, Jim Oberstar and John Boccieri lost their seats with only a handful escaping the voters' wrath.

On the other hand one of the few pro-life Democrats to oppose the pro-abortion health care bill, Rep. Dan Lipinski from Illinois, won his re-election bid.

Concerned Women for America Director of Legislation and Public Policy Shari Rendall said afterwards

“Last night's vote was crystal clear: Americans do not want their money to pay for abortions,”

And CWA CEO Penny Nance said,

selling their votes to pass the controversial health care bill most Americans oppose was their ticket home. “Yesterday's vote showed that Americans realized that President Obama's executive order was just a sham to ram through this unpopular bill.”

Politics and the American Person

Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carambula is acting as Interim President of Human Life International until a successor to the recently retired Fr. Thomas Euteneuer is appointed.

In his recent ‘Spirit and Life’ newsletter Monsignor Barreiro-Carambula, reflecting on the subject of ‘Politics and the American Person’, has this to say:

‘After having lived in the U.S. and then in Rome for many years, I must say that American politics intrigue me a great deal. I follow the debates and races closely, because I realize that the decisions of American voters affect not only Americans, indeed, they affect the entire world.
‘For example, almost two years ago a majority of American voters elected a man because he breezily promised “Hope” and “Change”, and too few thought to ask such basic questions as: Hope in whom? Or Change to what, precisely, and from what?
A religious fervor seemed to overtake masses of people for whom actual religion has obviously become an afterthought, and they suspended all critical thought in order to float away on a sea of make believe hope and liberal change. …
‘But the most troubling thing one notices when paying close attention to the president’s actions is his utter disregard for the human person. It appears that every initiative he is enthusiastic about is designed to diminish the person, and increase his dependency on government to live his life for him.
‘That is, for those persons who are actually allowed to live their lives. We already know the staggering toll taken by legalized abortion, and we know that the current president has without qualification supported every expansion of the murderous procedure he has ever had the opportunity to support. Not that he would agree that killing these tiny human beings is murder. Like many, he thinks that some human beings are persons worthy of life, and some human beings are not persons, and thus may be destroyed for any reason whatsoever.
‘The historical, philosophical and moral problems are ones that the president, and most other proponents of abortion refuse to confront, at least openly. If we agree that all persons should be protected and allowed to live until their natural death, then to make abortion and euthanasia legal, we have to find ways to deny the personhood of those who are not wanted.
‘The second problem is philosophical. What exactly determines why this human being should live, and this other one should not? …
‘The undeniable fact is that those who defend the destruction of innocent human life in the form of abortion and euthanasia cannot confront the moral issues, nor can they confront the history that proves beyond a doubt the similarity between their reasoning and that of the most heinous murderers of history.
‘Either every human being is a person, regardless of his or her ability to demonstrate a particular trait or demonstrate their utility and convenience, or we can destroy any one at any time for any reason. One only needs time to come up with this reason and a story that will convince others to cooperate in or endorse the destruction.
‘But if, as we believe, every human being is a person with the right to live the life he already enjoys, up until the point of natural death, then we owe it to the weakest of our brothers and sisters to defend them, including, and perhaps especially, in law. Guaranteeing the personhood of every human being in law is crucial if we are to get beyond the back and forth of activist judges or politicians who must worry about their own position as much as they must the life of an elderly woman, or a disabled child.

U.S. Taxpayer Funding Kenyan Referendum to the tune of $23 Million

U.S. taxpayers are now footing the bill to push a new constitution in Kenya to the tune of $23 million, far above previous estimates, according to a Christian Newswire press release on behalf of Congressman Chris Smith

The Inspector General (IG) for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Donald Gambatesa, has provided information that the US Government is spending over $23 million for activities in Kenya to influence the voter to pass a highly contentious constitution which includes overturning Kenyan's current life of the mother only restriction on abortion.

