Pastoral Guidance on the Implementation of the Reproductive Health Law

Now that the RH Bill is a law, because too few bishops and priests fought against it, and how do you expect the laity to rally against this evil when their own shepherds prefer to sing and dance with the tune than fight, below is the CBCP guide on the RH Law.

As teachers of the faith and morality, and assisted by legal experts, the bishops are presenting an outline of the salient points in the Supreme Court decision which they think may be helpful for our pastoral ministry and discernment.

Read more HERE

The Episcopal Commission on Family and Life as well at the CBCP Legal Office will be available to give formation seminars in the various ecclesiastical circumscriptions upon the invitation of the bishops. May Mary Mother of Life guide our every step in protecting the dignity of human life and protecting every human life from harm! “Truly children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Ps 127:3).

This non-Catholic knows it right about when life begins

Funny thing is soome "c"atholics don't.

And they even question the magisterial authority of Humanae Vitae...

And most of them teach at Ateneo...

And one of them is a theology professor named Ruben Mendoza

Imagine him teaching our children that using contraception

Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty did not have a degree in theology.

But he has common sense.

And he knows when life begins.

Unlike the men and women of Ateneo blessed with abundant knowledge.





 

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, emeritus archbishop of Washington visits Palo, Leyte

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, in his capacity as president of Catholic Relief Services visited and celebrated Mass at the devastated Palo Cathedral last November 17.

 

Here we see Cardinal McCarrick with Palo Archbishop John Du.

As much as we thank His Eminence for his  promise to put this part of the Philippines back together again, our readers are requested to review this post of ours regarding Catholic Relief Services.

Your enemy, prowls like a roaring lion

We value their contribution to the economic growth of this country, although come to think of it, the only ones who greatly benefit from it are the greedy politicians.

However, let us be wary because ''our enemy prowls like a roaring lion'', ready to pounce when we least expect it.

The URL reads "First PH company extends to live same sex partners". Why? You're expecting a second one to follow?

Caritas Christi urget nos

If we desire to help the victims of the recent Super Typhoon ideally through Catholic charities, we should course it through authentic ones such as Caritas Manila

There are other 'Catholic' services which are anti-life.  BE CAREFUL.

Liturgical Mystery of the Year

I have to admit it.

I did not go to Mass on Monday.  It was only today when I was checking on my Ordo that I found out that the Feast of the Annunciation was moved to April 8 since March 25 fell within Holy Week.

Why it is even on April 8, again, LORD KNOWS WHY?!

We celebrate the Annunciation on March 25 because it falls exactly 9 months to December 25, the birth of Christ.  Why?  Because it is at the moment of the Incarnation, at the moment that Mary said "Yes", Christ became Man in the Immaculate Womb of the Virgin.

This day also makes it the Feast of the Unborn, because life begins at conception.

This is also the reason why we bow or kneel at the mention of the Incarnation at the Creed:

For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

And also during the praying of the Angelus:

And the Word was made flesh.
And dwelt among us.

As one of fave popes once said,

“This is why the Annunciation is a Christological feast as well, because it celebrates a central mystery of Christ: the Incarnation.”  
(Benedict XVI,  Angelus 25 March 2007)

The Incarnation is one of the greatest mysteries of our Faith and of the whole world in fact.  The Eternal God became one of His created beings, everything like man except sin!

Why have it on April 8, less than 9 months...Lord knows why?!

FYI:  Our Eastern brothers, both Sui juris Easterners and Orthodox still keep March 25 the day of the Annunciation.  Just so you know.

Liturgical abuse....in Quiapo Basilica!!!

Never expected to see this on my Facebook account!

Happened at the Basilica of the Black Nazarene, during the launching of Pro-Life month.

Yes, and it was during the HOLY MASS!

Even though other pictures in the album clearly shows the priest vested for Mass behind the altar, the presence of the EMHC at the back is an indication that it is during the Mass.

Dancing is a liturgical abuse! The Holy See has already spoken against it!

STOP IT!


PS:  For those who love this kind of shenanigan, go to the Basilica every Sunday.  It happens every time the Gloria is sung.

And I thought Fr. Sobrejuanite is at SM Megamall every Sunday!  Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!

What the Democrats really are!

Pro-life priest Fr. Pavone IS NOT suspended

So says the Vatican!

***

Vatican Upholds Fr. Frank Pavone's Appeal

Priests for Life
6/26/2012

We are happy to announce that the Vatican has upheld Father Frank Pavone's appeal and has declared that Father Pavone is not now nor has ever been suspended. Father Pavone remains a priest in good standing all over the world.

