Monday, January 12, 2009

Novena to Fight FOCA

Clarification re: U.S. Bishops’ pro-life office corrects ‘misleading’ FOCA novena message

FOCA which I received in an email today 1/12/09:
Freedom of Choice Act is set to be signed January 21-22. This information is somewhat misleading and may cause people to think that Fight-FOCA postcard campaign is not necessary.
Thank you for forwarding this message to me. While the Freedom o! f Choice Act (FOCA) is a very real threat (it is the most radical abortion legislation ever to be introduced in Congress), it is almost logistically impossible for Congress to pass it and send it on to President-elect Obama in the time frame mentioned in this message.

First, Congress has just gone back into session, and has not set an agenda for consideration of the bill - no testimony has been given, no votes have been scheduled. Also, if the bill were to pass before Inauguration Day, President Bush would most certainly veto it.

While I do not know the author of the original message, and I do not know where they obtained their information, I believe they may have been confused the possibility of President-elect Obama signing some "executive orders" that would overturn current pro-life policies. This is a real possibility, and could happen in the time mentioned. However, at this point, our contacts in Washington have not been able to determine further details on this.

Of course, prayer and fasting is definitely our most effective weapon, and I wholeheartedly support that part of the message, and hope that many people will participate in that effort.
Mary M. Boyert, Pro-Life Director
Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
mboyert@archatl. com
Please sign the Fight FOCA postcards that should be distributed in your churches this weekend.

I received the following email from my friend Becca:
If you are opposed to abortion then there is bad news on the horizon.
For those of you who do not know, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is
set to be signed if Congress passes it on January 21-22 of 2009. The
FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion. If made a law
then all limitations on abortion will be lifted which will result in
the following:

1) All hospitals, including Catholic hospitals will be required to perform abortions upon request. If this happens Bishops vow to close down all Catholic hospitals,
more than 30% of all hospitals in the United States.

2) Partial birth abortions would be legal and have no limitations.

3) All U.S. tax payers would be funding abortions.

4) Parental notification will no longer be required.

5) The number of abortions will increase by a minimum of 100,000 annually.

Perhaps most importantly the government will now have control in the issue of abortion. This could result in a future amendment that would force women by law to have abortions in certain situations (rape, down syndrome babies, etc.) and could even regulate how many children women are allowed to have.

Needless to say this information is disturbing, but sadly true. As Catholics, as Christians, as anyone who is against the needless killing of innocent children, we must stand as one. We must stop this horrific act before it becomes a law.

The Plan:

To say a novena (9 days of prayer) along with fasting starting on January 11th. For Catholics, the prayer of choice will be the rosary with intentions to stop the FOCA. For non Catholics I encourage you to pray your strongest prayers with the same intentions, also for nine consecutive days. The hope is that this will branch and
blossom as to become a global effort with maximum impact. We have very
little time so we all must act fast. Just do three things:

1) Pass this letter to 5 or more people

2) Do it in three days or less

3) Start the novena on January 11th and pray for nine consecutive days.

(Please also fast for at least two days during the novena)

Remember that with God all things are possible and the power of prayer is undeniable. If you are against the senseless killing of defenseless children then the time is now to do something about it!
Learn more about FOCA and to sign the petition against at Fight FOCA

17 comments:

Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina said...

Dear Esther,

Thank you for posting this most important announcement and way for Catholics to unify against the passing of FOCA! I will most definitly join you in this crucial endeavor!

May our Lord shower upon you and your family many blessings and graces this Christmas and coming new year and that you have a most merry and blessed Christmas with all of your loved ones!

Mele Kalikimaka and Buon Natale'!!

Much love to you in the land of aloha,

Roz

Anonymous said...

All I wish to say is:
-We ARE A PEOPLE OF RESURRECTION GLORY.
-The ANGEL said 'DO NOT BE AFRAID'
-So PRAY AND WATCH AND ALL WILL BE DONE TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER
-PEACE

EC Gefroh said...

Roz, thank you. Sorry I must have missed your comment when I first posted this on 12-22nd.

I hope you had a very blessed Christmas.

A. Amen.

A Bit of the Blarney said...

My Cursillo group starts is Pro-Life Rosary this evening long with the K of C. Let all our prayers be heard loudly and in unison! Cathy

SQUELLY said...

I will be joining you in prayer from England. May we stand togehter in love against this. Thanks for this post.

Ann Murray said...

Esther, A copy of this was freely available to all mass-goers here in Belfast this weekend!!
Prayer is such a wonderful and powerful thing - it wings its way everywhere.

EC Gefroh said...

Cathy, I remembered that and am praying for all.

Squelly and Ann, how wonderful that the UK, Ireland, etc., will also be joining in.

Anonymous said...

Will be praying and fasting in union with you from Canada. Nancy

maryS. said...

I am against in passing the FOCA I am praying the rosary of pro-life, .I believe the power of prayers.When we are in union in our prayers wherever we are, hundred miles away there strength in it. Mama Mary will listen to us,thank you.

Anonymous said...

Came across your blog by accident (or design) and mailed everyone I know who is concerned about this issue. Will start my novena tonight against FOCA's evil. Maureen, Canada

Anonymous said...

We should all pray for people to stop "wanting" to kill their babies. Then abortion would not be wanted. Life begins at conception. Growth begins at conception. You can't have growth without life.

Jimmyb said...

We are doing this novena in Ireland, too, received an email about it which I forwarded to others and circulated at our prayer group. This is such an important issue as we are all ultimately one family and this affect everybody. God bless.

EC Gefroh said...

It is so heartwarming to see our sisters and brothers in other country joining in to pray for the protection of the unborn. May God bless you all always and abundantly.

Anonymous said...

We're praying and supporting you all in prayer. I'm a little late but I'll post this on my blog. I know that here in Aus emails have been going around to ask people for prayer ..... no matter what happens our Lord has the victory.
God Bless,
Elena

EC Gefroh said...

Wow, that is wonderful Elena. Thank you.

Easter Almuena said...

Hi Esther, I spoke with Eva A. from our diocese (the name you see that posts on a regular basis on Catholic Hawaii). She said Jan 21 voting is only a rumor.

Love to you!

EC Gefroh said...

Thanks for confirming that Easter.