As part of ongoing discussions with the IG's office, Rep. Chris Smith, Ranking Member of the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee, and other key U.S. lawmakers recently received a chart listing recipients of USAID-funded activities related to the proposed constitution and a summary of their agreements. Previous estimates had indicated that $2 million was being spent, then that was updated to $11 million and now the figure identified by the IG's office exceeds $23 million.

"The Obama Administration should not be spending $23 million in American tax dollars on the specific 'Yes' campaign, pushing a determined outcome on the proposed constitution in Kenya,"

Smith said.

"The U.S. government can be supportive of the process, helping to secure a free and fair referendum. But we must respect the Kenyan people and let them decide for themselves. U.S. dollars should not be used to tell the Kenyan people how to vote."

In addition to information that the Obama Administration is funding the "Yes" campaign in Kenya, (link to a list of organizations paid with U.S. funding to support the new constitution), the chart reinforces concern that the US is financially supporting groups and activities that are advocating for abortion in the context of the draft constitution.

Smith said the IG's list shows that

"U.S. tax dollar monies are flying out the door to pro-abortion groups committed to overturning pro-life laws in Kenya."

He pointed to the Kenyan Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya), which as a member of the Kenyan Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance (RHRA), is committed to increasing the availability of abortion and the decriminalization of abortion in the country. FIDA-Kenya helped to draft controversial legislation and launched a campaign in 2008 to liberalize Kenya's abortion law. Under the U.S. law, such actions should make FIDA-Kenya and similar organizations ineligible for civic education assistance related to the draft constitution.

The list includes the following:

The Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review in Kenya, which drafted the abortion-related provisions in the proposed constitution, received over $180,000 of US taxpayer monies for office equipment and networking capability. The Committee rejected the life of the mother only exception to abortion inserted into the draft constitution by a Parliamentary committee, and added a "health" exception to abortion. It is commonly known that health exceptions to abortion often lead to abortion on demand owing to the broad definition of health that includes socio-economic reasons as exemplified in the US Supreme Court decision on abortion in 1973.

The Kenyan Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya) is a member of the Kenyan Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance (RHRA), which is supported by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). According to the PPFA website, the RHRA's activities include "drafting reproductive health provisions for the revised constitution." PPFA's work in Kenya includes "increasing the availability of affordable safe abortion services and supporting advocates to decriminalize abortion in the country." FIDA-Kenya helped to draft controversial legislation and launched a campaign in 2008 to liberalize Kenya's abortion law. It is receiving assistance not only from PPFA through the RHRA, but also $85,363 from USAID for advocacy activities related to the draft constitution.

FIDA-Kenya together with two other USAID funding recipients were facilitators at a "National Women Constitution Conference" held on April 30- during the USAID grant period for each organization. The conference agenda included "demystifying" the "contentious issue" of abortion.

The African Woman and Child Features Service, a media non-governmental organization ("NGO") that seeks to increase media coverage about abortion and "comprehensive reproductive health rights" in Kenya, is receiving nearly $157,000 for constitution-related activities, including "advocacy and lobbying meetings with reform bodies at national level."

Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), which is receiving almost $3 million as a primary grant recipient, advised USAID in 2000 that USAID/Kenya would benefit by supporting civil society organizations that are advocating for "efforts to eventually legalize abortion in Kenya." While acknowledging that such activity would be "politically sensitive," DAI suggested that USAID might support local advocacy groups in their efforts as part of USAID's democracy and governance strategic objectives component that supports civic society organizations.

Smith stressed that the US can and should be supportive of "a fair, free and non-violent" process and civic education, but not work for a specific outcome. Despite US Embassy claims to the contrary, U.S. taxpayers are paying to promote passage of a foreign referendum which is viewed by many in Kenya as interference and meddling in a sovereign Kenyan matter.

Smith said that one of the most controversial items in the proposed constitution is a provision that would in effect overturn Kenya's long-existing laws outlawing abortion.

"We should be embracing the health and welfare of both mothers and children in African while respecting sovereign prolife laws. Instead, the Obama Administration is trying to change Kenya's existing restriction on abortion through the referendum. Such actions constitute a violation of U.S. law and is an affront to both the pro-life people of Kenya and the US, an overwhelming majority of whom do not support abortion, and in the case of the US-do not want their tax dollars to pay for abortion activities,"

Smith added.

