Over 20 years ago, author Judie Brown co-founded the American Life League – a grassroots, Catholic, pro-life education organization. She was appointed to the Pontifical Academy for Life by Pope John Paul II (twice) and Pope Benedict XVI. She is solidly and faithfully Catholic.

Judie’s new book The Broken Path: How Catholic Bishops Got Lost in the Weeds of American Politics is not for everybody. Those who are not yet mature in their faith, who are poorly catechized or who are exploring the faith might not be ready for it.

For those who know that Jesus founded one, visible Church – the Catholic Church; for those who know that Christ and his Church are inseparable; for those who love our Lord and His Church; for those who place the genuine teaching of that Church above all else; for those whose faith is unshakable by individual failures of our shepherds — this book IS for you and I strongly recommend it. In fact, I am adding it to my very discriminating Great Books list.

The back cover describes the book as “a work of love for the Church: a must read for every Catholic with a desire to return our nation to a righteous path and our society to a culture of life.” It also notes however, that the truth is not “always flattering: contemporary Catholic leaders in the Church, worthy of praise, are singled out as are others warranting greater scrutiny.” The book delivers mightily on that, detailing events and naming names of bold individual successes, missed opportunities and some sad failures. It is not conjecture or an event log, but a coherent, connected and compelling study of events, both good and (far too often) bad.

This is the backstory that led to Obama’s war on religion. Failures to lead, failures to correct and sometimes tacit support emboldened the president to take unprecedented, immoral and even illegal actions against life, family and religious freedom. To truly understand “how we got here”, read this book. From the first chapter:

The history is evident. What is not clear is why so many priests, bishops, and theologians have opted to dissent from Catholic teaching and have not been chastised. These individuals remain entrenched in the Church without correction of any kind. What is equally mysterious is how we got to this stage when the Church has such a vivid history of fighting against all odds to maintain and defend truth, even at the cost of lives. I cannot think of one martyr, for example, who would have preferred to agree to discard a little bit of truth for the sake of popularity, financial support, or political entrée. The true heroes of the faith would rather die before turning their backs on Christ — and many of them did.

The book is organized into chapters as follows:

1. How It All Began
2. A Diseased Body
3. The Catholic Priesthood in Chaos
4. Kingpins
5. Bureaucrats Speaking for Bishops?
6. Catholic School Daze
7. The Politics of Catholicism
8. Holy Souls or Sacred Cows – The Canon 915 Dilemma
9. Obama Plays Catholics for Fools
10. Perverse Health Care Ethics
11. Contraceptive Cowardice
12. Why Do Bishops Reject Personhood?
13. Holy Priests Are The Cure

This book could not be more timely, yet was published just before the recent HHS mandate and Obama’s war on religion. The 269 page book includes a table of contents, a foreward by Bishop Rene Gracida, acknowledgments, introduction, an appendix, extensive footnotes (30 pages), and an index. It is available in both inexpensive paperback and Kindle formats. Every bishop should read it.

The book ends quoting A Prayer for Priests and Bishops from the Roman Missal:

O God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the eternal High Priest for the glory of Thy Majesty and the salvation of mankind; grant that they whom He hath chosen to be His ministers and the stewards of His mysteries, may be found faithful in the fulfillment of the ministry which they have received. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

This week: The three most deadly words. Larry’s new series – Focus On The Faithless. Elizabeth Scalia, Terence Jeffrey, Jennifer Roback Morse and George Weigel take a sobering look at Obama’s contempt for the constitution. One senator that every pro-lifer should watch. Another prophetic gem from Pope Paul VI. The nanny-state in action – a mini-case study. A sting, guns, forceful pre-dawn takedown – the HHS when they are not busy trampling religious freedoms.

— 1 —

Mix population control with abortion and what do you get? Three of the deadliest words ever spoken – it’s a girl !

— 2 —

Larry over at Acts of the Apostasy is beginning a new series of posts called Focus On The Faithless. This is an intriguing idea, chronicling just how far some have fallen in their disobedience and pride. The first post on Matthew Fox, a former Dominican priest, is now available.

— 3 —

Elizabeth Scalia has been thinking about government, religious freedom and those problematic Catholics. Read the Anchoress’ conclusions in Obama’s HHS: Bring on the Penal Laws!.

Terence Jeffrey wonders if there are any limits to the government ordering you to buy something or ordering someone else to give you something for “free”. If they are consistent, then apparently not. Read his thoughts in Can Obama Order Grocers to Give Away Bread?. He raises a good point.

Jennifer Roback Morse takes a careful look at what has happened, is happening and in the process of happening and concludes Obama Repeals First Amendment. She also makes a good case. Maybe people just don’t care about religious freedom any longer.

George Weigel ties it all together saying: “It is no exaggeration to describe that cast of mind as ‘soft totalitarianism’: an effort to eliminate the vital role in health care, education, and social service played by the institutions of civil society, unless those institutions become extensions of the state.” Is this the freedom so many have fought and died for? See his piece: HHS and Soft Totalitarianism.

— 4 —

I have long been a fan of Marco Rubio, a young US senator from Florida. He not only claims a pro-life position, but really – REALLY – gets it. On February 1st he gave a keynote to Susan B. Anthony’s Gala for Life. It is in 3 parts, but worth every minute:

Continue with part 2 and part 3.

— 5 —

Russ Rentler points out that Pope Paul VI predicted the HHS mandate – in 1968. In Humanae Vitae he wrote:

Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone.

— 6 —

Liberal dreams of the nanny-state include not only educating you about good and bad, but intervention when you fall short of their ideals. Such is the case of a 4 year old girl in North Carolina. Imagine the horror of school officials when they discovered the contents of her home packed lunch:

• a turkey and cheese sandwich
• a banana
• chips
• apple juice

An outrage! Fortunately, they were alert and able to intervene – replacing that shoddy excuse for a lunch by an approved cafeteria meal of chicken nuggets. A close call in deed. The Daily Caller has the gory details, spotted by Patrick Archbold at CMR.

One must wonder what lunch atrocities are forced upon innocent children by parents who home school. Steps must be taken.

— 7 —

Law breakers are the scourge of society. Fortunately, Obama’s HHS is not too busy trampling religious freedom to protect us from criminal desperados.

Recently an undercover sting operation was conducted to gather evidence in a diabolical plot. Under the cover of darkness – armed HHS agents (from their FDA), weapons drawn, swooped in upon the criminal element in their nefarious lair.

The criminal, the location and the offense? Amish farmer Daniel Allgyer, at his Rainbow Acres Farm for selling unpasteurized milk to people who wanted to buy it, across state lines. Fortunately, none of his 7 children were harmed during the raid as no resistance was offered.

