Thursday, April 5, 2007
Mexican Bishop: “If You Vote to Legalize Abortion – You Excommunicate Yourself from the Church”
By Meg Jalsevac
LifeSiteNews.com
Thursday April 5, 2007
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/apr/07040502.html
MEXICO CITY, April 5, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A second Mexican bishop has issued an explicit warning to Mexico City's legislatures cautioning them that, should they vote in favor of proposed legislation that would legalize abortion, they would be automatically excommunicated upon the death of the first baby under the new law.
Mexico City is governed by an assembly which can pass legislation independent of the laws of the rest of the country. Although the country as a whole is considered predominantly Catholic, the liberal Party of the Democrats runs the Mexico City Hall and holds a 34 seat majority in the 66 seat legislative body. It is not known how many of the city legislators are practicing Catholics.
Mexico City law already permits abortion in cases of rape and when the health of the mother is in danger but the legislation under consideration would broaden that permission to authorize all abortions within the first trimester. The current national law only allows for abortions in cases of rape.
Bishop Marcelino Hernandez, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Mexico, explained that the Church would not need to issue an official excommunication – the very actions of the lawmakers would automatically put them outside the Church. "The person excommunicates himself, it's not that the Church goes around with a rod, looking for people who make mistakes, in order to hit them on the head."
Hernandez further explained the Church's position saying, "Life is not subject to a vote." Acting as spokesman for Mexico's Catholic Archdiocese, Armando Martinez previously condemned the upcoming vote saying, "If the assembly can't be the city's conscience, we will have to form our own party to represent us."
In March of this year, a similar warning was issued by the Mexican Episcopal conference in which Bishop Arizmendi of Chiapas, Mexico warned, "[A] law, only by being approved by a group of unscrupulous legislators, cannot change the morality of a fact. Christian consciousness considers abortion a murder and, thus, a grave, mortal sin, punished by excommunication."
Leaders around the country have condemned the abortion initiative in Mexico City. Mexican President Felipe Calderón, a practicing Catholic, said, "I have a plain respect for dignity and human life and within this I believe the existing legislation is adequate."
Religious leaders from the Mexican Anglican and Greek Orthodox communities have also joined the country's Catholic leaders in opposing the Mexico City legislation.
The majority party of the City legislature has voiced their confidence in the successful passage of the liberal abortion legislation.
The Mexico City legislature also voted to allow civil unions in 2006 and has expressed an upcoming agenda that would include legalizing euthanasia in the near future.
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"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"
OMAHA COURTS BECOME ABORTION BATTLEGROUND -- FR. WESLIN UPDATE!
Omaha, NE - Omaha, Nebraska, has become a First Amendment battleground in the abortion wars as multiple legal dramas simultaneously play out that could impact the ability of pro-lifers to share information with pregnant women and pray for clinic workers.
A decision is due at any day from Judge Robert Wester on a trial involving seven abortion protesters who held signs and prayed for abortion worker Karen Pender last April near her home. Pender is an employee of Bellevue abortionist LeRoy Carhart.
The group, holding signs bearing Pender's name, was arrested for violating an ordinance that prohibits targeted residential picketing. This trial is significant because it could determine if charges are pursued against additional pro-life supporters who were arrested at subsequent protests in Pender's neighborhood.
During a protest three days after the initial arrests, a smaller group was arrested for disorderly conduct for quietly holding signs bearing the images of aborted babies. At a third protest, held last September, three pro-lifers were arrested for disturbing the peace, even though they held no signs at all while they peacefully prayed.
The trials of the subsequent protesters have been continued pending the outcome of the first trial. Larry Donlan of Rescue the Heartland told Operation Rescue that if the group of seven is exonerated, then the charges against the rest will likely be dismissed. However, if the seven are convicted, the other groups will face trials of their own.
Donlan hopes for a favorable decision before Monday's scheduled hearing in another court where Pender is asking a judge for a protection order from the peaceful protesters.
Meanwhile, in Federal Court, Fr. Norman Weslin's F.A.C.E. trial began on Tuesday. Fr. Weslin was arrested last year when he entered the vestibule of Carhart's Belleview abortion mill. Since the inner door was locked, the priest spoke into the office through a mail slot, urging women to come out and save their babies from abortion. He remained inside the vestibule praying until the police arrived and arrested him.
