Sunday, September 30, 2012

No actor̢۪s life for him

Arlington, Va., Sep 30, 2012 / 01:07 pm (CNA).- Oscar Wilde once famously said, “I love acting. It is so much more real than life.”

An actor was what 53-year-old Mike Garcia always had wanted to be, and he realized his dream by earning Screen Actors Guild and Actors’ Equity cards that gave him access to paying jobs.

Garcia was born to Fred and Stella Garcia in Alexandria and raised in Arlington Forest. His parents were both first-generation Americans. He was the fifth of seven children, all of who attended St. Thomas More elementary school and Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington.

His father was a Korean War veteran who moved from Laredo, Texas, to the Washington, D.C. area after the war. He worked in a job he loved — fixing televisions. But his mother wanted Fred to come back to his Hispanic roots in Laredo.

“Laredo doesn’t have power, much less TV,” Fred Garcia told his mother.

The family stayed in the Northern Virginia area where the family built a life that centered around the St. Thomas More parish community.

A family tradition included education at the parish school and at O’Connell.
The tradition was tarnished a bit when Garcia said he became “the first Garcia to get detention” at O’Connell.

Garcia was a smart boy who skipped third grade at St. Thomas More. He was 16 when he entered Catholic University in Washington in 1976.

He said he didn’t go to Catholic as much because it was Catholic, but because it had one of the finest theater departments in the country.

The theater world at Catholic was different for the 16-year-old freshman than the life he had at his parish community.

In 1980, when he was a senior at Catholic, he began working on the school’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical about the “coat of many colors” from the Book of Genesis.

The play was a success and it eventually ran at Ford’s Theater in Washington for six months with Garcia in a role after he graduated with a bachelor’s in fine arts.

Even though Garcia said he wanted to be the “Mexican Hamlet,” he married Valerie — now principal of Blessed Sacrament School in Alexandria — in 1981 and raised two children Adam and Stefanie. He decided that “acting hours stink,” and he looked for something else.

That something else was working as the drama director and English teacher at O’Connell.
Although he prayed to be a successful actor for years, Garcia said that he believes God answers prayers in three ways: One, yes; two, not now; and three, I have a better idea.

“What I really wanted was the lifestyle I grew up with. Good people doing kind things,” he said.

In 1985, family friend Martin Harar told Garcia about an opportunity to become a State Farm Insurance agent.

Two years later he had his license and began a new career in insurance.

“I get to meet people one-on-one,” he said about his new vocation. “I love stories.”
He likes to hear people talk about their lives and to help them build a future for their families.

The Garcia family belongs to St. Ann Church in Arlington. He said he’s been studying the tools of his faith for 30 years and is now putting them into practice as a lector and extraordinary minister of holy Communion.

As a lector, he studies the Scriptures before reading them at Mass.

“What’s the point of this reading?” he’ll ask himself. “What is the point the (the author) is trying to make and how can I get the point across to the congregation?”

He was first asked to be an extraordinary minister of holy Communion in 1989 by Father John T. Cilinski. He said no because of a scheduling conflict..

Several years ago he did volunteer to be extraordinary minister of holy Communion for the hospital ministry and visit the intensive care and cardiac units at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington every other Sunday.

The 90 minute visit is a humbling experience, he said.
“I’m bringing them the Lamb of God.”

Some people are angry and some want to pray when he visits. Either way it’s a rich experience.

Garcia said he wants to be more apostolic.

“(I want to) live my faith better and make my relationships more about others than about me,” he said.

He was asked recently to consider the permanent diaconate. It’s a vocation he is praying about.

Garcia said he tries to live his life by the words of Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

Posted with permission from Catholic Herald, official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Arlington, Va.



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Pope: Rejoice when non-Catholics do good

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sep 30, 2012 / 01:19 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI says that Catholics should be delighted whenever non-Catholics do what is good or embrace what is true.

“Members of the Church should not feel jealousy, but rejoice if someone from outside the community does good in the name of Christ, provided this is done with right intention and with respect,” he said during his Sept. 30 Angelus address at Castel Gandolfo.

The Pope was reflecting on the Sunday Gospel, as recorded by St. Mark, in which “a man, who was not the followers of Jesus had cast out demons in his name” when “the Apostle John, young and zealous, wants to stop him, but Jesus will not allow him.”

Several thousand pilgrims gathered at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo for the Angelus, where they heard the Pope remind them of the words of the 4-5th century Doctor of the Church, St. Augustine: “Just as one can find that which is not Catholic in the Catholic Church – that is, in the Church – one can also find something that may be Catholic outside of the Catholic Church.”

This, the Pope said, is what Jesus wishes to explain to his disciplines, that “good and even miraculous things” can happen outside their circle when others “cooperate with the Kingdom of God” even in small gestures such as “offering a simple glass of water to a missionary.”

The same tendency towards jealousy can also exist, observed Pope Benedict, within the Church when Catholics resent holiness and goodness being attained co-religionists.

“Instead we should all be able to always appreciate and respect each other, praising the Lord for the infinite ‘fantasy’ with which he acts in the Church and in the world,” advised the Pope.

He also touched upon the Second Reading from today’s Mass in which St. James rebukes those who “trust in the riches accumulated by dint of oppression.”

“The words of the apostle James,” said the Pope, are a warning against the “vain desire for material goods.” Instead they are a “powerful call” to use wealth “in the perspective of solidarity and the common good, always acting with fairness and morality, at all level.”

In conclusion, Pope Benedict commended all those present to the Blessed Virgin Mary so that all Catholics may “rejoice in every good gesture and initiative, without envy or jealously.”

He then led the faithful in the traditional midday Marian prayer before addressing pilgrims in their various native languages and imparting his apostolic blessing.

 



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Dodger Stadium to host 'joyous' pro-life youth event

Los Angeles, Calif., Sep 30, 2012 / 05:23 pm (CNA).- An “upbeat” pro-life event this November at Dodger Stadium will bring together teen speakers, professional athletes, celebrities, musicians and religious leaders to encourage young people to “go to bat for life” and become outspoken pro-life advocates.

“Young people speaking to young people is what will make our event unique – along with a joyous tone that will convey the beauty, fun and normalcy of being pro-life!” Carol Golbranson, co-founder of LIFEsocal, said Sept. 14.

LIFEsocal, a group of Los Angeles-area high school and college students and their parents, organized the Nov. 18 event, called Go2bat4LIFE. The interfaith gathering has the support of Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez.

Golbranson said the event will send the message that “not only is it okay to be prolife, but it is fun, and it is cool as well.”

Baptist Pastor Walter Hoye II will emcee the event. Christian bands such as Christafari and Lincoln Brewster will perform on the stadium’s infield stage. Professional athletes and other guests will rally the crowd.

Featured speakers and special guests include actor and “Bella” star Eduardo Verastegui; actress, singer and visual artist Alexandra Besore; 14-year-old actor Mauricio Kuri, who starred in the movie “For Greater Glory”; and pro-life advocate Marion Jones.

Several teenagers will tell the gathering  about their unplanned pregnancies, what choices they made in response, and how those choices affected their lives.

One university student will talk about how she placed her baby in an adoptive home, while an abortion survivor will talk about forgiveness. A young man who was involved in an abortion will talk about how the death of his son changed his perspective.

Organizers have invited churches and schools from across southern California to attend.

Attendees can play baseball-themed games, ride a zip line and carnival rides, and enjoy ballpark food.

Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. and the event lasts from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event begins with a one-mile walk around the perimeter of Dodger Stadium.

Entry tickets cost $10 per person, though  children 10 years-old and under can attend free. Game ticket proceeds benefit local pregnancy help centers and other pro-life ministries.

More information is available at the event’s website go2bat4life.com.



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Pope's former butler could face four years in prison

Vatican City, Sep 27, 2012 / 03:35 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The trial of Pope Benedict's former butler, Paolo Gabriele, will begin Sept. 29 as he faces up to four years in prison for stealing confidential documents.

According to the Vatican’s appeals court prosecutor, Giovanni Giacobbe, the trial will be public and the first hearing will take place before a three-judge panel.  

Paolo faces a minimum sentence for “aggravated theft” of three years and a maximum of four. His IT tech accomplice, Claudio Sciarpelletti, faces a maximum sentence of 12 months.

