April 30, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – As an Archbishop, dealing on a daily basis with people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, I know that the Pope is speaking the truth. I suspect that those who were so vociferous in condemning the Pope have never touched an HIV infected person, let alone rendered any care and attention. It is so much easier to distribute gadgets, especially at other people’s expense.
What reduces infections is less casual sex, not more condoms. That is the truth. Those who accuse the Pope of being “unrealistic,” that young people will have sex anyway, have no respect for the young people. When they are given true orientation, they freely respond with far greater sexual responsibility that the armchair social experts can ever imagine.
As an African Archbishop, it is my nephews and nieces that are in danger of dying of HIV/AIDS. Let no one ever suggest that they are more concerned about them than I am. The condom distributors should listen to the truth coming not only from the Pope and Bishops, but even from impartial and serious scientific research. The facts are there, as Cardinal Pell has briefly illustrated. To ignore these facts is the greatest disservice anyone can do to the future of Africa. The struggle continues, and we are overcoming!
During the recent interview, Turcotte also addressed the controversy over Pope Benedict’s remark against condoms during his recent trip to Africa. According to Cardinal Turcotte, it would be “ridiculous” to suggest that the Pope said condoms should not be used.
“Essentially, the pope said that it took two things to fight this disease, the means, but also a change of mentality. He pronounced this sentence to show that condoms were not in and of themselves the perfect solution; we took his words out of context and all this was largely amplified,” said Cardinal Turcotte.
“As if the pope had said that condoms should not be used. This is ridiculous! When someone has AIDS, it is his or her responsibility to protect the people with whom he or she has intercourse.”
There is something profoundly sick about this story.
Firstly, the young people phoned ahead and the Governor General’s office agreed to meet with them.
Secondly, they were on public property, outside of the Governor General’s “private” property.
Thirdly, the presentation was made respectfully and peacefully.
I’m not sure what kind of thuggery the RCMP was engaging in, but I trust David’s account completely. I’ve had my own run-ins with the RCMP myself, and I don’t have a favourable impression of them. And as for the Governor General’s big brother approach with the professional camera, I find that very eerie.
The fact is that none of us should really be surprised by this story because social conservatives are quickly being demoted to second class citizens for simply having a politically incorrect opinion. That’s the reality. There was no reason at all for the rough treatment these peaceful pro-lifers received from the RCMP. None at all. Don’t they have enough violent Leftists to beat back at some protest some where? They have to intimidate 12 harmless (mostly female) pro-lifers and interrogate its spokeman instead? Like much of our civil institutions, the RCMP is becoming a sick and dangerous joke.
And before the Leftists reading this entry soil themselves with glee, just remember….when we’re peeled away by the fascist impulses that are running roughshod over this country and the totalitarian jackboots start stomping, they really have no reason to stop when they come across your opinion that registers on their politically incorrect radar.
Oh…I know, things are just swell now, but the thing about not tolerating dissent and intimidating people into silence is that it is very dangerous.
Removing “the right” does not remove the right. It only shift the political opinion to the left so that the people who were once considered “moderate” become the new “right”, and then they become the new targets and on and on it goes….until it comes to you.
OTTAWA, April 28, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Nine Canadian Catholic bishops are set to take part in this year’s Canadian March for Life, which will take place on May 14 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. This is the first year in the March’s 11 year history that the March has been given the full support of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). (For more info about the March, click here)
Deborah Gyapong of Canadian Catholic News said that she expects this to be, “the biggest and best March for Life ever,” with at least nine bishops confirming their attendance, as well as thousands of pro-life Canadians of all and no religious denominations.
“We want to support it because it is a good thing,” said Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) president Archbishop James Weisgerber after discussion among bishops at last year’s annual plenary, which was held September 22-26.
St. Catharine’s Bishop James Wingle first raised the idea of mass mobilization for the March for Life on the part of the Catholic bishops and he received strong backing from Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet and Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, who will both be present at this year’s March.
Campaign Life Coalition president Jim Hughes welcomed the news of the participation by the bishops.
“That’s powerful,” Hughes said. “That’s probably the best news I’ve heard in 2009. It’s always wonderful to have the spiritual leadership and support of the bishops of Canada and we welcome this initiative on their part and we look forward to a long and growing relationship with them.”
