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March 26, 2006
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Each month a different topic pertaining
to pro-life will be addressed. Please share them with your family.
Keep the hope that “together we can make a difference”. As our parish
family faces the attack today on life, we are ever mindful of God’s
admonition: “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and
the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendents may
live…” Deuteronomy 30:19.
See you at The Way of Love
www.TheWayofLove.org Lenten prayer walk at Burnett Woods on
Sunday, March 26, April 2 and April 9 from 2 to 3 PM>
Check out some websites for pro-life
information; the sites will also be posted on the St. Antoninus
website:
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus
Pro-Life, Pro-Family Commission
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April 30, 2006
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
At the beginning of our pro-life
monthly columns, let’s reflect on the “foundation”: God is
love. Out of love, God’s precious gift to each of us is Life itself.
He created us, for all eternity; making each of us in His own image
and likeness, endowing us with intellect and free will. Beloved child.
“‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born
I consecrated you’ (Jer 1:5) God said to the Prophet Jeremiah…God
intervenes directly in the creation of the soul of every new human
being. God does not differentiate between the newly, conceived infant
still in his or her mother’s womb and the child or young person, or
the adult and the elderly person. God does not distinguish between
them because He sees an impression of His own image and likeness (Gn
1:26) in each one.” (Pope
Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Academy for Life 06)
As we continue to put our faith into
action, let’s further develop our family’s education: have our
web-savvy family members check out:
www.Vatican.va e-mail:
ornet@ossrom.va;
www.HumanLifeInternational.com ; for all our referenced websites
www.saintantoninus.org
God is good!
-Jane
Hoffman,
St. Antoninus Pro-Life, Pro-Family Commission
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May 28, 2006
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Look at your own beautiful
children and family! Continuing to reflect on the “foundation”,
we recall that each person, lovingly created by God Himself, is gifted
at the moment of conception with an immortal soul. From our beginning,
each person is a beloved member of our human family. “‘When God
created man, He made him in the likeness of God. Male and female He
created them and He blessed them.’ (Genesis 5)…the life of every
individual, from its very beginning, is part of God’s plan...Expressions
of awe and wonder at God’s intervention in the life of a child in its
mother’s womb occur again and again in the Psalms. How can anyone
think that even a single moment of this marvelous process of the
unfolding of life could be separated from the wise and loving work of
the Creator and left prey to human caprice?”
(The Gospel of Life, John Paul
II’s Encyclical Letter)
The Gospel of Life
is “therefore meant to be a precise and vigorous reaffirmation of the
value of human life and its inviolability, and at the same time a
pressing appeal to each and every person, in the name of God:
respect, protect, love and serve life, every human life! Only in
this direction will you find justice, development, true freedom, peace
and happiness!”(ibid)
Our families need us and the times demand us to become more informed
and involved now. Come to our next St. A’s meeting: this Tues. 5/30,
7:30 pm
To help develop our Catholic
intellectual life: read the
encyclical, The Gospel of Life
http://www.pauline.org/store/searchresults.php Psalms 22:10-11
71:6 139 13-14
For all our
referenced websites
www.saintantoninus.org
God is good!
-Jane
Hoffman,
St. Antoninus Pro-Life, Pro-Family Commission
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June 25, 2006
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Banning Abortion has been in our
news both here in Ohio and across the country.
Let’s take a look at it in light of our
recent bulletin reflections: on the “foundation” (getting a better
understanding of the basis for the sanctity, dignity of each human
being from conception to natural death); on the vital need for each of
us, “in the name of God: respect, protect, love and serve life,
every human life!” (The Gospel of Life, JP II’s ency.)
God made the first chapter of our human
life’s journey from conception to birth. Our new life has inherited
23 chromosomes from each of our parents…all the complex genetic
blueprint for the person we will continue to be is there – our sex,
hair and eye color, height, skin tone and more. All that will be
added to us is time and nourishment. By a mere 21 days, our heart has
begun to beat and the foundations of our brain, spinal cord and
nervous system are already established. As every parent knows, this
continuum of growth is rapid especially now and even more so in their
teen years. But through each step of our journey along our continuum
through life, whether pre-born, newborn, toddler, adolescent,
teenager, young adult, middle age, “silver and golden ager” we are
God’s Beloved, created with an immortal soul, “endowed by our Creator
with certain inalienable rights…among these are the right to LIFE,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. (U.S. Declaration of
Independence).
