We're Moving!

This is the final post for this blog.

March marked the 3rd anniversary of this blog, as well as post #3000.

"The World...IMHO" is now "A Catholic View" !

We will be "kicking off" the new blog with coverage of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States next week! Please stop by!

http://acatholicview.blogspot.com/

If you have a link to this blog, please change it to the new blog.

If you don't, and if you could please add one, we'd really appreciate that!

I am not going to delete this blog; I will leave it, in case anyone wants to look at the archives.
All future posting will be on the new blog.

Google in Legal Row Over Abortion Ad

It seems that Google has a problem with ads that are pro-life or mention religion. Ironically, they are just fine with abortion ads. Must be that "Culture of death" that, sadly, continues to grow and de-value life.

Any Internet surfer entering the search term "abortion" on Google's U.K. Web site this week would bring up a list of main results, flanked by three advertisements -- two for Britain's largest abortion providers and one for quick bank loans.

A pro-life Christian organization in Britain wanted to offer another option -- but Google turned it down, saying that because its ad linked to a Web site containing "abortion and religious-related content," it was not permitted.

The Christian Institute now plans to take the Internet's biggest search engine to court, claiming discrimination under a 2006 equality law that prohibits religious discrimination in the provision of any goods or services.

In a letter to Google, the organization's lawyers said it would seek a court's permission to publish the ad, as well as damages and reasonable legal costs.

Google's Adwords is a product that allows customers to place small text ads alongside search results (and pay Google an agreed fee each time someone clicks on the ad.) The Christian Institute wanted Internet users who entered the search term "abortion" to see its ad appear in a column of ads using running down the right-hand side of the screen.

story here

NYPD, Secret Service: Unprecedented Pope Security

Looks like the Holy Father will be well protected during his visit to the U.S. :)

The New York City Police Department is pulling out all the stops to protect Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to New York next week. From rooftop snipers to hovering helicopters, it will all resemble the security operations used to protect the president.

It's an operation that will involve virtually the entire NYPD. And if you're trying to move around Manhattan when the pope is here, it will affect you, too.

It begins for us next Friday with the papal arrival and a speech at the United Nations right at the start of the business day. As a city, this is when we'll feel the biggest traffic impact because the pope will leave the U.N. and visit both the Park East Synagogue on 67th Street and Fifth Avenue, and St. Joseph's Church on East 87th before retiring to the papal residence on 72nd Street. It will be like several things we've seen before.

"The closer you are to those locations, the more you are going to feel the effects of it," NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said.

When asked if will be like a U.N. general assembly followed by a parade followed by a presidential visit, Kelly said, "yes" to laughter.

The weekend begins with a frozen zone around St. Patrick's. You'll need tickets and a security check to get near the Cathedral. Your best chance at seeing the pope if you haven't already made arrangements is to go to the zone above St. Patrick's. He'll be traveling north on Fifth Avenue back up to 72nd Street and then to St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers. The U.S. Secret Service says crowds will be able to see him drive by.

"From the moment he lands in the United States we will be involved in transportation and the popemobile is here and will be utilized in both Washington D.C. and here in New York," said Brian Carr of the Secret Service.

story here

A Little Biblical Humor

Thank you to my aunt

IT DOESN'T HURT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIBLICAL HUMOR ONCE IN A WHILE....

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
A.. Ruthless.


Q. What do they call pastors in Germany ?
A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q.. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden ?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.


Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan The banks were always overflowing.



Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?
A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.


Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark ?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck. (Groan...)

PS. Did you know it's a sin for a woman to make coffee?
Yup, it's in the Bible. It says . . . "He-brews"

KEEP SMILING!!!! GOD LOVES YOU BUNCHES AND BUNCHES!!!!
Friends are God's way of taking care of us.

....Faith, Hope &Love -- but the greatest of these is LOVE.
1Corinthians13: 13

Saint of the Day: St. Stanislaus

The Saint of the Day for April 11 is St. Stanislaus.

American Catholic has more information.

Anyone who reads the history of Eastern Europe cannot help but chance on the name of Stanislaus, the saintly but tragic bishop of Kraków, patron of Poland. He is remembered with Saints Thomas More and Thomas Becket for vigorous opposition to the evils of an unjust government.