Archbishop Weisgerber designated Archbishop Prendergast, who was the first Canadian bishop to attend the March for Life last year, as the coordinator for the bishops’ initiative.
Neil McCarthy, communications director for the Archdiocese of Toronto, said his diocese will have a strong presence at the March.
“The March for Life provides an ideal opportunity for the Catholic community to come together in support of life,” McCarthy told the Catholic Register. “Archbishop (Thomas) Collins will be attending this year’s march and the Office of Catholic Youth will be organizing buses to Ottawa so that our young people may join with others from across the country at this important event.”
As well as Bishops Collins, Ouellet and Prendergast, the other bishops that will be at the Ottawa March for Life this year are: Most Rev. Stephen Victor Chmilar of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto; Most Rev. Michael Mulhall, Bishop of Pembroke, Ontario; Most Rev. Nicola De Angelis, C.F.I.C., Bishop of Peterborough, Ontario; Most Rev. Ronald Peter Fabbro, C.S.B., Bishop of London, Ontario; Most Rev. John Stephen Pazak, C.Ss.R., Eparchial Bishop of the Catholic Slovaks of the Byzantine Rite in Canada; and Most Rev. Jean-Louis Plouffe, Bishop of Sault Ste-Marie, Ontario.
This year’s event mourns the 40th anniversary of legalized abortion in Canada. Organizers of the March are encouraging pro-life Canadians to go out of their way to attend the landmark event.
This year’s theme is Exodus 2009 – A Future without Abortion. Events begin on Wednesday, May 13th with a Mass at St. Theresa’s Parish at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Candlelight Vigil at the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights Monument in the nation’s capital at dusk.
On May 14th there are a number of ways in which Christians of various denominations might spiritually prepare for the day’s events. At 10 a.m. there is a Mass at both Notre Dame Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Basilica, a Prayer Service at St. George Anglican Church, and a worship and meditation service hosted by the Canadian Reformed Church at the Merivale United Church.
At noon, the gathering begins on Parliament Hill with the introduction of dignitaries and select speeches. The March will begin at 1:30 p.m. and lasts about an hour. When people return to the Hill, the Silent No More Awareness Campaign will make a presentation at 2:45 p.m. The Eastern Catholic Chaplaincy of Ottawa will lead a closing Prayer Service at 4 p.m.
I heard about this announcement this past Sunday from a fellow Knight of Columbus who was attending a function where Ottawa Archbishop Prendergast was speaking. The archbishop announced that 10 bishops would be coming to this year’s National March for Life in Ottawa. (There are also regional rallies planned throughout the country to mark the 40th year abortion has been legalized in Canada, with other bishops participating as well.) By the time May 14th rolls around, we could have many more. Remember what I said at the 40 Days for Life kickoff rally this past campaign? The pro-life movement in Canada is a rolling snowball, gathering momentum. And there’s no stopping it now, either. We’re on the march. It’s just a matter of time before abortion falls. You watch. It’s gonna happen a lot quicker and unexpectedly than anyone could have imagined.
Why? Because God’s ways are not our ways. That’s why you can’t see it coming. So let us not be discouraged with mere political appearances, and keep focused and resilient in the battle.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”- Gal.6:9
We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Archbishop Prendergast for his dedication to the pro-life cause and to moving this issue among the bishops. I think that the D&P scandal has put the issue of abortion front and center on the episcopal agenda. I believe that the bishops want to show that indeed they are on the side of life and they want to ensure there is no confusion on this point.
In that respect, the abortion scandal at Development & Peace has been a blessing in disguise. That’s what I’ve been telling people too: Don’t be upset. Rejoice! For the light is shining forth and piercing the hearts of many!
This is extremely good news. All of the prayers of the little hobbits are working overtime. The Rosarium continues to ask for more participation from the bishops. It’s not yet enough. We need to see more bishops hitting the pavement and leading us. (In fact, we need more clergy from every denomination to attend.) And we also need money to fight. So far the Church has contributed too little to this battle in proportion to other causes. This disposition must change dramatically if we are to make any advances. Your money and your resources is where your heart is. Money might not buy happiness, but it does save lives – babies’ lives to be exact.