“Abortion willed either as an end or a
means, is gravely contrary to the moral law…formal cooperation in an
abortion constitutes a grave offense…and excommunication…not thereby
restrict the scope of mercy...rather she makes clear the gravity.” (Cathechism
of the Catholic Church). Parents, consider sitting with your
teens and looking at
www.TheologyoftheBody.org and dot net …click on links.
www.saintantoninus.org/Church/Bulletins/c_bullet.htm
(LIFE column is last week of each month since March.)
God is good!
Jane Hoffman, St. Antoninus Pro-life,
Pro-family Commission
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July 30, 2006
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Hidden wounds. The knees of her jeans
were damp from her bowed head’s falling tears. The loss of her child
in an abortion has filled Ellie’s life with secret grief. She’s a
client who now wants me to tell others how grateful she is for the
hope of healing she has found in the outstretched arms of Christ at a
local pro life pregnancy center. For many years Brad had a difficult
time with the abortion of his three lost children; sorrow is now
replacing his anger. Finding the unconditional love of Christ, he is
supported in forgiving himself and grieving the loss of his little
children.
As these parish columns have been
looking at the foundation of God’s sanctity of human life and our call
to witness our Catholic faith, we also turn to welcome those who have
been wounded by abortion. Mother, fathers, grandparents, sisters and
brothers…the entire extended family is touched and suffers…the Body of
Christ grieves.
You or someone you know are not alone.
“Healing after abortion is a long road. Few steps along that road are
more powerful than Rachel’s Vineyard retreats. In the name of
the Lord of Life and Mercy, I invite you to enter this place of
welcome and understanding.” (Fr. Frank Pavone, Natl. Dir. Priests for
Life).
Consider clipping
this column to lovingly share/mail: a Post-Abortion Healing Ministry
of the Catholic Church
www.RachelsVineyard.org or call 877-HOPE-4-ME. Note: our
Cincinnati retreat is coming in October.
www.HopeAfterAbortion.com Project Rachel: 513-784-0531.
Pregnancy Center West’s pregnancy loss: 513-588-0080 All our
services are strictly confidential. More on this next month.
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September 24, 2006
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
It's the unasked question. It remains the hidden wound that
longs to find healing.
A parishioner told me that she has never known anyone who had an
abortion and she was certain that neither had I. Sadly, wrong on both
counts; we all know someone, somewhere…we just don’t know that we do.
We often have seen the pain, the change in someone without considering
the question: “is this someone wounded by an abortion?”
“My Dad never knew what happened to me, why I changed. I used to do
pretty well at school, student council and all. My Mom took me; she
was worried I was too young to have a baby. I didn’t really want that
abortion. I cried a lot. So did my boyfriend. So did my Mom. We
still do, inside. Life has never been the same. I wish I’d made an
adoption plan instead.” Emily’s family is like so many others who are
misinformed: well meaning parents or friends are sometimes ‘the
pressure’ not to give life but to abort the child. Consider clipping
and lovingly sharing this and July 30 column
www.saintantoninus.org:
Healing and hope after abortion for women and men: call 513-588-0080
Rachel’s Vineyard Cinti. Retreat Oct. 13-15.
www.HopeAfterAbortion.com
God is good!
Jane Hoffman, St. Antoninus Pro Life/Pro Family Commission
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October 1, 2006
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
When Jesus founded the holy Catholic
Church, He said that in listening to His church we are listening to
Him “He who hears you, hears Me; and he who rejects you rejects
Me.”(Luke 10:16). So, what is Jesus telling us through His Church
about setting priorities in celebrating and defending His loving gift
of human life, especially the most vulnerable?
Pope John Paul II :
“Above all, the common outcry, which is
justly made on behalf of human rights – for example, the right to
health, to home, to work, to culture – is false and illusionary if the
right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition
for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum
determination.” (Christifideles Laici).
It is the underpinning of all concerns for
social justice.
Pope Paul II and the United States Council of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB) made it clear that:
“the fundamental right and the source of all other rights…is the right
to life, a right belonging to every individual. Consequently, laws
which legitimize the direct killing of innocent human beings through
abortion or euthanasia are in complete opposition to the inviolable
right to life proper to every individual.” (Evangelium
Vitae)
“Not all issues can be given equal
weight: the issue of life is paramount, different from all other
issues of social import. A failure to recognize that abortion takes
priority over other issues at this point in our history is to
misunderstand the social teachings of the Church.” (Cardinal George).
“Today the recognition of human life as a fundamental value is
threatened. Nowhere is this clearer than in the case of abortion.”
(Cardinal Bernadin)
www.USCCB.org (click on Life Issues link)
www.priestsforlife.org
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro-Life, Pro-Family
Commission
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October 29, 2006
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
The Nov.