Born in Szczepanow near Kraków on July 26, 1030, he was ordained a priest after being educated in the cathedral schools of Gniezno, then capital of Poland, and at Paris. He was appointed preacher and archdeacon to the bishop of Kraków, where his eloquence and example brought about real conversion in many of his penitents, both clergy and laity. He became bishop of Kraków in 1072.

During an expedition against the Grand Duchy of Kiev, Stanislaus became involved in the political situation of Poland. Known for his outspokenness, he aimed his attacks at the evils of the peasantry and the king, especially the unjust wars and immoral acts of King Boleslaus II.

The king first excused himself, then made a show of penance, then relapsed into his old ways. Stanislaus continued his open opposition in spite of charges of treason and threats of death, finally excommunicating the king. The latter, enraged, ordered soldiers to kill the bishop. When they refused, the king killed him with his own hands.

Forced to flee to Hungary, Boleslaus supposedly spent the rest of his life as a penitent in the Benedictine abbey in Osiak.

Catholic University of St. Thomas Won't Allow Pro-Life Speaker on Abortion

Another University forgets what it means to be a Catholic institution. Although, this seems to be an individual's (Jane Camney) failure to promote true Catholic teachings.

The University of St. Thomas, a Catholic college in Minnesota, is coming under fire for canceling a planned speech by respected African-American pro-life advocate Star Parker. Parker was slated to appear at the college on April 21, but UST officials have censored the appearance.

Katie Kieffer, a 2005 alumna of St. Thomas and the founder of a student newspaper with a pro-life perspective there, says she booked Parker's speech.

But UST Vice President of Student Affairs Jane Canney apparently nixed the idea citing “concerns” that the lecture was sponsored by Young America’s Foundation, national group for conservative college students that frequently sponsors pro-life and conservative speakers at colleges nationwide.

The UST administrator denied a request from the student newspaper and the campus pro-life group Students for Human Life to reserve a room for the Parker lecture.

“Our Catholic university has hosted two decidedly liberal speakers in the past year,” Kieffer said. "For a person in charge of Campus Life on a Catholic campus, she is closed to our efforts to present conservative and Catholic pro-life values."

Canney told Kieffer and her sister, a UST senior who also helped coordinate the scheduled event, “As long as I am a vice president at St. Thomas, the Young America’s Foundation will not be allowed on campus." Camney needs to be shown the door.

story here


Star Parker

Media Distorts New Medical "Hard Case" to Promote Assisted Suicide in France

The culture of death at work....they place no value on human life.

The French media is publicizing a new medical "hard case" which is being used to promote the legalization of assisted suicide in the country.

Clara Blanc, a 31 year-old woman suffering from a rare degenerative disease, wants the
right to commit suicide before she becomes a "vegetable". She has sent a letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy demanding a "referendum" on assisted suicide in France.

"At any moment I will have to be confined to a bed, completely dependent...what sense is there in all of this? I don't want to be a vegetable," says Blanc in her letter to Sarkozy. She adds, "This is not my idea of dignity. I am not suicidal, I don't know when nor how I will want to die, because I don't know how long I will be able to bear it."

Blanc suffers from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes the collagen in her body to deteriorate, causing abnormal joint flexibility and skin elasticity and sensitivity, as well as arthritis and other joint and bone problems. However, what the French public is not being told is that Ehlers-Danlos, while incurable, is not generally fatal, and is compatible with a normal life span. Of course they hide that...how else could they promote the culture of death? They need lies and/or ommisions to advance it.

"Most people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome live a relatively normal life, although there may be restrictions to physical activity," says the U.S. National Institutes of Health in an information page on the disease (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ehlersdanlossyndrome.html).

Lindsay Lohan to go nude in indie movie to prove she's a 'serious actress'

Poor Lindsay...Hollywood is really taking a toll on her. She should have more respect for herself.

Troubled Hollywood starlet Lindsay Lohan is planning to appear naked in an low-budget film in an effort to revive her flailing career, it has been claimed.

The actress is said to have agreed to strip down for just £40,000 for the indie film Florence to prove herself as a "mature actress".

The 21-year-old, who previously played a pole dancer in the box-office flop I Know Who Killed Me, has reportedly agreed to "full frontal" nudity in her role as a nymphomaniac waitress in the drama.