The Washington Times has the report: Feds shut down Amish farm for selling fresh milk, spotted by Father Z.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler to address this blogging need, but is guest hosted this week by Hallie Lord at Betty Beguiles. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen (and Hallie) for hosting this project!

Nothing has changed.

You may be surprised by that statement, given the promotion in the media of Obama’s “compromise.” There is no compromise and none was offered. In fact, if anything Obama has doubled-down on his position. Catholics, individually and institutionally, must fund abortifacients (drugs to induce abortions) and sterilizations.

No compromise offered

As you recall, we find it a direct assault on our freedom of religion to be forced to purchase contraceptive (including abortifacient) and sterilization coverage.

Obama said, fine. Those with objections do not have to purchase such coverage. However, the insurance plans they do purchase MUST include these exact, same coverages “for free.” Obviously all insurance plans will be priced accordingly.

He must think we are that stupid. Obama is saying “look at it this way, you are not directly paying for these abhorrent coverages, but instead they will be included in the only insurance plans that will be legally available to you; you can pretend that you are not paying for them.”

This changes absolutely nothing. It does, however, give those Catholics who love Obama more than Christ and His Church some political cover to choose Obama. This has worked before for him, but this time – maybe not so well.

The bishops respond

Today, the President has done two things.

First, he has decided to retain HHS’s nationwide mandate of insurance coverage of sterilization and contraception, including some abortifacients. This is both unsupported in the law and remains a grave moral concern. We cannot fail to reiterate this, even as so many would focus exclusively on the question of religious liberty.

Second, the President has announced some changes in how that mandate will be administered, which is still unclear in its details. As far as we can tell at this point, the change appears to have the following basic contours:

It would still mandate that all insurers must include coverage for the objectionable services in all the policies they would write. At this point, it would appear that self-insuring religious employers, and religious insurance companies, are not exempt from this mandate.

…

We just received information about this proposal for the first time this morning; we were not consulted in advance. Some information we have is in writing and some is oral. We will, of course, continue to press for the greatest conscience protection we can secure from the Executive Branch. But stepping away from the particulars, we note that today’s proposal continues to involve needless government intrusion in the internal governance of religious institutions, and to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions. In a nation dedicated to religious liberty as its first and founding principle, we should not be limited to negotiating within these parameters. The only complete solution to this religious liberty problem is for HHS to rescind the mandate of these objectionable services.

We will therefore continue?with no less vigor, no less sense of urgency?our efforts to correct this problem through the other two branches of government. For example, we renew our call on Congress to pass, and the Administration to sign, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. And we renew our call to the Catholic faithful, and to all our fellow Americans, to join together in this effort to protect religious liberty and freedom of conscience for all.

Bishops Renew Call To Legislative Action On Religious Liberty

Many, many individual bishops have continued to speak out.

Mr. President, you are trying to resolve the wrong problem. Your HHS new federal rule governing mandated health care services is not just about women’s services and who pays for them.

Rather, the real question is what protections and guarantees are afforded Americans and our various institutions by the Constitution. Your ill-placed focus should be frightening to all Americans.

Freedom of conscience and religious liberty are not concessions grudgingly granted by the Federal Government–either directly, or by way of exemption or exception. Our nation was founded on those basic and inalienable rights as the bedrock of who we are as Americans. Our Constitution was written precisely to reject and to avoid the dreadful English model whereby the king and the government are the granter of all rights–as well as the single power to withdraw, limit, or negate those rights.

As a Catholic American, I am outraged not only by your incredulous contortions to justify your untenable position, I am insulted that you would think that Americans who value and treasure our Constitutional freedoms would even question your overreaching infringement on individual freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.

Your “accommodation” actually makes the entire matter far worse. Every effort must be undertaken to reverse your ill-conceived revocation of our Constitutional rights.

I encourage all Catholics and millions of others of good will in our country to challenge candidates for election to Congress and to the presidency to take a strong stance in favor of guaranteeing and protecting our nation’s Constitutional rights.

I fear, Mr. President, that either you “don’t get it,” or even worse, you do “get it” and are intentionally trampling upon and reversing our Constitutional rights.

Cardinal Roger Mahoney

The current administration prides itself on being measured and deliberate.

The current HHS mandate needs to be understood as exactly that. Commentators are using words like “gaffe,” “ill conceived,” and “mistake” to describe the mandate. They’re wrong.

It’s impossible to see this regulation as some happenstance policy. It has been too long in the making.

Despite all of its public apprehension about “culture warriors” on the political right in the past, the current administration has created an HHS mandate that is the embodiment of culture war. At its heart is a seemingly deep distrust of the formative role religious faith has on personal and social conduct, and a deep distaste for religion’s moral influence on public affairs. To say that this view is contrary to the Founders” thinking and the record of American history would be an understatement.

Critics may characterize my words here as partisan or political. These are my personal views, and of course people are free to disagree. But it is this administration – not Catholic ministries, or institutions, or bishops – that chose the timing and nature of the fight. The onus is entirely on the White House, which also has the power to remove the issue from public conflict.

Catholics should not be misled into accepting feeble compromises on issues of principle. The HHS mandate is bad law; and not merely bad, but dangerous and insulting. It needs to be withdrawn – now.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

Bishop Edward J. Slattery comments:

Catholics in the Democrat party have an exceptionally terrible record on life and family issues. One stood against the lack of of conscience protections in Obamacare and speaks-out now.

I am enormously disappointed by today’s announcement. All the facts indicate that the ‘new’ mandate is the same as the ‘old’ mandate. New words, same policy.

Our understanding of the new policy is now limited to a Fact Sheet put out by the White House. This document says ‘Religious organizations will not have to provide contraceptive coverage or refer their employees to organizations that provide contraception.’ But the health care law says that all employers must provide health insurance for their employees or pay a penalty. And according to the White House these same insurance plans that employers must provide ‘will be required to provide contraception coverage to these women free of charge.’ So religious organizations have to provide health care coverage from insurance companies that are required to provide abortion drugs, sterilization, and contraception. What changed? This is the same policy.

We need a rule that protects religious liberty by allowing employers to provide health insurance coverage that does not include abortion drugs and other services that violate their conscience and religious doctrine. Instead we got a so-called compromise that is no compromise at all and provides no options for those with profound religious and moral objections to providing these services. To say that the insurer and not the employer is required to provide the coverage is a fiction. There is no accommodation for religious liberty. The rule remains coercive and still violates the long-standing tradition of protection for conscience rights in federal law.