7th elections are on the minds of
most adult Catholics. “Not all issues can be given equal weight: the
issue of life is paramount, different from all other issues of social
import. A failure to recognize that abortion takes priority over
other issues at this point in our history is to misunderstand the
social teachings of the Church.” (Cardinal Francis George).
Let us continue to pray: may voters,
using an educated conscience, seek to make a right judgment in
accordance with reason and God’s law. May we remember the Church has
been given to us and teaches that the following are always morally
wrong and our opposition to them must be non-negotiable: abortion and
infanticide; euthanasia; embryonic stem cell research; human cloning;
the legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same
level as marriage. Other important issues are then to be considered
which allow “a plurality of morally acceptable policies and
solutions”. (Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the
Participation of Catholics in Political Life)
Consider checking out resources:
www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations Cathechism of
the Catholic Church,
www.saintantoninus.org (click pro-life)
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro-Life, Pro-Family
Commission
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November 26, 2006
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Our parish school children recently
completed a week “Everybody Counts”. What an upbeat way to
answer God’s call to respect and support each group represented on the
logo of Right to Life! “Everybody Counts” always cherishes the
most vulnerable innocent in our human family, no matter how small or
how old or how ill: the very young person still in her/his mother’s
womb, from conception on, who needs protection from dying in abortion
or embryonic stem cell research or infanticide; those with
disabilities (like Downs syndrome), the elderly, and the ill who each
need protection from euthanasia; and each of us to be protecting human
life from cloning.
As Advent
approaches, let’s consider that Jesus was a human person: from
His moment of conception in Our Lady’s womb; as He was in Mary’s womb
when she visited her cousin and John the Baptist leapt to greet Jesus
from his place in St. Elizabeth’s womb; Jesus was in Mary’s womb as
she and St. Joseph found their way to Bethlehem; as He waited outside
the inn when St. Joseph was told there was no room so they went to a
stable awaiting His birth. Everybody Counts…Jesus showed us
the way, even from His home in Our Lady’s womb. Check out
www.saintantoninus.org (click on pro life).
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro-Life, Pro-Family
Commission
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December 31, 2006
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
The week before
Christmas I had the blessing of speaking at an assembly with 1000+
fantastic teens at Elder High School. They want to “make a
difference” … to “stand up” for God’s awesome gift of human life.
This means making a commitment, a resolution for 2007 we all need to
consider: I have decided that I will not be silent any longer, I will
learn and speak the truth with love, and I will pray daily…this is the
spiritual battle of our times.
More than 48,000,000
American children have been legally killed before birth in
abortion…their parents and families wounded. St. Mother Teresa of
Calcutta made an imperative statement for our world, our nation: “The
greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill
her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me?
There is nothing between.”
Our St. Antoninus
parish family can put Mother Theresa’s imperative into positive action
by starting with a discussion at the dinner table, in the car ride
home, or on the way to school. Discussion begets action. As a tool
for starting, visit www.RockforLife.com, a site dedicated to
the life movement for our youth. Also, check our parish website for
TEN WAYS A TEEN CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND STAND UP FOR LIFE.
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro-Life, Pro-Family
Commission
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April 1, 2007
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Today’s news has much about ‘pictures’.
So what about the pictures? When and where are we compelled to bear
witness to God’s truth: a unique child of God, a fellow member of our
human family, lives in the womb…and through abortion this child is
willfully killed and these parents wounded? “The Christian is not to
‘be ashamed of testifying to our Lord’ (Jn 18: 37). In situations
that require witness to the faith, the Christian must profess it
without equivocation…Witness is an act of justice that establishes the
truth or makes it known.” (Cathechism of the Cath. Ch, Life in
Christ: The Eighth Commandment, 2464…).
In today’s life and death
situations, where better to lovingly witness to God’s truth than
1.) in ultra-sound images of life of the unborn child for
her/his abortion-minded parents 2.) at the entrances of the
benign-appearing death centers of Planned Parenthood and
The Women’s Med Center+? Surely a picture is still worth a
thousand words.
Questions for our family
consideration: Would the evils of Auschwitz,
Dauchau and Buchenwald have been believed by the world without graphic
photos of mass graves? Would the evils of racism and segregation
continue to be tolerated without the graphic photo of a lynching and
news footage of dogs and fire hoses unleashed on school children? If
a community remains silent, what is the complicity of its members in
the lies of evil? Jesus Himself tells us “you shall know the truth
and the truth shall make you free” (John 8: 31-32) More next month!
www.priestsforlife.org
www.silentnomoreawareness.org.
www.abortionNO.org
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro-Life, Pro-Family
Commission
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April 29, 2007
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to
uphold the federal ban on partial birth abortion is really ALLELUIA
NEWS!!! A turning of the corner! This landmark legislation is the
first abortion restriction in 34 years, since the passing of the
Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton Supreme Court decisions which legalized
abortion on demand in this country throughout all nine months
of pregnancy.