An insider told The Sun: “Lindsay doesn't care she's getting paid peanuts. She wants to remind people she can act and that she is worth hiring.”

Another source added: “She is fully aware of the potential of her body. Lindsay wants to build up an image as a mature, responsible actress.” So bottom line, she's not getting enough roles, so she's going to make a few bucks by being nude. My question: How does that make her a 'serious actress'?

The actress is no stranger to stripping down - she posed nude for New York magazine in March in a recreation of Marilyn Monroe's legendary 1962 shoot by Bert Stern.

Lindsay has previously spoken about her struggle to find quality acting roles following a difficult year which included yet another stint in rehab.

She said last month: "Right now I just want to find a great script, a great role. Uh Lindsay, let's be honest... if a guy is watching you 'act' nude, he's not going to care too much about the script. :)

story here

Komen Gave Planned Parenthood Abortion Businesses Over $700K Last Year

It is revolting that an organization which claims to seek a cure for breast cancer would contribute to abortion, which IS linked to breast cancer.

A new report from a Planned Parenthood watchdog finds chapters of the Komen Race for the Cure breast cancer group gave affiliates of the national abortion business over $700,000 last fiscal year. The enormous amount should be a red flag to pro-life advocates, one leading activist says.

Figures from STOPP International show Komen chapters giving $711,485 from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 to Planned Parenthood affiliates.

Jim Sedlak, a representative of the watchdog group says the numbers are concerning given than millions of pro-life Americans will participate in Komen events during the month. We need to do a better job of getting the word out about this.

"More and more people are speaking up about the fact that Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a breast cancer research foundation, supports Planned Parenthood," Sedlak told LifeNews.com on Wednesday.

He pointed to studies showing abortion increases a woman's chances of contracting breast cancer and said that makes the donations extremely questionable. Yeah, pro-aborts lie and deny that link to defend abortion.

http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/

story here

If you really want to contribute to a cure: http://www.breastcancer.org/

Another Catholic Diocese Wants Komen Ties Broken Over Abortion Involvement

Saint of the Day: St. Magdalen of Canossa

The Saint of the Day for April 10 is St. Magdalen of Canossa.

American Catholic has more information.

Wealth and privilege did nothing to prevent today’s saint from following her calling to serve Christ in the poor. Nor did the protests of her relatives, concerned that such work was beneath her.

Born in northern Italy in 1774, Magdalen knew her mind—and spoke it. At age 15 she announced she wished to become a nun. After trying out her vocation with the cloistered Carmelites, she realized her desire was to serve the needy without restriction. For years she worked among the poor and sick in hospitals and in their homes and among delinquent and abandoned girls.

In her mid-twenties Magdalen began offering lodging to poor girls in her own home. In time she opened a school, which offered practical training and religious instruction. As other women joined her in the work, the new Congregation of the Daughters of Charity emerged. Over time, houses were opened throughout Italy.

Members of the new religious congregation focused on the educational and spiritual needs of women. Magdalen also founded a smaller congregation for priests and brothers. Both groups continue to this day.

She died in 1835. Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1988.

Pro-Life Women's Political Group Kicks Off 2008 Election Effort

A leading pro-life political group dedicated to election of pro-life women to Congress is kicking off its 2008 election efforts. The Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund will hold an initial fundraising event this evening featuring some of the pro-life members of Congress the group has helped elect. Just In case Hillary (gag!) or Obama (shudder) win in November, it would help to have a pro-life Congress to somewhat offset them.

While pro-life advocates are intensely focused on the presidential election and wanting to prevent the White House from falling into pro-abortion hands, SBA officials hope they will also pay attention to the hot Congressional battles.

Currently, abortion advocates control both houses of Congress, which has prevented votes on several pro-life bills that would reduce abortions and put a ban on human cloning.

"Strengthening pro-life power in Congress this year is critical. Susan B. Anthony List members are ready to support the pro-life champions who will protect women and their unborn babies in the halls of Congress," SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews.com Wednesday.

Dannenfelser said battles for the Senate, in particular, should become a top priority for the pro-life movement because there is a potential just one more justice on the Supreme Court appointed by a pro-life president could result in overturning Roe v. Wade.

