"The President and the Pope": On the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Ronal Reagan

The Verdict of History

"Among the more lasting impressions conveyed by these papers is the sheer deference showed by Reagan’s working-level staffers toward the pope, even when the two sides were at odds over policy. Admiration for this pope’s spiritual leadership has stripped Protestant White House staffers of any evident cynicism. They pun about a papal "missile" on disarmament, but are in dead earnest in their respect, and at times even reverence, for the Holy Father. Reagan himself, in his letters to Pope John Paul II, admits to being uniquely inspired by the leadership of the pope. The letters have an intensely personal quality, a warmth and light, which is striking when compared to the no less sincere, but far more formalistic, expressions of solidarity made by FDR to the World War II pope, Pius XII.

"The geopolitical dynamic would of course soon change, during Reagan's second term, with the 1985 ascent of Gorbachev. Historians will debate the extent to which Soviet changes were sparked by the insistence, of both Reagan and John Paul, on the fundamental importance of the dignity of the human person. But when the Soviets faced these two leaders of shared purpose and conviction, they faced their worst-case scenario: a moral-political meta-power. As Cardinal Silvestrini had said, “The two planes (politics and morality) can be complementary when they have the same objective.” That there was no formal Vatican alliance with the West only gave the pope’s moral stance all the more weight. Perhaps, ultimately, that was part of the essential genius of his policy."

— Mark Riebling is the author of Wedge: From Pearl Harbor to 9/11: How the Secret War Between the CIA and FBI Has Endangered National Security. He blogs here.

5th Sunday, Ordinary Time: The Faith of God's holy people is the praise of His glory and the "salt and light" of the world

Henry and Thomas were friends. Their friendship was built largely around the enjoyment of earthly pleasures and worldly pursuits together as the king and his chancellor. But one day, in a desire to move against the power of God's Church, Henry named Thomas the archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas warned Henry that things would not turn out as he desired, that when the bishop's mitre is placed upon a man's head he is called to put the honor of God even above the friendship and love of a king.

The story ends with the martyrdom of Thomas Becket in the cathedral and the shame of his former friend who in a moment of tormented agony seemed to be calling for his murder. Henry lives to see Thomas canonized a Saint and does public penance for his part in Thomas' murder.

Thomas Becket lived as salt and light, as the praise of God's glory, refusing even the proffered friendship of the most powerful man, his king, in preference to the love of the honor of God. His witness continues to shine before us even today, guiding our own way of faith in this world of competing loyalties and lesser gods.

For the full text of the homily please visit Meeting Christ in the Liturgy by clicking here.

71 Congressmen Ask Sebelius to Come Clean on Telemed Abortion Funding

February 4, 2011 Washington, DC - Rep. Steve King, (R-IA), has sent a letter signed by 71 Congressmen to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking for information about the extent to which Federal tax dollars may be funding "telemed abortions," which involves the distribution of the dangerous abortion pill, RU486 over the Internet, but denies women access to physical examinations or emergency care by licensed physicians. Sebelius is a long-time radical supporter of abortion, even late-term abortions that are opposed by 80% of the American people. Over 70% of Americans oppose tax-funding of abortions at any stage of gestation. "RU-486 is a dangerous drug that has been associated with at least 11 deaths and thousands of cases of excessive bleeding and infection," said King. "Evading FDA guidelines by dispensing RU-486 through telemedicine has the potential to increase complications and fatalities associated with its use. We cannot allow taxpayer dollars to be used to support 'telemed abortions.'" Currently, this experimental abortion pill distribution scheme is being employed only in Iowa, but Planned Parenthood has indicated publicly that it is their intent to expand this dangerous abortion practice to all its member clinics nationwide. "Planned Parenthood's telemed/webcam abortion scheme strips away any semblance of a doctor-patient relationship. After the abortionist electronically pops open a drawer to dispense the abortion drugs, the abortionist never sees the patient again, even if there are complications," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "This is a mockery of the doctor/patient relationship and a complete misuse of telemedicine." In the Fiscal Year 2010 Congress designated $11.6 million for HHS telemedicine programs, which are intended for the development of services in rural areas. "A common misconception is that telemed abortion is for women in rural areas. However, Planned Parenthood's Iowa telemed sites are located in major population centers, including the county with the highest population in the state," said Newman. "Telemed abortions are Planned Parenthood's solution to a shortage of abortionists. It helps them access customers in otherwise abortion-free population centers in order to increase revenue while disregarding the health and safety of women." "We support Rep. King and the other members of Congress in their effort to get to the bottom of where our tax money is going. If it is funding this telemed abortion scheme, the people have a right to know, and a right to demand that the funding be stopped." Read the letter to Sebelius Learn more about telemed abortions ________________________________ About Operation Rescue® Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006. From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates. Click here to support Operation Rescue. ________________________________ Web site: www.operationrescue.org E-mail: info@operationrescue.org Operation Rescue Troy Newman President 316-841-1700 Operation Rescue Cheryl Sullenger Senior Policy Advisor 316-516-3034