We’ve all prayed and “asked” God so
now, together let’s thank God...and thank our
devout public servants for their faithful, courageous leadership.
Let’s have an attitude of gratitude…”that when they see the
good that you do, they’ll give glory to God.”
Consider writing a thank you note
to our local, national leader:
U.S. Congressman Steve Chabot
(author & prime sponsor of this historic ban)
3003 Carew Tower
441 Vine St.
Cincinnati Ohio 45202
Consider sending
"Thank You" cards to supporting Supreme Court Chief Justice John
Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia and
Anthony Kennedy (all five supporting judges are Catholics as well)
Here in Cincinnati appropriately we note
this local Catholic connection: Congressman Steve Chabot is a product
of our Archdiocesan schools. He attended Holy Family and St.
Catherine grade schools and is a
LaSalle grad. He is an Our Lady of Lourdes parishioner. Congressman
Chabot has made an historical
contribution on behalf of the Church's teachings on social justice.
With more than 48 million deaths and the wounding of parents and
families, abortion is the civil rights issue of the century.
(see
www.SaintAntoninus.org pro life page).
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro life Pro Family
Committee
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May 27, 2007
Dear Fellow
Parishioners,
Memorial Day:
America pauses to honor those in the armed services, protecting our
nation both currently and as veterans. We offer our heartfelt prayers
of gratitude for their courage, their sacrifice and their faithful
fulfillment of their civic duty with honor and integrity. Courage,
sacrifice, faithfulness to duty, honor, integrity…we are inspired by
such people, such qualities, hoping to emulate them in our own
Catholic vocation: “The love of God compels me.” (2 Corinthians).
Pat, a volunteer at
a pregnancy center, told me, “I
have always wondered what I would have done in World War II to stop
the holocaust. Well, a holocaust in far greater magnitude is
happening EVERY day in this country (4000 innocent children are killed
in USA every day through abortion). I asked myself, ‘are you doing
anything about it, or are you ignoring it by saying to yourself, it's
the law of the land, there is nothing I can do.’ I used to think that
way, but now I believe this is wrong thinking.” Reprioritizing our
lives is a beginning.
Volunteer, Beth, says: “I remind myself, it is not just a ‘nice
idea’ to be involved in protecting the unborn and their parents, it
is our duty. “ So, consider a family discussion on the importance
of Memorial Day and duty. What is a better understanding of their
qualities we honor? As Catholics, how might we better emulate their
qualities in our own daily lives? Six months out from New Year’s
resolutions, let us resolve to “stand up for God’s gift of LIFE” even
more so…how?
Join other Greater
Cincinnati families: Walk the Bridge for Life June 3, 2-3 pm; begins
at Peace Bell in Newport, KY
www.WalktheBridge.com
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro
life, Pro family Committee
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July 1, 2007
Dear Fellow
Parishioners,
President Bush
vetoed legislation (S.5) that would mandate further federal funding of
embryonic stem cell research, taking the life of an embryo…an
age each of us once was. Millions of our “waiting-to-be-born” sisters
and brothers will be grateful as well. Many prayers gratefully
answered.
The concept “Stem
Cell Research” has often been misrepresented. There are two
types. The first is “non-embryonic or adult
stem cell research”, and is compatible with the moral code and
supported by the teaching of the Catholic Church as this type does not
involve the taking of another human life at the embryo stage of our
growth…for example, cells have been successfully utilized from one’s
own umbilical cord as well as from an adult organ
However, the
second type is called “embryonic stem cell research”…research
which always involves the taking of another human’s life. Very
clearly, this type of stem cell research always is
intrinsically evil which means that by its very nature, evil in
itself, thus always morally wrong, its intent is never justified and
our opposition must be non-negotiable. The Church teaches us that the
following are intrinsically evil: abortion, euthanasia, embryonic
stem cell research, human cloning, human fetus farming and the legal
recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same level as
marriage. “A plurality of morally acceptable policies and solutions”
are to be considered only for those areas not intrinsically evil.