Back in March 2008, The Rosarium sent a letter to all of the country’s bishops asking them to 1) issue a clear affirmation of Humanae Vitae2) formally retract the Winnipeg Statement and 3) participate in the March for Life rallies in 2009. (In our meeting with Archbishop Prendergast in November 2007, we actually asked him to invite the country’s bishops to Ottawa for the March for Life in remembrance of the 40th year of legalized abortion in Canada.) It appears therefore that everyone’s prayers and efforts might have been blessed to receive 2 of the 3 requests we asked for. The above story addresses the third request while the first was answered a day short of the 40th anniversary of the Winnipeg Statement. Like the song says, “2 out of 3 ain’t bad”, but we’re not stopping there.
We hope that the bishops present at the Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral will ask for forgiveness for the past. For our neglect. For our laxity. For our complicity. All of us. Bishop, Priest, Laity.
Let us make May 14 the day of a new beginning for a new Canada!
National March for Life: Exodus 2009 – A Future Without Abortion
This year on May 14, 2009, Canada will mark40 years to the day Canadian Parliament passed the infamous Omnibus Bill, C-150, the legislation decriminalizing contraception, abortion, and homosexuality, (Votes: 149-55). For the next 40 years, the moral and social fibre of our country has been steadily eroded as millions of unborn children have been mercilessly slaughtered in their mothers’ wombs. In Canada today, there is no law restricting abortion – even up to the moment before birth.The polls have consistently showed that Canadians do not approve of the status quo on abortion on demand in this country. They have consistently showed through the years that two-thirds of Canadians want some restrictions on abortion. (See Environics Poll – October, 2005, Environics Poll – October, 2006, Environics Poll – October, 2007, Environics Poll – October, 2008). But still, the government won’t touch this issue with a 10-foot pole. And year after year, our country dies a little more.In fact, whenever pro-abort forces faces off against concerned Canadians, they are resoundly defeated both in informal competitions and even ones hosted by the liberal media itself.Abortion clinics in Canada flaunt their late term abortion services (up to 23 weeks), all the while refusing to acknowledge the humanity of a child even at 20 weeks. And if the pregnancy is over 24 weeks, we ship our sisters and daughters to Wichita, Kansas for the “procedure” by Tiller the Killer, on the taxpayer’s dime no less. While our politicians and judges either mouth platitudes of opposition, or work actively to ensure this deadly sacrifice continues year after year and decade after decade, the cry of the innocents goes unheard. It’s the silent scream that we would rather not hear. Natural justice is denied to the most defenseless human being in the most dangerous place to be in Canada: a mother’s womb. Every societal indicator of a healthy society has shown that Canada is a social disaster zone. Abortion rates continue to skyrocket, as does family breakdown, drug abuse, violence, addiction to pornography, and every sort of social malady imaginable.And while Canada continues to disintegrate, the media pundits and the politicians promote foolish and idiotic solutions to the nation’s problems while willfully ignoring the real reason why Canada is destroying itself. Do we not have eyes to see what is happening to Canada today? Are we so blinded by our decadence and selfishness that we will let ourselves descend into the basest depravity before we are thoroughly destroyed as a country; where even now our basic civil rights and freedoms are being threatened because we refuse to rear our own children and pass down our traditions?
Without a genuine respect for human life and the natural family, and the concomitant reflection of that respect in law, the Canadian social fabric, like an unborn child’s flesh during an abortion, will continue to tear and bleed until there is nothing left. It is a fallacy to believe a nation can willfully and legally destroy its own children without also destroying itself. To be sure, it does not happen over night. It has taken decades for the consequences to come bearing down, but they do come. Once the effects are conceded among the elites and the chattering classes, no one will ever again try to argue that abortion does not have lethal consequences in every strata of our society.
Canada has become a barren desert of murderous self-indulgence. We’ve been on a suicide trip for the past 40 years, but we all know that it cannot go on indefinitely. It can only go on so long before some serious and rather irreversible consequences happen.
Is it too late? Perhaps. But May 14, 2009 may be a new beginning for this country. 40 years in the desert can come to an end — or at least the beginning of the end — if we really want to enter the promised land.
The March for Life has been taking place on Parliament Hill since 1998. The March has been steadily growing in numbers ever since its inception, reaching its high last year of 8,000 people.
