Mike Fitzpatrick announced his candidancy for Congressman for the 8th congressional district. Yesterday July 5th he walked the route of the Lower Southampton and Upper Southampton  Independence Day parades.

Mike Fitzpatrick needs the support of all pro-life/ pro-family citizens to be elected in November.

Phoenix Bishop: Failure to Correct Pro-Abort Pols 'Emboldens' to Greater Evil

 By Kathleen Gilbert

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 5, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Those who refuse to take Catholic pro-abort politicians to task for their words and actions not only fail the standards of fraternal charity, but embolden such individuals to commit even greater acts of evil against human life and dignity, according to Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix.

The remarks appeared in a short exposition of the nature of scandal in a column for the Catholic Sun of Phoenix last month. In the article Olmsted, one of the strongest defenders of the unborn among U.S. Catholic hierarchy, explained the need to correct public figures who profess to reconcile their Catholic faith and pro-abortion agenda, as well as other individuals who give public scandal.

"A failure to call evil by its name inevitably leads to more evil acts in the future," wrote Olmsted. "Evil acts, in themselves, are the greatest source of scandal. When the perpetrators are not called to account, then they are emboldened to do even worse deeds."

The prelate quoted Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, who noted that, "it is particularly insidious that our society which is so profoundly confused about the most basic goods also believes that scandal is a thing of the past.”

The bishop pointed out the greater impact of scandal from public figures, who "fulfill an office of greater authority, enjoy more popularity or prestige, or [are] in a position to exercise political, economic or spiritual power or to make decisions that impact a large number of people." "The greater their influence the greater their ability to inspire what is right and good but also the greater their ability to give scandal," he said.

Thus when public officials "claim to be Catholic" but fail to promote the dignity of the human person, true marriage, and religious freedom, said the bishop, they give "grave scandal" - especially when justifying their stance "by claiming they cannot 'impose their religious views on others.'"

"Their words and actions allow such fundamental evils as abortion and embryonic scell research to continue to kill thousands of the littlest and most innocent members of the human family," wrote Olmsted. "Their false argumentation also gives the mistaken impression that abortion is just a matter of religious opinion," whereas life is "a basic human right inscribed in every human heart."

"Since some scandals are more grievous than others, remaining silent about the scandal given by those with greater influence in the Church or society has far more toxic effects than silence about other scandals."

Olmsted emphasized that "to remain silent about scandalous activity is not an act of charity; for charity is inauthentic if it is not linked with truth."

"Fraternal correction is not an act of presumed superiority," he wrote. "It is an act of fraternal love that desires our brother to see and admit his mistake, to repent and find new life in the rich mercy of God. It is also an act of love for all those who might otherwise be led astray if the scandalous behavior were not publicly confronted."

 The bishop quoted the "quite emphatic" words of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke: "Scandals inevitably arise, but woe to him through whom they come. He would be better off thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck than giving scandal to one of these little ones. Be on your guard. If your brother does wrong, correct him.'"

 Olmsted also pointed out the grievous effect on the laity that arises from misconduct on the part of Catholic clergy, which he said causes "great harm within the Church and society."

 "Sadly, the sexual abuse of children and youth by a small percentage of the clergy has reminded everyone of the devastating results of such scandalous behavior, and the need to decisively address this scandal," he wrote.

Read Bishop Olmsted's full column here.

Bill

Saw your post about the birth rates.  I have been teaching for years that we Christians/Catholics are contracepting ourselves out of existence.  The birth rate in North America is just at replacement (2.1) for zero population growth (with 30% births being to Hispanics).  Italy is at 1.1 and Spain at 1.7.  This is because most Catholics do not accept Church teaching on contraception; in fact, 37 % are sterilized; 50% have had an abortion by age 45; the facts are there; the teaching is there; we don't hear it enough and the 22% mass going Catholics are supporting a church structure designed  to accomodate a 75% mass going population of 40 yrs ago.  Our schools are empty, our vocations have "dried up" and we are in that demographic winter so often mentioned in various articles.  50 yrs of the contraceptive mentality and culture are finally taking their toll; our families are fatherless, motherless and childless as Brian Gale points out.  We need to pray.

Planned Parenthood falsely uses mammograms to defend tax funding.l


Bill,
Does this mean that all this time Susan g Komen who has been arguing that their monies go to PP to screening cancer in poor women have been part of a scheme/scam??
 
I would love for that to be exposed!!!
Victoria.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

Dear Victoria,

 The Pro-Life movement has been reporting this for years.
The problem is that so many Catholics (reportedly 80%) support Planned Parenthood (especially Catholic legislators)right here in Bucks County. They don't want to see them put out of business, they give the excuse on their Candidate Questionnaire that contraception prevents abortions. They stick to this claim even when statistics reveal that the more money given to "family planning", the higher the STD (sexually Transmitted Disease Cases) and rate of abortions.