(Doctrinal Note on Some questions regarding the Participation of
Catholics in Political Life)
Great work for a
future term paper, students! Consider reading
National Catholic
Bioethics Center:
www.NCBCenter.org
National Right to
Life:
www.NRLC.org/killing_embryos/NRLCLettertoSenateS5andS30.html and
www.stemcellresearch.org/
www.saintantoninus.org
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro
life, Pro family Committee
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July 15, 2007
The entry for July 15, 2007 is a
compilation of the columns that Fr. Armstrong wrote after his
attendance at the lecture on Life Issues presented by Fr. Tadeusz
Pasholczyk at Mt. St. Mary Seminary on June 22, 2007.
Dear
Parishioners,
I
attended an all day lecture on Life Issues at Mt. St. Mary Seminary on
June 22. The presenter was Fr. Tadeusz Pasholczyk who has his doctorate
in neurobiology and is the director of the National Catholic Bioethics
Center. He covered In Vitro Fertilization, Embryonic Stem Cell Research
and End-of-Life Issues. The following is a summary of my notes on his
presentation In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
IVF is the slippery slope of life issues because it puts embryonic
humans on ice. The TV program "Nova" produced "18 Ways to Make a Baby"
and invited viewers to suggest more; Nova stated the number of methods
is now 30. On July 25, 1978, Louise Brown the first "test-tube" baby
was born. At that time the ethics of IVF was discussed. However, that
quickly faded and now embryos are graded Levels 1, 2, 3 and if eugenics
is practiced, some of the embryonic humans are destroyed.
However, Pope John Paul II emphasized the sacredness of human life and
procreation in The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae, 4). A
foundational principle of Morality is that the end does not justify the
means. In this case, a good end, the desire for a child, does not
justify IVF etc, to achieve it. Yet, no matter how a child comes into
the world, he or she is gift from God.
In
Donum Vitae (Gift of Life, 2/22/87), the Holy Father
emphasizes that the marital act is to be at one and the same time both
love-sharing and life- giving. It is to be a collaboration between the
spouses and God. In IVF, humans are treated as not equal to the mother
and father because IVF is not true to the sexual self-giving between
spouses. The insight of natural law, which can be known to all humans
by the light of reason, is that the marital act is the privileged place
for the transmission of life.
IVF undermines the meaning of sex, turning procreation into production,
thus depersonalizing its very nature. Nevertheless, God binds Himself to
His own universal laws, even though sinful human choices constrain His
Hand. Thus artificial contraception and IVF are two sides of one coin,
opposed to the true meaning of the marital act: sex without
babies/babies without sex. Further dangers of IVF included frozen
embryos which are treated as objects not subjects, the method of
obtaining semen and eggs; "selective reductions" in the case of multiple
births or low birth weight; elevated risk of birth defects; market
forces e.g. "big money " in IVF technologies; little ethical oversight;
"property rights" on so-called "left-over" embryos.
Donum Vitae
makes the very important distinction between replacing the marital act
with assisting in the procreation of children. (It is important to
point out that married couples have the right to acts per se apt for the
generation of children, not to the children themselves. Every child is
a gift from God, no matter how the child is conceived. But "how" is
precisely the moral question here.) Dr. Hilgers of NaPro Technology.com
at Creighton University has developed a means of assisting with
procreation that cooperates with a woman's reproductive cycle.
Father Tad concluded by reminding us that The Holy Spirit is the Lord
and Giver of Life and gave examples from Scripture of those who left
progeny in the hands of God. Likewise, we need to retool our thinking
about adoption, other ways of ex-pressing faithfulness in marriage and
celibacy. Finally, the role of suffering, especially bearing the cross
of infertility, has meaning and redemptive power in our lives.
Dear
Parishioners,
The following is a
summary of my notes from the second session which Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk,
the director of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, presented on
Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR). His goal was to cut through the
spin on stem cells and cloning. First, he reviewed cell potencies.
He divided his topic in the following way: 1) Cell potency; 2) What they
can do; 3) origin of cells. Thus: Totipotential cells can develop into a
new adult from 1-3 day old embryos. Pluripotential cells can form any
of the 220 known cell types in the body from 5-7 day old embryos (blastocysts).
Multipotent cells are partially differentiated and can form many other
tissues from adult stem cells, umbilical cords and bone marrow. Father
Tad wanted to cut through the Hollywood hype, which only considers the
"benefits" of embryonic stem cell research, by contrasting "myth" and
"fact."
Myth: Stem cells only come from Embryos. Fact: Stems cells not only
come from Embryonic Germ Cells but also Adult stem cells; Umbilical
Cords; Placenta; Amniotic Fluid; Bone Marrow; Fat; the Nose; Cadavers.
Myth: The Catholic Church is against stem cell research. Fact: The
Church has ethical concerns about the sources of the cells; the good
end, medical research for potential cures does not justify the
destruction of embryonic Humans.
