Category: Life in America

Wheaton College, Catholic University Jointly Sue Over Birth Control Mandate

Peanut Gallery: Good for them. They’re a little late to the party, but better late than not at all.

“We have a respect for Roman Catholic institutions and in this case we recognize we have common cause with Catholic University of America and other Catholic institutions in defending religious liberty. We’re, in effect, co-belligerents in this fight against government action. I think the fact that evangelicals and Catholics are coming together on this issue ought to be a sign to all Americans that something really significant for religious liberty is at stake.”

Please click on link –

Wheaton College, Catholic University Jointly Sue Over Birth Control Mandate.

Wheaton College, Catholic University Jointly Sue Over Birth Control Mandate
By Napp Nazworth , Christian Post Reporter – July 18, 2012|4:01 pm

Wheaton College, an evangelical institution, joined forces Wednesday with Catholic University of America to sue the government for requiring that it provide health insurance coverage for some abortifacient drugs to its employees and students.

Wheaton’s main reason for filing suit, Dr. Philip Ryken, president of Wheaton College, explained in a Wednesday conference call with reporters, is that the pro-life institution opposes the use of abortifacient drugs and would be forced to violate its religious beliefs.

“This insurance mandate is against our conscience and against our Christian convictions. We have no recourse now but to file suit,” Ryken said.

Ryken added that Wheaton and Catholic University also wanted to demonstrate cross-denominational solidarity on the issue of religious freedom. Continue reading “Wheaton College, Catholic University Jointly Sue Over Birth Control Mandate” →

“Forgiven and Set Free” – truth, grace and abortion

Peanut Gallery: This article originally appeared in the Greenwich Time, Greenwich, CT – May 13, 2000. I wrote it to offer hope and help for post-abortion women. And, I believe, it is just as timely today. The resources cited are still available and I’ve added a few additional ones at the end.
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“Forgiven and Set Free” – truth, grace and abortion

It’s not often that a person gets a standing ovation at his own funeral. But that’s what happened this past week to Cardinal John O’Connor, for his unwavering support of life. This spontaneous accolade was a testimony to his wonderful ability to maintain the balance between truth and grace.

The truth: every unborn child is a gift of God with intrinsic value and the right to life. And grace: God forgives and heals women who have chosen abortion. It’s the practical working out of God’s healing grace that I would like to address here.

A few years ago, feminist Frederica Mathewes-Green conducted a series of focus groups for women around the country asking them why they chose to have an abortion and what could have helped them make another choice. The surprising results were compiled in a book titled, “Real Choices.” Continue reading ““Forgiven and Set Free” – truth, grace and abortion” →

“Put me in coach” – Follow up – Public Catholic – “Stop Slogan-Voting Pt 2 – High Dollar Campaigns”

Peanut Gallery: Every coach knows that building a deep bench is essential to winning. You never know what will happen… and you never know when an opportunity will arise. A winning team has players who are just waiting on the sidelines for their chance to show their stuff.

Mordecai had Queen Esther – if somewhat reluctantly – on his bench –

“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NKJV

This post is a follow up to my earlier comment on Public Catholic – Stop Slogan-Voting Pt 2 – High Dollar Campaigns. If you haven’t read Rebecca Hamilton’s original post, please do so now. Click here.

Grassroots “insurgency” movements – e.g. Pro-Life, Tea Party – will not be politically successful over the long haul, unless they develop a deep bench with folks who are prepared to step in when opportunities arise. Rallies, marches and protests can capture public attention – for a while – but they don’t translate into legislative action… and ultimately nothing much changes. Continue reading ““Put me in coach” – Follow up – Public Catholic – “Stop Slogan-Voting Pt 2 – High Dollar Campaigns”” →

Public Catholic Comment: Stop Slogan-Voting…. Pt 2 – “Who’s your Momma?”

“Money is the mother’s milk of politics.”

Jesse “Big Daddy” Unruh, 1966, Democrat, Speaker, California State Assembly

If “Big Daddy” Unruh is right – and he is – then the question we must ask politicians is: “Who’s your Momma?”

Rebecca Hamilton (Public Catholic) – “Stop Slogan-Voting…. Pt 2 – High Campaign Dollars = Government Puppet People” – gives us an insider’s understanding of how money works in politics and why we have no idea whom we are electing in the current money/consultant-driven political environment.

Barack Obama is her prime example. Please read her post FIRST, before going any further.
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The reason I find Rebecca Hamilton’s (Public Catholic) blog so compelling is that it rings true and helps me make some sense out of my own recent experience with public politics – and she does so from an authentic Christian perspective. This referenced post is no exception.

In this commentary, I’d like to offer a brief Case Study and some Lessons Learned from Hamilton’s insights.

CASE STUDY: SC Congressional District 7 – With the primaries behind us, my choice in November is now between a Chamber of Commerce clone of Forest Gump (R) and a Jim Clyburn clone of Sheila Jackson Lee (D). The candidates themselves would, of course, vehemently protest these caricatures – one thinks slower than Gump and the other is younger than Jackson Lee. But that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

My concern here is how the GOP ended up with Forest Gump. Continue reading “Public Catholic Comment: Stop Slogan-Voting…. Pt 2 – “Who’s your Momma?”” →