According to the Vatican accords with Italy, the sentences would be served in an Italian facility, as the Vatican does not operate any prisons. As the head of the Vatican City State, Pope Benedict could grant a pardon to his ex-butler at any time during the trial. However, once it has begun – because of the differences between Canon Law and the laws of the Vatican City State – the Pope will most likely wait until the end of the trial before making any interventions.

A limited number of persons will be able to attend the public trial, including some journalists.  Recording is strictly prohibited and any video or photos of the trial will be made public at the opening of the hearing.

Giacobbe said the trial does not have a specific time frame, and the accused are free to not be present in person and instead be represented by their lawyers.

The accused will not be under oath during the trial, but witnesses will have to be sworn in. Giacobbe also said the court will not be allowed to ask for assistance from the Commission of Cardinals established by the Pope to carry out in internal investigation of the leaks.  

However, if the commission led by Cardinal Julian Herranz Casado wishes to intervene, the court is free to allow it.

Last May, the Pope’s former butler was arrested for leaking confidential Vatican documents and was detained for two months by Vatican authorities.

He was later kept under house arrest in his apartment in Vatican City, where he lives with his wife and three children. He is currently on conditional release. Giacobbe said Paolo is allowed to travel to his trial without escort by Vatican security officials.

After formal dispositions are taken, the first hearing in the trial will take place at the Vatican City State Court Room this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. local time.



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Video shows Cuban government harassing women dissidents

Havana, Cuba, Sep 27, 2012 / 04:04 pm (CNA).- Cuban dissident group Women in White has denounced state police for harassing them as they were trying to leave their offices on Sept. 24 to attend Mass in honor of Our Lady of Mercies.

The incident was caught on video by a group member, sent to the local Hablemos Press, and posted on YouTube.

It shows agents attempting to assault the leader of the dissident group, Berta Soler, who was rescued by her companions.

Soler said the women had planned “to walk from the office to the Church of Our Lady of Mercies to attend Mass and pray for political prisoners, as we do each year.”

Laura Labrada, daughter of the late foundress of the group, Laura Pollan, told international reporters that last weekend “more than 60 women were detained, deported (to their provinces) and sent to their homes” by Communist state police.

The Women in White is a group of wives and relatives of Cuban political prisoners. They carry out their peaceful protests for the release of their spouses and family members dressed in white.  

The video the incident can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKsGaKn3TOc&feature=youtu.be



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Canon lawyer: German Church tax dispute needs more reflection

Vatican City, Sep 27, 2012 / 04:24 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A leading canon lawyer has called for further reflection on the German Church’s decision to refuse the sacraments and Christian burial to Catholics who do not pay the country’s Church tax.

Dr. Edward Peters, a canon lawyer and the first layman to serve as a consultant to the Church’s highest court, explained that excommunication is invoked today “only against the gravest ecclesiastical offenses, things like abortion, desecration of the Eucharist, or certain illegal conferrals of Holy Orders.”

“To invoke the consequences of excommunication, even if that term is not used, against those who object to paying a civil Church tax, raises some very serious questions about justice toward the faithful,” Peters said.

At present, all Germans who officially register themselves as Catholic pay a religious tax of 8 to 9 percent of their annual income tax bill. Therefore, if a German Catholic has a tax bill of 10,000 euros per year, they will also incur an extra 800-900 euros in Church tax. The money is used to by the Catholic Church to help run its network of parishes, schools, hospitals and welfare projects.

In recent years, however, some Catholics have stopped paying the tax, saying they’re disillusioned with the Church over issues such as clerical abuse. Meanwhile, the German bishops have become increasingly concerned at the number of Catholic immigrants to Germany, including many Polish workers, who also do not pay the tax.

“At issue …is the credibility of the church’s sacramental nature. One cannot be half a member or only partly a member. Either one belongs and commits – or one renounces this,” Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, President of the Germans Bishops’ Conference, said Sept. 24.

Dr. Peters says the issue is “very complex” and “needs to be thought through by both sides very carefully,” since “the obligation of Catholics to contribute to the support of the Church is itself a serious one.”

Peters, who was recently appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a canon law expert for the forthcoming synod on the New Evangelization, suggests that all sides should continue further discussion while avoiding hasty decisions or actions. 

“Long-standing civil-canonical mechanisms for rendering that support – even if those mechanisms are in need of reform – should not be challenged piecemeal, lest greater confusion about the duties of the faithful and the proper role of the state in regard to religion be spread thereby,” he said.



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Christian leaders praise Romney, Republican platform

Denver, Colo., Sep 25, 2012 / 04:38 pm (CNA).- A diverse group of 28 Christian leaders has sent a letter to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney praising him for the social policies included in the Republican Party's 2012 platform.

“On those matters of social policy that address our deepest concerns—the sanctity of human life, compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted, the identity of the family, and religious freedom, the Republican platform speaks clearly and powerfully,” the letter says.

The group also says the platform demonstrates the principles that will guide his administration if Romney is elected president.

The letter includes selections of the platform which its signatories particularly admire.

The Republican Party's “compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted” is exemplified in the letter by its allegiance to ending religious persecution overseas, to ending human trafficking, and a commitment to non-discrimination.

The letter applauds the defense of conscience and religious freedom in the platform, as well as the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

The letter also focuses on the moral principles in the Republican platform, which are “squarely within the Judeo-Christian tradition” and are “at stake in today's society.”

Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, are thanked for running on a platform which is a “political compass” in the “confusing moral thickets of our day.”

The signers encourage support for Romney even though there may be “differences in a candidate's theological doctrine.” This is despite the fact that “some have tempered their enthusiasm” for the Mormon candidate. Government policy is the issue, the letter says, not theology.

The letter is signed by 28 Christian leaders, both Catholic and Protestant, and includes the organizations to which each of the individuals belongs.

The Catholic signatories include Leonard Leo of The Catholic Association; Raymond Flynn, US Ambassador to the Vatican under President Clinton; Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life; and Deal Hudson of The Catholic Advocate.

They are joined by Anthony Lauinger of National Right to Life; Peggy Hartshorn of Heartbeat International; Jim Daly of Focus on the Family; and Tony Perkins of Family Research Council.

Also signing were Frank Wright of National Religious Broadcasters and Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. and director of African American Outreach for Priests for Life.

The full text of the letter is as follows.

Mitt Romney
Romney for President
585 Commercial Street
Boston, MA 02109

Dear Governor Romney,

In this election year, matters of religious belief are once again highly visible in the public square. Some
have tempered their enthusiasm for sound governing principles by their concern over differences in a candidate’s theological doctrine. It is time to remind ourselves that civil government is not about a particular theology but rather about public policy, and the question we ask is this one: what are the policy principles that will govern your administration should you prevail on Election Day.

For that answer we must look to the Republican platform, the document that most clearly defines your
principles, and those of your party, on a wide range of topics. Among them are those that derive from
Biblical truth, an important source of our nation’s political philosophy. As you know, this year the platform proposals received hearty debate and intense scrutiny by Republican delegates from every state just prior to the party convention in Tampa. The platform was adopted resoundingly and embraced
wholeheartedly by you and your running mate Paul Ryan.

From our perspective as leaders who are motivated by Christian faith, it is a remarkably strong document and we congratulate you for it. On those matters of social policy that address our deepest concerns – the sanctity of human life, compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted, the identity of the family, and religious freedom, the Republican platform speaks clearly and powerfully. Its principles
are squarely within the Judeo-Christian tradition, and we affirm the compelling words that convey its
positions. Here are some of them:

Sanctity of Human Life

“Faithful to the 'self-evident' truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children … (p. 14)”

“We also salute the many States that have passed laws for informed consent, mandatory waiting periods prior to an abortion, and health-protective clinic regulation. We seek to protect young girls from exploitation through a parental consent requirement; and we affirm our moral obligation to assist, rather than penalize, women challenged by an unplanned pregnancy (p.14).”

Defense of Marriage

“A serious threat to our country’s constitutional order … is an activist judiciary, in which some judges usurp the powers reserved to other branches of government. A blatant example has been the court-ordered redefinition of marriage in several States … It is an assault on the foundations of our society, challenging the institution which, for thousands of years in virtually every civilization, has been entrusted with the rearing of children and the transmission of cultural values.
“That is why Congressional Republicans took the lead in enacting the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of States and the federal government not to recognize same-sex relationships licensed in other jurisdictions … We affirm our support for a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We applaud the citizens of the majority of states which have enshrined in their constitutions the traditional concept of marriage, and we support the campaigns underway in several other States to do so. (p. 10).”