Morally, it is ok to use adult stem cells because no one's life is
taken, thereby. Father referred to the Family Research Council (FRC.org/1-800-225-4008);
and pointed out that all the medical advances have been the result of
adult stem research, of which he had many moving examples. Myth: Embryo
stem cell research has shown the most developing treatment and cure.
Fact: Adult stem Cell research is already curing numerous humans while,
to date, ESCR has never cured anybody. (On a personal note, I was
astounded by that fact.)
Then, why pursue embryonic stem cell research? It comes down to greed:
money and royalties from licensing. It also a "culture war" because a
scientist, Irving Wiesman, was able to convince actors like Christopher
Reeve, based on faulty science reports, that ESCR was the only way to
go. How can I find out about clinical trials for a particular disease
using stem cells? See
www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Father urged us to respect the Embryonic Human, as a former embryo
himself! He illustrated his point with a story about the American Bald
Eagle. In 1940, the bird was placed on the Federal Endangered Species
list. The law was so strict that if one were to destroy one of the
eagle's eggs it was if you shot the bird out of the air. Are not humans
worth as much protection? As a society, we will be judged by how we
treat our weakest members. For more information, see NCBCenter.org/215-877-2660.
Dear
Parishioners,
The
following is a summary of my notes on the third session, "End of Life
Issues," present by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk at Mt. St. Mary Seminary on June
22. He referred us to the US Bishops' document, "Ethical and Religious
Directives for Catholic Health Care Service." He reminded us that we
are the stewards, not the owners of our own lives. Our lives are on
loan from God and we are obliged to take care of them. Therefore, the
Catholic Church rejects both euthanasia and suicide. Likewise she
resists a false notion of autonomy.
We have a moral obligation to use ordinary and proportional means to
preserve our lives. That means that there is both a hope of benefit and
not an excessive burden. (See the Declaration on Euthanasia, Cong. for
the Doctrine of the Faith, 5/5/80). "Proportionate" relates to the
health care of this patient: does it offer a reasonable hope of success?
The following are some other questions that need to be asked as well.
How inconvenient is it and what are the associated risks? What are the
circumstances of persons, places, times, cultures? What, in terms of
physical and moral resources, is the state the sick person? What burdens
may be placed on others (e.g. family and friends)? (And yet that does
not mean, as Father only half-joked "I need to put granny out of my
misery!”) Does it involve excessive expense? Thus, a complete blend of
such factors needs to be considered for the judgment of end-of-life
issues.
The patient faces a dynamic journey as he/she encounters his/her own
mortality. There is a difference between illness (e.g. cancer;
congestive heart failure) and actively dying.
The following are important distinctions to make. One dies from
sickness/pathology, not from direct action. The treatment does not cause
life to be excessively burdensome. "I don't want a bunch of tubes
attached to me”. Such care, however could be a bridge to healing and
thus morally oblige. "Do not resuscitate" means death is imminent and
there are no reasonable treatment options. Father cautioned us on
Living Wills and Advance Directives because of the difficulty of
prognosis. Living Wills places end-of-life issues in the hands of a
physician. Better is a Health Care Proxy because, after proper
consultation, he or she can make decisions more in accord with the
principal’s wishes.
Unfortunately, I had to leave the session early. Fr. Mike Seger,
however will present our Lenten Series (February, 2008 for those who
like to plan ahead!) and plans to cover the above issues.
In writing this series of columns, I wanted, (to
paraphrase Archbishop Pilarczyk in his book, “Twelve Tough Issues”) not
to accuse anyone, but simply to witness to our faith. I found Fr. Tad to
be an excellent presenter and was struck once again by our church's
profound and consistent teaching on the dignity and destiny of human
life.
Rev. Christopher R.
Armstrong
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August 26, 2007
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Earlier
this year (see
www.saintantoninus.org 4/1/07) I wrote to you concerning the
importance of witnessing to the truth of abortion when we share actual
pictures of children who have been willfully killed in abortion.
These tragic graphic pictures are in front of the benign appearing
Planned Parenthood (the nation’s largest, deadliest provider
for the abortion industry), truth displayed by dedicated, pro life
sidewalk counselors.
Just last
week at a local pro life pregnancy center, a client told me, “Thank
God that man was there, outside Planned Parenthood, with
those pictures! I found out I was expecting twins…thought I
couldn’t deal with twins so I actually had made an abortion
appointment at Planned Parenthood!” Thank God she did listen to
that man and took his handout materials and wisely followed his
suggestion to visit a local pregnancy center. Now, she beamed as she
brought in her gurgling 7 month old son and daughter. “Wanted you to
see my joys in life!”