"We are only one vote away from overturning the Supreme Court's pro-Roe majority," Dannenfelser said. "The importance of electing legislators who will support constitutionalist judicial nominees cannot be underestimated. Millions of lives are at stake."

story here

http://www.sba-list.org/

http://www.politicalresponsibility.org

A Little Wednesday humor...

Paul Nichols reminds us of how the MSM will cover the Pope's visit to the U.S.

Democrats finally getting religion on religion

This should be fun. They are both pro-aborts; they both support embryonic stem cell research; Obama thinks babies are punishment; he thinks babies who survive an abortion should be left to die; Hillary thinks euthanasia is great. And now they're going to talk about faith. Isn't it true that most faiths include placing value on life?


What has gotten into the Democratic Party when it comes to issues of faith?

On Sunday, CNN will broadcast the Compassion Forum, an event hosted by CNN's Campbell Brown and Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham. It will explore issues of faith and morality with Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

This is the second time the top Democratic candidates will deal with issues of faith. On June 4, CNN's Soledad O'Brien moderated a forum with the Rev. Jim Wallis' Sojourners Social Justice Ministry as host. That one featured Obama, Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards.

These forums should not be casually overlooked and blown off, because they represent a significant shift in attitude from previous Democratic presidential campaigns. Democrats, in the words of Sen. Joseph Biden after the Sojourners forum, acted more like agnostics --­ other would say atheists --­ when it came to issues of faith.

For nearly 30 years, Republicans successfully used wedge issues like abortion and homosexuality to rally their base to those social causes and elect candidates who were willing to go to the mat when they came up. Their outreach efforts were strong, consistent and they delivered time and time again. And as long as Democrats were willing to ignore the ever-increasing concerns of people who tied their faith with public policy, the GOP would continue to clean up at the ballot box.

Yet the outreach efforts by Clinton and Obama should serve as an example to all Democratic officeholders that ignoring voters who feel strongly about their faith, and also public policy, will continue to lead to losses.

Sunday's forum, which will be held at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, will allow each candidate to speak for 40 minutes on various moral issues, including poverty, global AIDS, climate change and human rights.

These are all vital issues that we should want to hear our presidential candidates discuss at length, and it's time that our debates and discussions with the candidates went beyond the war in Iraq, illegal immigration and terrorism.

While on the surface it looks good for Democrats to embrace those in the faith world, there are some serious potential land mines they are going to have to confront.

I have always maintained that people of faith who are conservative need to move beyond the issues of abortion and homosexuality and broaden what are deemed faith issues. But the Democratic Party is going to have to do the opposite -- that is have some serious discussions as to how it's going to confront social issues and not ignore abortion and homosexuality.

story here

Pope says he wants to bring message of hope to U.S., U.N.

Pope Benedict has sent a message in advance of his visit to the U.S. You can see a countdown to his visit at the top of this main column.

In a videotaped message, Pope Benedict XVI said he wants to bring a message of Christian hope to all Americans and to the United Nations when he visits in mid-April.

"I shall come to the United States as pope for the first time to proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture and social condition," the pope said.

He said he intends to reach out spiritually to U.S. Catholics and show fraternity and friendship to other Christians, to followers of other religions and to all people of good will.

The text of the papal message, released at the Vatican April 8, was designed to set the thematic stage for the pope's April 15-20 visit to Washington and New York.

The pope read the text, mostly in English but with a short section in Spanish, while seated at a desk beneath a painting of Mary and Jesus.

Rather than focus on specific events, the pope spoke about the theme of his visit, "Christ Our Hope." Those three words express the church's belief that Christ is the face of God in human history and gives fullness to people's lives, he said.

"I know how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in your country. I am coming to share it with you, in a series of celebrations and gatherings," he said.

story here

I was feeling nostalgic about the Holy Father, so here is a YouTube of the announcement of the election of Benedict XVI. Habemus Papam!

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Alternative Jumps Ahead With Parkinson's Success

Someone call Michael J. Fox...

When two research teams last year created embryonic-like stem cells that could be ethical alternatives to embryonic stem cell research, pro-life advocates were hopeful about their potential. Now, scientists at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research have used the reprogrammed cells to successfully treat Parkinson's in mice. And the best part is, no life had to be destroyed.