Religious Freedom

“The Republican Party includes Americans from every faith and tradition, and our policies and positions respect the right of every American to follow his or her beliefs and underscore our reverence for the religious freedom envisioned by the Founding Fathers of our nation and of our party. (p. 9).”

“We pledge to respect the religious beliefs and rights of conscience of all Americans and to safeguard the independence of their institutions from government … we assert every citizen’s right to apply religious values to public policy and the right of faith-based organizations to participate fully in public programs without renouncing their beliefs, removing religious symbols, or submitting to government-imposed hiring practices (p.12).”

Religious Persecution

“To those who stand in the darkness of tyranny, America has always been a beacon of hope, and so it must remain … Religious minorities across the Middle East are being driven from their ancient homelands, fanaticism leaves its bloody mark on both West and East Africa, and even among America’s Western friends and allies, pastors and families are penalized for their religious convictions. A Republican Administration will return the advocacy of religious liberty to a central place in our diplomacy (p. 45).”

Human Trafficking

As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by the first Republican President Abraham Lincoln, we are reminded to be vigilant against human bondage in whatever form it appears. We will use the full force of the law against those who engage in modern-day forms of slavery, including the commercial sexual exploitation of children and the forced labor of men, women, and children (p.46).”

Non-discrimination

“... We consider discrimination based on sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability, or national origin unacceptable and immoral. We will strongly enforce anti-discrimination statutes and ask all to join us in rejecting the forces of hatred and bigotry and in denouncing all who practice or promote racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic prejudice, or religious intolerance (p.9).”

“The Republican Party includes Americans from every faith and tradition, and our policies and positions respect the right of every American to follow his or her beliefs and underscore our reverence for the religious freedom envisioned by the Founding Fathers of our nation and of our party. (p. 9).”


These then are some of the concepts in the Republican platform that speak to the moral principles at stake in today’s society. No such document will satisfy everyone, and its enactment will only be as vigorous as the political leaders we elect. Nonetheless, the platform is a strong statement of social
principles, and we encourage everyone to judge it for themselves (it is available at http://whitehouse12.com/republican-party-platform/). In the confusing moral thickets of our day, this is
a political compass that provides clear and sharp direction, a guide that is sorely needed by our country’s office holders. Once again we congratulate you and the Republican Party for your diligent work in producing the 2012 platform.

Cc: Reince Priebus, Chairman
 Republican National Committee

Signed by the following as individuals (affiliations listed for identification purposes only)

Raymond Ruddy
President, Gerard Health Foundation

Tom Minnery
Executive Director, Citizen Link

Margaret H. (“Peggy”) Hartshorn, Ph.D.
President, Heartbeat International

Jonathan Falwell
Thomas Road Baptist Church

Kristan Hawkins
President, Students for Life of America

Ralph Reed
President, Faith and Freedom Coalition

Leonard Leo
Director, The Catholic Association

Anthony Lauinger
Executive Vice President, National Right to Life

Joel Belz
Founder, World Magazine

Dr. Jack C. Willke, MD
President, Life Issue Institute

Joseph A. Brinck
President, Sanctity of Life Foundation

James Bopp, Jr.
The Bopp Law Firm

Raymond L. Flynn
Former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican

Andrea S. Lafferty
President, Traditional Values Coalition

Rev Louis P. Sheldon
Chairman and Founder, Traditional Values Coalition

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
President, National Pro-life Religious Council

Dr. Alveda King
Director, African American Outreach Priests For Life

Tim Wildmon
President, American Family Association and American Family Radio

Penny Young Nance
President, Concerned Women for America

Jim Daly
President, Focus on the Family

Deal Hudson
The Catholic Advocate

Tony Perkins
President, Family Research Council

Franklin Graham
President, Samaritan’s Purse

Gary Bauer
President,
American Values

Allen & Leslee Unruh
Alpha Center & National Abstinence Clearinghouse

Jerry Falwell, Jr.
Chancellor and President, Liberty University

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez
President NHCLC Hispanic Evangelical Association

Frank Wright, Ph.D.
President and CEO, National Religious Broadcasters



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Congressman questions Obama's commitment to fight human trafficking

Washington D.C., Sep 25, 2012 / 06:02 pm (CNA).- New efforts announced by President Barack Obama to fight human trafficking have renewed criticism of his administration for preventing a highly effective Catholic group from receiving funds to aid victims.

In a Sept. 25 speech at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City, Obama praised the work of those who have “decided that their conscience compels them to act in the face of injustice.”
 
He pointed to his Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships in working to fight human trafficking and mentioned the Catholic Church as a faith community that is “truly doing the Lord’s work” in its anti-trafficking efforts.  

Obama announced a new executive order to prevent human trafficking through new regulations for U.S. contractors and subcontractors, including a prohibition on trafficking-related practices such as charging recruitment fees.

Large contract holders will be required to implement awareness and compliance programs, and a process will be created to identify industries with a problematic history.

The order also requires additional “guidance and training” for those responsible for enforcing the new measures.

The announcement, however, drew criticism from Representative James Lankford (R-Okla.), who said that the president has put his own political gain before the good of trafficking victims.

While he says that he “wants to promote awareness of human trafficking,” Obama has a “record of removing the experts at providing these services,” Lankford charged in a statement responding to the president’s speech.

He pointed to the administration’s decision last year not to renew a grant with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services to aid human trafficking victims.

An independent review board gave the bishops’ group superior ratings for their work over several years. However, the group was passed over for a grant renewal, and the funds were instead given to an organization with a significantly lower score.

The decision came after new guidelines for grant applicants indicated that “strong preference” will be given to organizations that offer referrals for the “full range of legally permissible gynecological and obstetric care.”

Critics contended that the administration was putting the promotion of abortion before the needs of trafficking victims.

The bishops’ group “was not eligible for assisting victims of human trafficking solely because they would not encourage victims of abuse to seek an abortion or contraceptive drugs,” Lankford said.

The Oklahoma congressman accused the president of acting out of political motives. He said that the new executive order was “modeled directly” after a piece of legislation that he had introduced, the End Human Trafficking in Government Contracting Act.

Successfully included as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 that was passed by the House, the legislation is expected to be added to the Senate version of the bill as well.

Lankford argued that the president should not have circumvented the legislative process when the bill had “broad bi-partisan support in the House and Senate.”

The temporary executive order undermines months of work that has been done by both parties to more permanently address the problem, he said.

The congressman noted that more than 20 executive policies and regulations have already been enacted but “have failed to stop the practice.”

“One more executive order will not solve the problem,” he said. “We have a loophole in our law that must be closed, and we have serious enforcement issues of existing law.”
 
Pointing to the choice of a lower-rated organization over the bishops’ group, Lankford questioned the president’s commitment to promoting effective efforts to fight human trafficking.

He accused Obama of using the executive order “to jump in front of the moving crowd and claim leadership, when real leadership involves not just doing something, but doing the right thing, at the right time.”



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Americans represented among Synod of Bishops experts

Vatican City, Sep 25, 2012 / 03:39 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI has appointed 10 Catholics from the United States as advisers and auditors for the forthcoming Synod of Bishops in Rome.

The gathering of 200 bishops from around the globe will take place at the Vatican Oct. 7-28 under the title of “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.”

The experts and auditors are not voting members of the synod but are available to give advice and help to the participating bishops. On Sept. 22 Pope Benedict nominated 45 such experts and 49 observers.

Among the five experts from the United States are Dr. Ralph Martin of Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and Sr. Sara Butler of St. Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein.  

Carl Anderson, the Supreme Knight of the global fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus, is one of the five American auditors invited to participate by Pope Benedict along with the founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, Curtis Martin.  

This year's Synod of Bishops will also help launch Pope Benedict’s Year of Faith which is aimed at rolling out the Church’s “new evangelization” of the Western world.

Of the 94 experts and auditors appointed, 29 are female – a record number for a Synod of Bishops. Geographically, the majority are drawn from Europe.

The synod also marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Cardinal Wuerl recalls Church's unchanging foundation in Christ

Washington D.C., Sep 25, 2012 / 04:06 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- With its identity firmly rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel continues unchanged throughout time and place, said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C.

Carrying out this mission requires the participation of all of the faithful, the cardinal said, adding that “if we want a world that more clearly reflects the high ideals of the Gospel, all of us must be actively engaged in this transformation.”

