"Unacceptable"

Thank you Brother John Samaha for sharing the following from the Becket Fund:

The news media would leave one with the impression that it is only the Catholic bishops of the United States who object to the White House health care mandate. The following open letter shows that there is a much broader base to this mandate.
Today the Obama administration has offered what it has styled as an "accommodation" for religious institutions in the dispute over the HHS mandate for coverage (without cost sharing) of abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and contraception. The administration will now require that all insurance plans cover ("cost free") these same products and services. Once a religiously-affiliated (or believing individual) employer purchases insurance (as it must, by law), the insurance company will then contact the insured employees to advise them that the terms of the policy include coverage for these objectionable things.

This so-called "accommodation" changes nothing of moral substance and fails to remove the assault on religious liberty and the rights of conscience which gave rise to the controversy. It is certainly no compromise. The reason for the original bipartisan uproar was the administration's insistence that religious employers, be they institutions or individuals, provide insurance that covered services they regard as gravely immoral and unjust. Under the new rule, the government still coerces religious institutions and individuals to purchase insurance policies that include the very same services.

It is no answer to respond that the religious employers are not "paying" for this aspect of the insurance coverage. For one thing, it is unrealistic to suggest that insurance companies will not pass the costs of these additional services on to the purchasers. More importantly, abortion-drugs, sterilizations, and contraceptives are a necessary feature of the policy purchased by the religious institution or believing individual. They will only be made available to those who are insured under such policy, by virtue of the terms of the policy.

It is morally obtuse for the administration to suggest (as it does) that this is a meaningful accommodation of religious liberty because the insurance company will be the one to inform the employee that she is entitled to the embryo-destroying "five day after pill" pursuant to the insurance contract purchased by the religious employer. It does not matter who explains the terms of the policy purchased by the religiously affiliated or observant employer. What matters is what services the policy covers.

The simple fact is that the Obama administration is compelling religious people and institutions who are employers to purchase a health insurance contract that provides abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, and sterilization. This is a grave violation of religious freedom and cannot stand. It is an insult to the intelligence of Catholics, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other people of faith and conscience to imagine that they will accept as assault on their religious liberty if only it is covered up by a cheap accounting trick.

Finally, it bears noting that by sustaining the original narrow exemptions for churches, auxiliaries, and religious orders, the administration has effectively admitted that the new policy (like the old one) amounts to a grave infringement on religious liberty. The administration still fails to understand that institutions that employ and serve others of different or no faith are still engaged in a religious mission and, as such, enjoy the protections of the First Amendment.

Signed:

John Garvey
President, The Catholic University of America

Mary Ann Glendon
Learned Hand Professor of Law, Harvard University,
(former US ambassador to the Holy See)

Robert P. George
McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University

O. Carter Snead
Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame

Yuval Levin
Hertog Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Click here for the listing of university and college professors, university presidents and others, Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish, who have added their signatures.

Praying the St. Michael the Archangel Prayer at the End of Mass

PRAYER TO
SAINT MICHAEL
THE ARCHANGEL
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..



Source: EWTN

The vision of Pope Leo XIII

Exactly 33 years to the day prior to the great Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, that is, on October 13, 1884, Pope Leo XIII had a remarkable vision. When the aged Pontiff had finished celebrating Mass in his private Vatican Chapel, attended by a few Cardinals and members of the Vatican staff, he suddenly stopped at the foot of the altar. He stood there for about 10 minutes, as if in a trance, his face ashen white. Then, going immediately from the Chapel to his office, he composed the above prayer to St. Michael, with instructions it be said after all Low Masses everywhere.
When asked what had happened, he explained that, as he was about to leave the foot of the altar, he suddenly heard voices - two voices, one kind and gentle, the other guttural and harsh. They seemed to come from near the tabernacle. As he listened, he heard the following conversation:
The guttural voice, the voice of Satan in his pride, boasted to Our Lord: "I can destroy your Church."
The gentle voice of Our Lord: "You can? Then go ahead and do so."
Satan: "To do so, I need more time and more power."
Our Lord: "How much time? How much power?
Satan: "75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service."
Our Lord: "You have the time, you will have the power. Do with them what you will."
In 1886, Pope Leo XIII decreed that this prayer to St. Michael be said at the end of "low" Mass (not "high", or sung Masses) throughout the universal Church, along with the Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen); and the practice of the congregation praying these prayers at the end of Mass continued until about 1970, with the introduction of the new rite of the Mass.

Read the rest at Michael Journal

I mentioned in my post regarding the Novena to St. Joseph that it is very clear and without doubt, that we are in a war of good vs. evil. Therefore, Catholics and Christians everywhere must fight back. One way is by praying a novena as I mentioned yesterday but also another important way is by restoring the recitation of the St. Michael the Archangel prayer at the end of Mass.

So far two bishops have already done this. The first to restore the prayer is Bishop Paprocki of the Springfield diocese. I learned of this through Father Daren Zehnle's blog post last April and which can be found here

The next bishop to restore the prayer was Bishop Daniel Jenky, of the Peoria Diocese. His excellency did so because of the recent attack on religious freedom by the Obama Administration, through the now infamous HHS Mandate. The letter to the faithful can be found here.