As God
would have it, within an hour a client came in with her beautiful 2½
year old brown-eyed daughter, Sarah. This Mother and Dad had been
through our parenting classes preparing for Sarah’s birth. “You know
I had an abortion all set at Planned Parenthood but thank God there
was that man outside and I saw those pictures.” He
encouraged me, “Please, don’t go in there. Don’t do this to your baby
and yourselves.”
Real stories of grateful
families who were shown the truth and who found support.
Those who want those pictures to be removed from the sidewalk
should speak with the spared children (some now in the their
30’s themselves). Listen to the voices of these children and their
parents: “Thank God that man with those photos was
there…thank God.” Jesus teaches us, “You shall know the truth and the
truth shall make you free.” (John 8: 31-32). Make a difference: plan
to join our parish for Mass at Holy Name on Auburn Ave then the rosary
walk to Planned Parenthood (8 am on Sept. 15) Check out:
www.all.org/stopp
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro
life, Pro family Committee
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September 30, 2007
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Aren’t we blessed as Catholics! The
Church dedicates October in honor of Our Blessed Mother and the
rosary. Let’s be honest, sadly in today’s culture Our Lady and
the rosary are ‘at best’ often ignored even by Catholics and ‘at
worst’ ridiculed. Yet, in God’s mercy, Our Lady, the Mediatrix
of all grace, continues to intercede on our behalf. This is
especially paramount here in America where under legalized abortion
we have taken the lives of over 48,000,000 (!!) waiting-to-be-born
children and wounded their parents and families. Mercy, mercy! We
all need God’s merciful help.
So, feeling “stumped”: “well, what can
my family and I do?” Use our God-given arsenal in this
battle between the culture of death and Jesus’ Gospel of LIFE:
1. Reverently receive the sacraments of
Holy Eucharist & Reconciliation
2. Pray the rosary each
day, start this month of October.
3. Join families around the world in
prayer to Our Lady of Fatima, Sat. October 13.
Note: Ninety
years ago, on October 13, 1917, Our Lady of Fatima (Portugal)
appeared again to three shepherd children…in the presence of tens of
thousands of on-lookers! Mary again told us to “pray the rosary
and do penance”! Then there was the great Miracle of the Sun
witnessed by so many including news people from across the country.
www.fatima.org/essentials
Come to Pray
for a merciful
end to the violence in our city against the born and the unborn.
1. Rosary
Walk to Fountain Square 9:30am Immaculata Steps
(procession starts at bottom of stairs, parking near The Boathouse),
10:30 Fountain Square: Consecration of our city. 2. Family Rosary
Vigil and Benediction (noon, Holy Spirit Center in
Norwood)…musical celebration and refreshments.
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro
life, Pro family Committee
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October 28, 2007
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
As Election on November 6th
approaches, naturally each of us strives to vote with a clear
conscience: “At all times and in all places, the Church should have
the true freedom to teach the faith, to proclaim its teaching about
society…and to pass moral judgment even in matters relating to
politics, whenever the fundamental right of man or the salvation of
souls requires it.” (Second Vatican Council) “A well-formed Christian
conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program nor for
an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith
and morals.” (Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith)
1. Vote 2. Know the candidates: to
learn if they stand for the right values so check their
civic/voting records and see if they put their values into
action/leadership, their websites, their literature 3. Reject the
Disqualified and distinguish between Policy and Principal: suppose a
candidate said “I support terrorism” we would hardly say, “Well, I
disagree with you on terrorism but what’s your health care and
education funding plan?” Of course we would immediately realize such
a position would disqualify her/him from public service. We wouldn’t
need to look further. Their support for abortion (or for any other of
the intrinsic evils,) is enough for us to decide not to vote for such
a person. 4. Keep our loyalty focused on Jesus and work to put our
faith into action.
May we remember the Church has been
given to us and teaches that the following are always morally wrong
and our opposition to them must be non-negotiable: abortion and
infanticide; euthanasia; embryonic stem cell research; human cloning;
the legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same
level as marriage. (public record info:
www.priestsforlife.org/legislation ;
www.saintantoninus.org )
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro
life, Pro family Committee
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December 9, 2007
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
The evening is cold; stars hang in the
folds of the sky. Stillness. Anticipation. While the darkness
hovers, impossibility seems to breathe all around. Yet there is the
sound that shatters the night! The cherished Child, so long awaited,
is born! His Light fractures the world and history is forever
divided—the Before His birth, the After into eternity.