Rep. Dan Lipinski
Catholic Democrat from Illinois

Could we compromise if one were actually offered?

Consider this analogy: Obama comes and takes your car away. He just comes and steals it. It was your car, you paid for it, but now it is gone. You object strenuously to this theft.

Obama has heard your complaint of theft and has “compromised.” Instead of theft, your car has been involuntarily donated to him. You should no longer be upset that your car was stolen, it has simply been redistributed in the interest of other transportation needs.

Sr. Keehan (see below) praises Obama for responding to your opposition to theft. You still object saying nothing has changed. The media talks about your bishop forcing his transportation view on everyone else. This is where we are now.

Would you be happy if Obama offered a real compromise vs. word games and redefinitions?

Would you be satisfied if he offered to return the contents of your car? How about if he met you half-way, offering to return the engine, drive train and wheels? Would it make any difference to you if it were only other people’s cars?

[The Ironic Catholic offers another analogy: Religious Institutions Forced to Pay for Employees' Slaves]

The big lie continues

Obama’s friends in the mainstream media continue to discuss this falsely as a contraceptive issue (see my piece from Friday).

Now, in addition to the misrepresentation of the issue, the liberal media can trot out a handful of dissident Catholics to thank Obama. In fact, the administration had Sister Carol Keehan queued-up to support his “compromise” before the announcement. You may recall that Keehan earns over $1M per year as president of the Catholic Health Association, is a die-hard Obama supporter, and has made a career for herself opposing both Church teaching and authority. Father Z calls her the Magisterium of the Nuns.

Speaking of liberal media, few can claim to be more biased than MSNBC. Their brains must have exploded when they invited author Eric Metaxas to talk about his new book and he compared Obama to Nazi Dietrich Bonhoeffer (the subject of said book). Talk about going off their narrative…

Further Reading

Here is a good sampling of the zillion articles written on this topic in the last week:

• The full statement from our bishops
• 10 Ways the Obama Administration Has Alienated Catholics
• A Message to the Administration from the Communion of Saints on the HHS Mandate
• A Potemkin Village of a compromise
• An ‘accommodation’ that makes the birth-control mandate worse
• An affront Catholics agree on
• Bad Statistics in Defense of the HHS Mandate
• Being Catholic means ‘paying a price,’ says Detroit archbishop
• Caesar Overreaching Once Again
• Card. Burke Encourages Catholics to Sign Online Petition to Stop the Birth Control Mandate
• Cardinal-Designate Dolan: We Cannot – We Will Not – Comply With This Unjust Law
• Catholic League’s Donohue: ‘Obama Must Think We’re Stupid’
• Catholic and pro-life leaders slam White House ‘compromise’ on birth control mandate
• Christian and Religious Leaders Also Oppose HHS Mandate
• Contraception mandate violates religious freedom
• Contraceptive “compromise” worse than original mandate: Eliminates any exceptions
• Democrats to Catholics: “We don’t want you”
• Don’t Be Deceived! Evil Obama Policy Now Even MORE Evil!
• EWTN Files Suit to Block Contraception Mandate
• First They Came for the Catholics: Obama’s Contraceptive Mandate
• Interfaith leaders stand with Catholics against administration
• Like Your Freedom? Thank a Church.
• No Exemption for Catholics – But for Others? Sure!
• Obama Administration Offers False “Compromise” on Abortion-Drug Mandate
• Obama Has Picked the Wrong Fight
• Obama Heals!
• Obama administration to offer religious organizations a “choice” – a Hobson’s choice
• Obama has formally declared war on all religions
• Obama plays his Catholic allies for fools
• Obama the Groper: Get Your Hands Off Our Rights!
• Obama vs. Our “Obsolete” Constitution
• Obama’s Trampling on God’s Turf Now
• Obama’s Frightening ‘Adjustment’
• Obamacare vs. the Catholics
• Orthodox prelates join Catholic bishops in protesting Obama mandate
• “Our Task Is Far From Over”: The Bishops Take On the “Accommodation”
• Pastor Rick Warren: I’d Rather Go to Jail Than Obey Mandate
• Politics and Principle in the Contraception Mandate
• Pope Paul VI and Humanae Vitae: I Told You So
• Pope Paul VI: A Prophet For Our Time
• President Obama and Justice Ginsburg on America’s “Rather Old Constitution”
• “The Embodiment of Culture War”: On the Mandate and “Accommodation,” Chaput Speaks
• The Right Not to Do Wrong and the Politics of Ruse
• The bishops’ tougher response to the Obama ‘compromise’ mandate
• This isn’t about The Pill
• Tyrant King Attempts Head Fake
• USCCB’s pro-life head goes Maccabees on HHS rule – ‘not just about eating a little pork’
• Unacceptable – former Vatican Ambassador, Prof. Robert George, others respond
• United We Stand
• WH: We Are Done Negotiating With Catholics
• Why the HHS Mandate Is The Biggest Issue Since Roe V Wade

There is a significant effort running in the mainstream media to obfuscate the truth. The truth is Obama’s HHS mandate crushes freedom of religion by forcing not only our laity, but charities, hospitals, schools, universities and other faith-based organizations to fund the grave evils of abortion (through abortifacients) and sterilization. There are no applicable exceptions (absolutely none).

That is a rough narrative, too difficult to report without making the administration look bad (which no one cares about) and loosing votes (which they do). So, the media has changed the narrative. “It is all about contraceptives!” “The Catholic bishops do not want you to have access to the pill!!!”

When many people hear that, they will conclude it is no big deal – including most Catholics. Many will look no further, having been successfully misled by the media. It is an ingenious ploy that we must not allow to succeed. Here it is in action:

The piece also features a White House spokesman, saying “tough beans” (listen very carefully to what he says) which CNN spins into an “offer of compromise.” There is no such offer and even if there were, we can not compromise on the truth of our faith. Millions will see that one piece and hundreds or thousands more reports just like it. Please, do not let them frame this naked attack on religious freedom that way. The truth is:

Why should you be staunchly opposed to this aggression against the American people?

• Everyone: it is a direct, unprecedented attack on a fundamental freedom (the very first in the Bill of Rights)
• Everyone: it is a further encroachment of government against your liberty, removing your freedom of choice and abridging your rights
• Religious: it forces the will of God into second place behind the will of secular government
• Religious: you fund and promote the culture of death; there is no opt-out

You can stop reading now, unless you are interested in the 2nd big lie that is.

The Obama administration’s attack on fundamental religious freedom raises the issue of contraceptives. Fine, maybe this is an opportunity for God to bring good from evil. Odds are that you, dear reader, use birth control. I am not judging you and know that you have your reasons. This stuff costs money and Obama is offering you a free pony (or so you think, you poor misled soul). You may support Church teaching in most areas, but think that “they” got it wrong on this point.