We were confident all along that a just decision would be made by the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy. While we fully agree that Bishop Zurek has rightful authority over the priests of his diocese, we also see the urgent need for Father Pavone to be allowed to conduct his priestly ministry outside the diocese of Amarillo for the good of the pro-life movement.

With regard to all inquiries relative to Father Pavone's status and the Diocese of Amarillo, we will continue to be as transparent as possible and place all communications and press releases on our public website. In this way we can best respect the rights and privacy of all concerned, particularly ecclesiastical authority and communications which are intended to be confidential at this time.

***

Fr. Pavone was suddenly suspended by Bishop Zurek Patrick J. Zurek of the Diocese of Amarillo, and recalled to his home diocese about somethings the bishop does not even want to fully clarify.

Most in the pro-life circles are wondering why the sudden discipline of the bishop of a priest who is working tirelessly to protect the unborn.

What is most obvious, IMHO, is that the bishop is probably, moooosssttt probably, not in favor of what Fr. Pavone is doing.

Humane Vitae ring a bell to you guys?

Yeah, what the Queen of Looney Tunes, Miriam has been saying that there are priests and bishops who are supportive of the RH Bill, that is true. Heard a lot of whispers in the rectory.

Meanwhile, the angry bishop who just got trumped isn't backing down and issued a very ambiguous statement:

In its decree of May 18, 2012, the Congregation for the Clergy has sustained Father Frank A. Pavone’s appeal of his suspension from ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo and his appointment from me on October 4, 2011 as Chaplain of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in Channing, Texas. Father Pavone is to continue his ministry as chaplain until further notice. As a gesture of good will, I will grant permission to him in individual cases, based upon their merits, to participate in pro-life events with the provision that he and I must be in agreement beforehand as to his role and function.  [Gesture of good will....then his permission on an individual case, based upon the merit?!?!?  What?!?!  Going to pro-life events must be based on its merits?!?!  Does the bishop do these to theological dissent festivals?!?!?]

All other matters are outside the purview of this statement.

Amarillo, Texas, June 20, 2012

+Most Rev. Patrick J. Zurek, STL, DD
Bishop of Amarillo

The reason why the Church has sued the Obama Administration

The Holy Father with Ambassador Glendon

No other than former US Ambassador to the Holy See, Prof. Mary Ann Glendon wrote this article and explained the position of the Church in the USA.


***

This week Catholic bishops are heading to federal courts across the country to defend religious liberty. On Monday they filed 12 lawsuits on behalf of a diverse group of 43 Catholic entities that are challenging the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) sterilization, abortifacient and birth-control insurance mandate.  [We will see the same action once RH becomes a law, if it becomes a law.]

Like most Americans, the bishops have long taken for granted the religious freedom that has enabled this nation's diverse religions to flourish in relative harmony. [Wake up call for modernists Vatican II promoters who love dialogue and tolerance, at the expense of our SILENCE and ACCOMMODATION for what is against our morals and Faith.]  But over the past year they have become increasingly concerned about the erosion of conscience protections for church-related individuals and institutions. [Thanks for sleeping on the job!]  Their top-rated program for assistance to human trafficking victims was denied funding for refusing to provide "the full range of reproductive services," including abortion. For a time, Catholic Relief Services faced a similar threat to its international relief programs. The bishops fear religious liberty is becoming a second-class right.  [It is including Americanism worshiping Filipinos.]

Along with leaders of other faiths who have conscientious objections to all or part of the mandate, they hoped to persuade the government to bring its regulations into line with the First Amendment, and with federal laws such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act [This will be the next target of the Obama Administration once the demon in the flesh gets reelected.] that provide exemptions to protect the conscience rights of religious institutions and individuals.

On Jan. 20, however, HHS announced it would not revise the mandate or expand its tight exemption, which covers only religious organizations that mainly hire and serve their co-religionists. Instead, the mandated coverage will continue to apply to hospitals, schools and social service providers run by groups whose religious beliefs require them to serve everyone in need.  [And the HHS was crafted by a liberal feminist Catholic who thinks she can craft her own dogmas!  Oh, sorry.  Happens to every Choose-Your-Own...Smorgasbord Catholic.]

Continued attempts to solve the problem by negotiation produced only an announcement by the Obama administration in February that insurance providers would pay for the contested services. Since many Catholic entities are self-insured and the others pay the premiums, the bishops' concerns were not alleviated.

Protesters rally against the HHS mandate in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on March 23.

