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Pope: It is a Childish Faith to Oppose the Church Teaching on Life and Family

By John-Henry Westen

ROME, June 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Closing the Year of St. Paul yesterday evening, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the writings of the famed convert to Christianity. With reference to Paul's letter to the Ephesians (4:14), the Pope explained what Paul meant by his statement that Christians should not remain "children at the mercy of the waves, transported here and there by every wind of doctrine."

"Paul wants the Christian faith have a 'responsible', an 'adult faith," said the Holy Father. "The word 'adult faith' has in recent decades become a popular slogan. It is often used to refer to the attitude of those who no longer adhere to the Church and her pastors, but choose for themselves what they want to believe and not believe - a kind of do-it-yourself faith."

Benedict XVI continued: "Speaking against the Magisterium of the Church is presented as courageous.  In reality, however, it does not take courage for this, since you can always be sure of audience applause."

"Rather it takes courage to adhere to the faith of the Church, even if it contradicts the 'scheme' of the contemporary world," said the Pope. "It is this non-conformism of the faith that Paul calls an 'adult faith.'"

The Holy Father gave two examples of an 'adult faith'. First, "to commit to the inviolability of human life from the very beginning, thus radically opposing the principle of violence, in defense of the most defenseless humans." And second, "to recognize marriage between a man and a woman for life as a law of the Creator, restored again by Christ."

For Paul, said Benedict XVI, "following the prevailing winds and currents of the day is childish."

See the full homily in Italian here:
http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/24071.php?index=24071&po_date=28.06.2009&lang=en

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Boston Catholic Hospitals Pull Out of Abortion Venture at 11th Hour

By Kathleen Gilbert

BRAINTREE, Massachusetts, June 27, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - At the prompting of Boston Cardinal Seán O'Malley, the Boston archdiocesan health care system, known as Caritas, which has been embroiled in a scandal over plans to provide the state's abortion-covering insurance, has pulled out of the deal just days before the plan was set to begin. The move followed months of outcry from Catholic groups who were angered at the hospital system's lucrative participation in the plan. 

While the American Life League has expressed satisfaction with the turnaround, a Massachusetts group is continuing to call for the hospitals' complete dissociation from the plan.

The joint venture, known as CeltiCare, had won a bid to provide Massachusetts' Commonwealth Health Care Plan, which covers abortion, contraception, and sterilization.

Richard Lynch, the chief executive of CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts, announced Friday that Celtic Group Inc. was now the sole proprietor of the state-subsidized "Commonwealth Care" plan, following the withdrawal of Caritas. The Catholic hospitals will now participate in the plan as a health care provider, similar to its relationship with private insurers, through the state's Connector Program.

Caritas and Cardinal O'Malley issued a joint statement the same day announcing the arrangement.

"I am pleased that Caritas Christi was able to achieve this outcome," stated Cardinal O'Malley.  "Throughout this process, our singular goal has been to provide for the needs of the poor and underserved in a manner that is fully and completely in accord with Catholic moral teaching.

"By withdrawing from the joint venture and serving the poor as a provider in the Connector, upholding Catholic moral teaching at all times, they are able to carry forward the critical mission of Catholic health care."

Caritas Christi CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre said, "The opportunity for Caritas Christi to participate in the Connector program will allow Caritas to serve the low income and underserved population's desperate need for quality health care. We are committed to fulfilling our mission, as we always have, rooted in the principles established by Catholic teaching, of providing the highest quality healthcare to patients across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

The release explained that "care for the poor and the uninsured was the original motivating force" in the agreement to provide the state-subsidized plan.  However, in an echo of the criticisms aimed by Catholic pro-life activists, it acknowledged that a "principal goal" of Catholic health care in the U.S. is "protecting the sacredness of human life from conception until natural death."

"The protection of human life and dignity demands that Catholic institutions never contribute to procedures which are inconsistent with Catholic moral teaching, such as abortion and sterilization," it said.

The American Life League (ALL) expressed relief at the news and praised the cardinal's leadership.

"Praise God! After months of tireless effort from American Life League and pro-life heroes in Boston and around the country to expose a potential scandal only days away from becoming a tragic betrayal of Catholicism's unwavering commitment to the dignity of the human person, Cardinal Sean O'Malley has heard our voices and will end the joint venture with abortion-providing Centene Corp!" read an ALL statement Friday.