Let me offer a counter point from a secular source: Business Insider. Of all places, this is not one you would expect to care what the Church thinks – and they don’t. Yet, they look at the facts with integrity and surprise themselves!

Painting the Catholic Church as “out of touch” is like shooting fish in a barrel, what with the funny hats and gilded churches. And nothing makes it easier than the Church’s stance against contraception.

Many people, (including our editor) are wondering why the Catholic Church doesn’t just ditch this requirement. They note that most Catholics ignore it, and that most everyone else finds it divisive, or “out-dated.” C’mon! It’s the 21st century, they say! Don’t they SEE that it’s STUPID, they scream.

Here’s the thing, though: the Catholic Church is the world’s biggest and oldest organization. It has buried all of the greatest empires known to man, from the Romans to the Soviets. It has establishments literally all over the world, touching every area of human endeavor. It’s given us some of the world’s greatest thinkers, from Saint Augustine on down to René Girard. When it does things, it usually has a good reason. Everyone has a right to disagree, but it’s not that they’re a bunch of crazy old white dudes who are stuck in the Middle Ages.

So, what’s going on?

The Church teaches that love, marriage, sex, and procreation are all things that belong together. That’s it. But it’s pretty important. And though the Church has been teaching this for 2,000 years, it’s probably never been as salient as today.

Today’s injunctions against birth control were re-affirmed in a 1968 document by Pope Paul VI called Humanae Vitae. He warned of four results if the widespread use of contraceptives was accepted:

1. General lowering of moral standards
2. A rise in infidelity, and illegitimacy
3. The reduction of women to objects used to satisfy men.
4. Government coercion in reproductive matters.

Does that sound familiar?

Because it sure sounds like what’s been happening for the past 40 years.

As George Akerloff wrote in Slate over a decade ago,

By making the birth of the child the physical choice of the mother, the sexual revolution has made marriage and child support a social choice of the father.

Instead of two parents being responsible for the children they conceive, an expectation that was held up by social norms and by the law, we now take it for granted that neither parent is necessarily responsible for their children. Men are now considered to be fulfilling their duties merely by paying court-ordered child-support. That’s a pretty dramatic lowering of standards for “fatherhood.”

Read the whole article: Time To Admit It: The Church Has Always Been Right On Birth Control. There is more and it is surprising considering the source.

Another good article on “the big lie” (mainstream media changing the narrative to something they can successfully defend) comes from Kathleen Parker at North County Times. Her piece is: This isn’t about The Pill.

The Obama administration’s war against religion continues with no sign of backing down. In a nut shell, our President insists that we Catholics fund (buy, pay for) contraceptives, abortifacients (drugs to induce abortions) and sterilization coverage – making these tools of Satan universally available to all in America at our expense. See my earlier piece for full details.

9 days ago, US Catholic bishops around the country denounced President Obama’s action in the strongest terms. The Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in North America (representing 53 Orthodox bishops) has also agreed with the USCCB, as have conservative Protestant groups. Individual US bishops around the country have issued statements, often read aloud at Mass. Below is an interactive map showing which bishops by state:

Hover (move your mouse pointer) over a state for info. Click to enlarge.

The data for the above map was provided by Tom Peters on his excellent CatholicVote.org website. More data and analysis is available there. If you have any updates, please leave him a comment.

Dispatches from the White House

The administration has held press conferences and conference calls to obfuscate the issue, backed by statements lacking “truthiness”. Stephen White wrote for the National Review Online:

One senior administration official did address the matter of coverage for abortifacients, insisting that the mandate did not include coverage for, as they put it, “drugs that cause abortion.” This is false.

Take the example of ella (ulipristal acetate), which the mandate covers. It’s true that since ella has not been adequately studied as a human abortifacient, the FDA hasn’t approved it as an abortifacient. The FDA does point out that since it’s pretty good at causing abortions in rats and monkeys, doctors should apprise their patients of potential fetal hazards: The primary fetal hazard being death. So when the senior administration official said the mandate didn’t cover “drugs that cause abortion,” what she seems to have meant is that it doesn’t cover drugs that are FDA-approved as abortifacients.

Numerous distortions and misrepresentations continue on-line, including this piece on the White House website. The USCCB quickly responded:

The Obama administration, to justify its widely criticized mandate for contraception and sterilization coverage in private health plans, has posted a set of false and misleading claims on the White House blog (“Health Reform, Preventive Services, and Religious Institutions,” February 1). In what follows, each White House claim is quoted with a response.

Please click here to read the complete, detailed point-by-point response from our bishops.

Catholic Democrats Who Supported Obama

Many Catholics supported Obama in 2008 based upon promises of a new day for non-partisan politics, a post-racial America, an end to constitutional abuses, closing Guantanamo, opportunity for all and much more. So many promises…

Obama’s frontal assault on our faith may be the last straw. Michelle Bauman writing for the Catholic News Agency:

According to Condon, the mandate provoked an “explosion of anger” and has left many Catholics feeling disappointed with President Obama.

Many Catholics who supported Obama in the 2008 election and defended his controversial appearance at Notre Dame in 2009 are also now left disillusioned by the realization that Obama does not understand “Catholic sensitivities,” as they had thought.

Condon said that although not all Catholics follow the Church’s teaching on birth control, the “American Catholic backlash” against the mandate has united the Church in a fight against a government attempt to regulate its ministries and employees

You know things are bad when Catholic, Obama cheer-leader, Obama’s (past) man in Malta – Doug Kmiec – has doubts. Doug was able to rationalize his way through the the termination of life at the beginning, destruction of marriage in the middle and termination of life at the end. With some presidential stroking he will probably relapse in his Obama addiction – BUT when recently asked about his support for Obama in 2012 he wrote:

Until I have an opportunity to speak with the president, I am for now (unhappily) without a candidate.

Catholics for Obama, don’t be fooled any longer. Obama is very charismatic and his words sound so good, but his actions have repeatedly spoken much louder. Your Church is calling for your help. Will you finally answer?

Celebration!

So, in light of the “FINAL” decision of HHS for the administration’s mandate, without change, who could possibly be happy with this disaster?

Yes, they really did make this tasteless video in celebration. Like them, it is offensive on so many levels.

Nancy Pelosi, while not yet dancing in the street, applauds the HHS mandate as a “courageous decision”:

Nancy, as you can see, continues to speak as a Catholic. Opposing the entire bishop’s conference is nothing new. Many are growing weary of her schtick.

