Posted on 03/19/2010 12:48:03 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
Dear Bishop Stika.
Is this another case of "A lie can run around the world while the Truth is still tying its shoes"?
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs posts "Catholic approval" and hundreds of people instantly retweet it as if it's true. The whole website becomes a tweetfest about Catholics approving the Senate Health Care Reform.
PressSec Post: Another very important health care development - Catholics back health bill
http://bit.ly/csfmHu
Instantly, Gibbs has tons of support. Its as if the flood gates open.
Google reports almost 12,000 results (pages and sites) for keywords "59,000 nuns health care"
And then ...the USCCB issues ....a press release! (How many people saw this? Dozens, do you think?)
March 18, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Clarification
WashingtonA recent letter from Network, a social justice lobby of sisters, grossly overstated whom they represent in a letter to Congress that was also released to media.
Networks letter, about health care reform, was signed by a few dozen people, and despite what Network said, they do not come anywhere near representing 59,000 American sisters.
The letter had 55 signatories, some individuals, some groups of three to five persons. One endorser signed twice.
There are 793 religious communities in the United States.
The math is clear. Network is far off the mark.
Sister Mary Ann Walsh
Director of Media Relations, USCCB
The game so far:
The Senate bill contains protections neither for life nor for conscience.
The Federal Government--- without reference to "Sanctity of Life" or "Conscience" ---becomes the by-far dominant (if not sole) definer of healthcare, regulator of healthcare, and funding mechanism for healthcare.
(Not to mention that the Federal Government becomes the sole provider of student loans to college and university students. This is in the Health Care bill. Did you happen to notice that?)
So, what are the chances that Church-related people and institutions will not be suborned as dispensers of contraceptives, sterilization, abortion, infanticide, lab-based reproductive technologies, gay employment/benefits affirmative action, gender-reassignment jiggery-pokery, embryo-chopping research, assisted suicide, and terminal sedation?
What are the chances that Catholic Hospitals, Clinics, Counseling Services, Nursing Programs, Medical Schools and the like, will be able to maintain any moral autonomy or ethical integrity?
Reference slang dictionary: snowball, hell.
Is this the end of the great work accomplished over the last century and a half by our great Catholic Saints in America --- Elizabeth Seton, Frances Xavier Cabrini, Katherine Drexel, John Neumann, the Mother-Foundresses and the Builder-Bishops?
Is this the Kulturkampf gearing up to take over--- co-opt, usurp, absorb --- all our Church institutions, with a not-insignificant fraction of the "Church institutions" (including certain departments of the USCCB) signaling, "Come and get it"?
Please, somebody, tell me I'm wrong.
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us.
- St. John Neumann, pray for us.
- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us.
- St. Peter Claver, pray for us.
- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us.
- Blessed André Bessette, pray for us.
- Blessed Marianne Cope, pray for us.
- St. Katherine Drexel, pray for us.
- Blessed Damien of Molokai, pray for us.
- Ss. Isaac Jogues, Rene Goupil, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions, pray for us.
- All you American Saints and Servants of God, pray for us.
- St. Joseph, guardian of the household of the Lord, pray for us.
[signed]
Non-Catholics, please pray with us and for us, for our Church and our nation.
I made this a "Catholic Caucus" in order to bar those who want to hijack this thread and turn it into an anti-Church controversy opportunity. However, non-Catholics who wish to make constructive comments are welcome, in charity and truth, to do so.
As a Catholic, I would gratefully appreciate prayer on behalf of the defenders of Catholic faith and morals. I also appreciate insights on how we ALL can fight the wolves-in-sheeps'-clothing (and wolves in shepherds' clothing) in ALL of our respective church communities.
Constructive prayer and action comments only, please.
Joining you in prayer.
It is sad that so many would just keep repeating it and go ‘ok, we can support that’ without actually looking into the claim of support.
PRAYER TO SAINT JUDE
O most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus — People honor and invoke you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, for I am so helpless and alone. Please help to bring me visible and speedy assistance. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (state your request) and that I may praise God with you always. I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you by publishing this request. Amen.
It will take many lifetimes to rid us of their influence.
There are many bishops who are not communists, and others who are straddling the fence ... Your prayers, and your expressed encouragement, may be the deciding factor in spurring them on to do their jobs as Christian leaders.
Good post, Mrs. Dono. Thanks for the ping. Prayers for divine help during this trying time for our country.
I wonder if the bulletin insert will be in the bulletins this weekend, and if that will be too late if the vote is on Sunday. I wonder the % of parishes that had the insert in their bulletin or heard about the bill from their priest last weekend.
Freegards
Another metaphor might be Judas goats. In any case, our local faith community, it's sad to say, has a few of those.
I am starting to think I am for abortion, but only in cases of Democrat parents.
So many things to prayer for, so little time.
Lord help us!
Prayers going up for the Catholic Church to stand firm for truth.
BTTT
Amen.
This administration and its supporters are nothing but unscrupulous scum.
Prayers are on the way.
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..
“I am starting to think I am for abortion, but only in cases of Democrat parents.
Though I lean libertarian, an individual mandate to require abortions for such parents might well be in order. Since the ends apparently justify the means for this crowd, they should raise no objections to a tactic used to protect the freedoms of everyone else.
I join you in prayer.
May a non-Catholic suggest that the best thing the Bishops could now do is to show up at the protest demonstrations that I hear are being hastily called for tomorrow? Show up bearing the staff that they are supposed to carry for a reason.
For some reason, Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” is playing in my head.
Thanks for the ping!
The time has definitely come for all to hold their church leaders feet to the Biblical fire. If they feel the heat, they will take less license.
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