Tribulation Times
September 28, 2020
(Mat 19:13-14) Then were little children presented to him, that he should impose hands upon them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such.
THE SHIELD OF FAITH: St. Pionius, martyr, burned alive in 250 AD.
As he was led to the executioner, St. Pionius was taunted and urged to worship the pagan gods by the idolators. They tempted him by mentioning the many compromised Catholics had given in to the Roman threats of torture, or were unable to withstand the torture itself. The saint replied: “Each one is master of his own will.” Among these fallen Christians was the Roman Catholic Bishop Eudæmon, Bishop of Smyrna, who had apostatized from the Faith and offered sacrifice to the false gods, to obey the edict of the Emperor. What is the analogy to today's Church almost 2000 years later, when we are not ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods? I think it would be the apostasy of bishops and clerics who falsely proclaim that Catholics may vote in good conscience for those who promote the heartless destruction and sacrifice of human babies during all nine months and even after birth, as long as that is not the reason they are voting for them!
NCR: Cardinal Müller Looks at US Politics, the 2020 Election and Catholic Conscience
LIFESITENEWS.COM: US bishops tell Catholic voters abortion is ‘preeminent issue’ in 2020 election
CNA: Trump announces 'Born Alive' executive order for abortion survivors
EDITORIAL: Abortion is far more than a single issue
This past November, the U.S. Catholic bishops again identified the protection of unborn children as the preeminent moral priority.
Why? 1) Abortion attacks the most vulnerable and innocent; 2) abortion occurs within the family, destroying the most precious of human bonds pitting mother versus child or mother versus father; and 3) the sheer number of human lives destroyed (nearly one million babies) and damaged (mothers, fathers, family members) annually from abortion.
The bishops share this to help us properly form our conscience to the moral principles and priorities of our faith. This formation is essential when we vote for those who will represent us in government. As faithful citizens, we must elect officials who defend innocent life.
Being pro-life is foundational to our Catholic identity. There should be no confusion or ignorance surrounding the church’s teaching on the sanctity of human life. Yet, many justify voting for candidates that support legalized abortion by saying, “You can’t be a single-issue voter.” Friends, abortion is far from a single-issue.
Abortion kills an innocent child: Always. Otherwise, there would be no need for abortion. No other debated public policy always ends in the death of an innocent person.
This fact alone should be the game-over decision that disqualifies any candidate supporting legalized abortion from receiving our vote.
Yet, the ugly tentacles of the abortion industry extend into many other societal evils.
Violence towards women: Abortion is not health care or empowering. Many women report being pressured to abort and, as a result, often suffer physically and endure a lifetime of shame, depression, broken relationships, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts.
Also, abortion and sex-trafficking are undeniably linked. The abortion industry is known to turn a blind eye so they and abusers can continue to profit.
Promotion of youth promiscuity: Planned Parenthood is working hard to partner with public schools to be “the trusted sex education resource” for children.
In California, Planned Parenthood already runs “well-being centers” inside high schools — a publicly funded strategy to ensure a never-ending stream of abortion customers.
Loss of parental rights: Unless Kansas passes the “Value Them Both” constitutional amendment, the Kansas parental notification law for minors seeking an abortion is now at risk of being overturned.
Should that happen, parents would not even know that their 15- year-old daughter had an abortion and could be suffering from its physical and emotional effects.
Racism: Planned Parenthood’s founder, Margaret Sanger, was a racist eugenics advocate. Planned Parenthood continues to carry out her mission. Seventy-nine percent of Planned Parenthood clinics are placed in minority communities, resulting in black women being four times as likely as white women to have an abortion; 360 black babies are aborted every day.
For more information, visit the website at: www.archkck.org/prolife and do your own research; be skeptical of sources that profit from abortion.
On Nov. 3, as people of love and life, let’s reject candidates who fight for the abortion industry that inflicts death, pain and widespread evil in our great country.
There is simply too much at stake for its victims — both born and unborn.
POPE FRANCIS: "It is troubling to see how simple and convenient it has become for some to deny the existence of a human life as a solution to problems that can and must be solved for both the mother and her unborn child.
At the origin of this ‘throwaway culture’ is a gross lack of respect for human dignity, the promotion of ideologies with reductive understandings of the human person, a denial of the universality of fundamental human rights, and a craving for absolute power and control that is widespread in today’s society. Let us name this for what it is: an attack against humanity itself."
Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 30- "Concerning the Supreme Trinity Among the Virtues"
32. A monk of good hope is a slayer of despondency; with this sword he routs it.Prayer request? Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com
"Have ANY Catholic Question? Just ask Ron Smith at: hfministry@roadrunner.com
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