I asked Bishop Larry Silva of the Diocese of Honolulu do please consider restoring the St. Michael the Archangel prayer. I would suggest you respectfully and more importantly, humbly ask your bishops to do so as well.

At the end of this morning's Mass, Father E. asked that we pray together the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.

My family and I have been including this prayer after receiving Holy Communion, at every Mass we attend, for a time now.  We will continue to do so now more than ever.

Catholics do not have to have a directive from the bishop to pray the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, at the end of Mass. You can pray this prayer as a private devotion for the protection of our country, our religious freedom and of course, for our church.

St. Michael, defend us in battle...

THIRTY DAYS PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH - For the Intentions of Rick Santorum

The following was shared by Mary Jane.

I debated whether or not to make it public that I would be praying this novena for Mr. Santorum's intentions. We are now engaged in a battle of good vs. evil. Catholics...Christians and all people of good will must rely on those weapons that will make good victorious over evil and that weapon is prayer.

A friend of Mr. Santorum has told me he is quite well and in very joyful spirits. This friend has asked that "everyone, Catholic and non-Catholic, pray for religious freedom in America."

I would ask that Catholics join in praying a novena for Rick Santorum as he seeks to ensure freedom in America for people of all faith or no faith. Although, he has not specifically asked for us to pray for him, there have been many occasions during his campaign that he has asked for prayer publicly and formally and that tonight a friend of his is asking you to "please get Catholics to storm heaven for him."

I'd also ask that you keep all those on the Santorum team and who are advocating for him, in your prayers!

There are many saints who can intercede for you for this intention, of course, I would recommend St. Joseph for many reasons, the main one being he was THE model of a father and Mr. Santorum has shown himself to be a very devoted father. We need this type of leadership in our country... one who puts the family in a place of importance.

If you prefer, please consider the intercession of St. Sebastian, St. Joan of Arc, St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Thomas More, St. Thomas Aquinas, but most especially our Blessed Mother.

Thank you and God bless.

Ever blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and loving father, and helpful friend of all in sorrow! You are the good father and protector of orphans, the defender of the defenseless, the patron of those in need and sorrow.
Look kindly on my request. My sins have drawn down on me the just displeasure of my God, and so I am surrounded with unhappiness. To you, loving guardian of the Family of Nazareth, do I go for help and protection. Listen, then, I beg you, with fatherly concern, to my earnest prayers, and obtain for me the favors I ask.
I ask it by the infinite mercy of the eternal Son of God, which moved Him to take our nature and to be born into this world of sorrow.
I ask it by the weariness and suffering you endured when you found no shelter at the inn of Bethlehem for the Holy Virgin, nor a house where the Son of God could be born. Then, being everywhere refused, you had to allow the Queen of Heaven to give birth to the world's Redeemer in a cave.
I ask it by the loveliness and power of that sacred Name, Jesus, which you conferred on the adorable Infant.
I ask it by the painful torture you felt at the prophecy of holy Simeon, which declared the Child Jesus and His holy Mother future victims of our sins and of their great love for us.
I ask it through your sorrow and pain of soul when the angel declared to you that the life of the Child Jesus was sought by His enemies. From their evil plan, you had to flee with Him and His Blessed Mother to Egypt.
I ask it by all the suffering, weariness, and labors of that long and dangerous journey.
I ask it by all your care to protect the Sacred Child and His Immaculate Mother during your second journey, when you were ordered to return to your own country.
I ask it by your peaceful life in Nazareth where you met with so many joys and sorrows. I ask it by your great distress when the adorable Child was lost to you and His mother for three days.
I ask it by your joy at finding Him in the temple, and by the comfort you found at Nazareth, while living in the company of the Child Jesus.
I ask it by the wonderful submission He showed in His obedience to you.
I ask it by the perfect love and conformity you showed in accepting the Divine order to depart from this life, and from the company of Jesus and Mary.
I ask it by the joy which filled your soul, when the Redeemer of the world, triumphant over death and hell, entered into the possession of His kingdom and led you into it with special honors.
I ask it through Mary's glorious Assumption, and through that endless happiness you have with her in the presence of God. O good father! I beg you, by all your sufferings, sorrows, and joys, to hear me and obtain for me what I ask. (Here name your petitions or think of them.)
Obtain for all those who have asked my prayers everything that is useful to them in the plan of God. Finally, my dear patron and father, be with me and all who are dear to me in our last moments, that we may eternally sing the praises of:
JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
"A blameless life,
St. Joseph,
may we lead,
by your kind patronage
from danger freed."

ArchbishopTimothy Dolan's speech to Pope and cardinals on New Evangelization

Special Report: New Appeal Filed in the Case of Fr. Gordon MacRae

The National Center for Reason and Justice announces a new appeal based on new evidence in the case of Fr. Gordon MacRae, but help is needed.