The Rosarium wants to encourage everyone participating this year to make an extra effort to attend the March on Thursday May 14, and encourage your friends and family to participate too. This year’s March is entitled “Exodus 2009″ in remembrance of the last 40 years of abortion in this country. With your prayers and participation, this year’s March can be the most dramatic ever.Please make every effort to attend, and be part of the greatest civil and human rights movement of all time!
MORELIA, MEXICO April 28, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Canadian Catholic bishops’ foreign aid organization, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP), is funding an organization in the Mexican state of Michoacan that refers women to government hospitals to receive abortifacient “emergency contraception,” LifeSiteNews has learned.
The group, called the Women in Solidarity Action Team (Equipo Mujeres en Acción Solidaria – EMAS), also campaigns to legalize abortion and to streamline existing procedures for abortions in cases of rape, and gives instruction on the use of contraceptives.
Ana Luisa Barajas Perez, General Coordinator of EMAS, confirmed to LifeSiteNews in a telephone interview today that in the struggle to legalize abortion in Mexico City “we have supported our counterparts in the Federal District in everything regarding the law, promoting here all of the actions that they were undertaking and why it was important.”
“So in the Federal District EMAS has helped with the legalization of abortion?” asked LifeSiteNews. “Uh huh,” responded Barajas. “Not only EMAS but all of the women’s organizations denominated as feminist in the state [of Michoacan], there are eight of us.”
Barajas explained that EMAS campaigned through “the media, press conferences, explaining to various news agencies, what the implication of the law is in the Federal District and why it is a success for women in the state.”
In the state of Michoacan, EMAS has “supported a proposal for a manual of mechanisms so that women who are raped may truly have access to legal interruption [of pregnancy],” said Barajas.
Moreover, Barajas also stated EMAS gives instruction on the use of contraceptives, and that “we have a relationship…with the Secretary of Health…so that women really have access to this type of service as a matter of public policy” and added that “many women don’t even know that they have a right to this, no? To request this type of service.”
Asked if the “service” included “emergency contraception,” which causes abortions, Barajas responded “Yes, including emergency contraception.”
In an article dated April 8, 2007, the newspaper La Jornada de Michoacan confirms that EMAS supports legislation to clarify and streamline procedures for obtaining legal abortions in the state, in cases of rape and fetal deformity.
“The fact that a legal initiative to create norms for abortions in specific cases is being presented represents a great advance,” Barajas told La Jornada. “We only hope that they follow through and don’t shelve it as they have other times” (see article in Spanish at http://www.lajornadamichoacan.com.mx/2007/04/08/index.php?se…).
On its blog (http://equpomujeresenaccionsolidaria.blogspot.com/), EMAS describes itself as a “civil organization founded in 1985 in Mexico City by a group of women committed to the struggle for gender equality, inspired by the utopia of a world without discrimination, truly just, inclusive, and democratic. Since 1987 we have worked in Michoacan, contributing through educational work in rural communities to promote public policies that help to improve the living conditions of women and their social position.”
EMAS received $31,000 Canadian dollars during CCODP’s 2007-2008 budget year. If projected over the entire 2006-2011 program, EMAS will have received $155,000 CAD in total.
EMAS is the eighth group funded by CCODP identified by LifeSiteNews as pro-abortion, indicating that at least 73% of the eleven Mexican groups listed as CCODP grant recipients in its 2006-2011 program for Latin America are in favor of legalizing and/or making abortions that are currently not penalized more easily accessible to women in the country.
LSN has also reported that CCODP is funding numerous pro-abortion organizations in other Latin American countries as well as the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia (see http://www.lifesitenews.com/features/DevelopmentPeace/ for a full list of articles to date).
CCODP receives a large portion of its funds from a fundraising drive held in Canadian parishes during Lent.
On Wednesday, April 29, at 9:30 am, an emissary to the Governor General of Canada, will meet a delegation of young people at the gate of Rideau Hall, who will present a petition of 18,222 Canadians who oppose the Governor General’s decision to award Henry Morgentaler the Order of Canada.
These young people, lead by David MacDonald, are marking the 40th year since the legalization of abortion and the resulting fallout on their generation of Canadians, 25% of whom have died in the womb. The delegation will include Frances Wilkenson, a woman who regrets her abortion, and Faytene Kryskow, director of 4 My Canada.
