Birth or Not

Today I learned from American Papist via Facebook that there is a couple in Minnesota who is considering whether or not they want to abort their unborn child and they are making their decsision based on the votes they get on an Internet Poll.  This is the most sad and disturbing thing I have heard in a while - the couple has even given their baby a nickname and they are still trying to decided whether or not to kill it!  Right now the votes for "Give Birth" are in the lead, and we need to make sure they stay overwhelmingly so. 
Now is your chance to make a difference in an actual birth or abortion decsision.  Go and vote for life!
http://www.birthornot.com/

October is Respect Life Month

First Ever Virtual March for Life!

From the AUL Action comes the first ever Virtual March for Life!  This is perfect for those of us who would love to go to the March, but can't make it there in person.  To join the ranks of 39+ Pro-Lifers Marching online, all you have to do is follow this link: http://www.virtualmarchforlife.com/

Switching Gears From Yesterday...

I saw this story on the Pro-Life Action League website, and had to share it with you. I can't believe a policeman would do something like this! I'll let you read it...

Wednesday, December 16, pro-lifer Rachelle Crile went to the Planned Parenthood facility in Aurora, Illinois at 8 a.m. to sidewalk counsel as she has done on regular basis since attending a Pro-Life Action League sidewalk counseling seminar in September. After about 45 minutes in temperatures below 20 degrees, Rachelle went to her car in an adjacent parking lot to warm up before returning to the her sidewalk counseling post.

As Rachelle sat in her car, a couple in a white SUV pulled into the lot a couple rows behind her. Rachelle had a feeling the people might be headed to Planned Parenthood. Since Wednesday mornings are a prime time abortions there, Rachelle knew a life could be on the line, so she said a prayer, grabbed her literature and approached the car.

Offer of Help Met With Threat of Violence

Rachelle was approaching the car when the driver, a middle-aged man, waved a silver handgun at Rachelle from inside the car. Terrified, Rachelle put up her hands and went back to her car. A little bit later, the SUV pulled into Planned Parenthood's parking lot and the man and a woman got out of the car and entered the facility.

Read the rest at Pro-Life Action Leauge

5 Quick Takes Saturday - Vol 20

~ 1 ~

Gosh, it's been quite a while since I've done one of these! My Saturdays have been a wee bit full though. Not that I've minded... usually it's with fun stuff. Like last Saturday when we had our annual fall festival/barn party. We invite everyone we know out to our house, they all bring a dish for dinner, we set up tables and chairs in our barn and just talk or play games or sing or dance... whatever we want! It's so much fun.

~ 2 ~



We had this video e-mailed to us, and I thought I would share it with you. I found it really interesting and wonderful that someone actually said that Obama did not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize because of his stance on abortion. Hurray for Rachel!

~ 3 ~

Just a little FYI... I have two new pages up on my website! Hopefully I'll get some more up soon, please pray that I do!

~ 4 ~
I be now goin' to speak like a scurvy pirate while I wrack me brain fer another quick take. Hmmm.... thinkin'.... need somethin' else to scribe 'bout! Ooh, we had rotten apple cinnamon pancakes fer breakfast 'tis mornin', wit' steamin' rotten apple cider. (It wasn't rotten, 'tis tavern just translated it so. It was really jolly!)

Speakin' 'o band 'o pirates... on th' current adventure over at Bayport we're havin' a flashback adventure 'n I be in me role as cap'n Fox Turner... plague 'o me uncle Capn' Jack. I be goin' to start a mutiny, that be a ruckas!

[IMG]http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp248/catholicrose/other%20pictures/capnfox.png[/IMG]

~ 5 ~

If ye be lookin' fer some nice music to listen to, I'd like to direct ye over to Alot o' Scottish Nonsense 'bout Nuttin'. Danny has a great playlist 'o music from th' movie Braveheart, (which I put together fer him.) bin absolutely fallen in love wit' that music, 'tis extra pretty, 'n inspirin' 'n just plain nice to listen to.

Well, I be out 'o the hour fer this day folks. Remember, God made ye special 'n He loves ye extra much! jolly bye!