In November, Japanese professor Shinya Yamanaka and American researcher James Thomson released studies in the medical journals Science and Cell about their process known as direct reprogramming.

They were able to make adult stem cells revert to their embryonic form by turning human skin cells (fibroblasts) into pluripotent stem cells sharing essentially all the features of human embryonic stem cells.

story here

Catholic Carnival #167

The latest Catholic Carnival is up. You can find it here.

Saint of the Day: St. Casilda

The Saint of the Day for April 9 is St. Casilda.

American Catholic has more information.

Some saints’ names are far more familiar to us than others, but even the lives of obscure holy persons teach us something.

And so it is with St. Casilda, the daughter of a Muslim leader in Toledo, Spain, in the 10th century. Casilda was herself raised as a Muslim and showed special kindness to Christian prisoners. She became ill as a young woman but was not convinced that any of the local Arab doctors could cure her. So, she made a pilgrimage to the shrine of San Vicenzo in northern Spain. Like so many other people who made their way there—many of them suffering from hemorrhages—Casilda sought the healing waters of the shrine. We’re uncertain what brought her to the shrine, but we do know that she left it relieved of illness.

In response, she became a Christian and lived a life of solitude and penance not far from the miraculous spring. It’s said that she lived to be 100 years old. Her death likely occurred around the year 1050.

Tensions between Muslims and Christians have often existed throughout history, sometimes resulting in bloody conflict. Through her quiet, simple life Casilda served her Creator—first in one faith, then another.

Hillary Clinton on Oregon's Assisted Suicide Law: "I Commend Oregon on this Count"

From being a pro-abort, to embryonic stem cell research, to euthanasia, Hillary supports the culture of death.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton gave an interview with the editor of Eugene's Register-Guard paper, Jack Wilson, on April 6, in which she praised Oregon's assisted suicide laws.

Clinton, who spoke in Eugene on the same day as leading conservative bioethicist Wesley J. Smith, commended Oregon for providing the "right" to assisted suicide.

"I believe it's within the province of the states to make that decision," said Clinton when asked by Wilson about her attitude toward assisted suicide. "I commend Oregon on this count, as well, because whether I agree with it or not or think it's a good idea or not, the fact that Oregon is breaking new ground and providing valuable information as to what does and doesn't work when it comes to end-of-life questions, what works is helping people considering suicide with counseling or medical treatment. I think, is very beneficial."

When asked if she would have voted for the assisted suicide law, Clinton said she did not know, but added that the "right" to assisted suicide was appropriate, so long as there was enough information made available and safeguards put in place.

"I have a great deal of sympathy for people who are in difficult end-of-life situations," asserted Clinton. "I've gone to friends who have been in great pain and suffering at the end of their lives. I've never been personally confronted with it but I know it's a terribly difficult decision that should never be forced upon anyone. So with appropriate safeguards and informed decision-making, I think it's an appropriate right to have." How about leaving that right with God, where it belongs?

story here

Catholic priest pleads guilty in Conan O'Brien case

The Roman Catholic priest accused of stalking NBC talk-show host Conan O'Brien has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

The Rev. David Ajemian admitted to the offense -- sending letters and DVDs to O'Brien's home and business.

Ajemian was arrested in New York City last year while trying to enter a taping of O'Brien's show, despite being warned to stay away by NBC security personnel.

Prosecutors say Ajemian began sending letters to O'Brien in September 2006. He has been placed on leave by the Boston Archdiocese. I hope he gets the help he so obviously needs.

Ajemian and O'Brien attended Harvard University at the same time, but it's unclear whether the two crossed paths there.

story here

Pope Benedict XVI Says Catholic Church Must Minister to Women After Abortions

I was glad to see this article because we do need to minister to women who need healing after an abortion, and it also gives me a chance to mention the two sites below. The first is Project Rachel, and the other is Silent No More Awareness. They both have resources and links to help women in need of post-abortion healing.

The pro-aborts will never admit how much abortion hurts women.

Pope Benedict XVI told participants at a weekend conference that the Catholic Church has an obligation to minister to women who have been victimized by abortion. The Pope said abortion has left millions of women physically, emotionally and spiritually wounded and Catholics must reach out to them.

