The importance of reading legislation
Earlier today, one of my secular Franciscan brothers forwarded an email my way, in which folks were urged to ask their legislators to support passage of the
International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA).
On the surface, it sounds like a Good Thing: protecting women and girls from violence, oppression, and abuse. Who wouldn't want to encourage that? However, a closer look at this legislation reveals that it is problematic for Catholics to support.
I did actually carefully read through
the bill itself and I found its descriptions of "violence" worded quite broadly. As
one article said:
"I-VAWA makes the imposition of ideology of VAWA look like child's play. Within the proposed I-VAWA is carefully crafted verbiage presented as being protection of a woman's 'right to choice.' Review of this legislation shows that this section could make expressing an opinion contrary to someone's female intimate partner's desire to have an abortion a federal offense.
"For the first time in American history, this act could make expressing an opinion contrary to popular ideology a criminal act. This cannot be tolerated and must be opposed by everyone who values our freedom. A person's personal choice is their natural right; imposing ideology through the effect and force of law destroys all our right to choose, speak freely and more."
More importantly, the following section is
absolutely cause for concern:
"Program Activities Supported- Assistance provided under this section shall be used to carry out, in each of the countries identified in the strategy required pursuant to subsection (a), 2 or more of the following program activities ... Carrying out health care initiatives, including ... promoting the integration of programs to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls into existing programs addressing child survival, women's health, family planning [in the secular realm, this doesn't mean NFP, it means contraception and abortion -- definitely can't be supported!], mental health, and HIV/AIDS prevention [in the secular realm this most likely means condoms (contraception) instead of abstinence education; again, contraception is against against Catholic teaching and can't be supported!], care, and treatment". (SEC. 300G: d, 2, a)
The fact that the bill was written with the input and advice of groups such as the Women's Edge Coalition and the Feminist Majority (
source) -- groups known for their support of abortion -- is also cause for concern. And then there are the close ties between this bill and
CEDAW -- it's
highly likely that I-VAWA money will be used to lobby the U.S. Senate for ratification of CEDAW so that its UN monitoring committee can implement CEDAW's problematic mandates, one of which includes
requiring unlimited abortion rights.
So, Husband Mike and I will instead be contacting our legislators to ask them
not to support this bill.
And just as an FYI: Two peace and justice resources that I use and highly recommend are
Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM) and
Catholics for the Common Good -- both faithful to the Church's teachings. :-)
Labels: abortion, legislation, politics
Takin' it to the streets
Husband Mike and I usually prefer to be behind-the-scenes in our support of various causes, but when it comes to one in particular, the right to life, we realize that public witness is vital.
And so tomorrow, 7 October, we'll be participating in our first-ever
Life Chain, "a peaceful and prayerful public witness of pro-life Americans standing for one hour praying for our nation and for an end to abortion. It is a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children and that the Church supports the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception."
Whether you think of the unborn as a "mere blob of cells" or as "a baby", one thing you
can't deny is that it's a human life.
A Human Life.
“The abortion-rights folks know it, the anti-abortion folks know it, and so probably, does everyone else. One of the facts of abortion is that women enter abortion clinics to kill their fetuses. It is a form of killing ... you're ending a life.” [emphasis added]
~ Ron Fitzsimmons, Executive Director, National Coalition of Abortion Providers (New York Times, February 26, 1997)
Mind you, it took us both years to fully realize the tragedy of abortion and that it is, indeed, the ending of an actual Human Life, regardless of whether you think of it as a blob or a baby. Years ago in my Raging Feminist, I-Totally-Hate-The-Church Days, I was a firm supporter of abortion and assuaged the niggling voice that kept saying, "But, isn't it still a life?" with the dismissive thought of, "It's just a blob of cells".
However, as I've have grown in my understanding of and obedience to what the Church teaches, I've realized just how tragically wrong I was and how the right to life is a foundational issue, not superfluous.