Respect Life Sunday

Prayer for Reverence of Life

All mighty God, giver of all that is good. We thank you for the precious gift of human life.

For life in womb, coming from your creative power
For the life of children, making us glad with their freshness and promise
For the life of young people, hoping for a better world
For the life of the handicapped and disabled, teaching us humility
For the life of the elderly, witnessing the ageless values of patience and wisdom.

Like Blessed Mary, may we always say yes to your gift. May we defend it and promote it from conception to it's natural end and bring us at last oh Father to eternal life, in Jesus Christ our lord. AMEN

5 Quick Takes Saturday - Vol 19

~ 1 ~

I found this lovely article on Lily Maiden's blog and thought i would share it with you.

n 1984, a video called The Silent Scream helped change the way people think about the unborn child. The footage of an actual abortion and the fetus’s reaction reminded us that abortion involves the death of a real person.

A recent bit of footage has similar potential, only it couldn’t be more different from The Silent Scream.

The footage was part of a recent PBS special, The Music Instinct: Science & Song. The program was an exploration of, among other things, music’s “biological, emotional and psychological impact on humans.”

Part of this “exploration” included how music affects babies. If we are, as some scientists believe, “wired for music,” then babies are ideal test subjects since their reactions are, by definition, instinctual.

Part of this research involved the effect of music on fetuses. While we knew that mothers often sing to their unborn children, we weren’t sure that the unborn child could hear them.

We are now. Read the rest here.

~ 2 ~

While on the subject of music, i found this gorgeous version of Pachelbel's Canon on YouTube today, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. It's really something!




~ 3 ~

More music, this one sad news. Jon Schmidt won't be able to sell "Love Story meets Viva la Vida". Coldplay wouldn't give permission, so no song! Jon Schmidt did redo the song, so now it's just "Love Story meets Love Story". It's pretty good and i like it, though i still like Viva better.




~ 4 ~

This does not have to do with music; movies instead. Danny just started a blog for his film endeavor titled "A Crusader's Tale". It's looking pretty nice!

http://melstudio.blogspot.com/

~ 5 ~

In case you still haven't done this yet, go and vote for The Bible on the "What Would You Take With You" poll. You have until the 20th to vote and get everyone else you know to vote as well!

http://www.sonypictures.net/movies/2012/preservationlist/

One Voice that Changed the Lives of Millions

About a week ago, my family and i watched the film "Amazing Grace", and tonight i watched it again. I'd heard about it from friends of mine, and after hearing about it enough times i actually went and got it from the library, where it so conveniently happened to be sitting on the shelf during one trip where i was told to "go find a movie for us to watch tonight". I can't believe i hadn't taken the initiative to get it before.

"Amazing Grace" was truly, amazing. There was a preview for the movie before the movie (where all the rest of the previews are) and while waiting for my mom to come we watched the preview and i fell in love with "Amazing Grace" right then and there. I loved it even more after i actually watched the film.

"Amazing Grace" is the story of William Wilberforce, a Member of Parliament for 45 years and a tireless advocate of abolition, better education, the poor and countless other social reforms. The movie mentions 'Wilber's' other causes, but focuses on his goal of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. In fact, the release was planned to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the passing of the Parliamentary Bill banning the slave trade.

My mother was wondering why, given the amazing accomplishments that Wilberforce achieved, we had never heard a bit about him before, but a biography on Wilberforce that i just finished reading gives a good analogy. It's a bit like when there is a dreadful disease, the book said. It consumes the populace, destroying the nation, but then a wonderful cure is invented that so totally wipes out the disease that people no longer remember there was a disease, or even a cure for it.

I was and am very inspired by the story of William Wilberforce. He worked tirelessly and doggedly for the end of slavery, even to the point of ruining his health. never giving up, supported by a slow growing group of like-minded people and in the end was able to rid the Empire of slavery.

Of course, after watching "Amazing Grace", i naturally thought of the parallels between slavery and abortion. Abortion is a more silent issue than slavery in the US was, but in England during Wilberforce's time slavery was a 'silent issue' as well. Slaves had previously been emancipated in England, so most people had no idea what slavery was really like. Slaves were in the West Indies, far across the Atlantic Ocean and far removed from public knowledge. The average Englishman had no concept of the cruilties and the horrors of slavery. They were told that the Africans were far better off as slaves, much like we are told that women are far better off without "unplanned pregnancies".

