Pro-Life Commission established in the Archdiocese of New York

ProLife.jpgIn his letter to the priests of the Archdiocese of New York on the founding of the new Pro-Life Commission, Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan said,
“These professional men and women, from a variety of backgrounds, fields, and
areas of expertise have generously offered their time and talent to engage in
research, writing, coordination of events, and so much more on behalf of
life.  For this I am most grateful, and look forward to working with
them over the years that lie ahead.”


I know several of the members and I am confident that the Commission will do good work for Archdiocese of New York and the greater Church.



The Members of the Pro-Life Commission: Pro Life Commission Members, Archdiocese of New York.pdf

Day of Prayer and Penance for Abortion


Angel Gabriel.jpgToday marks the
anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion
in the USA. It is possible according to Law to end a pregnancy throughout all
nine months. A prayerful response to this atrocity the Church has proposed to
us to observe January 22 as the Day of Prayer and Penance making
reparation for the sin the abortion, praying that true freedom would be engaged
in respecting all of human life, from conception to natural death, and that the
Law would be changed.

The rubric for prayer for the day:

In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass “For Peace and Justice” (no. 22 of the “Masses for Various Needs”) should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373)


Continue reading Day of Prayer and Penance for Abortion

Abortion caused Breast Cancer: 300K in last 38 years

woman crisis.jpgMore and more we are seeing research demonstrating that abortion has caused breast cancer. A few months ago I posted an article saying as much. LifeNews.com published an article on January 17th giving the statistic that in 38 years –since the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe vs Wade– that “a least 300,000 cases of breast cancer” have been identified. Baruch College Professor Joel Brind published a 1996 paper in which he made the claim that women who had induced abortion had a “30% greater chance of developing breast cancer.” Steven Ertelt’s article “Abortion Has Caused 300K Breast Cancer Deaths Since Roe” connects the dots. 

Sad to think that the choice to end the life of one’s unborn baby raises the risk of one’s death by 30%.
All this info is on my mind as I am planning two Masses with the Rite of Anointing of the Sick for women and men living with breast cancer in honor of Saint Agatha for her forthcoming feast day in early February. Saint Agatha is at the patron saint of those people living with diseases of the breast. One Mass Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Pompeii (East Haven, CT) on Friday evening February 4 and the second Mass at the Church of Saint Catherine of Siena (NYC).

Marquette Law hires pro-abortion ex-Senator

Marquette Law hired Russ Feingold, the ex-senator from Wisconsin, as a visiting law professor. A clear liberal politician with a long track record of pro-abortion voting. Marquette Law Dean Joseph Kearney is giving a platform to a bankrupt senator and certainly not caring too much for the Catholic and Jesuit identity of the university. Opps, perhaps being Catholic and Jesuit are no longer virtues to abide by….

Pope Benedict XVI’s Prayer for Nascent Life

Lord Jesus,

You who faithfully visit and fulfil with your Presence
the Church and the history of men;
You who in the miraculous Sacrament of your Body and Blood
render us participants in divine Life
and allow us a foretaste of the joy of eternal Life;
We adore and bless you.
Prostrated before You, source and lover of Life,
truly present and alive among us, we beg you.
Reawaken in us respect for every unborn life,
make us capable of seeing in the fruit of the maternal womb
the miraculous work of the Creator,
open our hearts to generously welcoming every child
that comes into life.
Bless all families,
sanctify the union of spouses,
render fruitful their love.
Accompany the choices of legislative assemblies
with the light of your Spirit,
so that peoples and nations may recognise and respect
the sacred nature of life, of every human life.
Guide the work of scientists and doctors,
so that all progress contributes to the integral well-being of the person,
and no-one endures suppression or injustice.
Gift creative charity to administrators and economists,
so they may realise and promote sufficient conditions
so that young families can serenely embrace
the birth of new children
Console the married couples who suffer
because they are unable to have children
and in Your goodness provide for them.
Teach us all to care for orphaned or abandoned children,
so they may experience the warmth of your Charity,
the consolation of your divine Heart.
Together with Mary, Your Mother, the great believer,
in whose womb you took on our human nature,
we wait to receive from You, our Only True Good and Saviour,
the strength to love and serve life,
in anticipation of living forever in You,
in communion with the Blessed Trinity.

