IN SHORT...this is not good news. Why?

Obama taps Sebelius for HHS secretary

"WASHINGTON – Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is President Barack Obama's choice for secretary of health and human services, a White House source said Saturday.

The source, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said Obama will formally announce the nomination on Monday."

And this is why this news IS NOT good news.

If you need another reason, here's one:

Sebelius vetoed a bill on April 21, 2008 - a bill that was passed by 2 to 1 margins in both houses of the Kansas Legislature, that would strengthen the state's ban on late-term abortions by authorizing private lawsuits against providers. In 2007, she vetoed a bill requiring explicit medical reasons for a late abortion, and she vetoed other abortion legislation in 2006, 2005 and 2003.

Quite a record.

Read The Case Against Sebelius: Unfit to Serve as HHS Secretary

Lenten Meditations for Pro-Life Stations of the Cross from "Priests for Life"

(CLICK on PHOTO to ENLARGE)
The First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death

Though innocent, Jesus is condemned by the power of the State. In like manner, our innocent brothers and sisters in the womb have been condemned. Their rights and dignity are not recognized. In this, they bear a special likeness to Jesus.

The Second Station: Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross

The salvation of the world carried a heavy price for our Lord, the agony of the cross. As He accepts His cross, let us also resolve to endure suffering that others may live. Let us pay the price for standing up for our preborn brothers and sisters.

The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time

Almighty God was weak because He chose to be like us. He had power and glory from all eternity, yet He chose to be immersed in the world of suffering. We pray that the benefits and advantages we have in life may not cause us to forget our pre-born brothers and sisters.

The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother

There is no deeper relationship than that of mother and child. They belong together. When one suffers, the other suffers. To love and defend one means to love and defend the other. To be pro-life means to serve both the child and the mother. It means to ask our society, "Why can't we love them both?"

The Fifth Station: The Cyrenian Helps Jesus to Carry His Cross

Many watched the Lord suffer. Simon the Cyrenian helped alleviate that suffering. Many lament abortion. Some actually get involved to help to stop it. We pray that all people may take their active place in the pro-life movement.

The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

The compassion Veronica shows reflects the compassion of so many medical doctors and nurses, who treat their patients with dignity. We pray for repentance and renewal in the medical profession. May the tools and skills meant for healing nevermore be used for killing.

The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time

In working to defend life, there are many setbacks and obstacles. Yet we know the meaning of the cross. In weakness, power reaches perfection. We do not look to our own strengths and talents alone, but to Christ. His own strength will sustain us.

The Eighth Station: Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem

Christ told these women to weep for themselves and for their children. He does not want false worship, but repentance. He does not want followers who cry out to Him but then ignore injustice and bloodshed. May all who believe in Christ likewise stand up for the defenseless children.

The Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time

Despite the falls, nothing can stop our Lord, because He is on a mission of love. If the pro-life movement is not a movement of love, it is nothing at all, but if it is a movement of love, then nothing will stop it. Love is stronger than death, more powerful than hell.

The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

Nobody can stop us form loving our preborn brothers and sisters. Those stronger than we may strip us of popularity, possessions, or power, but they cannot strip us of love. We love others with the same love that Christ showed for us.

The Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

The powers of this world crucified the God who made this world. All power and authority come from God. All who exercise power have to account for it before the throne of God. We pray that those in government may use their powers to protect the innocent babies in the womb.

The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross

Our Lord died. So many of His children have died with Him. His passion is re-lived with every abortion, one every twenty seconds in our country. We only know a fraction of the horror of this act in the sight of God. We only know a fraction of the horror of Christ's crucifixion. May all our brothers and sisters killed by abortion rest in Christ's peace and be saved by His cross.

The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

Mary experienced the pain of holding her dead Son. So many mothers grieve after their abortions. We ask that Mary may comfort them, help them face the truth about abortion, and lead them to forgiveness and healing.

The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

A tomb is a memorial. It helps us remember the one who can no longer speak. May we and our society remember the babies who cannot speak. May we also remember Our Lord's Resurrection, and His promise of eternal life. He has conquered abortion because He has conquered death. May we bring His victory to every part of our world!

IN THE NEWS

The Washington Post:

Obama Administration to Reverse Bush Rule on 'Conscience' Regulation

Policy Provides Sweeping Federal Protections to Health-Care Workers Who Refuse to Provide Care That Violates Their Beliefs

By Rob Stein, Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 27, 2009

"The Obama administration has begun the process of rescinding sweeping new federal protections that were granted in December to health-care workers who refuse to provide care that violates their personal, moral or religious beliefs.

The Office of Management and Budget announced this morning that it was reviewing a proposal to lift the controversial "conscience" regulation, the first step toward reversing the policy. Once the OMB has reviewed the proposal it will be published in Federal Register for a 30-day public comment period."...