The Catholic “vision of life” teaches us that rather than acting as mere spectators, we “are all called to be participants in the struggle to establish a truly good and just society,” he said.

In a new pastoral letter titled, “The Church, Our Spiritual Home,” Cardinal Wuerl reflected on the unique identity and mission of the Catholic Church and its members.

The Catholic Church is not a club or a man-made organization resulting from the decision of people coming together, he said, but rather, the Body of Christ and the continuation of Jesus' teaching ministry here on earth.

And while the faithful are also citizens in a political system, the Church itself is not a political party, he said. Therefore, while the Church speaks about morality and natural law, its teachings are not rooted in political alignment with a party, but from its mission and identity which come from Christ.

Amid claims that “the Church needs to come into the 21st century,” we must also remember that the Church “is not an expression or manifestation of current popular or cultural conditioning,” Cardinal Wuerl added.

“We do not possess the power to change what we have received,” he stressed. “We can only pass it on – or fail to pass it on.”

Nor is the Church a “special interest group,” he said, noting that although any individual or group can say they are Catholic, “only the bishops as successors to the Apostles speak for the faith.”

The authority of the bishops is rooted in Scripture, as Christ chose Apostles to continue his work, and they appointed their successors, who received the same Holy Spirit that is poured out in the sacrament of holy orders today, he said.

With this in mind, the cardinal explained, we can be confident that the Church is Christ’s enduring, visible presence in the world and the beginning of the realization of God’s kingdom, which will ultimately be fulfilled in eternity.

While members of the Church – including those within the hierarchy – are capable of committing grave sins, he said, their failings do not detract from the truth of the message they proclaim, which the Holy Spirit continues to safeguard.  

Therefore, he said, the sins of those in the Church “must not cloud our belief in the truth of Christ’s teachings.”

Although the hierarchy play an important role in proclaiming the Gospel, the laity also share in this important duty, Cardinal Wuerl continued.

“The hierarchical structure of the Church does not mean that the bishops and priests continue Christ's ministry all alone,” he said.

Rather, he explained, lay men and women “have responsibility for the temporal order because it requires all knowledge, skills, talents and insights they acquire and exercise in their varied secular skills.”

As they work to apply the teaching of the Gospel within their own spheres, such as law, medicine and education, they must take care to properly form their consciences so that they can respond correctly to the complex challenges arising in the modern world, he said.

The cardinal warned of theologians, groups and individuals who claim the title Catholic while promoting teaching that does not adhere to the faith of the Church as expressed by the Pope and the bishops in communion with him.

Such ideas should not be accepted as valid, he said, encouraging the use of the Catechism to confirm the authenticity of questionable ideas.

“We do not belong to the Church to set within it our own path to salvation,” Cardinal Wuerl said. “We are members of the Church because we want to be shaped by its teaching and gift of grace. Christ founded the Church to be the gift to lead us to eternal life.”



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Christian leaders praise Romney, Republican platform

Denver, Colo., Sep 25, 2012 / 04:38 pm (CNA).- A diverse group of 28 Christian leaders has sent a letter to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney praising him for the social policies included in the Republican Party's 2012 platform.

“On those matters of social policy that address our deepest concerns—the sanctity of human life, compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted, the identity of the family, and religious freedom, the Republican platform speaks clearly and powerfully,” the letter says.

The group also says the platform demonstrates the principles that will guide his administration if Romney is elected president.

The letter includes selections of the platform which its signatories particularly admire.

The Republican Party's “compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted” is exemplified in the letter by its allegiance to ending religious persecution overseas, to ending human trafficking, and a commitment to non-discrimination.

The letter applauds the defense of conscience and religious freedom in the platform, as well as the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

The letter also focuses on the moral principles in the Republican platform, which are “squarely within the Judeo-Christian tradition” and are “at stake in today's society.”

Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, are thanked for running on a platform which is a “political compass” in the “confusing moral thickets of our day.”

The signers encourage support for Romney even though there may be “differences in a candidate's theological doctrine.” This is despite the fact that “some have tempered their enthusiasm” for the Mormon candidate. Government policy is the issue, the letter says, not theology.

The letter is signed by 28 Christian leaders, both Catholic and Protestant, and includes the organizations to which each of the individuals belongs.

The Catholic signatories include Leonard Leo of The Catholic Association; Raymond Flynn, US Ambassador to the Vatican under President Clinton; Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life; and Deal Hudson of The Catholic Advocate.

They are joined by Anthony Lauinger of National Right to Life; Peggy Hartshorn of Heartbeat International; Jim Daly of Focus on the Family; and Tony Perkins of Family Research Council.

Also signing were Frank Wright of National Religious Broadcasters and Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. and director of African American Outreach for Priests for Life.

The full text of the letter is as follows.

Mitt Romney
Romney for President
585 Commercial Street
Boston, MA 02109

Dear Governor Romney,

In this election year, matters of religious belief are once again highly visible in the public square. Some
have tempered their enthusiasm for sound governing principles by their concern over differences in a candidate’s theological doctrine. It is time to remind ourselves that civil government is not about a particular theology but rather about public policy, and the question we ask is this one: what are the policy principles that will govern your administration should you prevail on Election Day.

For that answer we must look to the Republican platform, the document that most clearly defines your
principles, and those of your party, on a wide range of topics. Among them are those that derive from
Biblical truth, an important source of our nation’s political philosophy. As you know, this year the platform proposals received hearty debate and intense scrutiny by Republican delegates from every state just prior to the party convention in Tampa. The platform was adopted resoundingly and embraced
wholeheartedly by you and your running mate Paul Ryan.

From our perspective as leaders who are motivated by Christian faith, it is a remarkably strong document and we congratulate you for it. On those matters of social policy that address our deepest concerns – the sanctity of human life, compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted, the identity of the family, and religious freedom, the Republican platform speaks clearly and powerfully. Its principles
are squarely within the Judeo-Christian tradition, and we affirm the compelling words that convey its
positions. Here are some of them:

Sanctity of Human Life

“Faithful to the 'self-evident' truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children … (p. 14)”

“We also salute the many States that have passed laws for informed consent, mandatory waiting periods prior to an abortion, and health-protective clinic regulation. We seek to protect young girls from exploitation through a parental consent requirement; and we affirm our moral obligation to assist, rather than penalize, women challenged by an unplanned pregnancy (p.14).”

Defense of Marriage

“A serious threat to our country’s constitutional order … is an activist judiciary, in which some judges usurp the powers reserved to other branches of government. A blatant example has been the court-ordered redefinition of marriage in several States … It is an assault on the foundations of our society, challenging the institution which, for thousands of years in virtually every civilization, has been entrusted with the rearing of children and the transmission of cultural values.
“That is why Congressional Republicans took the lead in enacting the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of States and the federal government not to recognize same-sex relationships licensed in other jurisdictions … We affirm our support for a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We applaud the citizens of the majority of states which have enshrined in their constitutions the traditional concept of marriage, and we support the campaigns underway in several other States to do so. (p. 10).”

Religious Freedom

“The Republican Party includes Americans from every faith and tradition, and our policies and positions respect the right of every American to follow his or her beliefs and underscore our reverence for the religious freedom envisioned by the Founding Fathers of our nation and of our party. (p. 9).”

“We pledge to respect the religious beliefs and rights of conscience of all Americans and to safeguard the independence of their institutions from government … we assert every citizen’s right to apply religious values to public policy and the right of faith-based organizations to participate fully in public programs without renouncing their beliefs, removing religious symbols, or submitting to government-imposed hiring practices (p.12).”

Religious Persecution

“To those who stand in the darkness of tyranny, America has always been a beacon of hope, and so it must remain … Religious minorities across the Middle East are being driven from their ancient homelands, fanaticism leaves its bloody mark on both West and East Africa, and even among America’s Western friends and allies, pastors and families are penalized for their religious convictions. A Republican Administration will return the advocacy of religious liberty to a central place in our diplomacy (p. 45).”

Human Trafficking

As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by the first Republican President Abraham Lincoln, we are reminded to be vigilant against human bondage in whatever form it appears. We will use the full force of the law against those who engage in modern-day forms of slavery, including the commercial sexual exploitation of children and the forced labor of men, women, and children (p.46).”