In a May letter to the IGs at the State Department and USAID, Smith, and Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18), the Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Darrell Issa (CA-49), the Ranking Member on the House Oversight Committee, called for investigations into potentially illegal funding to promote the proposed pro-abortion Kenyan constitution. Such promotion would violate a statutory restriction that no USAID and State Department funds "may be used to lobby for or against abortion."



To: National & International Desks
Contact: Jeff Sagnip, Public Policy Director, Congressman Chris Smith,
609-585-7878

More confirmation that US Health Care Bills Include Abortion Funding

Pro-life organisations have warned for some time that the Obama health care plan includes abortion funding. This has consistently been denied by the Obama administration and by the media. In a complete about turn however from a previous article Associated Press (AP) on Wednesday August 5th, featured an article with the headline, "Gov't insurance would allow coverage for abortion."

The author of the AP article Reporter Ricardo Alonsozaldivar wrote,

"Health care legislation before Congress would allow a new government-sponsored insurance plan to cover abortions, a decision that would affect millions of women and recast federal policy on the divisive issue,"

and he continued:

"Federal funds for abortions are now restricted to cases involving rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. Abortion opponents say those restrictions should carry over to any health insurance sold through a new marketplace envisioned under the legislation, an exchange where people would choose private coverage or the public plan."

A Democratic Congresswoman has also admitted to her California constituents gathered at a town-hall meeting that the health care reform bill covers abortions. In answer to a question from Ignacio Reyes a local pro-life advocate, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Cali.)said "Abortion will be covered as a benefit by one or more of the healthcare plans available to Americans, and I think it should be." (LifeSiteNews.com)

US Health Care Bill Held Up

A bill that has become known as “Obama care” the full title of which is “America's Affordable Health Choices Act,” (H.R. 3200) has run into major difficulties in the US.

According to pro-life sources the plan represents one of the clearest and most decisive attacks against the pro-life cause in this country since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. The bill poses numerous threats to the pro-life cause: Abortion, which Obama has called “essential health care,” would be included in the minimum benefits of every health care plan.

Every taxpayer and insurance holder would have no choice but to pay for every abortion.

The Bill discriminates against medical practitioners who refuse to perform abortions, who may face unemployment as a result.

The plan includes a review of medical care given to the elderly and could result in the level of care being reduced or withdrawn if it is not considered cost-effective.

Despite the fact that there is a Democratic majority in Congress the current hold up in approving the plan arose, because in addition to Republican resistance many Democrats also refused to go along with it largely because their constituents were unhappy with its implications.

50 Million Red Envelopes

Readers may be interested to know about a simple but brilliant idea to draw attention to the estimated 50 million babies aborted in the United States since the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision. In a new red envelope campaign pro-lifers are sending empty red envelopes to President Obama, the idea being that each red envelope represents one lost life.

The idea is reported to be the brainchild of Christ (rhymes with mist) Otto. The idea came to him during a time of prayer. He wants to send President Obama a message of moral outrage regarding his support of abortion-on-demand throughout pregnancy. Mr. Otto says the red envelope message would be "quiet but clear"

This afternoon I was praying about a number of things, and my mind began to wander. I was deeply distressed at the symbolic actions that President Obama took as he began his presidency. Namely, that he signed executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception. I have been involved in the pro-life movement for nearly 20 years, and it pained my heart to see a man and a political party committed to the shedding of innocent blood. This man, and this party lead our country, but they do not represent me or the 54% of Americans who believe that abortion is wrong and should no longer be legal.

As I was praying, I believe that God gave me an interesting idea. Out in the garage I have a box of red envelopes. Like the powerful image of the red LIFE tape, an empty red envelope will send a message to Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue. It will be quiet, but clear.

Here is what I would like you to do:
Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinkos, or at party supply stores. On the front, address it to

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington , D.C.