It gives me hope; if one man in Parliment could bring a "silent issue" to the attention of the government and the public, eventually winning over opposition and ridding the empire of a 'peculiar insitution'... could we be rid of abortion by having at least one or two politicians dedicated to the pro-life cause in our government?

With amazing grace, i think we could.

Whoohooo!!!!!

A new study shows that American support of abortion has dropped by 8 points since August! Click HERE to read the article.

Some more great news, remember how CatholicVote.com tried to run an pro-life add during Super Bowl, but it didn't work out? Well, they tried again and managed to get a spot during the final run of AmericanIdol!




There is one problem that i see with it though. I got the impression that they are saying that all the people they have listed are/were adopted. That is wonderful and all, only... J.R.R. Tolkien was not adopted. Let me know if you view the message differently.

5 Quick Takes Saturday - Vol 3

-1-

This is really late in the day this week, but I couldn't help it. I went to this amazing pro-life teen conference today and was able to hear talks by Dr. Alveda King (Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece), Eric Scheidler and Brian Kemper. The talks were awesome, and definitely made me want to become more involved with the pro-life movement. We also had a picket sign making contest, where we divided up into groups under four various situations, and each team had to make a sign fitting in with that situation. They then picked the best signs from each of the catergories, and then we all picked the best over all. The winning sign was under the situation: President Obama is coming to your town. Create a sign highlighting his pro-abortion stance. The sign read:

Start that "change" now!

Stop Abortion!

We all loved that sign! I was in the same catergory, and my groups sign read:

A Baby
Not Tissue
A Gift
Not a punishment

So if you ever see signs anywhere saying that, we came up with them! It was a lot of fun. Although I wish there hadn't been a conference. Well, hopefully abortion will soon be abolished and there won'd ever have to be another one!

-2-

Fitting in with the pro-life theme, here is an amazing commercial that television stations refused to air during the SuperBowl tomorrow. A Must Watch! I get chills every time I see it.

-3-

Volition. Another wonderful, amazing and awesome video. It is about 15 minutes long, but is certainly worth the time to watch it three or four times, so that the many layers to this sink in. For your information, according to Webster...
Volition: An act of making a choice or decision; also; a choice or decision being made.
That should help in understanding the film.

-4-

Blogger is such a pain. I highlighted those red words and made them bold a couple of takes up, and now I've been fighting with it ever since! It won't stay black and un-bold! So who knows what color and type this will all post in. If it posts at all. It's been 'saving' for the past five minutes.

-5-

Lastly, one more video. Yes, yes I know. But this is another good one. It's a song, and after watching it three times, I think they are making fun of O'bama, but I'm still not really sure. Watch it and decide for yourself. I'll put the link, because you have to read the lyrics too!
There's No One as Irish as Barack O'bama.

-------------------------------------------------
Below is a Mr. Linky list if you'd like to add a link to your own 7 Quick Takes post. (1) Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your post and not your main blog URL. (2) Include a link back here.
I look forward to reading your posts!

These Dead Shall Not Have Died in Vain

The evening of the March for Life, after the crowds had all dispersed, the sun had set and we had all eaten our dinner, the "Awesome Group" went on a tour of some of the many monuments of Washington D.C. The first one we stopped at was the Lincoln Memorial. I was awestruck at it's size, which you would never guess from looking at photographs of it. It is huge, almost as grand and imposing as the words inscribed inside. I raced up the stairs and attempted to take photos of the statue, but alas, in dim lighting, that doesn't work so well. All blurry. Naturally, on the bus driving away from the Lincoln Memorial I discovered a setting on the camera that said "Use for taking pictures in especially dim lighting". Of course.

After I attempted to take some photos, I strolled over to the side of the monument where the immortal Gettysburg Address is engraved in the wall. Leaning up against one of the towering columns, I read the words written so many years ago, soaking it in. I read it as I always have, thinking of the Civil War, when I came to the last paragraph. I gasped slightly and read the words in a way I have never read them before. New meaning lept out at me and I re-read them again.