Former Broadway performer, David MacDonald, who is the father of an aborted child says “Henry Morgentaler’s appointment does not represent the Queen’s policy of non-intervention in internal Canadian politics, nor does it represent Canadians who are looking to the Governor General to unify the country.”
4MyCanada (Motivated Young People for a Strong Canada) is a movement of young people committed to educating young Canadians on how they can shape Canada in a positive way for generations to come and practically mobilizing them to do it.
Who: A delegation of 12 young people will meet an emissary to the Governor General, on behalf of 18,222 Canadians
What: The presentation of a Petition of 18,222 Canadians against the Mortgentaler appointment to the Order of Canada
When: Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 am
Where: Front gate of Rideau Hall, Sussex Dr., Ottawa
Why: These young people believe that their generation has been severely compromised by abortion and dont think Henry Morgentaler should be honoured.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009Governor General of CanadaHonourable Michaëlle JeanRideau Hall1 Sussex DriveOttawa, ON, K1A 0A1Your Excellency
I come with a delegation of 12 young people to present this petition of 18,222 Canadians who oppose the decision to award Henry Morgentaler the Order of Canada. In this 40th year since the legalization of abortion in Canada, we reflect on the 25% of our generation of who have died in the womb, most of whom were lost at a Morgentaler “clinic.” This is his legacy.Mr. Morgentaler has said that six months after conception a mother is not carrying a fetus but rather, “a baby.” Yet he fought to make it legal to take the life of that “baby” one day before she is born, which has resulted in hundreds of late term “babies” sent to the US for abortion, paid for by taxes, sanctioned by this law. This is also his legacy, and now it is yours.
This award does not represent the Queen of England’s policy of non-intervention in internal Canadian politics, nor does it represent Canadians who are looking to the Governor General to unify their country. Rather, we believe it undermines the relevance of the Office of the Governor General. It has dampened our national pride. It will ultimately hurt women and increase the number of abortions. As a person who helped pay for an abortion and watched my girlfriend, who was a medical doctor, deteriorate afterward, I am profoundly aware of abortion’s repercussions on both women and men. There has been no greater mistake in my life, and I believe there has been no greater mistake made by the office of the Governor General than to honour abortion this way. This issue will not go away by handing honours to abortionists or by muting those who object. That is no way to appease the conscience.
Sincerely,
David MacDonald
The petition was gathered by the Family Party of Ontario.
Until last week, there was no evidence that any of the shady partners of Development and Peace (D&P) were directly involved in abortion activities. Although many partners were involved in appalling activities such as lobbying for increased access to abortion and trying to influence public opinion towards a greater acceptance of abortion, no partner could be directly linked to abortion activities.
All of that changed on April 22nd with a shocking report by LifeSiteNews about a D&P partner called Comaletzin Rural Feminist Interregional Coordinator. It turns out that Comaletzin helps make abortion available to women who don’t want to keep their baby. To understand how grave this really is, you need to understand how abortion works in Mexico.
The country is composed of 32 states. Legal restrictions on abortion vary depending on where you live. In the vast majority of the country, including the state where Comaletzin operates (called Puebla), abortion is only permitted in the case of rape or health problems. In Mexico City, abortion on demand is legal during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In two other states, the Yucatán and Morelos, abortion access is not quite as liberal as in Mexico City, but is more accessible than in the rest of the country.
Given this mixed-bag of abortion legislation, pregnant women don’t always know what their abortion “rights” are. That’s where Comaletzin comes into play. In their interview with LifeSiteNews, the boss at Comaletzin admitted quite candidly that they help women obtain legal permissions for abortions. In other words, they serve as a broker for pregnant women seeking abortions. Looking for an abortion but don’t know how to go about it? Just drop by and we’ll get you connected with the right people to make it happen.
So although Comaletzin doesn’t run abortion clinics, there is no doubt that Comaletzin is facilitating direct access to abortions and contributing to some babies being aborted who might otherwise have been carried to term. By facilitating access to abortion and sending women to abortion clinics, they are directly complicit in the act of abortion. In other words, more babies are dying because of the actions of this D&P partner.