I am grateful for this invitation to bring to your attention a major step toward possible justice in the case of imprisoned priest, Father Gordon MacRae. The Boston-based National Center for Reason and Justice announced a Motion for New Trial in the case of Fr. MacRae last week, and posted it on the NCRJ website.

You can read the post in its entirety over at Father Gordon's blog here.

Please consider offering up sacrifices and a novena for Father's intentions, especially this Lent. Mahalo!

EWTN Will Continue to Fight the HHS Mandate

Dear Family:
I want to express my gratitude to you for your many messages of encouragement and support for EWTN's decision to file a lawsuit last week against the Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Kathleen Sebelius over the unjust and immoral contraceptive mandate. EWTN really had no choice but to take action to defend our mission from this government intrusion. We did so, not for the Network alone, but also for the many other religious institutions impacted by this, as well as to give a voice to the countless individual business owners and other people of faith who are affected by this government mandate. We also took this action to stop the government from forcing EWTN to use our donors' funds to provide services which are contrary to Church teaching.

Despite last Friday's announcement by the President that his administration was making "accommodations" for religious groups opposed to the mandate, nothing changed. That very afternoon, the government published the exact rules that were originally proposed on January 20th. We remain in exactly the same situation after the President's announcement as we did before it. So, nothing has changed for EWTN; we will continue our legal fight against this unacceptable mandate.

For thirty years, you have supported Mother Angelica and the mission of EWTN through your prayers, sacrifices and generous financial support. Without you, this Network would not exist. Please continue to keep EWTN and this matter in your prayers. We need to remain united in our fight against this injustice. Please also continue to keep up your financial support of our mission. Now, perhaps more than ever, the mission of EWTN is crucial to making the Church's voice heard.

May God bless you for your support, and may St. Michael the Archangel defend us in this battle.

Michael P. Warsaw
President & Chief Executive Officer
EWTN Global Catholic Network

Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Issue Statement on President Obama’s So-Called Compromise

Ann Arbor, MI - In response to President Obama’s remarks regarding the final rule for individual and group health plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Mother Mary Assumpta Long, O.P., the Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist released the following statement:

 

“Regarding the so-called compromise by President Obama on the Department of Health and Human Services rule for “preventative” services that mandate coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and artificial contraception for their employees, the mandate still compromises religious, economic, and political liberty.

Despite the assurances by President Obama that separating the premiums paid by religious institutions to insurance companies somehow protects the religious liberty of Catholic and other religious institutions, the bottom line is these institutions will still have to pay the insurance company that is mandated to provide these services for free to any employee who wants these services.  It is insulting for President Obama and his administration to suggest the so-called compromise “should be net cost neutral.” It is simply impossible to ensure that the insurance companies will not pass on those costs to the organizations and individuals who conscientiously object to their insurance policies covering abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and artificial contraception. In short, not only does the Administration not comprehend Catholic moral reasoning and the full-meaning of the principle of religious liberty, it does not even understand the basic economics of health-care insurance. The fact that Planned Parenthood has so quickly expressed satisfaction with these arrangements only confirms that nothing has changed in substance.

As the Second Vatican Council declared in paragraph four of its Declaration on Religious Liberty, Dignitatis Humanae:

“religious communities rightfully claim freedom in order that they may govern themselves according to their own norms, honor the Supreme Being in public worship, assist their members in the practice of the religious life, strengthen them by instruction, and promote institutions in which they may join together for the purpose of ordering their own lives in accordance with their religious principles.”

Moreover, as citizens of the United States we are guaranteed by the Constitution the right to fully and vibrantly live our Catholic faith according to the teachings of the Church.  We as Catholics demand that our institutions not be required to formally or materially cooperate in acts that the Church has always taught to be intrinsically evil.

The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist plead with God to protect the ability for all Americans to freely exercise their religious liberty.  The Dominican Sisters of Mary will offer up daily prayers with the intention that this unjust mandate be overturned, and we will do so until it is overturned.”

 

The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist is a Roman Catholic community of women religious based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Our primary apostolate is the education and formation of young people. We remain open to engaging the modern culture with new forms of evangelization in order to preach the Gospel and teach the Truth.  In 15 years, the Sisters have grown to over 100 in 14 years, the average age is 28 and the average age of the women who enter is 21. Sisters represent most of the States across the U.S., various Provinces in Canada, and countries in Europe and Asia.

Blessed Seelos' Miracle - Formerly Paralyzed Maryland Priest Sees Miracle as He Begins Walking

The following article was shared by a friend at the pet prayer blog. Mahalo Lou Ann!:


"...but it certainly was miraculous.” Reaching into his pocket, Father Murray pulled out a small object he carries with him at all times. Encased in a small locket, it houses a relic – a piece of bone – of Blessed Francis X. Seelos, a 19th-century Redemptorist priest under consideration for sainthood, who had been a rector of the same Annapolis parish Father Murray once led. The two also share a good sense of humor and a love for preaching..". You can read the entire article on page 17 here