On the back, write the following message. This envelope represents one child who died in abortion.It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception.
Put it in the mail, and send it. Then forward this email to every one of your friends who you think would send one too or post it on your FB profile. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president.

See also BLOG post by SPUC director John Smeaton

Murder by any other name...

A man who was convicted of two murders after he killed a woman who was eight months' pregnant, failed to convince a Texan court that only religious people believe life begins at conception, according to a news report.

Interestingly, though, Jacob Eguia has a point when he says that if he is guilty of murder for killing an unborn child, so are abortionists who do this for a living. State law gets around this awkward state of affairs by making an exception for abortion, but giving abortionists a get-out clause only renders the law more absurd. Since the state recognises that human beings have the right to legal protection from the moment of conception, how can it allow human beings to be butchered simply because the person committing the act of killing is a doctor and the murder scene is a clinic?

The core issue in this case is that of personhood, the court found that personhood begins at conception. Over the cunturies the issue of personhood has been used by elites to deny the humanity of a person, a group or even an entire race. It was on the basis of denial of personhood that hundreds of thousands of men and women of African origin were kidnapped, transported and forcibly enslaved in the colonies. Women in past centuries have also been treated as non persons. In this age it is the turn of the unborn baby to be treated as non persons in order to establish the radical feminist dream of a so called "right" to abortion. This decision is therefore a vitally important step in the articulation of the rights of babies before birth and because of this will undoubtedly be challenged.

Exposing UNFPA

One of Barack Obama's many promises to the abortion lobby during his presidential campaign was that he will resume US Funding of the UNFPA.

The US government has refused to fund the UNFPA for seven years because of its abysmal human rights records, particularly in China where it has colluded with abuses against women including forced sterilisation and forced abortion.

Population Research Institute is urging people to watch their YouTube video on UNFPA and to circulate it as far as possible to raise awareness of UNFPA's disgraceful record.

An Audience with Jane Roe

Outside the pro-life movement, very few people know the name Norma McCorvey. She is better known as Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. supreme court decision that legalised abortion across America.

When the abortion lobby talk in emotive terms about the need to 'save Roe' they have a nasty tendency to forget that Roe does not need saving from pro-life campaigners - Jane Roe/Norma McCorvey changed her mind about abortion and joined the pro-life cause years ago.

In this video, Norma talks frankly about the terrible mistake she made in helping bring abortion to America. Courageous individuals like Norma McCorvey and Bernard Nathanson are some of the most powerful witnesses to the sanctity of life and to the power of the truth to convert all those involved with abortion.

Going the Distance for Life

This is a compelling video encouraging American pro-lifers to pray and campaign to protect innocent life. Given the impact the Obama presidency is likely to have on pro-life activities across the globe, particularly at the United Nations, we should all be inspired to redouble our efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

Shortly before he died, Pope John Paul II warned against a ‘new ideology of evil, perhaps more insidious and hidden than its predecessors, which attempts to pit even human rights against the family and against man’

Abortion is not, and never can be, a human right. We live in times however in which real human rights are being usurped by the attempts of certain elites to create new human rights including a right to abortion, despite the objections of many countries and people of goodwill everywhere.

Sadly this new ideology is moving centre stage and given the pro-abortion statements of President elect Obama, his previous anti life history and now the choice of anti life Democrats in the highest offices, the stage has been set for an increased slaughter of innocents on a global basis. This video calls for prayer which of course is the first weapon in our armoury, unfortunately most of us tend to use it only as our last resort. I am reminded of the episode in the Gospels where the apostles who were competent sailors only woke Jesus and called on his help as a last resort when the boat was in danger of sinking, and He calmed the storm. Let us then pray-pray-pray that He may also intervene to protect life and calm this particular storm

H/T The Hermeneutic of Continuity

A Pro-Abortionist's Dream

Vincenzina Santoro, Chief United Nations Representative of the American Family Association of New York, has published a summary of Congressman Chris Smith's comments on President Obama, made during an interview for Family News in Focus.