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

I read them again, and felt my eyes well up with tears. That was why we were there, why everyone there that day was in Washington D.C. Why there is a March for Life.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

President Lincoln was speaking about the soldiers, but in a way, he could have been speaking about the unborn. Those children gave their lives, maybe without a choice, but they gave them anyhow.

I read somewhere once that everyone was created for a purpose, and that you will not die until that purpose, that mission is fulfilled. It is my belief that the mission of the aborted unborn children is to bring about the conversion of their mothers, to serve as an example to all those contemplating abortion and bring about their conversion, so that our nation, and the world, might someday realize and repent of the evil it has been allowing for far too long. During their short lives, they were part of the Church Militant, they were soldiers too. Now that they are in heaven, they are part of the Church Triumphant, but they are still fighting with their prayers, so that not another child will have to die in the war against The Enemy.

In the words of President Lincoln,

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain!

We must continue the fight, those of us who were given the chance to be born, to grow up, to live our lives for the honor and glory of God.

When I read those words, my throat tight with tears, they gave me such comfort. I admit that I was struggling with disappointment at not having been able to meet up with some friends I'd dearly wanted to meet, and I was brought back to the remembrance of why I went to D.C. I was so thankful to God for not only healing my disappointment, but for reminding me of the reason I was there. Not to have fun and experience history - though I did do both as well - but to save lives. HE gave me renewed dedication to fighting for the cause.

It is my hope that all you who read this blog post, will read that last paragraph of the Gettysburg Address, and then read it again and again. Then resolve in your heart to fight for the pro-life cause

So that these dead children shall not have died in vain.

5 Quick Takes Saturday - Vol 2

-1-

I'm home!!!!!!!! Oh it was sooooo wonderful! Ok, in case you didn't figure out from my previous post, I went to the March for Life! Totally unplanned and unexpectedly! Let's see, I heard of a group to go with on Saturday (Thank you Miss March! Wish you could've come!), I was told I could go on Tuesday, and I left on Wednesday and was at the March on Thursday! It was totally awesome!!!! I loved every minute of it, and I wish I was still there! (I'll add pictures to this post sometime today). I think that today's quick takes will be about the March... I mean really, how could I talk about anything else?

-2-

The trip
I left Tuesday night to spend the night with some friends who were going on the March as well, and at 4 in the morning or something we headed off to meet up with the group we were going with. After mass at the church, we loaded up and I rode for the first time in a travel bus. Those things are so cool! They are big, have no seatbelts, and have TVs! The absence of seatbelts took about a 1/2 hour to get used to and I was soon walking around the bus and didn't miss the belts at all! There were two buses, the girls bus and the boys bus, which was nice. On Wed. we watched The Ultimate Gift and Window to the Womb (a 1/2 hour film about ultrasounds). Friday on the way home we watched Expelled and parts of Maria Goretti. The ride was really fun, so even though we were in the bus all day, you didn't notice. The snacks were awesome too. =) By far the best part of the trip was the fact that we were a Catholic group with priests and brothers along, we prayed and sang religous music, and prayed and sang somemore! It really helped in keeping us focused on why we were on the bus heading to D.C.

-3-

The Day of the March

The Awesome Group (my group!) went to mass at St. Patrick's church in D.C., and it was beauitful!!! Not only was the church pretty (and they had a mosaic of St. Rose of Lima!) but the mass was wonderful as well. Besides the Awesome Group, there were 5 or 6 other groups at mass, so the church was really croweded. After mass and lunch we then walked to the mall area, singing and chanting all the way with our papal flags, white hats and yellow scarfs. (If you later saw a group standing on stairs with papal flags and white and yellow umbrella's, that was us!) I actually marched with Christendom College, because the friends I was with got invited to march with them (one of them is going there in the fall!) and my mom said I could go with them, so that was pretty cool. The sight of thousands of people while looking down from Capitol Hill was awe inspiring. We finished the march by praying in front of the Supreme Court building.