Solemn Vigil for All Nascent Human Life, 27 November 2010

First Sunday of Advent.jpgMarking the beginning of Advent for the Roman Church,
the Holy Father invited the world’s dioceses (parishes & religious
institutions) religious communities, ecclesial movements and associations
throughout the world to join him in a Solemn Vigil for All Nascent Human Life (resources here).


On November 27th, First Vespers for the First Sunday of Advent, the
Church will gather together with her pastor in prayer to thank God for the
Incarnation of His Son and for the gift of Life, and to ask for the Lord’s
protection over every human being called into existence.

Day of Prayer & Healing for Teens who have experienced abortion – November 20th


Day of Prayer & Healing for teens.jpg

Many of you are in parishes with schools and/or youth groups
and have teens who are suffering from the effects of abortion. Please promote this
unique opportunity for them to come to a Day of Prayer and Healing for Teens –
November 20th
.

For confidential registration or more information, please call Theresa at Lumina Hope and Healing after Abortion at 718-881-8008 and visit the Lumina website.

Healing after Abortion

There is a light that can break through any darkness.

Lumina post abortion healing.jpg

Lumina is a post-abortion healing network helping women and men adjust and heal following the trauma of having an abortion or being closely connected with someone who has had an abortion like a spouse, significant other, or sibling. We can’t overestimate the power of the affective and spiritual life when a woman has an abortion. Because many people who support abortion will minimize the impact an abortion has on a woman (and her husband or boyfriend) and the emotional effects are discounted or dismissed. The dignity of the human person tells us, we know about this real dignity in our heart: we are not merely flesh and blood, but we have a soul, a spiritual life that is intimately connected with our body and we are made for God. We are made for greatness and love and happiness in this world, and the next.
Health issues may be plentiful. Intimacy issues may arise and the beauty of sexuality is objectified. What is often overlooked is that in some case a woman can’t conceive and bring to full term another child after having an abortion (or in other cases having been using contraception). What to do?
Some women report they have suffered for years with the memories of having a child that they aborted. The death of a child, whether born or yet to be born, is painful, full of dark moments, and seemingly a sin that’s unforgivable.
And today we are finding that men have similar issues of the affect to deal with because of their close connection with woman who had an abortion. A few years ago the Catholic Information Service at the Knights of Columbus published a great little booklet, “Men and Abortion: Finding Healing, Restoring Hope.” I recommend it.
The work of the Lumina as a post-abortion network is assist women and men realize that they can be healed, that they are loved by God even with the sin of abortion in their past and there is light that guides us along the path of life.
Prayer, hard work with a professional counselor and friendship contribute to one’s healing. We are made for other people, why not let good people help the healing of the post-abortion pain?
There are plenty of opportunities in the Tri-State area.
Days of prayer and healing for men are being planned.
Days of prayer and healing for women in the coming months:
November 13, January 15, 2011, February 19, April 2, and June 11.
For more information:
Theresa Bonapartis
877.586.4621 (toll free)
lumina@postabortionhelp.org
or the Sisters of Life organize people through their Hope and Healing network:
866.575.0075 (toll free)
hopeandhealing@sistersoflife.org

40 Days for Life –get involved NOW!

40 Days for Life.jpgThe pro-life campaign 40 Days for Life begins today, Get involved to save an unborn life.

Being a part of the 40 day campaign is about prayer and fasting, keeping vigil at an abortion clinic and education in the community.
The use of the number 40 is a biblical metaphor: think of Noah, Moses, Jesus, who either spent 40 year days or years doing something for God the Father.
The 40 Days campaign runs until October 31.