This week: Susan G. Komen for the Cure no longer re-gifting contributions to Planned Parenthood. Putting abortion into the perspective of the metrics of death. Taylor Mali on being cool. Updating the Holy Bible with a certain sensitivity. Larry finishes The Illustrated Progressive Catholic Alphabet. Another touching homecoming. The quote of the week.

— 1 —

Has Susan G. Komen for the Cure seen the light? Komen has been a big supporter of Planned Parenthood, re-gifting money people raised for critically needed breast cancer research to the nations biggest abortion-mill operator. I wrote about this previously here, here and here.

Good news! They are apparently going to stop sending your money to PP. However, before we declare success and Komen rehabilitated, there are a few points worth noting. (1) they have announced this only internally – no promises, no mea culpa. (2) their reason wasn’t the immorality of PP, only that PP is under federal investigation – Komen is not committing to anything after that investigation ends. (3) many on Komen’s board remain close to PP. (4) While not announcing the policy change, Komen did stress in an interview that they do not accuse PP of any wrongdoing, “want to maintain a positive relationship with them”, and are “not making any judgment.”

I am thrilled by their new, unannounced position but would not call it a change of heart. Komen should be supported now but monitored carefully.

UPDATE: Indeed, Komen has now reversed their position under the tremendous weight of the liberal media and supporters. They are restoring funding to Planned Parenthood and have apologized for cutting-off funds to the abortion giant. As before, money raised for Komen is, in part, money raised for the notorious abortuary chain operator.

— 2 —

Some numbers to put abortion into perspective:

— 3 —

“In case you hadn’t realized, it has somehow become uncool to sound like you know what you’re talking about…”

These observations from Taylor Mali are really funny. And sad. It reminds me of OWS communications-speak and that of others who aspire to similar heights of logic and clarity of thought.

— 4 —

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, cleanse them by water in the name of Allah, his Messiah and his Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

This is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) as represented in a new Protestant Bible. No more “Father” or “Son” as that is offensive to…   Muslims. This is what happens without the authority of the Catholic Church. Read more at Weasel Zippers on this story spotted by Matthew Archbold.

— 5 —

Larry over at Acts of the Apostasy has completed The Illustrated Progressive Catholic Alphabet. It would be hilarious if it were not so true. Four parts cover all the letters: one, two, three and four.

— 6 —

— 7 —

The quote of the week is from our Holy Father on the true meaning of justice and peace:

Justice is not a mere human convention. When, in the name of supposed justice, the criteria of utility, profit, and material possession come to dominate, the value and dignity of human beings can be trampled underfoot. Justice is a virtue which guides the human will, prompting us to give others what is due to them by reason of their existence and their actions. Likewise, peace is not the mere absence of war, or the result of man’s actions to avoid conflict; it is, above all, a gift of God which must be implored with faith, and which has the way to its fulfillment in Jesus. True peace must be constructed day after day with compassion, solidarity, fraternity, and collaboration on everyone’s part.

Pope Benedict XVI

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

It is not hyperbole. I wish it was.

We Catholics are not generally confrontational. We prefer working with people to working against them. We know God is in each of us. Despite the efforts of some to rewrite history, we know our country was founded on religious freedom and cherish that. As Catholics, we are proud of our contributions to building this nation – the universities, hospitals, adoption services, services to the poor, advancement of science and so much more.

What would it take to make our most liberal bishops and the USCCB, to publicly and loudly protest against a president they want to support? Why did so many bishops write letters to their flocks, often directed to be read aloud (an extraordinary act), at Mass last weekend? Effectively an open declaration of war against us.

This has been building for some time. We saw in administration speeches the redefinition of “freedom of religion” to “freedom of worship” – you can believe what you want, but not live it if it conflicts with their godless secular “values.” We have seen the administration withhold funds as a club against our own states and sovereign nations who do not accept abortion or unnatural unions. We have seen funding removed from critically needed, immensely effective Catholic social services, in favor of acknowledged inferior providers.

Notable skirmishes have been the lack of legally binding conscience provisions in Obamacare. We lost that. More recently the administration turned their heavy artillery against our “personnel.” The Obama administration’s position was that we can not “discriminate” in our hiring and firing of ministers based on all the leading-edge secular criteria. If you are not following, that means women priests, homosexual priests, etc. Incredibly (I was shocked), the Supreme Court UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED that.

So what is the fuss all about now? Obamacare has come home to roost. Those promises and conscience protections guaranteed by his executive order and in numerous speeches – non-existent. In fact, quite the opposite. By the administration’s decree – health plans must include (1) contraceptives, (2) abortifacients, (3) sterilization. A view that pregnancy is a disease that must be treated. An anti-life position we find repugnant. No plan without such immoral coverage shall be legally available whether you like it or not. MOREOVER, the Church itself must offer such abhorrent plans to her employees. Of course, that is impossible for us so this would force us to drop healthcare coverage and pay huge fines for doing so.

The message Mr. Obama is sending, says Mr. Winters, is “that there is no room in this great country of ours for the institutions our Church has built over the years to be Catholic in ways that are important to us.”

Mr. Winters is not alone. The liberal Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop emeritus of Los Angeles, blogged that he “cannot imagine a more direct and frontal attack on freedom of conscience” – and he urged people to fight it. Another liberal favorite, Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, Fla., has raised the specter of “civil disobedience” and vowed that he will drop coverage for diocesan workers rather than comply. They are joined in their expressions of discontent by the leaders of Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities, which alone employs 70,000 people.

William McGurn
Wall Street Journal

OK. With all the political noise out there you may not have been following this. Maybe you think that your bishop has over-reacted. Besides your bishop, who does this upset? Our Holy Father. Cardinal-designate and president of the USCCB Timothy Dolan. Our most liberal bishops.

In the light of these considerations, it is imperative that the entire Catholic community in the United States come to realize the grave threats to the Church’s public moral witness presented by a radical secularism which finds increasing expression in the political and cultural spheres. The seriousness of these threats needs to be clearly appreciated at every level of ecclesial life. Of particular concern are certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion. Many of you have pointed out that concerted efforts have been made to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices. Others have spoken to me of a worrying tendency to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience.

Pope Benedict XVI

Scarcely two weeks ago, in its Hosanna-Tabor decision upholding the right of churches to make ministerial hiring decisions, the Supreme Court unanimously and enthusiastically reaffirmed these longstanding and foundational principles of religious freedom. The court made clear that they include the right of religious institutions to control their internal affairs.