ALL noted the difficulty of choosing to abandon the plan in the face of the "severe financial crisis," which has affected Caritas Christi hospitals.

"We profoundly thank Cardinal O'Malley for his courage, leadership and pastoral concern for the health and well-being of those youngest members of his archdiocese," ALL wrote.  "He has set a beautiful example of dedication and charity for those poorest of the poor - the preborn." 

The group called the reversal "a sign of the vitality of United States Catholics' commitment to human life and personhood," and said they are "humbled to stand alongside Cardinal O'Malley as a sign of contradiction to the culture of death." 

Massachusetts' Catholic Action League welcomed the news, but called the withdrawal an "only partial victory."   League president C.J. Doyle said there remained "troubling questions" as to whether Caritas has already financially benefited from the contract, and whether Caritas "continues to have an ongoing relationship with the Centene Corporation."

"If Caritas is to remain faithful to Catholic moral principles is must withdraw ... not only from CeltiCare but from the entire Commonwealth Care contract," said Doyle.

The League also urged Caritas to offer alternatives to those seeking abortion instead of simply referring them to their insurance provider.  Caritas spokeswoman Teresa Prego admitted earlier this month that patients seeking abortion are referred to their insurance provider for further help in obtaining the procedure.

"Instead of offering compassionate alternatives to abortion, Caritas Christi will still be engaged in a two-step abortion referral," said Doyle.

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Pro-Abortion Contributions Revealed Among Boston Catholic Hospital Board Members 
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061811.html  

Boston Archdiocese Reaffirms Hospitals' Commitment to Catholic Morals, ALL Responds
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061105.html  

Catholics Up in Arms over Boston Catholic Hospitals Abortion Coverage, Archdiocese Now Says Matter "Under Review" 
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061005.html   

Commentary: Caritas Christi's Deal with the Devil - Part II 
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09052712.html  

Commentary: Will the New England Catholic Health Care System Participate in Abortion? 
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09052604.html  

Tension Mounts over Possible Abortion Referral Venture at Boston Catholic Hospitals 
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09052115.html   

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Lithuania President Vetoes Law Banning Homosexual Propaganda in Schools

By Alex Bush

VILNIUS, Lithuania, June 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The President of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, has vetoed a law that would have prevented homosexual propaganda from entering into schools or other public places that could be seen by young people.

The veto came after the Siemas, the Lithuanian parliamentary body, voted 67-3 in favor of the legislation, with four abstentions.

The law would have prohibited the dissemination of public information that is recognized in general to have a negative effect on the mental, physical, intellectual, and moral development of youth. This includes the spreading of information that "agitates for homosexual, bisexual relations, or polygamy."

The measure also bans "the portrayal of physical or psychological violence, displaying a dead or mutilated body, [and] information that arouses fear or horror or that encourages self abuse or suicide."

However the law may yet still be passed, said Vytautas Valentinavicius, chairman of Tolerant Youth Association, to UKGayNews. "All it needs is 71 deputies to vote in favor of going ahead with the law, and it goes back to the president who must sign it in three days," he said.

President Adamkus, who only has two weeks left in office, said before vetoing the law that he did "not know whether negative opinion of the international organizations on this law will have any influence upon my decision."

Adamkus may be attempting to push the decision off to president-elect Dalia Grybauskait, who won a landslide victory in the last election and is set to take office on July 12.

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Ireland to Institute Same-Sex Civil Partnerships within the Year

By Hilary White

DUBLIN, June 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The government of Ireland announced on Friday that a bill giving statutory rights to homosexual partners will come into effect by the end of the year. The bill will insert new wording into the Civil Registration Act of 2004 that will create legal equivalency to marriage in nearly all but name.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said in a statement, "This bill provides legal protection for cohabiting couples and is an important step, particularly for same-sex couples, whose relationships have not previously been given legal recognition by the state."

Under the bill's provisions, a same-sex civil partnership will be allowed to be registered without a ceremony, whereas with a marriage a ceremony will still be required. Registered same-sex couples will enjoy the same statutory protections as married couples across a wide range of areas, including legal protections for a shared home, pensions, the right to succession and tax and social welfare benefits.