The main goal of the mandate is not, as HHS claimed, to protect women's health. [Like the RH Bill!] It is rather a move to conscript religious organizations into a political agenda, forcing them to facilitate and fund services that violate their beliefs, within their own institutions.  [The mandate forces its beliefs on Catholics, like RH.  Ironically, this is the charge that pro-RH politicians charge those against RH!]

The media have implied all along that the dispute is mainly of concern to a Catholic minority with peculiar views about human sexuality. But religious leaders of all faiths have been quick to see that what is involved is a flagrant violation of religious freedom. That's why former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared, "We're all Catholics now."  [And the media's silence on the issue is deafening!  They did not even bother to cover this news of the filing of the suit against the Obama Administration!  See the bias the US media and the current White House has against the Obama Adminsitration?]

More is at stake here than the mission of all churches, including the Catholic Church, to provide social services like health care and education to everyone regardless of creed, and to do so without compromising their beliefs. [And which church in the US operates more hospitals and schools? Yup, the Catholic Church, which those damn atheists love to attack.  Incidentally, the atheists cannot claim a school or hospital operating on charity!  So who is the hypocrite now!]  At the deepest level, we are witnessing an attack on the institutions of civil society that are essential to limited government and are important buffers between the citizen and the all-powerful state.

If religious providers of education, health care and social services are closed down or forced to become tools of administration policy, the government consolidates a monopoly over those essential services. As Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, put it, we are witnessing an effort to reduce religion to a private activity. [the line seem familiar to you?  "Hey, the Church has no business what my partner and I do inside our bedroom!"  Right!  The RH people use this too.  And this is the same tactic they are using in the USA.]  "Never before," he said, "have we faced this kind of challenge to our ability to engage in the public square as people of faith."  [It takes a storm to rock the Bark of Peter and for those in the boat to wake up and call upon the Lord!]

With this week's lawsuits, the bishops join a growing army of other plaintiffs around the country, Catholic and non-Catholic, who are asking the courts to repel an unprecedented governmental assault on the ability of religious persons and groups to practice their religion without being forced to violate their deepest moral convictions.

Religious freedom is subject to necessary limitations in the interests of public health and safety. The HHS regulations do not fall into that category. The world has gotten along fine without this mandate—the services in question are widely and cheaply available, and most employers will provide coverage for them.

But if the regulations are not reversed, they threaten to demote religious liberty from its prominent place among this country's most cherished freedoms. That is why Cardinal Dolan told CBS's "Face the Nation" on April 8: "We didn't ask for this fight, but we won't back away from it."

Ms. Glendon is professor at Harvard Law School.

***

Obama in the USA and the pro-RH politicians here had it coming.

Catholic Talibans

from Pro-Life Philippines

by Anthony Perez

***

That’s what they call us. [Especially coming from "Catholic" columnist Billy Esposo who is also a member of the Focolare Movement!  The gall!]


Oppose liberalism and modernism at its core, be up in arms against same sex marriage, contraception and abortion, sex education, and feminism, and you will be called a fundamentalist. A religious zealot.

Corrolary to this issue is the prevalent thought among liberals that religion and faith is against science and common sense, and therefore impede true progress. Liberals and freethinkers will be quick to make the connection between the “hypocrital” Catholic Church and the poverty of this nation. Try to visit comment boxes and internet forums and stand your ground against the liberal tide. As sure as the sun will rise will you be branded either of the following: bigot, hater, ignorant, intolerant, homophobic, backward, medieval, hypocrite, dim-witted, ‘slaves’ of bishops, fanatics, delusional, idiot, moralist, taliban.  [No thanks to the likes of Billy Esposo and would you believe it, even Catholic theologians!]

More recently I was called a Catholic Taliban (a derogatory term which implies fundamentalism) for protecting the sanctity of marriage and upholding its ONLY definition: that it is between a man and a woman.


Contrary to popular belief, there is no conflict between religion and science, between faith and reason. God is not only the author of Truth but THE Truth itself, and so whatever we believe in faith can also be found in reason. Professor Thomas Woods, PhD, says that the Catholic Church was responsible for forging humanity into modern civilization as we know today. [Have you ever asked what these atheists contributed to the world?  The university system was born out of the monasteries of Europe.]  In fact, most laws in the civilized world can be taken from the commandments and the magisterium of the Catholic Church. This is very remote from the liberal thinking that the Church suppresses reason and scientific advancements and is anti-progress.

Many freethinkers support the LGBT crowd, thinking that supporting the homosexual agenda is to keep up with the times. Perhaps they don’t realize that in Ancient Rome, homosexuality was commonplace. We can go back further: Sodom and Gomorrah. And we all know what happened to them.  [It is in fact, A DEGENERATION.]