Yet the Obama administration has veered in the opposite direction. It has refused to exempt religious institutions that serve the common good – including Catholic schools, charities and hospitals – from its sweeping new health-care mandate that requires employers to purchase contraception, including abortion-producing drugs, and sterilization coverage for their employees.

Last August, when the administration first proposed this nationwide mandate for contraception and sterilization coverage, it also proposed a “religious employer” exemption. But this was so narrow that it would apply only to religious organizations engaged primarily in serving people of the same religion. As Catholic Charities USA’s president, the Rev. Larry Snyder, notes, even Jesus and His disciples would not qualify for the exemption in that case, because they were committed to serve those of other faiths.

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan
Archbishop of New York
President of USCCB

This decision from the Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] is from the highest level of Federal government, and I cannot imagine that this decision was released without the explicit knowledge and approval of President Barack Obama.

And I cannot imagine a more direct and frontal attack on freedom of conscience than this ruling today. This decision must be fought against with all the energies the Catholic Community can muster.

For me there is no other fundamental issue as important as this one as we enter into the Presidential and Congressional campaigns. Every candidate must be pressed to declare his/her position on all of the fundamental life issues, especially the role of government to determine what conscience decision must be followed: either the person’s own moral and conscience decision, or that dictated/enforced by the Federal government. For me the answer is clear: we stand with our moral principles and heritage over the centuries, not what a particular Federal government agency determines.

As Bishops we do not recommend candidates for any elected office. My vote on November 6 will be for the candidate for President of the United States and members of Congress who intend to recognize the full spectrum of rights under the many conscience clauses of morality and public policy. If any candidate refuses to acknowledge and to promote those rights, then that candidate will not receive my vote.

Cardinal Roger Mahony
Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles

In previous generations, Catholics were protected against individual and organized prejudice by an exemplary legal system. In a society that is pluralistic in its moral standards, the law always provided religious exemptions and conscience clauses that protected both individuals and religious institutions. These traditional safeguards of liberty can no longer be taken for granted. Now it is the law itself that has become, in some instances, our adversary. This is a new development for Catholics in America: the legal system is being changed to remove protections for our faith and our religious liberty. Catholics risk being once again excluded from the American consensus. That is my fear.

Francis Cardinal George
Archbishop of Chicago

I am writing to you on a matter of grave moral concern – freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so).

Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory
Archbishop of Atlanta
(my bishop)

It is really hard to believe that it happened. It comes like a slap in the face. The Obama administration has just told the Catholics of the United States, “To Hell with you!? There is no other way to put it.

…

Let’s be blunt. This whole process of mandating these guidelines undermines the democratic process itself. In this instance, the mandate declares pregnancy a disease, forces a culture of contraception and abortion on society, all while completely bypassing the legislative process.

This is government by fiat that attacks the rights of everyone – not only Catholics; not only people of all religion. At no other time in memory or history has there been such a governmental intrusion on freedom not only with regard to religion, but even across-the-board with all citizens. It forces every employer to subsidize an ideology or pay a penalty while searching for alternatives to health care coverage. It undermines the whole concept and hope for health care reform by inextricably linking it to the zealotry of pro-abortion bureaucrats.

…

Kathleen Sebelius and through her, the Obama administration, have said “To Hell with You” to the Catholic faithful of the United States.

• To Hell with your religious beliefs,
• To Hell with your religious liberty,
• To Hell with your freedom of conscience.

Most Reverend David A. Zubik
Bishop of Pittsburgh

The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people – the Catholic population and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

…

We cannot – we will not – comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr
Archbishop of Cincinnati

In every area touching the sanctity of human life and issues of sexual morality, the Obama administration is aggressively prosecuting the agenda its critics predicted and its most ardent left-wing supporters hoped for. Those who are driving the train, including key administration officials who self-identify as members of the Catholic Church, have no regard for the ethical beliefs of Catholics and others when they are in conflict with left-liberal orthodoxy. Their task, as they perceive it, is to fortify and expand the “right to abortion” and “sexual freedom” wherever they can.

…

Pro-life citizens, including many Catholics, who in 2008 allowed themselves to be persuaded that Obama wouldn’t, as his critics warned, push abortion hard and run roughshod over the religious liberty and rights of conscience of Catholics and other pro-life citizens and their institutions, have now gotten a rude awakening. His administration revealed its contempt for religious freedom and the rights of people and communities of faith when it embraced an extreme and utterly untenable position on the ministerial exemption in the Hosanna-Tabor case. In case anyone thought that was some sort of isolated mistake, the President’s abortifacient and contraception mandate leaves the matter in no doubt.

Professor Robert P. George
McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence
Director, James Madison Program

The language is Orwellian. With stunning magnanimity, Sebelius tells Catholic non-profits that they can take advantage of their one-year reprieve as long as they seek the blessings of the federal government. If they pass muster with the bureaucrats, then they have time to figure out how they can prostitute their religiously ground convictions, or prepare for bankruptcy. To top things off, after shoving the radical secular agenda down the throat of Catholics – and other people of faith who share their concerns – Sebelius congratulates the Obama administration for striking a “balance” between religious liberty and Obamacare. But, of course, no balance was struck: the edict grants nothing to those who believe in religious liberty, and she knows it.

Bill Donohue
Catholic League President

Some months ago HHS refused to award an anti-trafficking grant to the U.S. Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services (MRS). It did so despite MRS’s scoring higher on an objective scale (according to the government’s independent advisors evaluating grant applications) than two of the three organizations that were awarded grants. (And two of those scored so low that they were deemed unqualified.) I suggested then that HHS had an ABC rule, “Anybody But Catholics.” Now I wonder if ABC isn’t also the answer to who gets freedom of religion.

Sister Mary Ann Walsh
USCCB Communications

The present secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, a bitter fallen-away Catholic, now requires that all insurance, even when issued privately, must carry coverage for evil and grave sin. Most Reverend Fabian Bruskewitz, Bishop of Lincoln

I am honestly horrified that the nation I have always loved has come to this hateful and radical step in religious intolerance. Most Reverend Daniel Jenky, Bishop of Peoria

A dangerous line has been crossed. Most Reverend Paul Loverde, Bishop of Arlington

The HHS mandate tramples religious freedom. Most Reverend Allen Vigneron, Bishop of Detroit

This is all new, in the sense that never before in our history has any government simply issued a decree emptying the religious convictions and conscience protections of all the institutions that serve the poor. Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington

…deep disappointment at this unprecedented infringement on religious liberty in our country. Most Reverend Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston

This is the logical result of a seismic change in this administration’s approach to religious groups involved in providing social services to, among others, the poor, the homeless, the sick, the immigrant. Most Reverend John Nienstedt, Archbishop of Minneapolis – St. Paul

First of all, it’s much broader than just contraceptives, the Order also includes pills that can act as abortifacients. So it is a very serious threat to our Catholic moral tradition and belief; and, The Right of Conscience, or Freedom of Conscience, is supreme in our Catholic tradition. Most Reverend Patrick Zurek, Bishop of Amarillo

When you attack the Church, you attack Christ. Christ and His Church are inseparable. Saul of Taurus learned this the hard way.