The Irish Times quotes Ahern saying the bill had been framed to "balance" any potential conflict between constitutional definition of marriage and the rights conferred under Article 40.1 of Ireland's Equality Act.

"The balance is achieved by maintaining material distinctions between the rights attaching to both, while at the same time reflecting equality rights," he said.

The move comes as Ireland prepares to fight another referendum on the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, the replacement for the European Union's Constitution, that was defeated a year ago.

After the 2008 referendum, that stalled the process of the Treaty throughout the EU, polls found that Irish voters had rejected it partly out of fears that European law and juridical bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), would overrule and supersede national laws, particularly on life and family issues. Advocates for the "No" side warned that the Lisbon Treaty would force changes to the constitution that would violate Ireland's traditional Christian values.

Homosexualist activists in Ireland have been highly successful in using the EU's laws and courts to force changes to the Irish laws criminalizing homosexual activity. In 1988, Senator David Norris, founder of the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform, argued successfully to the ECHR that the country's laws were in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. 

In 1983, the same case had failed at the Irish Supreme Court that referred in its 3-2 ruling to the "Christian and democratic nature of the Irish State" and argued that criminalisation of homosexual acts served public health and the institution of marriage. Five years after the 1988 ruling from the European Court, parliament overturned the law.

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Supreme Court Overrules Sotomayor Decision against White Firefighters

By Kathleen Gilbert

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A Supreme Court decision today overturning a ruling issued by Sonia Sotomayor has fueled criticism of President Obama's Supreme Court nomination. Critics are pointing to the ruling as further proof of Sotomayor's penchant for leftist identity politics. 

If confirmed, Sotomayor would likely bring a pro-abortion vote to the top of America's judicial system in replacing Justice David Souter, who retires from the Supreme Court today.  

The case Ricci v. DeStefano involved eighteen New Haven white firefighters, including one Hispanic, who complained of "reverse discrimination" after the city refused to grant their test-based promotion because not enough black firefighters had qualified for promotion based upon their test results. The city said that it was afraid of a lawsuit.

Judge Sotomayor had ruled in favor of the city in her role as federal appeals court judge last year; but the Supreme Court has now voted 5-4 to reverse the decision.  Justice Souter was among the dissenting judges.

The Ricci case has been watched closely in connection with Sotomayor's path to the Supreme Court, as the nominee has become well-known for highlighting racial and gender divides: critics have pointed to several speeches in which Sotomayor affirmed that "a wise Latina woman" would "more often than not" interpret the law better than a white male.

While little direct evidence exists of Sotomayor's pro-abortion ideology, the Latina judge has ties to several aggressively pro-abortion briefs issued by an interest group while Sotomayor served as a board member. 

Sotomayor was described by colleagues in a New York Times article as "an involved and ardent supporter" of the legal efforts of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, in the years that the Fund called on the Supreme Court not to "overturn or in any way restrict" the "fundamental right" to abortion as defined in Roe v. Wade.

According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll Sunday, 62 percent of Americans surveyed support Sotomayor's elevation to the court.  

Senate confirmation hearings on the nomination are expected to begin July 13.

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

More Briefs Surface Showing Sotomayor's Abortion Ties 
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061203.html

Senator: Sotomayor Says She "Never Thought About" Rights of Unborn  
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061101.html

Brief Linked to Sotomayor Endorses "Fundamental Right" to Abortion  
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09060802.html

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Swedish Parents Won't Tell if Child is Boy or Girl as Gender Experiment

By Hilary White

June 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In an interview with newspaper Svenska Dagbladet in March, a Swedish couple said they are refusing to disclose whether their two-and-a-half-year-old child, called "Pop" in the media, is a boy or a girl. They said that their decision, made at the time of the child's birth, was based on the feminist theory that "gender" is a "cruel" "social construct" that forces children into artificial roles.

"We want Pop to grow up more freely and avoid being forced into a specific gender mould from the outset," Pop's mother said. "It's cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead." The parents say they never use personal pronouns, referring to him or her only as Pop.

"I believe that the self-confidence and personality that Pop has shaped will remain for a lifetime," said the mother.