Forward email Operation Rescue | P.O. Box 782888 | Wichita | KS | 67278

Richmond Planned Parenthood: Just another name for pimping and child prostitution. And then there's always murder for hire.

Scandal-Plagued NAF Cuts Lose More Troubled Abortion Mills

The national umbrella group may be responsible for a massive abortion abuse cover up nationwide


February 3, 2011

By Cheryl Sullenger

Wilmington, Delaware - In the wake of the arrest of Pennsylvania abortionist Kermit Gosnell on eight counts of murder, the National Abortion Federation has cut lose three of its member clinics that had ties to Gosnell, just days after Operation Rescue published a report linking Gosnell to Leroy Brinkley owner of the embattled clinics. A string of additional troubled clinics has also been dumped by the NAF in recent months.

"The fact that the grand jury recognized that the NAF saw Gosnell's operation first hand but did not report it places the NAF in a position of culpability," said Newman. "Now they have decided to cut and run to avoid responsibility for enabling Gosnell's criminal enterprise to continue. This is an indication that the NAF is more concerned about maintaining the façade of respectability than protecting the lives and health of women."

The NAF revoked the membership of Atlantic Women's Services in Wilmington, Delaware, where Gosnell worked one day per week. He started dangerous late-term abortions there, then referred women to his Philadelphia "house of horrors" abortion clinic for the completion of the abortions.

Also tossed under the bus by the NAF this week was the Atlantic Women's Services in Dover, Delaware, and the Delta Clinic of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, also owned by Brinkley. The Delta Clinic once employed Eileen O'Neill, who was arrested and charged with Gosnell in Philadelphia. The Delta Clinic has been flagged with so many health violations that the American Catholic Lawyers Association threatened in January to file legal action against the state if the mill is not closed.

In addition, Operation Rescue has learned that troubled late-term abortionist James S. Pendergraft IV has also been dropped from the NAF rolls. Last year Pendergraft suffered a double suspension of his Florida medical license for a horrifically botched abortion, drug violations, and charges of using unlicensed workers to illegally perform medical tasks for which they were not trained or qualified. Pendergraft recently opened a late-term "fetal lethal injection" mill in the Washington, D.C. area where he kills pre-born babies in the womb by injecting them with poison, then sends the women back to their home states for the removal of the dead babies' remains.

"This mass disassociation is a desperate attempt at self-preservation for the NAF, which is known to harbor among the worst abortion mills in the U.S.," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "These clinics represent just a small sampling of the squalid and criminal operations working under the auspices of the NAF."

Read the rest of this article, which includes four video clips

________________________________

About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006. From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates. Click here to support Operation Rescue. Click here to make a secure donation online.
________________________________
Web site: www.operationrescue.org
E-mail: info@operationrescue.org

Presentation Not: when parents hinder their children from embracing the Lord

On this Feast of the Presentation we celebrate the beautiful obedience of the parents of the Lord who presented Him according to the law of God in the Temple. There are many parents who do not so present their children to God. And some oppose their offspring when they learn of a child's desire to seek the Lord in the communion of His Church.

Here, an insight into the story of a young woman who seeks to so present herself but cannot because her parents object. The beautiful response made possible by the truths of Faith which this young woman has already begun to share brings serenity to her and to all who experience anxiety because of opposition to the Faith within their families.

Planned Parent (sic) hood: Taxpayer-funded abetting of child prostitution

For more info visit Live Action.