On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? He said, “Who are you, sir?? The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Acts 9:3-5

Pray for the conversion of hard hearts like St. Paul’s. Write to your representatives. I believe we will win this particular skirmish, but the war will only be ended by you at the ballot box.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

See also:

• Charles Colson: Obama Swings Left Hook – Catholics Not Down for the Count
• Diane Korzeniewski: Obama’s War on Vegan Shops: Sell Beef or Else!

This week: The 2012 March for Life. Allen West, an inspiring pro-life congressman. Comments from the marchers (and lots of pictures too). Using lingo to hide the fact that it’s a baby. The disappointing Girl Scouts (again). A hope-filled video from Students for Life. The March for Life press blackout.

— 1 —

In the United States of America this year, 2.4 million people will die from natural or accidental causes. The leading natural cause is heart disease (0.6 million). Dwarfing this is the number of people who suffer violent deaths at the hands of an abortionist – 1.2 million. If you are under 40, you are an abortion survivor. Your mother had the legal right to kill you but instead, chose life.

The 2012 March for Life was held in Washington and other cities around the country. Pray for an end to abortion. Pray also for those who elect pro-abortion politicians for the blood of these babies is on their hands.

— 2 —

Roe v. Wade will not end until we elect more pro-life politicians like Allen West (as opposed to this one, for example):

— 3 —

Here is another cool video on the March. Notice how all these pro-life people are old, secular, ex-hippie ideologues. No wait, that is the other side…

Thanks go to Matt Cassens who spotted this one. As before, Matt has some great pictures of the event.

— 4 —

The abortion industry is untiring in pushing their message everywhere they can, even in the Girl Scouts. Their message is one of lies and deceit. Attacking pro-life pregnancy centers, fighting against ultrasounds, every sort of legal restriction imaginable and re-branding life itself. Look how absurd their lingo is:

— 5 —

Please do not let your daughters be indoctrinated by anti-life, anti-family positions of the Girl Scouts USA. I wrote about this last September in Loss of innocense.

Mary Hasson gives comprehensive, up-to-date coverage with many links in her piece for Catholic Lane – Girl Scouts Leadership: Pro-Choice, Pro-Gay Ideologues. Another good, recent piece was published in The Washington Times – RUSE: Say no to Girl Scout Cookies.

Yes, it is sad and you can not change it. However, you have an excellent pro-life, pro-family alternative in the American Heritage Girls. They are now what the Girl Scouts once were. If your parish still supports the Girl Scouts, work to change it.

— 6 —

A hope-filled video from Students for Life:

— 7 —

As always, the March for Life was subjected to a press blackout. I predicted this a couple weeks ago. It’s not that I am keenly insightful, just an observer of the obvious.

John Jalsevac has good coverage of the non-coverage for LifeSiteNews.com in his piece New York Times ignores March for Life for fifth year in a row: WaPo focuses on pro-aborts.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

One misconception some people have about the Rosary is that it is beads. It isn’t (at least primarily)! The Rosary is actually a form of contemplative prayer. No beads are necessary. It is in a class of prayers known as Marian devotions.

Praying the Holy Rosary is optional. It is not part of any liturgy or required in any way. I think it is looked upon by many interested in Catholicism, by recent converts and even some “cradle Catholics” as too Catholic. Some likely feel that because there is so much else they want to learn first. The Rosary gets put onto their long-term (if ever) “to be investigated” list. This is sad as the Rosary is one of the rich treasures of the Church. It is a gem that some Anglicans, Lutherans and other Protestants also pray.

Why exactly do people pray it? The short answer is “it works.” All prayer is powerful and the Rosary is like prayer on steroids. It gives many benefits, including 15 specific promises revealed by Our Lady to St. Dominic. Praying the Rosary regularly will also help you increase your holiness. It is so valuable that Holy Mother Church grants a plenary indulgence when prayed with others. Many parishes pray the Rosary before or after daily Mass.

At the heart of the Rosary are 4 sets of events (5 each) from the Gospel known as holy mysteries. These events are mentally reflected upon while repeating the Hail Mary. This short and beautiful prayer is said 10 times while reflecting on 1 mystery. This is known as a “decade.” One decade = one mystery.

It may seem confusing at first to do 2 things at once, to say 10 Hail Mary’s AND to reflect on the mystery. After a while, it becomes surprisingly easy. Think of when you learned to drive. At first, all of your attention was on the mechanical actions while focusing on the road. In time, you find that you can split your attention (within reason) with other things (mentally planning your day, prayer, speaking with passengers, listening to music and so on). Learning the Rosary is like that.

Why not just do the meditation and skip the Hail Marys? The Hail Marys and other prayers (I will get to those in a moment) give your prayer time more “punch.” St. Augustine said that singing is praying twice. This is similar. Additionally, saying 10 Hail Marys gives you just the right amount of time for reflection.

Praying the Rosary (a/k/a “a Rosary”) means reflecting on one of the 4 sets of mysteries. Since each set has exactly 5 individual mysteries on which to reflect, praying the Rosary involves saying 50 Hail Marys. That may seem like a lot, but it isn’t – you really don’t notice it. The entire prayer takes only 15 minutes or so.

Sometimes people pray a “full Rosary” which means they pray all 4 sets of mysteries (20 in all). Most folks, most of the time, pray 1 set of (5) mysteries. The Church recommends a specific set for each weekday. They are as follows:

• The Joyful Mysteries (Monday and Saturday)
1. The Annunciation – The Archangel Gabriel “announces” to Mary that she shall conceive the Son of God.
2. The Visitation – Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist.
3. The Nativity – Jesus is born.
4. The Presentation – Mary and Joseph “present” Jesus in the Temple where they meet Simeon.
5. The Finding in the Temple – After losing Him, Mary and Joseph find young Jesus teaching the Rabbis in the Temple.
• The Luminous Mysteries (The Mysteries of Light; Thursday)
1. The Baptism in the Jordan – The voice of the Father declares Jesus the beloved Son.
2. The Wedding at Cana – Christ changes water into wine, his first public miracle.
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom – Jesus calls to conversion and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him.
4. The Transfiguration – The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist – Jesus offers the first Mass at the Last Supper with his apostles, establishing the sacramental foundation for all Christian living.
• The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday and Friday)
1. The Agony in the Garden – Jesus sweats water and blood while praying the night before his passion.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar – Pilate has Jesus whipped.
3. The Crowning with Thorns – Roman soldiers crown Jesus’ head with thorns.
4. The Carrying of the Cross – Jesus meets His mother and falls three times on the way up Calvary.
5. The Crucifixion – Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies before His mother and His apostle John.
• The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday and Sunday)
1. The Resurrection – Jesus rises from the dead.
2. The Ascension – Jesus leaves the Apostles and bodily “ascends” to heaven.
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit – The Apostles receive the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire in the upper room with Mary.
4. The Assumption – Mary is taken bodily (assumed) into heaven by God at the end of her life here on earth.
5. The Coronation – Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.