This is extremely grave. There is no more time for our bishops to dither over D&P. We need action now. When the lives of innocent people are on the line, you need rapid and bold action. If terrorists hijack a bus and hold 50 people hostage, the police don’t strike a commission to study the problem and report back in 2 months. They call in the SWAT team.
I see that LifeSite has picked up my original report about the Women’s Collective in Nicaragua. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they followed up with an interview with one of the staff of the “clinic”. You can read about the eye-opening admissions below. I thought this exchange was particularly notable:
“The March 8th Women’s Collective, you would like to make abortion available for any woman who would like to choose an abortion, right?” LSN asked. “Claro,” responded Carla in Spanish, meaning “of course,” or “clearly.”
The word “clearly” is such a difficult idea to grasp or concede these days. Wouldn’t you say?
In fact, all of us useful idiots can hopefully see what’s going on now.
Are not the pictures enough for you to act immediately, your Graces?
I mailed them to you last week.
Just how long will we have to wait? And just how long will you permit our money to continue to fund pro-abort and anti-Catholic groups?
________________________________________
Photographic Evidence of Pro-Abortion Nicaraguan Group Funded by Canadian Bishops’ Development Arm
Group member confirms to LifeSiteNews that they support abortion on demand and promote the use of contraceptives
By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
NICARAGUA, April 23, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A representative of a group that is funded by the Canadian bishops’ official development arm has admitted in an interview with LifeSiteNews.com that it actively promotes an abortion-on-demand agenda in Nicaragua. The group has worked to block pro-life legislation in the country, demands the legalization of abortion, and supported Obama’s decision to revoke the Mexico City Policy. The representative also told LSN that the group promotes and dispenses contraceptives from its “women’s health” clinic.
The interview substantiates photos of the group’s headquarters, which prominently displays pro-abortion signage, and other documents obtained by LSN and another Canadian pro-life activist.
Recently a traveler to Nicaragua returned with photos of the March 8th Women’s Collective, a funded “partner” of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP).
The CCODP (or D&P), which is an arm of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, receives much of its funding from collection drives in parishes held during Lent. Over the last two months LSN has reported that at least 18 groups funded by CCODP are involved in pro-abortion and/or pro-contraception activities. (See all the evidence here: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09041702.html)
The photos of the March 8th Women’s Collective, which were first published by Canadian pro-life and pro-family activist John Pacheco on his Socon or Bust blog, show signs posted within the building advocating the legalization of abortion.
According to Pacheco, the eyewitness who took the photos, whom he has spoken to directly, traveled to Nicaragua within the last year on a “faith-based education trip.” One of the projects that she visited on that trip was that of 8 de Marzo (see original blog post at http://www.socon.ca/?p=1596).
Pacheco says his source, who wishes to remain anonymous and whom he calls “Conchita,” was taken to an office of 8 de Marzo, which includes a clinic capable of doing gynecological exams. The participants were then given a talk by the director of the clinic, Luz Marina Torres, who stated that 8 de Marzo supports the legalization of abortion in Nicaragua and had been involved in campaigns to prevent the passage of the nation’s current pro-life penal code, which punishes all abortions except for those necessary to save the life of the mother.
As Torres spoke, she reportedly stood in front of a large banner which proclaims: “VIOLENCE IS: Requiring a girl to carry a pregnancy. We demand the return of therapeutic abortion” (see photo).
“Conchita” also told Pacheco that two doors at the clinic had signs that read, “I support abortion.” A poster she photographed proclaimed that 8 de Marzo’s mission is to defend “sexual and reproductive rights,” a common euphemism used by pro-abortion groups for abortion and contraception (see photo).
A representative of 8 de Marzo who identified herself only as “Carla” confirmed to LSN in a telephone interview that the organization supports the legalization of abortion on demand and has been involved in the struggle against Nicaragua’s pro-life penal code.
“In 2006 you were very involved in the struggle to preserve the legal right to perform an abortion,” LSN mentioned, at which point Carla interrupted to say, “therapeutic abortion,” and added, “yes, and it was stolen here.”
“The March 8th Women’s Collective, you would like to make abortion available for any woman who would like to choose an abortion, right?” LSN asked. “Claro,” responded Carla in Spanish, meaning “of course,” or “clearly.”