After rejoining the Awesome Group, we got lunch at the Old Post Office and went on a tour of Washington! We walked to the White House (I have a funny story to tell about that) and then drove to the Lincoln Memorial (HUGE!), the Korean War Memorial, and the Iwo Jima Memorial (found the extra hand!)
All in all it was a wonderful day! Even in the face of depressing news, the memory of seeing all those who stood up for Life and knowing that there were millions more who didn't come, gives hope that somehow and in someway we did make a difference. (I had fantasies of Obama seeing all the pro-lifers and coming out and promising not to sign FOCA... needless to say, that didn't happen. =( )

-4-

The People
I met so many great people on this trip, including, most excitingly:
MY FORUM "DAUGHTER"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!! I met Puritylover and she was with the Awesome Group too, so we spent three whole days together!!!!!!!!!! It was awesome!!!!! Purity is the one without the hat, isn't she gorgeous?
I also met Purity's sister, Catholicgirl, who happens to be my great niece... oh my gosh! She's my great niece!!!! *faints* I didn't realize that! Wow, that's weird... and I also met Ella11, another *cough* great niece. Ha ha, and they are both great nieces! (Sorry for the horrid pun). I tried to meet up with Paul and Lanta, but alas it did not work out. I did get to talk to them though!!!! (Kind of, the D.C. reception was horrid.) I actually talked to Paul, all I really got to say to Lanta was "hi" and "bye", because I couldn't hear what she was saying.

-5-

Notre Dame
On the way home yesterday from D.C., the Awesome Group stopped in South Bend Indianna for a visit to Notre Dame University. The University graciously allowed us to use one of the dorm chapels for mass, which was really nice. After mass we walked to the Basillica on the campus. It was so beautiful! The ceilings were very tall, and the most gorgeous paintings on them. The tabernacle (left) was amazing as well, as were the many relics of the saints. They still had their Nativity scene up, which was really cool! After a few moments in the Basillica, we went to the Lourdes Grotto where I lit a candle for you all. Then it was back on the road again, homeward bound.

------------------------------------

That's it for today's quick takes, but rest assured, there shall be many more posts! In the meantime...

Below is a Mr. Linky list if you'd like to add a link to your own 5 Quick Takes post. (1) Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your post and not your main blog URL. (2) Include a link back here.

I look forward to reading your posts!

I'm Heading Out!

See you all in a few days!

Just a reminder

Just a quick note to remind you all about starting the novena to stop FOCA today. It using the rosary as the perfered novena of choice - for Catholics - but if you wanted to pray another prayer, or - even better - pray two novena's, then I would once again recommendthe Novena To The Infant of Prauge. Who better to ask help for children than the Child Jesus himself? Here is the novena below:

Powerful Novena in Urgent Need to the Infant of Prague

O Jesus, who said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you," through the intercession of Mary, Your most holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.
(Mention your request)

O Jesus, who said "All that you ask of the Father in My Name He will grant you," through the intercession of Mary, Your most holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Your Father in Your Name that my prayer be granted.
(Mention your request)

O Jesus, who said "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass," through the intercession of Mary, Your most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.

(Mention your request)

Amen.

It struck me that today - the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - is a wonderful and special day to begin a novena to pray for deliverence from this new attack on Life. Keep it in your thoughts that especially on this day, the baptism of Christ, we are praying that thousands of unborn children may have the chance to be baptized themselves.

FOCA

My mother has passed on this prayer request to me, and I have decided to share it with all of you. Please read it and prayerfully consider participating. This is very important to the future of America.

If you are opposed to abortion, please read the information below and join us in prayer and fasting January 11-19, 2009.

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) will be signed into law if Congress passes it on January 21-22, 2009. The FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion. If signed into law, all limitations on abortion will be lifted, resulting in the following:

1) All hospitals, including Catholic hospitals, will be required to perform abortions upon request. If this happens, Bishops vow to close down all Catholic hospitals - more then 30% of all hospitals in the U.S.

2) Partial birth abortions will be legal and have no limitations.

3) All U.S. taxpayers will be funding abortions.

4) Parental notification of abortions on minors will no longer be required (regardless of age).

5) The estimated number of increase in abortions is 100,000 annually.