There you have it! Praying the Rosary is meditating on (1 set of) 5 mysteries while saying 10 Hail Marys for each one.

Well, almost. That certainly is the heart of the Rosary. There is just a little bit more structure. Each decade is said as follows:

• The decade is announced – to focus on the specific mystery.
• Optional intentions – some people apply specific intentions to each decade.
• Optional reflection – a specific reflection or scripture reading (when prayed with a group).
• The Lord’s Prayer – Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
• 10 Hail Marys – (while reflecting on the current mystery as explained above) Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
• Glory Be – Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
• Fatima Prayer – O my Jesus, forgive us of our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls into heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.

Before the first decade, we begin the Rosary as follows:

• The set of mysteries are announced.
• Optional intentions.
• Sign of the Cross – (while saying) In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• The Apostles Creed – I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
• 3 Hail Marys – often said for specific intentions, for the gifts of faith, hope and love from the Holy Spirit, Jesus and God the Father respectively, or for the similar theological virtues of faith, hope and charity
• Glory Be – Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

After the last decade, we conclude the Rosary as follows:

• Salve Regina – Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
• Optional prayers

Pray the Rosary regularly, ideally each day. Don’t give up after only 1 time! The only prayer you really need to memorize to get started is the Hail Mary. You can use a “cheat sheet” or other resource to remember the mysteries and other prayers while necessary.

Once you are comfortable with the basics, praying with a group (even if online or recorded) is particularly easy. When praying with a group, a leader introduces the mysteries, begins each prayer and keeps track of the Hail Marys. It could not be easier.

When praying alone, you will need to count Hail Marys (externally, not consciously). This can be done perfectly well on your fingers. While not necessary, Rosary beads are very nice to keep track of where you are. They vary quite a bit, but usually smaller beads represent Hail Marys and larger ones represent Our Fathers. While the Rosary is the prayer, many people use the term to also refer to Rosary beads, which is also a sacramental when blessed.

These days, terrific web resources are available. See the links below to get started. Various sources of Rosary reflections are useful preparation. CDs, DVDs, many Internet and regular Catholic radio sources (EWTN, Immaculate Heart Radio, Sacred Heart Radio, Ave Maria Radio, Covenant Network, St. Joseph Radio, etc.) also lead Rosary prayer daily.

Praying the Rosary is a wonderful addition to your daily prayer time, with Daily Mass where offered and (silently) at Eucharistic Adoration. Just do it!

Online Web Resources:

• A Beginner’s Guide
• Rosary Reflections from Catholic Online
• Online Guided Rosary
• A Cheat Sheet
• Overview from Catholic Answers
• History of the Rosary

This week: 7 excellent video responses to hating religion (but loving Jesus). The lucrative business of killing babies in the womb. 39 women speak on how abortion has affected them. Blob of tissue saves father’s life. America, blessed with incredible fuel resources. Martin Luther King was not a “community organizer.” Selecting candidates consistent with your Catholic faith.

— 1 —

You may have seen or heard about a YouTube video entitled Why I hate Religion, But Love Jesus. 15+ million people have viewed this very misleading, error-filled video. It must make Satan quite pleased.

Marcel LeJeune at Aggie Catholics wrote an excellent response. He has followed that with more coverage, including finding these good video responses:

Finally, even Jeff Bethke (the creator of the video in question) admits there are problems with it. Replying to one critic “God has been working with me in the last 6 months on loving Jesus AND loving his church” (his emphasis). I think that he is sincere and really did not intend for it to come out the way it has – and be received / interpreted the way it has.

— 2 —

Say what you want about murdering children in the womb, it sure is lucrative! American Life League reports that CEOs of Planned Parenthood affiliates average over $150,000 per year. 30 out of 81 enjoy salaries over $200,000 and 18 over a cool $250,000! No healthcare background is needed – only 12% have any.

That’s not all! Back at PP HQ, 8 management folks pull in an average $269,541. The business of death has a fine career path.

— 3 —

39 women speak on how abortion has affected them. One representing every year since Roe v. Wade. In March, they undertake a 21-day Trek for Life:

— 4 —

Blob of tissue saves father’s life. LifeSiteNews.com has the story of a 7 1/2 month pregnant woman who was awakened by her baby. After a sharp kick, she found her husband not breathing and with no pulse. Read the story to see how it unfolds.

— 5 —

We are blessed with abundant fuel in America, enough to sustain us for 175 years at the current consumption rate. Recent discoveries estimate 1.7 trillion barrels (1.4 in the US alone). We also have 4,244 trillion cu.ft. of natural gas and 497 billion tons of coal. Our reserves dwarf many other suppliers. We are energy rich!

So, why are prices so high? Crushing government regulation, implemented with the intention of blocking development. To what end, let Maxine Waters (D) explain:

— 6 —

Martin Luther King was not a “community organizer.” He was a Christian minister who viewed everything he said and did in the light of his faith. You can not read more than a few of his words before stumbling over scripture references, God, Jesus or Lord.

It takes a very sharp knife to edit that out and that is exactly what the secular world has done. Not rewriting history per se, but highlighting and suppressing it to meet a political agenda. Stalin would be proud.

Terence Jeffrey addresses this in his informative piece Missing From MLK Memorial: God over at Crisis Magazine.

— 7 —

Catholic Advocate is a wonderful resource for faithful Catholics who do not want to vote Democrat or Republican, but vote Catholic. As they note on their about page:

It is also the duty of the laity to participate actively in political life, in a manner coherent with the teaching of the Church, bringing their well-founded reasoning and great ideals into the democratic debate, and into the search for a broad consensus among everyone who cares about the defense of life and freedom, the protection of truth and the good of the family, solidarity with the needy, and the vital search for the common good.

Pope Benedict XVI

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!