“Do you distribute contraceptives?” asked LSN. “Yes,” responded Carla, “there is a sexual and reproductive health campaign, by means of workshops, information…for young people.”
LSN has also learned that 8 de Marzo joined a coalition of groups in 2006, including the pro-abortion “Catholics for the Right to Decide,” dedicated to stopping pro-life legislation then under consideration by the Nicaraguan Congress.
The purpose of the coalition, called the Focal Point Feminist Movement (Punto Focal – Movimiento Feminista), and its so-called September 28 Campaign, was to “demand of our governments the effective regulation of abortion where it is recognized legally, and to demand its depenalization in cases in which it is still penalized,” according to a bulletin issued by the group in September of 2006 (see original in Spanish, page 1, at http://www.puntos.org.ni/servicios/catalogos/actividadesdoc/…).
According to the bulletin, on the first and second of September of that year, 8 de Marzo was to hold a “workshop” for the members of the group, entitled “Reflecting on Therapeutic Abortion” (p.5). On August 16, it held a meeting for the coalition’s members to discuss the September 16 Campaign (p.5). It is listed as a member of the coalition on page 8 of the bulletin.
LSN has also verified that 8 de Marzo signed a letter congratulating Barack Obama for approving US overseas funding for pro-abortion groups.
The letter expresses “deep gratitude for your repeal of the Global Gag Rule.” The Mexico City Policy, also called the “Global Gag Rule” by pro-abortion groups, was an executive order signed by Presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. and Jr., that prohibited U.S. funding from going to groups that promote or refer for abortions.
“From our daily work with those most affected, we know that your action will have profound positive effects on the lives of millions of people,” continued the letter. “We are hopeful that it heralds a new era of U.S. partnership in global cooperation to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and the advancement of women’s sexual and reproductive rights worldwide.”
It also states: “We specifically call on you to … support removal of remaining legal and policy restrictions on U.S. funding for safe, voluntary, legal abortion information and services, including the Helms Amendment,” and “restore funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and ensure that officials from your Administration act as a strong voice for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United Nations and other international arenas and do all in their power to translate international agreements into actions that improve women’s lives” (see document in its entirety at http://www.filia-frauenstiftung.de/fileadmin/upload_redakteu…).
According to CCODP’s 2006-2011 program for Latin America, 8 de Marzo is receiving an unspecified amount of Canadian dollars from the CCODP for “organizational strengthening,” “women’s health,” and “training and development.”
The group is one of many CCODP grant recipients documented by LifeSiteNews and SoCon or Bust over the past two months as pro-abortion and/or pro contraception (for full listing of articles on the subject, see http://www.lifesitenews.com/features/DevelopmentPeace/).
THERE is coming a time when the Church will imitate her Lord in the face of her accusers, when the day of debating and defending will give way to The Silent Answer.
“Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” But Jesus was silent and answered nothing. (Mark 14:60-61)
THE ECLIPSE OF TRUTH
I wrote recently about the coming Revolution. Many simply cannot believe this is possible. But what we think and what we see are two different things: the signs of the times are all around us. Whether it is a Miss USA candidate standing up for traditional marriage, or the Holy Father exposing the lie about condoms, the response is increasingly unrestrained. One of the greatest signs, at least in the case of the Holy Father, is that he is increasingly being flogged by fellow bishops. I think of Our Lady of Akita whose message, ironically, Pope Benedict approved himself when he was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:
The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres… — Our Lady of Akita, Third and last message, October 13th, 1973;www.ewtn.com/library/mary/akita.htm
As far back as the 1990’s, I produced a two-part mini-documentary for a newscast exposing the fact that condoms do little to prevent the sexually transmitted diseases of Chlamydia and Human Papilloma Virus (which is linked to cervical cancer) since these are transmitted through touch. Furthermore, there is substantial evidence that condoms actually lead to an increase in sexual activity, exacerbating the AIDS epidemic:
There is a consistent association shown by our best studies, including the U.S.-funded ‘Demographic Health Surveys,’ between greater availability and use of condoms and higher (not lower) HIV-infection rates.—Edward C. Green, Director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies; LifeSiteNews.com, March 19th, 2009
But the days are here and coming where the evidence matters little; where truth is subjective; where history is rewritten; where the wisdom of the ages is mocked; where reason is replaced by emotion; freedom displaced by tyranny.