Those who think that women should be given a choice for abortion is being progressive have missed out on their history lessons, as Spartans threw their ‘unfit’ babies down a cliff, to be dashed to their deaths.


There is nothing progressive nor modern about the liberal agenda.

One of the most common complaints of people against us Catholics and Pro-Lifers is that we should “live and let live”; in essence, what they are asking us to do is to remain quiet in the face of all this evil happening around. [People who are guilty of their crimes and are pretty sure that they cannot defend what they are doing will ask you to just shut up.  Does Communism and Dictatorship ring a bell?]  Why can’t we Catholics just turn a blind eye on all of these evil? It is because Jesus himself preached that we are the salt of the Earth, and light of the world. No one lights a lamp and hides it under cover. In the same way, we are called to share this light to the rest of the world that has gone half-mad with darkness, and so glorify our Father in Heaven.  [The kind of Christian Charity that Esposo and his ilk preach is silence in the face of evil.]

Out of the darkness of Ancient Rome rose the light that was Christianity. Today, we Pro-Lifers shine bright in this darkness that the world has plunged itself into.

There is nothing wrong with being a “Catholic Taliban”. If it means preserving the dignity of life from conception to natural death, and bringing hope and comfort to those who have none, then so be it.


If it means being convinced of the true meaning of marriage, saving women from cancer-causing pills and preventing their objectification caused by the contraceptive mentality; If it means the preservation of morality and and upholding of natural law, then so be it.

True progress can only be achieved by a society that respects life at all stages. To give in to abortion, the contraceptive mentality, to the homosexual agenda, to euthanasia, and divorce is to give in to social and moral decline.

***

Billy Esposo, your turn!

Controversy at the Pontifical Academy of Life

From the Vatican Insider

***

A small minority [Huh?  Sounds like an oxymoron.  Large minority?  They won't be a minority anymore if they are large.]  of the Pontifical Academy for Life’s (PAV) members has, for years, contested any initiative aimed at encouraging dialogue with the world of science and research, making it difficult for the Holy See’s bioethical “think tank” to carry on its mission. This is what has emerged from a series of interviews between the Vatican Insider and a number of sources within the Academy who have asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorised to speak about internal issues.

A series of internal disputes that have continued over the past few months have culminated in Professor Josef Seifert’s request for the resignation of the Academy’s President, Mgr. Ignacio Carrasco de Paula and a protest organised by some of the Academy’s members which will reach “the highest levels”.

The activities organised by the Academy have recently ended up in the crosshairs of some of its members on more than one occasion: In February, a conference on infertility treatment was contested because it was said to have expressed stances that were not in line with Catholic doctrine; a month later, the Pontifical Academy cancelled the international scientific conference on adult stem cells. Officially, the decision was down to insufficient financial coverage of the event but it came after harsh contestations by some sectors of the pro-life movement. But problems had already arisen in the past, for example with the letter sent by the then president Mgr. Rino Fisichella on the abortion undergone by a young girl who was raped in Brazil. Then there was the controversy over the lawfulness of transplants and the definition of cerebral death.

Sources say there is a small group of pro-life activists that has never confronted the Academy’s leadership but has always preferred to speak to the press or address its criticisms of the Academy’s activities to high authorities.

“These individuals go behind people’s backs; the minute something happens, they speak to the high authorities,” a core member of the Academy said. “We have not received anything official from these people. We have only received some public communications. They did not write to us to ask for clarifications,” another person from the Academy, who is aware of the issue, explained.  [There is a reason why some people resort to this way.  With this kind of a grey-area environment inside the Academy, and if you are staunchly pro-life, I'd do this same route myself.  I seriously believe that these pro-life individuals used the normal course before:  they approached the officials of the Academy.  But, just like the "noted" line of Sen. Pangilinan during the canvassing of the 2004 presidential election ballots, which we all know was seriously marred in cheating controversy, you'd go the other way just to send the message out.]

According to sources problems have arisen as a result of the lack of a deeper understanding of the nature of the Pontifical Academy for Life: “Is it an independent Academy offering freedom of study and the possibility to invite individuals with whom we disagree or is it a sort of “super pro-life movement”? According to the source, the PAV’s Statutes guarantee its autonomy: “As an Academy it is possible we may make mistakes. Not if our only task is to affirm Catholic doctrine.”  [Do I smell academic freedom even if it goes against Catholic doctrine somewhere here?]

A top representative of the institution stressed that the Academy’s official positions “can be found in our publications,” not in the comments made by speakers invited to events organised by PAV.

The situation has become far more complex because the “Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith tends to consider us an extension of it in the field of bioethics.”