Just as important, the government will now have control in the issue of abortion. This could result in a future amendment that would force women by law to have abortions in certain situations (rape, Down Syndrome babies, etc) and could even regulate how many children women are allowed to have.

Needless to say this information is disturbing, but sadly true. As Catholics, as Christians, as anyone who is against the needless killing of innocent children, we must stand as one. We must stop this horrific act before it becomes a law.

PLEASE JOIN US IN saying a novena and fasting from January 11-19. For Catholics, the prayer of choice is the rosary for the special intention of stopping the FOCA. For non-Catholics we encourage you to pray your strongest prayers with the same intention for 9 consecutive days. We hope and pray this will branch and blossom to become a global effort.



Please do the following 3 things:

1) Pass this letter to 5 or more people within 3 days or less (so as many as possible can start praying on January 11)

2) Say a novena from January 11-19, asking God to prevent the FOCA from becoming law in the U.S.

3) Fast at least 2 days during this novena (either a complete fast of bread and water, or a Lenten fast of no meat and meals limited to 1 regular meal and 2 lesser meals during the day).

Remember that with God all things are possible and the power of prayer is undeniable. If you are against the senseless killing of defenseless children, please join us in prayer and fasting.

May God bless you abundantly.

This Novemeber,

Take action.

It is a Poverty

~ re-printed with permissin from A Maiden's Wreath

I believe the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and speak for themselves. And who is more vulnerable, or more innocent, than a child?
--- Sarah Palin

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has heard in these past few weeks a lot of: Catholics have one-track minds. Catholics are one-issue voters. Catholics won't use reason and won't think for themselves.

Because of the unwavering stance of devout Catholics against abortion, many are prompted to make such comments.

I don't consider myself as being a one-issue voter. I do, however, think that I have my priorities straight. When I think of the innocents being slaughtered day after day, and when I think of Christ who suffered and died for the guilty, I can't think of an issue that's higher on the list.

But like I said, I don't consider myself as being a one-issue voter. In voting for life in the best way I'm capable of, I firmly believe that I'm also addressing the other failings of society. I don't see everything as disconnected. I don't see there as being the economy, and then education, and then health-care, and then... one thing is going to impact another in some way. A society's values, or lack of, will effect all aspects of that society.

And I believe that society is founded on the family, and that when babies are being killed in their mother's wombs, family is in a bad state and so is society.

I believe that a society in which thousands are legally butchered daily cannot hope to pull itself out of any mud it's slipped into until it walks away from the gates of hell.

Yes, I'm voting pro-life. I have never apologized for it, and I never intend to. People have and will continue to say that when our country is plunged into poverty and darkness because of my bull-headed one-issue voting, I'll have only myself to thank for it.

Poverty? I happen to agree with Mother Teresa when she said: "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."

Pray for an end to the slaughter. Pray for America, its citizens, and its leaders.

My Power is Made Perfect in Weakness

Today is ProLife Sunday. In memory of this, I would like to share with you part of the 40 Days for Life Devotion that I received today.

The call to participate in 40 Days for Life is a call
to sacrifice. It's a call that, when answered, often
brings unexpected joy, as seen in these postings from
the 40 Days for Life blog:

* Angela wrote, "I am so excited to see so many
people arriving at these clinics to pray for
life!"

* Pat noted, "I am so grateful for the 40 days of
prayer and fasting. Praise Jesus!"

* Julie said, "I believe this campaign could be the
beginning of the end of abortion in this country.
In my adult life, I have yet to dare to have that
hope -- until now.

Unexpected joy arrived one evening at the 40 Days for
Life vigil outside the Planned Parenthood location in
Sioux City, Iowa as people gathered to pray.

A bus from Michigan broke down at the fast food
restaurant right across the street. The bus was
carrying a Christian drama team -- including 13
children with disabilities. The assistant director
saw the vigil across the street, so he walked over
and started asking questions.

Stormy, one of the vigil participants, had a bunch of
questions for him as well. When she found out who
they were and what they did, she asked if they would
put on a play -- right then and there.