The God-Man, like each of us, has been sheltered in His mother’s womb
for nine months. Now the angels sing His triumphant birth! We kneel
in awe. The Child, His Mother, the Virgin Mary, His foster father,
Joseph…the Holy Family remains today as model for all of our
families.
This Advent let us recommit our families
to follow the example of the Holy Family. Let us light the candles of
our home Advent wreath, praying for all families blessed with a child,
for those families expecting a child, those who know the love of
adoption, those who have lost a child and those who are hoping for a
child. Let us also pray for the healing and reconciliation of those
whose child has died in abortion.
Consider taking the family to see
the movie Bella (PG 13): it is full of this gift of the child,
the family. (Unlike the new The Golden Compass, “whose author
openly proselytizes for atheism, corrupting the imagery of C.S. Lewis
and Tolkien to undermine children's faith in God and the Church.”
Pied Piper of Atheism: Philip Pullman and Children's Fantasy,
published by Ignatius Press.) The family will always need to be the
vigilant gatekeepers of children’s impressionable minds; the nurturer
of virtue and the safe haven; a loving place of joy, prayer and
forgiveness, even in the humblest and grandest of homes. Make a
difference for your family: visit
www.abstinenceassociation.org/voiceyourchoiceohio and
www.saintantoninus.org
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro
life, Pro family Committee
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January 6, 2008
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
Imagine finding God’s loving hands
during a visit to the grocery! While making my last minute Christmas
dinner purchases, I paused to say hello to a young boy quietly sitting
in his mother’s grocery cart. Smiling at me she beamed, “He’s such an
angel!” She candidly continued, “We are so blessed! Earlier this
year, his mother told me she was pregnant and going to abort him! I
begged her not to do that to her baby and herself! I asked her to
give him to me instead. She agreed...He’s 11 months old and we are
now finishing our adoption plans!” What Joy in choosing Life!
“I came that they may have life and have it
more abundantly.” (John 10:10) During this
Holy Season, what a beautiful testimony to the beauty of God’s sacred
gift of human life: a soul created in His image and likeness, for all
eternity.
Consider a family/friends’ discussion
of the following:
“It is no slight thing
that those who come to us, so fresh from
God,
Love us!
Babies have a way of reaching into our
hearts,
of touching our lives
and changing our world
forever.”
Adoption
means making a loving plan for a child. With God’s grace, love’s
courage and generosity will always triumph. Consider this New
Year’s resolution: let us pray that our nation, our church our
families, ourselves…recommit to cherishing and defending God’s
precious gift of human life…from conception to natural death. Check
www.SaintAntoninus.org for more pro active New Year’s
resolutions. Adoption Info? Catholic Social Services:
CarolW@CSSdoorway.org;
www.PregnancyCenterEast.com
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro
life, Pro family Committee
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April 5, 2008
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
The joy of the Easter season is always a
beautiful time to meditate on God’s Mercy and our great need of
His mercy. How the world longs for His mercy, even if
we cannot always name it. Mercy:
-A pro life friend just returned from a
high security prison: he again helped to give a Kairos retreat for
the inmates. The face of Christ is there, the need for mercy,
especially for those on death row: the Church reminds us that capital
punishment is reserved solely for those rare situations when no other
feasible means is available to protect society.-Thank God for devoted
pro life individuals who tenaciously serve and advocate in this vital
area. Mercy.
-Thank God for pro life ministers who,
in mercy, care for the poor, the sick or dying, who promote
these individuals’ God-given dignity; for all who educate us on the
evils of euthanasia and infanticide; for those who valiantly live with
special needs and for those who are blessed to know and serve them.
Mercy.
-Notably, over-shadowing all, the
Catholic Church consistently heralds the ministry of merciful
service advocating on behalf of those waiting-to-be-born. Our
bishops speak with one voice condemning the legalization of abortion,
the wounding of parents. Our conscience must be moved by the millions
who are on the “death row of the womb”: unseen, unheard and
the most marginalized…condemned to death itself often because
of their special needs.
Slavery was sheer absurdity…owning
another human. Likewise, abortion is sheer absurdity…the
bizarre stance that we should ‘look the other way’ if someone chooses
to kill an unborn child. Worse yet, that some would actually defend
this as a right—or will vote for someone who defends the macabre
‘right’ to choose to kill millions of the innocent, legally.
Mercy! Consider during this Holy season to pray for His mercy;
pray that America may in mercy vote to protect the sanctity of
human life. If a community remains silent, what is the complicity of
its members in the lies of evil?
“Out of the depths I cry to You…have
mercy on us, O Lord!”
www.priestsforlife.org
www.abortionNO.org
God is good!
Jane Hoffman
St. Antoninus Pro
life, Pro family Committee
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