"We are optimistic. They have a weak case," said Donlan. "With F.A.C.E. they must prove that he denied access."
However, clinic worker Hannah Burns testified Tuesday that all women entered the clinic without any problem. While on the stand, she reportedly mocked the priest for praying at the clinic and showed contempt for his religious beliefs.
F.A.C.E is the Federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, passed in 1994, which mandates prison time for those who block access of anyone entering an abortion mill. If convicted Fr. Weslin faces 18 months in a federal prison. The trial is expected to wrap up on Thursday.
A final Omaha case that remains in limbo is that of Joe McDaniel, who was struck by Carhart's car as the abortionist jumped the curb and ran up onto the public sidewalk. A police officer that responded to the scene refused to take McDaniel's complaint, telling him to get out of the way, even though he was legally standing on a public sidewalk McDaniel had filed a complaint against Carhart. He has since been informed that an internal affairs investigation is currently proceeding against the officer, and an investigation in underway regarding Carhart's attack on McDaniel.
"It is obvious that law enforcement in the Omaha area are woefully undertrained in knowing how to properly deal with First Amendment activity," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "There is obvious discrimination occurring there. Just because someone doesn't agree with the message, or is annoyed by the protester's presence, that does not give the officers license to arrest the people. That is just bullying, not law enforcement."
"We thank God for the courage of these brave pro-lifers who are risking jail time to save babies, offer help to pregnant women, and reach out with the Gospel to needy clinic workers," said Newman. "They are modern-day heroes."
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LifeSiteNews.com NewsBytes Thursday April 5th
Wisconsin Considers Assisted Suicide
http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004297.cfm
Paris: archbishop and rabbi join to oppose euthanasia
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=50316
Womb transplant works in animals may soon come to humans
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=517382007
Ban on Gay Parade in Moscow Is Upheld
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2007/04/03/014.html
Helsinki is also the abortion capital of Finland
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Helsinki+is+also+the+aborti...
Something unexpected is happening in Europe. Signs of re-awakening of Christian faith are slowly cropping up
http://ncregister.com/site/article/2189/
Skepticism and suspicion of past four decades is giving way to acceptance that Christ's resurrection is only explanation that makes sense
http://ncregister.com/site/article/2184
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"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
LifeSiteNews.com NewsBytes
* Note: The linked items below or the websites at which they are located do not necessarily represent the views of LifeSiteNews.com. They are presented only for your information.
Making Families Too Pricey - government policy contributing to decline of marriage and family life
http://www.zenit.org/english/vizualizza.phtml?sid=105593
Germany recalling its Christian roots
http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&idsub=124&id=8708&t=Germany+recalling+its+Christian+roots
Video: The Real Face of the E.U.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=62612529763293088&q=The+real+EU&hl=en
Business of Global Warming Feels a Lot Like Inquisition - William F. Buckley
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/04/business_of_global_warming_fee.html
At the moment, we seem to care more about the planet than the people
http://www.thestar.com/article/198668
Genoa cathedral defaced; gay activists suspected
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=50283
Global Warming Ruling Called 'Victory for the Bad Guys' - Justices Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Alito dissent from US Supreme Court decision
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200704/NAT20070402c.html
Dutch Euthanasia by Wesley J. Smith in First Things
http://www.firstthings.com/
The Leadership of George W. Bush: Con & Pro - First Things
http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=5444
Pope's aide, Cardinal Bertone, blasts media coverage of church
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=502952007
The World Bank is out to destroy the most valuable economic resource: people.
http://www.mercatornet.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=511
If embryonic research is so promising, why do its backers need to lie?