The pontiff said abortion has "devastating consequences" for women, families and society.

He called abortion a "painful decision" and fretted that "so many women have had to make [the decision] alone" and that abortion leaves an "unhealed wound they carry in their souls."

He urged women who have had abortions to not feel a sense of hopelessness and despair but to open themselves to hope and healing that can come through repentance and forgiveness from God.

At the same time, Pope Benedict said Catholics have an obligation to reach out to women hurting after an abortion, saying they are "looking for peace and the possibility of recovery."

story here

http://www.hopeafterabortion.com/

http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/

Leading Pro-Life Group Supports John McCain, Says Abortion Contrast Significant

McCain picks up an important endorsement.

The National Right to Life Committee has announced it is supporting eventual Republican nominee John McCain for president. Officials from the prominent pro-life group told LifeNews.com the difference on abortion compared with the pro-abortion Democratic candidates is significant.

The announcement of support came after a unanimous vote of the group's board of directors.

"National Right to Life supports Senator John McCain for election as President of the United States and strongly opposes both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and urges all pro-life citizens to do likewise," the group told LifeNews.com on Monday.

On abortion issues, McCain has a strongly pro-life voting record and has supported bills to ban partial-birth abortions, respect parental involvement regarding teenagers and prohibit tax-funded abortions in a variety of situations.

The Arizona senator has also repeatedly called for overturning Roe v. Wade, said he would appoint judges who won't legislate from the bench, and says he will keep the pro-life plank in the Republican Party platform.

"Senator John McCain has consistently taken a strong pro-life position against abortion, has a strong pro-life voting record against abortion and opposes Roe v. Wade," NRLC said in its statement of support. Unfortunately, he supported embryonic stem cell research. However, he has been reconsidering that in light of the recent development of ethical stem-cell research which does not involve the destruction of life.

Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have 100 percent pro-abortion voting records with the group and have pledged to only appoint federal judges who will keep unlimited legal abortions in place for another 35 years. They not only want to allow abortion, they will promote it and encourage it.

story here

Saint of the Day: St. Julie Billiart

The Saint of the Day for April 8 is St. Julie Billiart

American Catholic has more information.

Born in Cuvilly, France, into a family of well-to-do farmers, young Marie Rose Julia Billiart showed an early interest in religion and in helping the sick and poor. Though the first years of her life were relatively peaceful and uncomplicated, Julie had to take up manual work as a young teen when her family lost its money. However, she spent her spare time teaching catechism to young people and to the farm laborers.

A mysterious illness overtook her when she was about 30. Witnessing an attempt to wound or even kill her father, Julie was paralyzed and became a complete invalid. For the next two decades she continued to teach catechism lessons from her bed, offered spiritual advice and attracted visitors who had heard of her holiness.

When the French Revolution broke out in 1789, revolutionary forces became aware of her allegiance to fugitive priests. With the help of friends she was smuggled out of Cuvilly in a haycart; she spent several years hiding in Compiegne, being moved from house to house despite her growing physical pain. She even lost the power of speech for a time.

But this period also proved to be a fruitful spiritual time for Julie. It was at this time she had a vision in which she saw Calvary surrounded by women in religious habits and heard a voice saying, "Behold these spiritual daughters whom I give you in an Institute marked by the cross." As time passed and Julie continued her mobile life, she made the acquaintance of an aristocratic woman, Francoise Blin de Bourdon, who shared Julie's interest in teaching the faith. In 1803 the two women began the Institute of Notre Dame, which was dedicated to the education of the poor as well as young Christian girls and the training of catechists. The following year the first Sisters of Notre Dame made their vows. That was the same year that Julie recovered from the illness: She was able to walk for the first time in 22 years.

Though Julie had always been attentive to the special needs of the poor and that always remained her priority, she also became aware that other classes in society needed Christian instruction. From the founding of the Sisters of Notre Dame until her death, Julie was on the road, opening a variety of schools in France and Belgium that served the poor and the wealthy, vocational groups, teachers. Ultimately, Julie and Francoise moved the motherhouse to Namur, Belgium.