Population Control
I attended a meeting at a senior retirement center in Langhorne known for their VERY liberal positions. Their guest was former Congressman Peter Kostmayer. The topic was his favorite organization ZERO POPULATION. There were questions from both Pro-abortion seniors and those radical Pro-Lifers in attendance. One of the Pro-abort seniors asked Peter how they can combat the Catholic Church's position on birth control (to maintain Zero Population Growth) Peter's reply was PLEASE! Don't wake up the sleeping giant, 80% of Catholics are contracepting and are already on our side, don't disturb the Catholic Church, They are on our side even if they don't realize it.
 
CHURCH APATHY
As far as your request to EXPOSE this KOMEN-Planned Parenthood relationship, Archdioceses across the country have been informed of this union REPEATEDLY by Pro-Life Lay leaders To a DEAF ear I must add. Have you ever heard a homily or read anything in the Catholic Standard & Times about this connection. AS far as how long this connection has been established I've attached 2 links about Komen. You will notice that the one letter was dated July 18, 2001

CAFETERIA CATHOLICS
I've had Catholics tell me they want PP to stay open in the event their teenage daughter or college student has an "unexpected" pregnancy. To their way of thinking they don't like abortion, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS NECESSARY SO THEY CAN FINISH THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION. The only way to prevent that from happening is to abstain from sex until marriage. I have had catholic mothers and fathers tell me that was unreasonable in this day and age. I'VE HAD A FATHER ASK ME "WHAT IF THE FATHER OR MOTHER IS A DRUG ADDICT. OR WHAT IF THE BABY IS A CRACK BABY AND REQUIRES ALL KIND OF MEDICAL CARE.I guess the answer they wanted from me was "Well sure, in those cases it is the only option. However I asked him "would you kill your daughter because she is a CRACK/drug addict?" If your answer is no, why would you want your granddaughter or grandson killed for that same reason, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT NOT ALL BABIES BORN TO DRUG ADDICTS ARE CRACK BABIES, AND EVEN IF IT WAS THAT IS NOT JUSTIFICATION TO KILL IT.

CONTRACEPTION
There is a generation of Catholic parents who have been brainwashed into the contraceptive culture because you never hear a homily AGAINST contraception and the effects it has had on women for over 35 years. They say NFP (Natural Family Planning) is too risky for them, but last night Abby Johnson, former director of a PP affiliate in Texas and author of the book unPLANNED, who finally left PP after witnessing and participating in a late term ultrasound guided abortion. She was called to assist with the ultrasound part. This repulsed her so much she quit the job and has now become a Pro-Life advocate working with 40 Days for Life and Live Action with Lila Rose. She has also testified before legislators on the evil she now understands she was part of while working at PP.
Abby appeared on EWTN last night and said that 54% of the women going into PP for abortions were on birth control of some method. That's why PP loves giving contraceptives and condoms to our children. They count on the failure rate for their abortion business. She said abortions could range in price from $400. to a couple of thousand dollars, depending on the stage of the pregnancy.
 

BUY YOUR PASTOR A COPY OF FATHERLESS

I suggest you buy and read the book Fatherless by Brian Gail. You should be able to purchase it at a Catholic bookstore. It is listed as fiction, but in reality it puts into a story what has happened to our Catholic culture of life over the last 35 yrs. In one chapter of the book a pastor is explaining to a young priest that the American Catholic hierarchy refused to teach about the subject after the courageous Pope Paul the VI issued Humane Vitae PREDICTING all that would happen if Catholicsrefused to follow the teaching of the church.

POPE PAUL VI - A MODERN DAY PROPHET
Have you EVER heard a homily about Humane Vitae from any of your priests? They will give you the excuses that they would be fighting a losing battle because most (80%) Catholics use birth control. This generation of clergy only wants to preach about the "Good News", the feel good gospel. They don't want controversy or have to defend the church's teaching. By the way, Jesus fought a losing battle, ending up by being crucified, and abandoned by all but a few, but in the end He triumphed in Glory.

CONFESSION OF A PRO-LIFER
I've gone to confession and told the priest of my anger and revulsion at the weakness of SOME priests on Pro-Life issues. I confessed it as the sin of anger and the sin of being judgmental on my part. He told me I have not sinned. He told me Christ would be angry and repulsed himself. He also told me not to give up on them, but to try to persuade the priests with love and gentleness and prayer.

TAKE A RISK -ASK YOUR PASTOR TO GIVE A PRO-LIFE HOMILY ONCE IN AWHILE
Show your pastor the article about the connection between Komen and PP and ask him to preach about it in his homily. I've asked priests to mention pro-Life issues during their homily, but they can never seem to squeeze it in. Besides they will tell you they are required to preach on the Sunday readings. That's where my impatience comes in and I say, "Father, I could take just about any reading on Sunday and make some Pro-Life connection to it. Then they walk away from me.

God Bless,
Bill Miller