Send a Red One!

http://www.redenvelopeproject.org/

This is a spectacular story...

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Christ Otto has spent the past 21 years of his life in ministry founding churches and working as everything from a pastry chef and worship leader to a hotel clerk and vocal coach. Little did he know he would become best known around the country as the founder of the Red Envelope Project.

Inspired during a prayer, Otto came up with the idea of sending red envelopes to President Barack Obama to protest his pro-abortion policies.

As he tells LifeNews.com, what started out as an email request to 120 of his ministry friends and supporters turned into a nationwide phenomenon that could result in hundreds of thousands of pro-life envelopes heading to the White House.

"Three weeks ago I was doing my usual routine of prayer, Bible study, and quietly listening to God. Usually I begin the day with 'Lord, what’s on your agenda today?'" he explained.

"That day, my mind wandered a little, and I imagined hundreds of red envelopes in the mail room of the White House. On the back, a simple message stating that each envelope represented an innocent life lost. I took that idea, and sent it in an email to my 120 ministry supporters. They in turn, sent it to their friends," Otto added.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Read the rest here.

Here is what I would like you to do:

Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinkos, or at party supply stores. On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington , D.C. 20500

On the back, write the following message.

This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception.

Put it in the mail on March 31st, and send it. Then send this website to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president.

Warmly, Christ Otto

GO BACK TO http://www.redenvelopeproject.org/

to submit the number of envelopes that you sent.

383,132
Sent or Pledged So Far!

Evil Resumes

Saturday, March 7, 2009, 9:37 PM

Killing Center Re-opens

"Saturday March 7th, 2009 marked the re-opening of Leroy Carhart's late-term child-killing center in Bellevue, NE., which was closed due to a fire at that facility a couple of months ago.

It was a dark and rainy morning, with a chill in the air ironically appropriate to the occasion. In terms of being ready to "serve" the twenty or so victims, they seemed to be "shooting from the hip". The staff spent much of the early morning dragging in medical equipment such as an ultrasound machine along with boxes and boxes of medical and office supplies.

I don't know how the inside looked, but the outside was as trashed out as ever, still carrying that touch of Carhart professionalism. For instance, practically blocking the main entrance to the parking lot was a large, rusted-out old truck. Both front tires were missing with the wheel on the driver's side resting inside a large pot hole, giving the mill that "salvage" look. Right next to it, connected to the mill by a long extension cord, sat a generator that purred away all morning making one question if they even had electricity.

I've often wondered how anyone could patronize such a junk yard posing as a "health clinic", but that never seems to matter much to mothers intent on destroying their children. Then there was another, much grander, opening today. Across the street from the abortion chamber is now a prayer chapel that pro-lifers have worked on for many months, fixing it up and preparing it for "spiritual battle" with the forces of darkness across from it. Now, not only will there be prayer warriors in front of the killing center, but also across the street, praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

And today, all their prayers paid off big time as there was at least one baby's life saved.

Today one sidewalk counselor talked with a young, Hispanic couple who were very receptive, agreeing with practically everything she said. They even agreed to accompany Mary to A Woman's Touch, the pro-life pregnancy center next door where they were given an ultrasound and positive, loving care in their time of need.

So, in the end, the sun did shine on that bleak, dismal morning in March as one tragedy was averted, a life was saved, and heaven rejoiced."

Larry Donlan, Rescue The Heartland

PRAYER

Prayer to the Virgin Mary

O Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of us all, we turn to you today as the one who said "Yes" to Life. "You will conceive and bear a Son," the angel told you.

Despite the surprise and the uncertainty about how this could be, you said yes. "Be it done unto me according to your word." Mary, we pray today for all mothers who are afraid to be mothers. We pray for those who feel threatened and overwhelmed by their pregnancy.

Intercede for them, that God may give them the grace to say yes and the courage to go on. May they have the grace to reject the false solution of abortion. May they say with you, "Be it done unto me according to your word." May they experience the help of Christian people, and know the peace that comes from doing God's will.

Amen.

(From Priests for Life)

NEWS FROM NEBRASKA

Electrician Quits Working on Abortion Center Repairs After Pro-Life Pressure

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 17, 2009

Bellevue, NE (LifeNews.com) -- A local electrician has quit working on repairs to a late-term abortion business outside of Omaha following pressure from pro-life advocates. The worker was repairing the abortion business run by late-term abortion practitioner LeRoy Carhart that was recently burned in an accidental fire.

The Nebraska-based center is one of the few in the nation to do late-term abortions and Carhart's name became famous when the Supreme Court ruled for him against a partial-birth abortion ban.

The unnamed electrician made the decision to quit assisting with repairs and cancel his contract after he was informed that abortions took place at the run-down medical office.