“We believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a ‘Gospel of life’. ... We cannot simultaneously commit ourselves to human rights and progress while eliminating or marginalizing the weakest among us. Nor can we practice the Gospel of life only as a private piety. American Catholics must live it vigorously and publicly, as a matter of national leadership and witness, or we will not live it at all.”
~ U.S. Bishops, Living the Gospel of Life, 1998, n. 20
And so, Husband Mike and I understand that "
Our Media is the Streets", and we'll be out there tomorrow.
How about you?Labels: abortion, pro-life
"Future Depends on Love" tour
Now THIS is authentic Franciscanism!
The
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are sponsoring a tour, "
The Future Depends on Love", beginning 3 August (Friday) in Philadelphia and ending 11 August (Saturday) at the
National Shrine in Washington, DC. The tour will feature a series of talks, prayer vigils, and a pilgrimage to help bring an end to abortion.
See their site for full details.Labels: abortion, franciscan, pro-life, third order regular
CFotD: Friar Cam!
Two Cool Finds of the Day, in quick succession:
CFotD #1: I was browsin' around
Catholics for the Common Good, which (gasp!) actually appears to be faithful to Church teaching (!!), when I stumbled 'pon
this article and saw ...
CFotD #2: ... the first pic. Of a friar. With a TV camera. It's Friar Cam! How cool is
that?! Dang, it's splendid to see a Franciscan friar -- and in full habit, no less -- taking part in a pro-life demonstration.
(While Friar Cam's been around for awhile on
EWTN, we don't have cable (don't watch much TV and we're cheap), so it's the first I've heard o' it. An' I know you can watch their programming online, but we have dialup at home.)
Labels: abortion, cfotd, franciscan, pro-life, spiffy
"Land of the Free", unless, of course, you're Catholic
:::sigh:::Catholic News Agency: Union tells Catholic teacher to 'change religion' or pay forced dues
posted 26 January 2007
"A Catholic teacher in Ohio was told she could only be exempt from paying union dues to the Ohio Education Association (OEA), if she changed religions. The teacher had requested [an] exemption after learning that the dues would assist in the promotion of abortion." Read the full story.
Labels: abortion, pro-life, religious freedom
Amazing: Fetal development photos
All I can say is ... wow! Check out
these stunning photographs of the human body prior to birth.
(Link
via ProLifeBlogs.com.)
Labels: abortion, pro-life
Disgusting: Fake "Catholic" voter's guide
Just read the following; the word "pathetic" springs to mind ...
LifeSiteNews.com: Fake 'Catholic Voters Guide' Published by Former Aide to John Kerry
Attempt to recapture the Catholic vote launched by Democratic supporters
by John-Henry Westen, 29 September 2006
"A new 2006 Voter Guide has been put out by 'Catholic in Alliance for the Common Good' (CACG) a group headed up by Alexia Kelley who in 2004 worked as a religion advisor to John Kerry in the closing weeks of his campaign. ...
"Commenting on the new 12-page booklet, Catholic League president Bill Donohue said 'The voter guide is a slick attempt to get the abortion albatross off the necks of Catholic Democrats, but it's a failed effort-the noose is still there. Instead of listening to James Carville and Paul Begala, who have counseled Democrats to drop their opposition to parental notification laws and their support for keeping partial-birth abortion legal, the best Catholics in Alliance can do is say it is opposed to abortion. But it makes it painfully clear that it will never join any effort to ban any abortions, including partial-birth.'" Read the full article.
For a voter guide that actually represents faithful Church teaching, see the
Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics, produced by Catholic Answers.
Labels: abortion, politics, pro-life
Reality check: Video of an actual abortion
See it here.
I'm with Arthur -- I think I'm gonna hurl.
Labels: abortion, pro-life, videos
Spiffy: Pro-life decal
Last night while flipping through the latest
Leaflet Missal catalog, I was puzzled when I saw
this window decal listed in their pro-life section. I didn't get it at first, but if you look at it long enough, you'll see why. (Or maybe you're smarter than me and will pick up on it right away.)
Brilliant! :-D
Labels: abortion, pro-life, shopping, spiffy