Non-discrimination

“... We consider discrimination based on sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability, or national origin unacceptable and immoral. We will strongly enforce anti-discrimination statutes and ask all to join us in rejecting the forces of hatred and bigotry and in denouncing all who practice or promote racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic prejudice, or religious intolerance (p.9).”

“The Republican Party includes Americans from every faith and tradition, and our policies and positions respect the right of every American to follow his or her beliefs and underscore our reverence for the religious freedom envisioned by the Founding Fathers of our nation and of our party. (p. 9).”


These then are some of the concepts in the Republican platform that speak to the moral principles at stake in today’s society. No such document will satisfy everyone, and its enactment will only be as vigorous as the political leaders we elect. Nonetheless, the platform is a strong statement of social
principles, and we encourage everyone to judge it for themselves (it is available at http://whitehouse12.com/republican-party-platform/). In the confusing moral thickets of our day, this is
a political compass that provides clear and sharp direction, a guide that is sorely needed by our country’s office holders. Once again we congratulate you and the Republican Party for your diligent work in producing the 2012 platform.

Cc: Reince Priebus, Chairman
 Republican National Committee

Signed by the following as individuals (affiliations listed for identification purposes only)

Raymond Ruddy
President, Gerard Health Foundation

Tom Minnery
Executive Director, Citizen Link

Margaret H. (“Peggy”) Hartshorn, Ph.D.
President, Heartbeat International

Jonathan Falwell
Thomas Road Baptist Church

Kristan Hawkins
President, Students for Life of America

Ralph Reed
President, Faith and Freedom Coalition

Leonard Leo
Director, The Catholic Association

Anthony Lauinger
Executive Vice President, National Right to Life

Joel Belz
Founder, World Magazine

Dr. Jack C. Willke, MD
President, Life Issue Institute

Joseph A. Brinck
President, Sanctity of Life Foundation

James Bopp, Jr.
The Bopp Law Firm

Raymond L. Flynn
Former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican

Andrea S. Lafferty
President, Traditional Values Coalition

Rev Louis P. Sheldon
Chairman and Founder, Traditional Values Coalition

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
President, National Pro-life Religious Council

Dr. Alveda King
Director, African American Outreach Priests For Life

Tim Wildmon
President, American Family Association and American Family Radio

Penny Young Nance
President, Concerned Women for America

Jim Daly
President, Focus on the Family

Deal Hudson
The Catholic Advocate

Tony Perkins
President, Family Research Council

Franklin Graham
President, Samaritan’s Purse

Gary Bauer
President,
American Values

Allen & Leslee Unruh
Alpha Center & National Abstinence Clearinghouse

Jerry Falwell, Jr.
Chancellor and President, Liberty University

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez
President NHCLC Hispanic Evangelical Association

Frank Wright, Ph.D.
President and CEO, National Religious Broadcasters



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Congressman questions Obama's commitment to fight human trafficking

Washington D.C., Sep 25, 2012 / 06:02 pm (CNA).- New efforts announced by President Barack Obama to fight human trafficking have renewed criticism of his administration for preventing a highly effective Catholic group from receiving funds to aid victims.

In a Sept. 25 speech at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City, Obama praised the work of those who have “decided that their conscience compels them to act in the face of injustice.”
 
He pointed to his Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships in working to fight human trafficking and mentioned the Catholic Church as a faith community that is “truly doing the Lord’s work” in its anti-trafficking efforts.  

Obama announced a new executive order to prevent human trafficking through new regulations for U.S. contractors and subcontractors, including a prohibition on trafficking-related practices such as charging recruitment fees.

Large contract holders will be required to implement awareness and compliance programs, and a process will be created to identify industries with a problematic history.

The order also requires additional “guidance and training” for those responsible for enforcing the new measures.

The announcement, however, drew criticism from Representative James Lankford (R-Okla.), who said that the president has put his own political gain before the good of trafficking victims.

While he says that he “wants to promote awareness of human trafficking,” Obama has a “record of removing the experts at providing these services,” Lankford charged in a statement responding to the president’s speech.

He pointed to the administration’s decision last year not to renew a grant with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services to aid human trafficking victims.

An independent review board gave the bishops’ group superior ratings for their work over several years. However, the group was passed over for a grant renewal, and the funds were instead given to an organization with a significantly lower score.

The decision came after new guidelines for grant applicants indicated that “strong preference” will be given to organizations that offer referrals for the “full range of legally permissible gynecological and obstetric care.”

Critics contended that the administration was putting the promotion of abortion before the needs of trafficking victims.

The bishops’ group “was not eligible for assisting victims of human trafficking solely because they would not encourage victims of abuse to seek an abortion or contraceptive drugs,” Lankford said.

The Oklahoma congressman accused the president of acting out of political motives. He said that the new executive order was “modeled directly” after a piece of legislation that he had introduced, the End Human Trafficking in Government Contracting Act.

Successfully included as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 that was passed by the House, the legislation is expected to be added to the Senate version of the bill as well.

Lankford argued that the president should not have circumvented the legislative process when the bill had “broad bi-partisan support in the House and Senate.”

The temporary executive order undermines months of work that has been done by both parties to more permanently address the problem, he said.

The congressman noted that more than 20 executive policies and regulations have already been enacted but “have failed to stop the practice.”

“One more executive order will not solve the problem,” he said. “We have a loophole in our law that must be closed, and we have serious enforcement issues of existing law.”
 
Pointing to the choice of a lower-rated organization over the bishops’ group, Lankford questioned the president’s commitment to promoting effective efforts to fight human trafficking.

He accused Obama of using the executive order “to jump in front of the moving crowd and claim leadership, when real leadership involves not just doing something, but doing the right thing, at the right time.”



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Americans represented among Synod of Bishops experts

Vatican City, Sep 25, 2012 / 03:39 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI has appointed 10 Catholics from the United States as advisers and auditors for the forthcoming Synod of Bishops in Rome.

The gathering of 200 bishops from around the globe will take place at the Vatican Oct. 7-28 under the title of “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.”

The experts and auditors are not voting members of the synod but are available to give advice and help to the participating bishops. On Sept. 22 Pope Benedict nominated 45 such experts and 49 observers.

Among the five experts from the United States are Dr. Ralph Martin of Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and Sr. Sara Butler of St. Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein.  

Carl Anderson, the Supreme Knight of the global fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus, is one of the five American auditors invited to participate by Pope Benedict along with the founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, Curtis Martin.  

This year's Synod of Bishops will also help launch Pope Benedict’s Year of Faith which is aimed at rolling out the Church’s “new evangelization” of the Western world.

Of the 94 experts and auditors appointed, 29 are female – a record number for a Synod of Bishops. Geographically, the majority are drawn from Europe.

The synod also marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Cardinal Wuerl recalls Church's unchanging foundation in Christ

Washington D.C., Sep 25, 2012 / 04:06 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- With its identity firmly rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel continues unchanged throughout time and place, said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C.

Carrying out this mission requires the participation of all of the faithful, the cardinal said, adding that “if we want a world that more clearly reflects the high ideals of the Gospel, all of us must be actively engaged in this transformation.”

The Catholic “vision of life” teaches us that rather than acting as mere spectators, we “are all called to be participants in the struggle to establish a truly good and just society,” he said.

In a new pastoral letter titled, “The Church, Our Spiritual Home,” Cardinal Wuerl reflected on the unique identity and mission of the Catholic Church and its members.

The Catholic Church is not a club or a man-made organization resulting from the decision of people coming together, he said, but rather, the Body of Christ and the continuation of Jesus' teaching ministry here on earth.

And while the faithful are also citizens in a political system, the Church itself is not a political party, he said. Therefore, while the Church speaks about morality and natural law, its teachings are not rooted in political alignment with a party, but from its mission and identity which come from Christ.

Amid claims that “the Church needs to come into the 21st century,” we must also remember that the Church “is not an expression or manifestation of current popular or cultural conditioning,” Cardinal Wuerl added.

“We do not possess the power to change what we have received,” he stressed. “We can only pass it on – or fail to pass it on.”

Nor is the Church a “special interest group,” he said, noting that although any individual or group can say they are Catholic, “only the bishops as successors to the Apostles speak for the faith.”

The authority of the bishops is rooted in Scripture, as Christ chose Apostles to continue his work, and they appointed their successors, who received the same Holy Spirit that is poured out in the sacrament of holy orders today, he said.