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NWIyMjNmODVlMTQ5OTM0MjFmZTk2YmEyMzlmZDcyOTA=
Federal Human-Cloning Ban Reintroduced
http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004263.cfm
'Real Abortion Stories'
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/23907.html
Applause from Hell
http://www.catholicexchange.com/node/60441
Heart valve grown from stem cells
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6516885.stm
Archbishop warns radical secularism could turn Spain into atheistic society
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=9002
A shameful surrender to pornographers
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0402/p09s01-coop.html
Settlement ends ban on distribution of pro-life leaflets at high school
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4059
Police send four police officers to tackle boy, 11, who called schoolmate 'gay'
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23391185-details/Police+'waste+time'+on+'gay+boy'+jibe/article.do
God's poll numbers high – U.S. adults' belief in God overwhelming
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=23611
26 gay marriages set to be recorded in Massachusetts as Governor Patrick reverses Romney order
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/04/02/26_gay_marriages_set_to_be_recorded/
New Form of Evil Is Why America Has Not Won Iraq War
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DennisPrager/2007/03/27/new_form_of_evil_is_why_america_has_not_won_iraq_war
ERA: The Return of a Bad Idea
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/12699/CWA/nation/index.htm
.XXX Domain Measure Defeated…Again
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/12703/LEGAL/pornography/index.htm
Death Used to Bolster Hate-Crimes Bill Proves Accidental - trumped up stories seem to be the norm in hate-crimes cases
http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004262.cfm
Gay lifespan poses adoption issues
http://www.religionandspirituality.com/currentEvents/view.php?StoryID=20070327-085203-8341r
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"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
“The family is the foundation of European society”
EUROPE - "The family is the foundation of European society": over 20 associations at European parliament sign a resolution on the Family in Europe, the result of an unprecedented international family movement which continues to grow
Brussels (Agenzia Fides) - "In Europe we are witnessing an unprecedented international family movement which continues to grow" says Lola Velarde, president of the European network of Family Policy Institutes. In fact since 18 June 2005 when over 1,000 NGOs from 60 countries supported the Pro-Family gathering in Madrid, " international associations have felt a growing need to be more coordinated". A recent fruit of this mobilization was the signing at the European Parliament by 20 federations, confederations, associations and EU MPs of a Resolution on the Family in Europe " The family is the foundation of European society", which recognises the family's role as "the foundation of society ". The Resolution was signed on March 28 during a seminar in preparation for the 4th World Conference on the Family to be held 11 - 13 May in Warsaw, Poland The seminar was presided by EU MP Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassitou of Greece chairperson of the Parliament's Family and Protection of Childhood group. The seminar, organised with the collaboration of Fondazione Europa and Asociación Fémina Europa, was attended by many EU MPs and representatives of various pro-family organizations.
The Resolution lists six family principles:
1) marriage is the foundation of the family and therefore "juridical recognition of other forms of family weakens the foundations necessary for the stability of society";
2) the family guarantees the rights of children: the right to life from conception to natural end and the right to be loved and raised by mother and father;
3) in the family man and woman are complementary "there must be equality with the recognition of differences";
4) the family is the foundation of society "the cradle of life; the place where values, moral, cultural, material and spiritual are handed on;
5) the place of the first experience of life in society: solidarity among members and generations";
6) the family is an economic and social investment "it serves society and guarantees its future."
The Resolution calls on Europe "to make decisions considering the perspective of the family since the family is the foundation of European society". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 2/4/2007; righe 31, parole 424)
Links:
See Resolution in Spanish
http://www.fides.org/spa/documents/resolucion_familia_ongs_pe.pdf
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"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"
Thomas More Law Center: Doctors Should Not Be Forced To Artificially Inseminate Lesbians
In that case Guadalupe Benitez, a lesbian, sued two doctors who refused to artificially inseminate her—alleging that the doctors discriminated against her because of her sexual orientation in violation of California's civil rights act. The doctors assert that they cannot be held liable for refusing to provide treatment based upon their sincerely held religious convictions because California's constitution protects their right to the free exercise of religion. Benitez is represented by the LAMBDA Legal Defense Fund, one of the leading organizations promoting the homosexual agenda.
According to Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel for the Thomas More Law Center, "Forcing doctors to violate their conscience smacks of Nazi Germany. Doctors are not 'needles for hire.' Benitez received treatment from other doctors. Her effort to punish these doctors is a mean-spirited effort to exact a pound of flesh from those who refuse to bow to the homosexual agenda based on sincerely held religious conviction."
Patrick T. Gillen, the attorney who authored the brief for the Law Center, observed that the case has broad implications for religious liberty. He noted, "if the California Supreme Court accepts Bentiz's argument, the protection that California's constitution provides to the free exercise of religion will be practically meaningless. The California Supreme Court should hold that California's religious liberty provision bars Benitez from holding these doctors liable for their refusal to provide medical care based upon their sincerely held religious convictions."
The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.
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"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"
Monday, April 2, 2007
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