Swedish English-language paper The Local, quoted "gender equality consultant" Kristina Henkel who justified the parents' action, saying if they are doing this "because they want to create a discussion with other adults about why gender is important, then I think they can make a point of it."

But critics say that similar experiments with children have had tragic consequences. In 2004, David Reimer, a man who had been raised as a girl in childhood, committed suicide at the age of 38. Reimer's parents had been convinced by Dr. John Money, a gender studies specialist at Johns Hopkins University, to impose "gender reassignment therapy" on their son after a botched circumcision. 

Reimer became widely known after the publication of a book about his life titled, "As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl." He appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show in order to prevent other such experiments.

Starting in the 1960s, the topic of "gender roles" and "sex stereotyping" became one of great interest to radical feminist theorists. At that time, the concept of a "psychological" gender was popularized, leading to the concept in "queer theory" and "gender theory," of the "transsexual" - a person who believes he is born in the "wrong body" and whose "congenital defect" can be corrected with surgery and hormone treatments. Gender theorists have posited as many as eleven "psychological genders."

Christian family advocates have identified these developments as among the most serious threats to the continuation of the natural family and its legal protections in the west, particularly in Europe where these theories are more widely accepted in government than in the Americas. 

Critics of "gender theory" have included Pope Benedict XVI who has called for the development of an "ecology of man" "based on respecting the nature of the person, and the two genders of masculine and feminine." In December 2008, the pope warned that radical feminist gender theory is a form of "contempt" for God that "will lead to the self destruction of humanity."

"It is not outmoded metaphysics," Benedict XVI said, "when Church speaks of the nature of the human being as man and woman, and demands that this order of creation be respected."

Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

"Gender Study" Victim Boy Raised as a Girl Commits Suicide
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/may/04051010.html

Interview With Babette Francis on the UN's Destruction of the Concept of Gender
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/mar/040323a.html

Radical Feminism and Political Correctness
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005_docs/PC5.pdf

Media Deception: "Miraculous" Pregnant "Man" is Really a Woman
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/apr/08040407.html

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White House Hosts Homosexual Leaders Today

By Peter J. Smith

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - President Barack Obama is hosting hundreds of homosexual activists at the White House today, in order to celebrate the Stonewall Riots that are regarded as being the birthplace of the homosexual movement. The riots occurred on June 28, 1969, when homosexuals and transvestites reacted violently to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a homosexual bar located in New York City's Greenwich Village.

The White House intends the invitation to act as a celebration of the achievements of homosexual Americans; but it no doubt also intends it as a way to mollify the anger of homosexual groups, who say Obama has not done enough to keep his campaign promises to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy, which prohibits homosexuals from serving in the armed forces.
 
Obama's Justice Department's recent defense of DOMA in a case involving a homosexual couple that was seeking to have Proposition 8 thrown out, provoked the outrage of homosexual groups and the editorial pages of the New York Times, which stated that the administration "needs a new direction on gay rights."

The President then promptly issued a presidential memorandum extending some benefits to unmarried partners of federal employees, which critics said appeared to violate the spirit if not necessarily the letter of DOMA.

Tim Goeglein, Focus on the Family's vice president of external relations, told CitizenLink that Obama's decision to host the homosexual leaders, just months after he declined to participate in the National Day of Prayer, indicates where the President has placed his priorities.

"The president of the United State has the largest bully pulpit in the country and clearly gets to pick and choose among the issues that he would want to highlight," Goeglein said.
 
"But I think the larger goals are the ones that he's already committed to doing -  overturning the DOMA, which is the protection of marriage in the states, and lifting the ban on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"

"It's disappointing that after several years of celebrating the National Day of Prayer in the East Room at the White House, the day unfortunately in this instance does not get equal billing," stated Goeglein.