An internal source of PAV emphasised that it is now up to the Vatican authorities, the Pope, the Secretariat of State and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to clear up this “ambiguity” regarding the Academy’s nature and function.

One of the sources stressed that “We have always defended life from conception to natural death and we continue to do so. We do the same work as these pro-lifers whose intentions are good but more dialogue is needed and they make statements that are unfounded. We are always open to dialogue with everyone; our task is a call for dialogue with science. Even Saint Paul spoke to pagans and non-believers at the Aeropagus in Athens.”  [Hmmm...some pro-lifers are a bit of a hot-head, are they?]

In terms of the positions taken by the protesters, PAV stressed that “an Academy is not a lobbying association” neither do those who express constant disagreement “have the right to be academics”: “It is the Holy Father who calls individuals to this task. It is not a right or a prize.”

Members of the Academy also emphasised that - in contrast to Seifert’s statement - the decision to cancel the scientific conference on stem cells was taken “completely independently” despite the disagreement of other organisers (The Jerome Lejeune Foundation in Paris and the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations) but it is difficult to say whether the event will be held at some other time in the future.

There has been “no reaction” to the request for the resignations of the Academy’s leaders; “the question remains in the hands of the superiors.”


***

I'll stay glued on this one and maybe some of my contacts in Rome can chime in on this.

I started this way...

A newly fertilized human egg showing signs of cell division

You too!

And they can be killed by a contraceptive pill.

So if it kills a fertilized ovum, how would you describe the PILL?

It is an ABORTIFACIENT.

It is not for your right to sex.

It is about the right of that unborn human being to be born!

Many many many thanks to all your greetings!

The Feast of the Annunciation is the Day of the Unborn!

Dear Pro-Life Advocates,

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!

In 2004, Proclamation No. 586 made by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared March 25 of each year as the “DAY OF THE UNBORN” in the Philippines.

Like in other countries, this day is devoted to the souls of the vast number of babies forbidden to live and partake in this world. It is a day when all people of good will should rededicate themselves to advocate that societies around the world include every unborn child within their understanding of the human community. It is a day for people of faith to pray for the eradication of abortion from the face of the planet.
On this day, please organize pro-life activities to promote the Dignity and Protection of the Unborn.

Suggested Activities:


Candle lighting Activity
Meditation and prayer on the life of Jesus in the Womb
Organizing prayer meetings to spread the message of life.
Designing and raising posters communicating pro-life messages.
Organizing small public meetings to propagate the pro-life message.
Organizing rallies in our own localities.
Printing and distributing leaflets to impart pro-life awareness.
Organizing seminars, fora and exhibits related to pro-life issues by various organizations.

NOTE: Catholic Liturgical Ordo has announced the Feast of the Annunciation this year is on March 26 because March 25 falls on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Feel free to organize activities on either day. Please give us a report on how your parish or organization participated in the Day of the Unborn. [ The Feast of the Annunciation is on March 25.  The Ordo of the Ordinary Form will celebrate it on March 26.  The Traditional Community will probably celebrate it on Sunday.  I will check it first.]

Contact Pro-Life Office at 7337027 or text us at 09192337783 for the sample intercessory prayers you could use during the Holy Mass.

***

This is from Pro-Life Philippines and CBCP for Life

Join the March tomorrow!

Someone is dreaming

He may be a cardinal but he was not created in consistory.

God created him like you and me.

So respect life!  Most especially HUMAN LIFE!

Day of the Sick

See you in Sto. Domingo!

I'll head straight to the National Shrine after my arrival.

Blogging in the airport.  :)

Pray for Life

And as expected...

The attention whore who looks like Humpty Dumpty, calls on her minions to join her for an overnight sleep over in front of Congress for what they call "Occupy Congress".

Ew.

***

Last time they staged a rally in front of Congress, the Pro-Death people who tout the Mythical 11 Daily Maternal Deaths, had less than 50 people with them while the Pro-Lifers had more than 3,000.

And the great Howie Severino of GMANews did not even cover it.

Why?  Because he is pro-RH.

FYI, he is an Atenean, for what it's worth.

Blogging from Cebu

Tons of info from the National Philippines for Life Congress!

Just visit CBCPForLife.com for the excellent presentations and talks!

I learned that there is a LIVE STREAMING VIDEO of the Congress!

Fr. Frank Pavone and his bishop

I guess all of us knew international pro-life crusader Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life being asked by his bishop, Most Rev. Patrick Zurek.

As we analyze the reports, it seems like it was the Bishop who does now want to meet with Fr. Pavone without an arbiter.

You can read all about this in Sancte Pater.