With this in mind, the cardinal explained, we can be confident that the Church is Christ’s enduring, visible presence in the world and the beginning of the realization of God’s kingdom, which will ultimately be fulfilled in eternity.

While members of the Church – including those within the hierarchy – are capable of committing grave sins, he said, their failings do not detract from the truth of the message they proclaim, which the Holy Spirit continues to safeguard.  

Therefore, he said, the sins of those in the Church “must not cloud our belief in the truth of Christ’s teachings.”

Although the hierarchy play an important role in proclaiming the Gospel, the laity also share in this important duty, Cardinal Wuerl continued.

“The hierarchical structure of the Church does not mean that the bishops and priests continue Christ's ministry all alone,” he said.

Rather, he explained, lay men and women “have responsibility for the temporal order because it requires all knowledge, skills, talents and insights they acquire and exercise in their varied secular skills.”

As they work to apply the teaching of the Gospel within their own spheres, such as law, medicine and education, they must take care to properly form their consciences so that they can respond correctly to the complex challenges arising in the modern world, he said.

The cardinal warned of theologians, groups and individuals who claim the title Catholic while promoting teaching that does not adhere to the faith of the Church as expressed by the Pope and the bishops in communion with him.

Such ideas should not be accepted as valid, he said, encouraging the use of the Catechism to confirm the authenticity of questionable ideas.

“We do not belong to the Church to set within it our own path to salvation,” Cardinal Wuerl said. “We are members of the Church because we want to be shaped by its teaching and gift of grace. Christ founded the Church to be the gift to lead us to eternal life.”



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Christian leaders praise Romney, Republican platform

Denver, Colo., Sep 25, 2012 / 04:38 pm (CNA).- A diverse group of 28 Christian leaders has sent a letter to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney praising him for the social policies included in the Republican Party's 2012 platform.

“On those matters of social policy that address our deepest concerns—the sanctity of human life, compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted, the identity of the family, and religious freedom, the Republican platform speaks clearly and powerfully,” the letter says.

The group also says the platform demonstrates the principles that will guide his administration if Romney is elected president.

The letter includes selections of the platform which its signatories particularly admire.

The Republican Party's “compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted” is exemplified in the letter by its allegiance to ending religious persecution overseas, to ending human trafficking, and a commitment to non-discrimination.

The letter applauds the defense of conscience and religious freedom in the platform, as well as the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

The letter also focuses on the moral principles in the Republican platform, which are “squarely within the Judeo-Christian tradition” and are “at stake in today's society.”

Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, are thanked for running on a platform which is a “political compass” in the “confusing moral thickets of our day.”

The signers encourage support for Romney even though there may be “differences in a candidate's theological doctrine.” This is despite the fact that “some have tempered their enthusiasm” for the Mormon candidate. Government policy is the issue, the letter says, not theology.

The letter is signed by 28 Christian leaders, both Catholic and Protestant, and includes the organizations to which each of the individuals belongs.

The Catholic signatories include Leonard Leo of The Catholic Association; Raymond Flynn, US Ambassador to the Vatican under President Clinton; Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life; and Deal Hudson of The Catholic Advocate.

They are joined by Anthony Lauinger of National Right to Life; Peggy Hartshorn of Heartbeat International; Jim Daly of Focus on the Family; and Tony Perkins of Family Research Council.

Also signing were Frank Wright of National Religious Broadcasters and Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. and director of African American Outreach for Priests for Life.

The full text of the letter is as follows.

Mitt Romney
Romney for President
585 Commercial Street
Boston, MA 02109

Dear Governor Romney,

In this election year, matters of religious belief are once again highly visible in the public square. Some
have tempered their enthusiasm for sound governing principles by their concern over differences in a candidate’s theological doctrine. It is time to remind ourselves that civil government is not about a particular theology but rather about public policy, and the question we ask is this one: what are the policy principles that will govern your administration should you prevail on Election Day.

For that answer we must look to the Republican platform, the document that most clearly defines your
principles, and those of your party, on a wide range of topics. Among them are those that derive from
Biblical truth, an important source of our nation’s political philosophy. As you know, this year the platform proposals received hearty debate and intense scrutiny by Republican delegates from every state just prior to the party convention in Tampa. The platform was adopted resoundingly and embraced
wholeheartedly by you and your running mate Paul Ryan.

From our perspective as leaders who are motivated by Christian faith, it is a remarkably strong document and we congratulate you for it. On those matters of social policy that address our deepest concerns – the sanctity of human life, compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted, the identity of the family, and religious freedom, the Republican platform speaks clearly and powerfully. Its principles
are squarely within the Judeo-Christian tradition, and we affirm the compelling words that convey its
positions. Here are some of them:

Sanctity of Human Life

“Faithful to the 'self-evident' truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children … (p. 14)”

“We also salute the many States that have passed laws for informed consent, mandatory waiting periods prior to an abortion, and health-protective clinic regulation. We seek to protect young girls from exploitation through a parental consent requirement; and we affirm our moral obligation to assist, rather than penalize, women challenged by an unplanned pregnancy (p.14).”

Defense of Marriage

“A serious threat to our country’s constitutional order … is an activist judiciary, in which some judges usurp the powers reserved to other branches of government. A blatant example has been the court-ordered redefinition of marriage in several States … It is an assault on the foundations of our society, challenging the institution which, for thousands of years in virtually every civilization, has been entrusted with the rearing of children and the transmission of cultural values.
“That is why Congressional Republicans took the lead in enacting the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of States and the federal government not to recognize same-sex relationships licensed in other jurisdictions … We affirm our support for a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We applaud the citizens of the majority of states which have enshrined in their constitutions the traditional concept of marriage, and we support the campaigns underway in several other States to do so. (p. 10).”

Religious Freedom

“The Republican Party includes Americans from every faith and tradition, and our policies and positions respect the right of every American to follow his or her beliefs and underscore our reverence for the religious freedom envisioned by the Founding Fathers of our nation and of our party. (p. 9).”

“We pledge to respect the religious beliefs and rights of conscience of all Americans and to safeguard the independence of their institutions from government … we assert every citizen’s right to apply religious values to public policy and the right of faith-based organizations to participate fully in public programs without renouncing their beliefs, removing religious symbols, or submitting to government-imposed hiring practices (p.12).”

Religious Persecution

“To those who stand in the darkness of tyranny, America has always been a beacon of hope, and so it must remain … Religious minorities across the Middle East are being driven from their ancient homelands, fanaticism leaves its bloody mark on both West and East Africa, and even among America’s Western friends and allies, pastors and families are penalized for their religious convictions. A Republican Administration will return the advocacy of religious liberty to a central place in our diplomacy (p. 45).”

Human Trafficking

As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by the first Republican President Abraham Lincoln, we are reminded to be vigilant against human bondage in whatever form it appears. We will use the full force of the law against those who engage in modern-day forms of slavery, including the commercial sexual exploitation of children and the forced labor of men, women, and children (p.46).”

Non-discrimination

“... We consider discrimination based on sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability, or national origin unacceptable and immoral. We will strongly enforce anti-discrimination statutes and ask all to join us in rejecting the forces of hatred and bigotry and in denouncing all who practice or promote racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic prejudice, or religious intolerance (p.9).”

“The Republican Party includes Americans from every faith and tradition, and our policies and positions respect the right of every American to follow his or her beliefs and underscore our reverence for the religious freedom envisioned by the Founding Fathers of our nation and of our party. (p. 9).”


These then are some of the concepts in the Republican platform that speak to the moral principles at stake in today’s society. No such document will satisfy everyone, and its enactment will only be as vigorous as the political leaders we elect. Nonetheless, the platform is a strong statement of social
principles, and we encourage everyone to judge it for themselves (it is available at http://whitehouse12.com/republican-party-platform/). In the confusing moral thickets of our day, this is
a political compass that provides clear and sharp direction, a guide that is sorely needed by our country’s office holders. Once again we congratulate you and the Republican Party for your diligent work in producing the 2012 platform.