See related coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:

Obama to Give Benefits to Homosexual Partners of Federal Employees
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061704.html

President Obama Declares June 2009 'LGBT Pride Month'
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09060208.html

Foul-Mouthed Homosexual Activist and Anti-Christian Bigot Appointed to Obama Administration
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09060212.html

White House Drops Obama Opposition to Defense of Marriage Act from Website
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09051505.html

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Operation Rescue Office Security System Attacked - Group Complains of Police Apathy

By Kathleen Gilbert

WICHITA, Kansas, June 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An unidentified man has been caught on video attacking Operation Rescue's headquarters Friday afternoon. The man allegedly disabled one of the building's security cameras and attempted to assault Operation Rescue president Troy Newman before fleeing the scene. (Watch security camera footage of the attack here) 

Operation Rescue reports that Newman heard a suspicious noise outside his office and observed the suspect through the security cameras attempting to gain access to the roof. Newman rushed outside and confronted the man, who then allegedly tried to punch Newman. When that failed, the suspect flung his bicycle at Newman, then fled.

One security camera was stolen, causing an estimated $1,000 in damage. No one was hurt.

Police were called and a report was filed, but the suspect is still at large.

Ironically, at the time of the attack Newman was on the telephone giving an interview to a reporter from the Washington Times about the increase in threats against Operation Rescue staff members in the wake of the murder of late-term abortionist George Tiller.

"In light of the recent events, the targeting of our security system is troubling. We can't help but think that if this attack happened to an abortion clinic, there would be federal marshals patrolling and investigating," said Newman.

"The police seemed apathetic."

Newman said he was "just thankful that no one was injured and that the attacker was interrupted before he could do more damage."

"We will be increasing our security precautions as a result of this incident. We have a very dedicated staff, and no amount of intimidation will deter us from our work."

Although Operation Rescue and other pro-life groups condemned the murder of Tiller in May, several pro-life advocates, including Newman, have reported an uptick in threats from individuals angered by Tiller's death. 

Operation Rescue has published a sampling of the many audio and email threats received since the Tiller murder (warning: contains very offensive language).
   

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Pro-life Leaders Face Death Threats, Require Protection from Abortion Rights Radicals
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09061715.html

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Toronto Cancels Canada Day Celebrations but "Gay Pride" Takes Place as Planned

By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

TORONTO, June 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Toronto's sordid display of homosexual licentiousness, the 'gay pride' parade, which annually features acts of public indecency, including full nudity, took place this weekend as planned; but Toronto city officials have announced that all city-run Canada Day events and celebrations, including the fireworks display, planned for July 1st have been cancelled due to the continuing strike by municipal workers, which has left many streets and city parks with an accumulation of rotting garbage.

Conservative blogger Joel Johannesen blasted the decision by Toronto's officials to abandon the celebration of Canada's 142nd birthday by canceling all city-run Canada Day events, "and those that required permits to take place on city property," and yet to allow the "Toronto Pride Week" event, which takes place on city property.

"According to Toronto's far-left mayor (David Miller), the liberal-left's own city of Toronto will not bother celebrating Canada Day this year," Johannesen remarked. "Too much bother, big labor union strikes, costs a lot, and basically, it's Toronto. Canada Day's not really 'about' Toronto and advancing liberalism and stuff. Canada Day Shmanada Day. Canada Shmanada."

Taking a direct jab at Mayor Miller, Johannesen observed, "I guess as mayor,  . . .  you really have to think about what's worth celebrating, which 'pride' trumps which, photo-ops, agendas, votes, and particularly in the case of our Shmanadian taxpayers' tax dollars, who it is you think Shmuckadian tax dollars are really all for."

Earlier this month the federal Conservative government gave Toronto $400,000 to be used to fund "Toronto Pride Week," under the guise of a tourism incentive, with Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism Diane Ablonczy saying, "The Government of Canada is proud to show its commitment to the tourism industry, particularly during this difficult economic period."

Executive Director of the Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC), Brian Rushfeldt, said at the time that it was shocking that a government with the name "Conservative" would give money to such an event.

The event is "not a gay parade, it's a sex parade … People are marching down the street nude and doing all kinds of things," Rushfeldt said.

Contact information:

The Honourable Diane Ablonczy - Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-996-2756
Fax: 613-992-2537
Email: Ablonczy.D@parl.gc.ca

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca

To contact Toronto's mayor with your concern:
David Miller
Toronto City Hall, 2nd Floor
100 Queen St. West, Toronto ON M5H 2N2
Phone: 416-397-2489
Fax: 416-696-3687
Email: mayor_miller@toronto.ca 

To contact individual councillors

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