Julie died there in 1816. She was canonized in 1969

KUDOS TO HILLARY CLINTON: BUSH SHOULD BOYCOTT OLYMPIC OPENING

I can't believe I'm saying this....I couldn't agree more.
China's human rights violations are a disgrace.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue backed Senator Hillary Clinton’s plea to President Bush not to attend the Olympics opening ceremony:

“It is one thing to call for a boycott of the Olympic games—too many innocent athletes would be punished—but it is quite proper to use the symbolic importance of the opening ceremony to drive home a much-needed message: China can’t pretend to be religion friendly while routinely censoring religious liberty. Senator Clinton gets it just right when she urges President Bush to boycott the opening ceremony, saying ‘Americans will stand strong in support of freedom of religion and political expression and human rights.’

“Last November, I wrote a letter to the 15-member Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) asking for an investigation into allegations that the Communist Chinese government was planning to violate the Olympic Charter by banning athletes from bringing Bibles to the 2008 Olympic Games. It now appears that some 20,000 Bibles will be made available by the government.

“In last year’s report on the status of human rights in China, Freedom House concluded that ‘Though constitutionally recognized, religious freedom is accorded little respect in China.’ Just last month, the U.S. State Department issued its findings on the same subject, and came to even more specific condemnations. ‘Harassments of unregistered Catholic bishops, priests, and laypersons continued, including government surveillance and detentions,’ it said. Indeed, ‘In June [2007] police detained 73-year-old Jia Zhiguo, an underground bishop…and held him for 17 days in an unknown location.’ And as important as anything, ‘The state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) does not recognize the authority of the Holy See to appoint bishops.’ This is something Pope Benedict XVI strongly protested last July.

“The repression of Tibetan monks is also a disgrace. For all these reasons, we commend Sen. Clinton and urge President Bush to follow her advice.”

story here

Kids' Dress-Up Day Draws Christian Ire

More reason to home-school your kids. The education system is hell-bent (how's that for a pun? :) on indoctrinating impressionable kids with homosexuality, transsexualism, and other perverted lifestyles.

An elementary-school event in which kids were encouraged to dress as members of the opposite gender drew the ire of a Christian radio group, whose angry broadcast prompted outraged calls to the district office.

Students at Pineview Elementary in Reedsburg had been dressing in costume all last week as part of an annual school tradition called Wacky Week. On Friday, students were encouraged to dress either as senior citizens or as members of the opposite sex.

A local resident informed the Voice of Christian Youth America on Friday. The Milwaukee-based radio network responded by interrupting its morning programming for a special broadcast that aired on nine radio stations throughout Wisconsin. The broadcast criticized the dress-up day and accused the district of promoting alternative lifestyles.

"We believe it's the wrong message to send to elementary students," said Jim Schneider, the network's program director. "Our station is one that promotes traditional family values. It concerns us when a school district strikes at the heart and core of the Biblical values. To promote this to elementary-school students is a great error."

Schneider co-hosts "Crosstalk," a nationally syndicated call-in Christian radio show.

After the program aired, both the school and Reedsburg School District office were flooded with calls complaining about the event.

The response surprised Principal Tammy Hayes, who said no one had raised any objections beforehand. She said a flier detailing Wacky Week had been sent home with children the prior week, and an announcement was also included in teacher newsletters.

The dress-up day was not an attempt to promote cross-dressing, homosexuality or alternative gender roles, district administrator Tom Benson said. Oh good...for a minute I thought they were promoting homosexuality and transsexualism in impressionable kids

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National OBGYN Group Backtracks on Abortion Policy, Pro-Life Docs Unsatisfied

This is disgusting...to force doctors to refer for abortion. I wish the doctors who were pro-life were as carefully potected as abortion rights are.

A national OBGYN group appears to have relented somewhat in the face of pressure from pro-life doctors and the Bush administration. The board of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has been considering using the promotion of abortion as a requirement for certifying doctors.

ACOG had crafted a new policy saying that all doctors, including those who are pro-life, should refer women to abortion centers.

It's new "The Limits of Conscientious Refusal in Reproductive Medicine" document insisted that doctors who object to doing abortions should refer patients to physicians who will do them.

Leading groups for pro-life doctors objected to the new policy, but were also significantly concerned that the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology would use it to require the abortion promotion for certification. That could have led to pro-life obstetricians having to quit their practices rather than be forced to do abortions or refer for them.

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