He states what many of us at the UN already know, but with so many people still deluding themselves about the terrible consequences an Obama presidency will have on the culture of life at the UN, Chris Smith's comments need to be heard.

Representative Chris Smith, Republican from New Jersey and the main defender of life in the United States Congress, was interviewed Sunday morning (November 16th) on the radio program “Weekend Edition of Family News in Focus.” His remarks on the incoming president were frightening (but not new) to all supporters of life, especially at the United Nations.

According to Rep. Smith, “on day one, sadly and tragically,” by executive order (more than 250 have been identified) Obama will overturn every pro-life policy in the United States. The list includes the Mexico City Policy dating back to the Reagan Administration in 1984 that refuses funding to NGOs that promote the inclusion of coerced abortion in family planning. Obama will support the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) that provides taxpayer funds for abortions including partial-birth abortions, will completely nullify all state laws restricting abortion including references to parental notification, and permit all kinds of stem cell research.

Rep. Smith called attention to an Obama speech to Planned Parenthood, available on YouTube, in which he stated that his “first priority” as president will be FOCA and lifting all restrictions on abortion – measures that go well beyond Roe v. Wade.

“Obama will be the pro-abortionist dream and the culture of life nightmare” according to Rep. Smith. Nowhere should the “state of euphoria” be greater than at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as funding for this UN entity had been cut off for several years by the current Bush Administration. UNFPA will now receive US taxpayer money to promote its anti-life agenda even more forcefully. Rep. Smith stated that UNFPA is in “co-management” in coercive abortion and child abuse. He reminded listeners that at the Nazi trials at Nuremberg forced abortion was “considered a crime against humanity.” Finally, only pro-abortion individuals will be considered for the Supreme Court.

According to Rep. Smith’s estimates, Obama favors a doubling of spending on anti-life matters from $450 million to one billion dollars.

Obama’s actions will have a devastating effect on countries of Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa with unrestricted pursuit of abortion by UNFPA and the large number of anti-natal NGOs.

Render Unto Caesar

Archbishop of Denver, Charles Chaput has written a book entitled 'Render unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life.'

The book is, in the words of reviewer William May, of "crucial importance for all American Catholics, who should all be struggling to combat the “culture of death” and develop the “culture of life.”

However, as a critique of the role of Catholics in society and the obligation to transform secular society by speaking out against injustice, it is a wake-up call for all men and women of goodwill around the world. His comments on abortion are particularly timely:

“Some acts are so evil that tolerating them itself becomes a poison that weakens the whole of society…..In our day, sanctity-of-life issues are foundational—not because of anyone’s ‘religious’ views about abortion…but because the act of dehumanizing and killing the unborn child attacks human dignity in a uniquely grave way. Deliberately killing the innocent is always, inexcusably wrong”.

On the issue of pro-abortion Catholic politicians receiving Communion, he says:

“Catholics who actively and prominently work to advance permissive abortion or any serious violation of human dignity, persons who deliberately treat the church, her people, and her sacraments as political theater to attack Catholic convictions and faith, should never present themselves for Communion and should never be surprised at being denied if they do so”

Archbishop Chaput is bound to come under fierce attack for many of the points he raises, but the book is very much a sign of hope for Catholics active in the field of social justice. It is evidence of an understanding among the Catholic hierarchy of the seriousness of the crisis and the desire to give support and leadership to an increasingly embattled Catholic community.

Abortion in the name of Palin

LifeNews reports on the latest dirty tricks campaign by the U.S. abortion lobby. There is something particularly hypocritical about attacking a woman in the name of women's rights - and a woman the feminist movement would grudgingly admire if she hadn't committed the heresy of opposing abortion.

The latest tactic by abortion providers is to encourage their supporters to give them a donation in the name of Sarah Palin. The thank you letter will then be sent to McCain's office. The idea of giving a donation out of spite says a great deal about the malicious nature of the abortion lobby's work. By way of a kinder response, campaigners are urging people of good will to give donations to pro-life groups in the name of Trig Palin, the Down Syndrome baby the abortion lobby despises Sarah Palin for having.