Cc: Reince Priebus, Chairman
 Republican National Committee

Signed by the following as individuals (affiliations listed for identification purposes only)

Raymond Ruddy
President, Gerard Health Foundation

Tom Minnery
Executive Director, Citizen Link

Margaret H. (“Peggy”) Hartshorn, Ph.D.
President, Heartbeat International

Jonathan Falwell
Thomas Road Baptist Church

Kristan Hawkins
President, Students for Life of America

Ralph Reed
President, Faith and Freedom Coalition

Leonard Leo
Director, The Catholic Association

Anthony Lauinger
Executive Vice President, National Right to Life

Joel Belz
Founder, World Magazine

Dr. Jack C. Willke, MD
President, Life Issue Institute

Joseph A. Brinck
President, Sanctity of Life Foundation

James Bopp, Jr.
The Bopp Law Firm

Raymond L. Flynn
Former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican

Andrea S. Lafferty
President, Traditional Values Coalition

Rev Louis P. Sheldon
Chairman and Founder, Traditional Values Coalition

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
President, National Pro-life Religious Council

Dr. Alveda King
Director, African American Outreach Priests For Life

Tim Wildmon
President, American Family Association and American Family Radio

Penny Young Nance
President, Concerned Women for America

Jim Daly
President, Focus on the Family

Deal Hudson
The Catholic Advocate

Tony Perkins
President, Family Research Council

Franklin Graham
President, Samaritan’s Purse

Gary Bauer
President,
American Values

Allen & Leslee Unruh
Alpha Center & National Abstinence Clearinghouse

Jerry Falwell, Jr.
Chancellor and President, Liberty University

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez
President NHCLC Hispanic Evangelical Association

Frank Wright, Ph.D.
President and CEO, National Religious Broadcasters



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Congressman questions Obama's commitment to fight human trafficking

Washington D.C., Sep 25, 2012 / 06:02 pm (CNA).- New efforts announced by President Barack Obama to fight human trafficking have renewed criticism of his administration for preventing a highly effective Catholic group from receiving funds to aid victims.

In a Sept. 25 speech at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City, Obama praised the work of those who have “decided that their conscience compels them to act in the face of injustice.”
 
He pointed to his Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships in working to fight human trafficking and mentioned the Catholic Church as a faith community that is “truly doing the Lord’s work” in its anti-trafficking efforts.  

Obama announced a new executive order to prevent human trafficking through new regulations for U.S. contractors and subcontractors, including a prohibition on trafficking-related practices such as charging recruitment fees.

Large contract holders will be required to implement awareness and compliance programs, and a process will be created to identify industries with a problematic history.

The order also requires additional “guidance and training” for those responsible for enforcing the new measures.

The announcement, however, drew criticism from Representative James Lankford (R-Okla.), who said that the president has put his own political gain before the good of trafficking victims.

While he says that he “wants to promote awareness of human trafficking,” Obama has a “record of removing the experts at providing these services,” Lankford charged in a statement responding to the president’s speech.

He pointed to the administration’s decision last year not to renew a grant with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services to aid human trafficking victims.

An independent review board gave the bishops’ group superior ratings for their work over several years. However, the group was passed over for a grant renewal, and the funds were instead given to an organization with a significantly lower score.

The decision came after new guidelines for grant applicants indicated that “strong preference” will be given to organizations that offer referrals for the “full range of legally permissible gynecological and obstetric care.”

Critics contended that the administration was putting the promotion of abortion before the needs of trafficking victims.

The bishops’ group “was not eligible for assisting victims of human trafficking solely because they would not encourage victims of abuse to seek an abortion or contraceptive drugs,” Lankford said.

The Oklahoma congressman accused the president of acting out of political motives. He said that the new executive order was “modeled directly” after a piece of legislation that he had introduced, the End Human Trafficking in Government Contracting Act.

Successfully included as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 that was passed by the House, the legislation is expected to be added to the Senate version of the bill as well.

Lankford argued that the president should not have circumvented the legislative process when the bill had “broad bi-partisan support in the House and Senate.”

The temporary executive order undermines months of work that has been done by both parties to more permanently address the problem, he said.

The congressman noted that more than 20 executive policies and regulations have already been enacted but “have failed to stop the practice.”

“One more executive order will not solve the problem,” he said. “We have a loophole in our law that must be closed, and we have serious enforcement issues of existing law.”
 
Pointing to the choice of a lower-rated organization over the bishops’ group, Lankford questioned the president’s commitment to promoting effective efforts to fight human trafficking.

He accused Obama of using the executive order “to jump in front of the moving crowd and claim leadership, when real leadership involves not just doing something, but doing the right thing, at the right time.”



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Americans represented among Synod of Bishops experts

Vatican City, Sep 25, 2012 / 03:39 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI has appointed 10 Catholics from the United States as advisers and auditors for the forthcoming Synod of Bishops in Rome.

The gathering of 200 bishops from around the globe will take place at the Vatican Oct. 7-28 under the title of “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.”

The experts and auditors are not voting members of the synod but are available to give advice and help to the participating bishops. On Sept. 22 Pope Benedict nominated 45 such experts and 49 observers.

Among the five experts from the United States are Dr. Ralph Martin of Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and Sr. Sara Butler of St. Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein.  

Carl Anderson, the Supreme Knight of the global fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus, is one of the five American auditors invited to participate by Pope Benedict along with the founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, Curtis Martin.  

This year's Synod of Bishops will also help launch Pope Benedict’s Year of Faith which is aimed at rolling out the Church’s “new evangelization” of the Western world.

Of the 94 experts and auditors appointed, 29 are female – a record number for a Synod of Bishops. Geographically, the majority are drawn from Europe.

The synod also marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Cardinal Wuerl recalls Church's unchanging foundation in Christ

Washington D.C., Sep 25, 2012 / 04:06 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- With its identity firmly rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel continues unchanged throughout time and place, said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C.

Carrying out this mission requires the participation of all of the faithful, the cardinal said, adding that “if we want a world that more clearly reflects the high ideals of the Gospel, all of us must be actively engaged in this transformation.”

The Catholic “vision of life” teaches us that rather than acting as mere spectators, we “are all called to be participants in the struggle to establish a truly good and just society,” he said.

In a new pastoral letter titled, “The Church, Our Spiritual Home,” Cardinal Wuerl reflected on the unique identity and mission of the Catholic Church and its members.

The Catholic Church is not a club or a man-made organization resulting from the decision of people coming together, he said, but rather, the Body of Christ and the continuation of Jesus' teaching ministry here on earth.

And while the faithful are also citizens in a political system, the Church itself is not a political party, he said. Therefore, while the Church speaks about morality and natural law, its teachings are not rooted in political alignment with a party, but from its mission and identity which come from Christ.

Amid claims that “the Church needs to come into the 21st century,” we must also remember that the Church “is not an expression or manifestation of current popular or cultural conditioning,” Cardinal Wuerl added.

“We do not possess the power to change what we have received,” he stressed. “We can only pass it on – or fail to pass it on.”

Nor is the Church a “special interest group,” he said, noting that although any individual or group can say they are Catholic, “only the bishops as successors to the Apostles speak for the faith.”

The authority of the bishops is rooted in Scripture, as Christ chose Apostles to continue his work, and they appointed their successors, who received the same Holy Spirit that is poured out in the sacrament of holy orders today, he said.

With this in mind, the cardinal explained, we can be confident that the Church is Christ’s enduring, visible presence in the world and the beginning of the realization of God’s kingdom, which will ultimately be fulfilled in eternity.

While members of the Church – including those within the hierarchy – are capable of committing grave sins, he said, their failings do not detract from the truth of the message they proclaim, which the Holy Spirit continues to safeguard.  

Therefore, he said, the sins of those in the Church “must not cloud our belief in the truth of Christ’s teachings.”

Although the hierarchy play an important role in proclaiming the Gospel, the laity also share in this important duty, Cardinal Wuerl continued.

“The hierarchical structure of the Church does not mean that the bishops and priests continue Christ's ministry all alone,” he said.

Rather, he explained, lay men and women “have responsibility for the temporal order because it requires all knowledge, skills, talents and insights they acquire and exercise in their varied secular skills.”

As they work to apply the teaching of the Gospel within their own spheres, such as law, medicine and education, they must take care to properly form their consciences so that they can respond correctly to the complex challenges arising in the modern world, he said.

The cardinal warned of theologians, groups and individuals who claim the title Catholic while promoting teaching that does not adhere to the faith of the Church as expressed by the Pope and the bishops in communion with him.

Such ideas should not be accepted as valid, he said, encouraging the use of the Catechism to confirm the authenticity of questionable ideas.

“We do not belong to the Church to set within it our own path to salvation,” Cardinal Wuerl said. “We are members of the Church because we want to be shaped by its teaching and gift of grace. Christ founded the Church to be the gift to lead us to eternal life.”