The electrician initially resisted efforts and said he had nothing to do with an abortion business, but after being told that the basement containing medical records he was working on was part of Carhart's abortion business, he quit immediately.

"He said he considered himself a good Catholic and didn't want to be an accessory to an abortion clinic," local pro-life advocate Larry Donlan explained.

Troy Newman, the president of Operation Rescue, which monitors abortion practitioners, applauded the good news and told LifeNews.com that the results of campaigns designed to protest the collaboration between construction workers and abortion centers work.

"Once people understand that their work is helping the abortion industry, they often want nothing more to do with it," he said. "It's a legal principle as well as a Biblical one. Those who aid and abet share in the guilt."

Although the electrician has stopped work, Newman's group continues to call on pro-life advocates to contact NBD International, an Ohio-based fire restoration company that is currently heading up the damage repair.

Newman tells LifeNews.com that the reconstruction is going slowly, but it could stop altogether if pro-life advocates contact NBD and ask it to stop work on the facility.

"It is unknown when Carhart's abortion mill will be reopened, but judging from the photos, it will not be any time soon, and maybe never if NBD International stops construction," Newman said.

"Operation Rescue calls on NDB International to immediately halt repairs on the Carhart clinic in the interest of saving lives," he added. "Please contact them and ask them to stop collaborating with the abortion industry."

ACTION: Contact NBD International at 1-800-929-3398 and ask the company to stop work rebuilding the Carhart abortion business in Nebraska. You can also send an email message by going to http://www.nbdint.com/MoreInfo.html

_________________________________________________________________

You may wonder, what do remote material cooperation in evil and formal cooperation in evil mean? How do these traditional, theological terms and concepts relate to the above story? How do they relate to our moral responsibilities in the voting booth? Are our responsibilities always easily understood and easily practiced?

Follow these links for more information:

Ioannes Paulus PP. II
Evangelium vitae

Vatican dismay: Memo on politicians touches nerve in U.S. campaign

Pope John Paul II, John Courtney Murray, and the Relationship Between Civil Law and Moral Law: A Constructive Proposal for Contemporary American Pluralism

Not letting up...as promised

Obama Expected to Reverse Restrictions on Stem Cell Research Funding Monday

[March 9, 2009]

"Under President George W. Bush, federal money for research on human embryonic stems cells was limited to those stem cell lines that were created before Aug. 9, 2001. "

WASHINGTON -- "President Barack Obama is expected to sign an executive order on Monday reversing restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

The long-expected move is likely to stir up not only the promise of scientific breakthrough but also the controversy over where government crosses a moral line.

Obama will hold an event at the White House to announce the move, a senior administration official said Friday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the policy had not yet been publicly announced."

Read the rest of the AP/Fox News report here.

So what does this signal?

Well, for one, it signals that President Obama CAN and DOES keep some of his pre-White House promises (apparently he was unable to do so with the line-by-line pork-watch thing he promised). He's much more detailed...it's now at the stem-cell level.

Secondly, this signals to the informed that Obama's administration is able to ignore science to promote science. It is common knowledge that science itself can manifest the same quality research and product from the resource of the adult stem cell. Others rightly suggest that this process carries great advantages, one being that the host body will not likely reject anything made from these adult stem cells because they wouldn't be recognized as foreign by the immune system as embryonic stem cells would be.

Thirdly, this "move" demonstrates President Obama's endurance to continue to throw money at things that promise no real advantage nor a real future for the lives of America's most vulnerable - or for anyone for that matter. This is NOT the change we should HOPE or pray for.

So what can you do? Pray. Pray. Write your Congressman. Pray. Pray. Pray.

Here is a Novena that was created prior to last year's election. Day 9: a prayer for "Good Stewardship and Preservation of God's Creation."

In Christ,

Vita Pulchra Est

BELLA

Here is the official trailer for the award-winning film, Bella which opened nation-wide on Oct. 26, 2007! For more information on this movie visit http://www.bellathemovie.com.

If you haven't seen this movie yet, DO SO.



You may know that the USCCB (United State Conference of Catholic Bishops: Film-and Broadcasting) offers their own reviews of both current and 20th century film.

Here is the short review that they offer for Bella:

Sweetly sentimental story about an unmarried New York waitress (an especially fine Tammy Blanchard) who loses her job after becoming pregnant, and her restaurant's empathetic chef (Mexican soap favorite Eduardo Verastegui) -- an ex-soccer star whose career ended after his car fatally struck a child -- who gives the young woman emotional support, takes her to visit his loving family, and gently tries to persuade her to keep the baby. Director and co-writer Alejandro Monteverde's impressive feature film debut is sometimes dramatically slack and implausible, but the sensitive performances, positive depiction of the chef's warm Latino family, and most of all, its affirmative pro-life message -- along with themes of self-forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption -- should resonate with Catholic viewers.

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.

_____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

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