...read the rest of this article HERE.

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You may notice that President Obama's administration (see Health and Human Services) referrs to legislative activity of this kind as a move towards a "middle ground" on the issues related to abortion. What exactly does "middle ground" mean? Or, a better question...where does this "middle ground" exist?

Here, TIME Magazine, and The Boston Globe take a shot at defining such territory.

But for a Catholic perspective try THIS ONE:

Catholic Leader Joins Unity Debate On Abortion (from NPR)

February 6, 2009 · Richard Doerflinger, associate director of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, weighs in on the ongoing debate about abortion. The discussion is another installment of the conversation started last week with the Rev. Jim Wallis, an evangelical who told Tell Me More he believes America can reach a common ground in the fight over abortion.

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PARTING THOUGHTS...

Does "common ground" equal "middle ground"? How do we balance our efforts to persuade the "other side" to join us with attempts to establish pseudo-compromise without actually compromising the integrity of the truth about God's smallest and most innocent ?

FIGHT!

Fight FOCA!

How long has the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) been around?

FOCA was first introduced after the Webster v. Reproductive Health Services Supreme Court decision in 1989. It has been introduced at various points since then.

Why hasn’t FOCA been signed into law before?

Since FOCA was first introduced, 1993 and 1994 were the only two years when pro-abortion leaders were in charge of Congress and could have passed FOCA while there was a pro-abortion President in office. Bill Clinton had run on the platform that abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare.” FOCA’s radical nature was completely the opposite of Clinton’s public stance, and so the legislation didn’t advance. This time however, you have pro-abortion leaders in Congress and a President who promised Planned Parenthood that FOCA would be a top priority.

The Freedom of Choice Act was most recently reintroduced into the Senate by Senator Boxer on January 22, 2004. You may read the full Bill Summary here and follow current legislative action of the 111th congress at the Library of Congress THOMAS website.

CONSIDER THIS...

This video is succinct and powerful.

To those of you that don't consider yourself pro-life and have stumbled across this blog, please prayerfully and thoughtfully consider this message.

It doesn't tell the whole story, or offer towering scientific, policy, or religious arguments, but it is well done none-the-less.

(YouTube: Clips from WorshipHouseMedia.com. Music by John Frizzell.)

GET INVOLVED!

Every of us can make a difference!

Each of us has a talent or ability to contribute, even if only for an hour every week or month.

How can I help?

There are so many ways!

1) Become involved with St. Joseph-Beatrice Parish sponsored pro-life activities by emailing Kate or Kim. Just press on the EMAIL icon up top.

2) Take part in discussions about abortion and euthanasia at work or where acquaintances gather. Respectfully discuss these issues with colleagues.

3) If you belong to a professional organization, advance pro-life positions.

4) Volunteer to counsel women in a local pregnancy aid center; ask the diocesan officers how you might assist the diocese's post-abortion ministry. The Beatrice Pregnancy Resource Center is located just a few blocks from St. Joseph Catholic Church. After spending an hour of adoration, donate your time to the Center. Beatrice women and families need your support and encouragement. Prayerfully consider this opportunity.

5) Volunteer for a respite care program that helps families caring for seriously ill members at home; help the local hospice program.

6) IMPORTANT: Contact your federal or state representatives on important pro-life legislation, especially when asked to do so by your diocese or parish—send that letter, make that phone call, sign that postcard. These things really do make a difference. Do not underestimate the significant value of such actions.

7) MOST IMPORTANT: Pray. Pray privately and take part in programs of prayer.

8) Stay well-informed on the issues.

WELCOME!

Welcome to VITA PULCHRA EST, the Official Pro-Life Blog of St. Joseph Catholic Church - Beatrice.

It is through this medium that we hope our parish community will post and discuss pertinent and important pro-life issues.

The presence of this blog demonstrates an effort to engage our parishioners in lively discussion on the topics of abortion, euthanasia, stem-cell research and the like as well as to propel our Catholic brothers and sisters into active participation in pro-life activities.

Part of this blog will highlight local and regional services and resources dedicated to supporting the pro-life agenda. One such site that will remain linked here is the Nebraska Catholic Conference website. The Nebraska Catholic Conference website serves as a clearinghouse for state and national legislative activity on several issues that impact our communities...not just abortion. Following this link: www.nebcathcon.org will lead you to a plethora of important links to other websites. Some of those links are duplicated on this blogsite as well.

Please feel free to leave your comments on these issues. Know that all comments will be monitored for content appropriateness at the absolute discretion of the blog administrators.

Vita Pulchra Est --- Life is Beautiful