"They did! Right there, facing Planned Parenthood,
these special kids and friends re-enacted the Passion
of Christ," Mary reports. "The young man who
portrayed Jesus had Down syndrome. He stretched out
his arms and 'hung on the cross.' "

The assistant director said he cries every time he
watches the kids do this play. "It might have
something to do with the actor playing Jesus," she
said, "who gets so emotional that he can't stop
crying."

Before they left from their home town of Holland,
Michigan, their principal had told them that he
didn't know when or where, but he just had a feeling
they would hold one additional performance at a time
and place that was not listed on their original
schedule.

"We are sure glad it was here," said Mary. "They were
terrific and they were so pleased to perform for
people who respect all life. Their replacement bus
arrived just after the kids were able to receive lots
of applause and thanks and a 40 Days for Life
bracelet."

The death of the innocent Lord and Savior -- staged
in front of Planned Parenthood, an organization
responsible for ending hundreds of thousands of
innocent lives every year; performed by special needs
children, upon whom the abortion industry has
declared open season -- how powerful!

There is indeed joy. And there is indeed hope.

The responses you would like to give to those goofy questions people ask about your family

Hannah at Totus Tuus posted this a week or so ago and in light of the past two days posts, I thought I would share it with you. =) Here is the text, in case the words on the picture are too small to read:

Yes they are all my children and they are awesome!
Yes we have television, we just don't need it!
No this is not some sort of daycare, it's 24/7!
Why should we fix it if it is not broke?
Yes, we know where they came from... God.
We had planned on two, my spouse just can't count.
Yes, we've heard of birth control; No birth and no control.
You should enjoy our large family; our kids will be paying your social security.
We didn't plan the first few, why start now?
Are we done?! We're just getting started!

Gotta love that shirt! Hmm... my mom's birthday is in a few months...

Life Matters ~ Part 2

This is the continuation and finish of the article I posted yesterday. Enjoy!


So, what's wrong with the picture?
Nothing. In fact, what this picture demonstrates is that it is possible and, in some cases, desirable to successfully raise 17 (and soon to be 18) children.

What is wrong is the outrageous condemnation of large families expressed by so many people today. Sadly, even among some of out Catholic brothers and sisters, it is not unusual to hear negative comments about families that have more than the socially accepted 2 child family.

Secular society and, unfortunately, some religious institutions continue to insist that responsible parenthood includes contraception, sterilization and abortion. In 1958, Pope Pius XII commented that "one of the most harmful aberrations that has appeared in modern society with its pagan tendencies is the opinion of those who are eager to classsifyt fruitfulness in marriage as a 'social malady', and who maintain that any nation that finds itself thus afflicted must exert every effort and use every means to cure the disease." It's still true today.

Responsible partenthood.
The Church has never taught that married couples should have a certain number of children, but it does teach about responsible parenthood. WHile married couples are called to be open to life, they may for just reasons limit the size of their families by the practice of Natural Family Planning (NFP). They may not, however, resort to contraceptive means "even if such use is inspired by reasons which my appear honest and serious." [Humanae Vitae #16]

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) summarizes that the "Church encourages people to be 'responsible' stewards over their fertility:

In this view of "responsible parenthood" married couples carefully weigh their responsibilities to God, each other, the children they already have, and the world in which they live when making decision about the number and spacing of children.
Responsible parenthood is lived out within the structures which God has established in human nature. The nature of sexual intercourse, which is both life-giving (pro-creative), and love-giving (unitive), reflects a Divine place. That is why the Church teaches that couples must not actively intervene to separate their fertility from their bodily union. To do so is to show disrespect for an important gift of the Creator."

Even though not of the Catholic faith, the Duggars by all accounts appear to be exercising responsible parenthood. The negative comments about them and about those Catholics with large families is unacceptable.

As Pope Pius XII said, "Wherever you find large families in great numbers, they point to" the physical and moral health of a Christian people; a living faith in God and trust in His Providence; the fruitful and joyful holiness of Catholic marriage."

While not all married couples will be called to have large families, we need to repent of any negative responses we may have about large families and recognize that children are precious gifts. We must also remember that faithful Christian families come in all sizes.

For information on this wonderful Christan family, visit their website: www.duggarfamily.com