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post

Christian leaders praise Romney, Republican platform

Denver, Colo., Sep 25, 2012 / 04:38 pm (CNA).- A diverse group of 28 Christian leaders has sent a letter to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney praising him for the social policies included in the Republican Party's 2012 platform.

“On those matters of social policy that address our deepest concerns—the sanctity of human life, compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted, the identity of the family, and religious freedom, the Republican platform speaks clearly and powerfully,” the letter says.

The group also says the platform demonstrates the principles that will guide his administration if Romney is elected president.

The letter includes selections of the platform which its signatories particularly admire.

The Republican Party's “compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted” is exemplified in the letter by its allegiance to ending religious persecution overseas, to ending human trafficking, and a commitment to non-discrimination.

The letter applauds the defense of conscience and religious freedom in the platform, as well as the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

The letter also focuses on the moral principles in the Republican platform, which are “squarely within the Judeo-Christian tradition” and are “at stake in today's society.”

Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, are thanked for running on a platform which is a “political compass” in the “confusing moral thickets of our day.”

The signers encourage support for Romney even though there may be “differences in a candidate's theological doctrine.” This is despite the fact that “some have tempered their enthusiasm” for the Mormon candidate. Government policy is the issue, the letter says, not theology.

The letter is signed by 28 Christian leaders, both Catholic and Protestant, and includes the organizations to which each of the individuals belongs.

The Catholic signatories include Leonard Leo of The Catholic Association; Raymond Flynn, US Ambassador to the Vatican under President Clinton; Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life; and Deal Hudson of The Catholic Advocate.

They are joined by Anthony Lauinger of National Right to Life; Peggy Hartshorn of Heartbeat International; Jim Daly of Focus on the Family; and Tony Perkins of Family Research Council.

Also signing were Frank Wright of National Religious Broadcasters and Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. and director of African American Outreach for Priests for Life.

The full text of the letter is as follows.

Mitt Romney
Romney for President
585 Commercial Street
Boston, MA 02109

Dear Governor Romney,

In this election year, matters of religious belief are once again highly visible in the public square. Some
have tempered their enthusiasm for sound governing principles by their concern over differences in a candidate’s theological doctrine. It is time to remind ourselves that civil government is not about a particular theology but rather about public policy, and the question we ask is this one: what are the policy principles that will govern your administration should you prevail on Election Day.

For that answer we must look to the Republican platform, the document that most clearly defines your
principles, and those of your party, on a wide range of topics. Among them are those that derive from
Biblical truth, an important source of our nation’s political philosophy. As you know, this year the platform proposals received hearty debate and intense scrutiny by Republican delegates from every state just prior to the party convention in Tampa. The platform was adopted resoundingly and embraced
wholeheartedly by you and your running mate Paul Ryan.

From our perspective as leaders who are motivated by Christian faith, it is a remarkably strong document and we congratulate you for it. On those matters of social policy that address our deepest concerns – the sanctity of human life, compassion for the downtrodden and persecuted, the identity of the family, and religious freedom, the Republican platform speaks clearly and powerfully. Its principles
are squarely within the Judeo-Christian tradition, and we affirm the compelling words that convey its
positions. Here are some of them:

Sanctity of Human Life

“Faithful to the 'self-evident' truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children … (p. 14)”

“We also salute the many States that have passed laws for informed consent, mandatory waiting periods prior to an abortion, and health-protective clinic regulation. We seek to protect young girls from exploitation through a parental consent requirement; and we affirm our moral obligation to assist, rather than penalize, women challenged by an unplanned pregnancy (p.14).”

Defense of Marriage

“A serious threat to our country’s constitutional order … is an activist judiciary, in which some judges usurp the powers reserved to other branches of government. A blatant example has been the court-ordered redefinition of marriage in several States … It is an assault on the foundations of our society, challenging the institution which, for thousands of years in virtually every civilization, has been entrusted with the rearing of children and the transmission of cultural values.
“That is why Congressional Republicans took the lead in enacting the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of States and the federal government not to recognize same-sex relationships licensed in other jurisdictions … We affirm our support for a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We applaud the citizens of the majority of states which have enshrined in their constitutions the traditional concept of marriage, and we support the campaigns underway in several other States to do so. (p. 10).”

Religious Freedom

“The Republican Party includes Americans from every faith and tradition, and our policies and positions respect the right of every American to follow his or her beliefs and underscore our reverence for the religious freedom envisioned by the Founding Fathers of our nation and of our party. (p. 9).”

“We pledge to respect the religious beliefs and rights of conscience of all Americans and to safeguard the independence of their institutions from government … we assert every citizen’s right to apply religious values to public policy and the right of faith-based organizations to participate fully in public programs without renouncing their beliefs, removing religious symbols, or submitting to government-imposed hiring practices (p.12).”

Religious Persecution

“To those who stand in the darkness of tyranny, America has always been a beacon of hope, and so it must remain … Religious minorities across the Middle East are being driven from their ancient homelands, fanaticism leaves its bloody mark on both West and East Africa, and even among America’s Western friends and allies, pastors and families are penalized for their religious convictions. A Republican Administration will return the advocacy of religious liberty to a central place in our diplomacy (p. 45).”

Human Trafficking

As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by the first Republican President Abraham Lincoln, we are reminded to be vigilant against human bondage in whatever form it appears. We will use the full force of the law against those who engage in modern-day forms of slavery, including the commercial sexual exploitation of children and the forced labor of men, women, and children (p.46).”

Non-discrimination

“... We consider discrimination based on sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability, or national origin unacceptable and immoral. We will strongly enforce anti-discrimination statutes and ask all to join us in rejecting the forces of hatred and bigotry and in denouncing all who practice or promote racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic prejudice, or religious intolerance (p.9).”

“The Republican Party includes Americans from every faith and tradition, and our policies and positions respect the right of every American to follow his or her beliefs and underscore our reverence for the religious freedom envisioned by the Founding Fathers of our nation and of our party. (p. 9).”


These then are some of the concepts in the Republican platform that speak to the moral principles at stake in today’s society. No such document will satisfy everyone, and its enactment will only be as vigorous as the political leaders we elect. Nonetheless, the platform is a strong statement of social
principles, and we encourage everyone to judge it for themselves (it is available at http://whitehouse12.com/republican-party-platform/). In the confusing moral thickets of our day, this is
a political compass that provides clear and sharp direction, a guide that is sorely needed by our country’s office holders. Once again we congratulate you and the Republican Party for your diligent work in producing the 2012 platform.

Cc: Reince Priebus, Chairman
 Republican National Committee

Signed by the following as individuals (affiliations listed for identification purposes only)

Raymond Ruddy
President, Gerard Health Foundation

Tom Minnery
Executive Director, Citizen Link

Margaret H. (“Peggy”) Hartshorn, Ph.D.
President, Heartbeat International

Jonathan Falwell
Thomas Road Baptist Church

Kristan Hawkins
President, Students for Life of America

Ralph Reed
President, Faith and Freedom Coalition

Leonard Leo
Director, The Catholic Association

Anthony Lauinger
Executive Vice President, National Right to Life

Joel Belz
Founder, World Magazine

Dr. Jack C. Willke, MD
President, Life Issue Institute

Joseph A. Brinck
President, Sanctity of Life Foundation

James Bopp, Jr.
The Bopp Law Firm

Raymond L. Flynn
Former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican

Andrea S. Lafferty
President, Traditional Values Coalition

Rev Louis P. Sheldon
Chairman and Founder, Traditional Values Coalition

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
President, National Pro-life Religious Council

Dr. Alveda King
Director, African American Outreach Priests For Life

Tim Wildmon
President, American Family Association and American Family Radio

Penny Young Nance
President, Concerned Women for America

Jim Daly
President, Focus on the Family

Deal Hudson
The Catholic Advocate

Tony Perkins
President, Family Research Council

Franklin Graham
President, Samaritan’s Purse

Gary Bauer
President,
American Values

Allen & Leslee Unruh
Alpha Center & National Abstinence Clearinghouse

Jerry Falwell, Jr.
Chancellor and President, Liberty University

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez
President NHCLC Hispanic Evangelical Association

Frank Wright, Ph.D.
President and CEO, National Religious Broadcasters



Courtesy: CNA Oringinal Post