10/13/1997

Because of my full-time position as National Director of Priests for Life, I have preached on abortion every day since 1993 in every state of the country. I have carefully watched the reaction of God’s people, and have attentively listened to their comments.

The two remarks that best summarize the response of the people to a clear and compassionate homily on abortion are “Thank you” and “We need to hear more of this.”

I cannot count the letters and emails that come into our Priests for Life office from people who want to hear their priest preach more about this topic. These letters come from attorneys, doctors, police officers, judges–in fact, from people of every profession and walk of life. They even come from children.

Priests for Life conducts training seminars for clergy to help them discover their own fears and hesitations about preaching on abortion. One of our publications is Fathers, Let’s Face our Fears about Abortion, and identifies twenty-two of the most common fears.

One of them is the fear of hurting those in the congregation who have had abortions. Yet this fear overlooks the fact that silence hurts them more.
Continue reading “Re-post: Preaching on Abortion- Fr. Frank Pavone” →

A Heapin' Plate of Conservative Politics & Religion

By G. K. Chesterton

“We do not really want a religion that is right where we are right. What we
want is a religion that is right where we are wrong.
In these current fashions it is not really a question of the religion allowing us liberty; but (at the best) of the liberty of allowing us a religion.
These people merely take the modern mood, with much in it that is amiable and much that is anarchical and much that is merely dull and obvious, and then require any creed to be cut down to fit that mood. But the mood would exist even without the creed.
They say they want a religion to be practical, when they would be practical without any religion.
They say they want a religion acceptable to science, when they would accept the science even if they did not accept the religion.
They say…

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Please pray for Coptic Christians as Egypt moves down the Sharia road

Morsi’s Egypt: More power, more persecution

Christian human-rights analysts warn the expanded powers seized by Egypt’s president means more anti-Christian persecution to come.

In a set of legal maneuvers this week, Muslim Brotherhood-anointed President Mohamed Morsi moved to sidestep the courts and make his office immune to judicial oversight. With no constitution to restrain him, Morsi holds broad executive and legislative authority.

Middle East analyst Theodore Shoebat’s concern is what Morsi’s power grab means for Egypt’s Christians. He references two regimes – one ancient, one modern – to illustrate what happens when leaders opposed to Christianity take control.

“Before Nero inflicted a full persecution on the church, he at first seized full control of the Roman government,” Shoebat said.

“In order for us to comprehend how Christians will be eventually persecuted under a Muslim Brotherhood Egypt, we must look to North Sudan, a country also run by a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Omar al-Bashir,” he continued.

“Bashir has committed a genocide of millions of Christians all in the name of jihad. And he, like Morsi, also believes that the Quran must be the constitution of his country,” Shoebat said.

Shoebat said he sees no reason to believe Morsi will not follow the model of both Nero and al-Bashir.

“The same will happen in Egypt. Continue reading “Please pray for Coptic Christians as Egypt moves down the Sharia road” →

A Heapin' Plate of Conservative Politics & Religion

By Tom Quiner

I played this song at last night’s Thanksgiving Mass at my church. I love this old Irish tune and posted a beautiful instrumental version above performed by the O’Neill Brothers.

The lyrics by Jan Struthers are worth reading this Thanksgiving Day:

***

Lord of All Hopefulness

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares can destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our…

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