In one of my very first writings, I wrote:
The intolerance of “tolerance!” It is curious how those who accuse Christians of hatred and intolerance are often the most venomous in tone and intent. It is the most obvious—and easily over-looked hypocrisy of our times.
Jesus prophesied these days at the very beginning of His ministry:
And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. (John 3:19-20)
THE TIME OF TIMES
Once again, brothers and sisters, we should not be afraid to call evil by its name, recognizing that we are living in an extraordinary battle, what Pope John Paul II called “the final confrontation.” The immensity of this battle was underscored again by Bishop Robert Finn of the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
As I speak a word of encouragement today I also want to tell you soberly, dear friends, “We are at war!”…today’s issues bring“an intensity and urgency to our efforts that may rival any time in the past.”—April 21st, 2009, LifeSiteNews.com
Bishop Finn acknowledged that the war is often between members of the Church itself.
The “battle between believers,” who claim a certain “common ground” with us, while at the same time, they attack the most fundamental tenets of the Church’s teachings, or disavow the natural law—this opposition is one of the most discouraging, confusing, and dangerous.—Ibid.
Or disavow the central message of the Gospel itself? The sitting Chairman of the German Episcopal Conference, Archbishop of Freiburg, Robert Zollitsch, recently said,
Christ “did not die for the sins of the people as if God had provided a sacrificial offering, like a scapegoat.” Instead, Jesus had offered only “solidarity” with the poor and suffering. Zollitsch said“that is this great perspective, this tremendous solidarity.” The interviewer asked, “You would now no longer describe it in such a way that God gave his own Son, because we humans were so sinful? You would no longer describe it like this?“
Monsignor Zollitsch responded,“No.”—LifeSiteNews.com, April 21st, 2009
Discouraging, confusing, dangerous. Nonetheless, we need to speak the truth while it is time for speaking truth, even if, says Bishop Finn, “it means we might get scolded at times by those who want us to speak less.”
You know that he was revealed to take away sins… The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin… Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (1 John 3:5; 1:7; John 1:29)
CARRIERS OF HOPE!
Satan and the enemies of life would love for you and I to crawl into a hole and remain silent. This is not The Silent Answer I am speaking of. For whether we speak or whether we are silent, our lives must shout the Gospel of Jesus Christ through either our words or our deeds; through the proclamation of truth or the witness of love… a love that triumphs. Christianity is not a religion of philosophical babble but the Gospel of transformation where those who believe in Jesus, who turn from a life of sin, and follow in the footsteps of the Master, are “transformed from glory to glory” (2 Cor 3:18) through the power of the Holy Spirit. This transformation should be visible to the world in all that we are and do. Without it, our witness is sterile, our words powerless.
If Christ’s words remain in us we can spread the flame of love that He kindled on earth; we can bear aloft the torch of faith and hope with which we advance towards Him.—POPE BENEDICT XVI, Homily, St. Peter’s Basilica, April 2nd, 2009; L’Osservatore Romano, April 8th, 2009
Perhaps Pope Benedict signaled the days of Silent witness approaching when, in his trip to Africa, he echoed the simplicity with which the Apostles in their days of persecution approached the world:
I am leaving for Africa aware that I have nothing to propose or give to those whom I shall meet except Christ and the Good News of his Cross, a mystery of supreme love, of divine love that overcomes all human resistance and even makes forgiveness and love for one’s enemies possible.—Angelus, March 15th, 2009, L’Osservatore Romano, March 18th, 2009
As the Church enters her own Passion, the day will come when The Silent Answer will be all there is left to give… when the Word of Love will speak for and through us.
…we will not be swayed from our path, though the world seduce us with its smiles or try to terrify us with naked threats of its trials and tribulations.—St. Peter Damian, Liturgy of the Hours, Vol. II, 1778
As many Socon or Bust know very well by now (how could you not, I’ve been hammering this topic almost every day for past month!), Development & Peace is funding pro-abortion groups in the Global South. Three dozen of them in 20 or so countries on 3 continents…and that’s only what we know of. You know what happens to an onion when you start to pick at it right? Two things: tears and a lot of unravelling. Same deal here, I fear.
But this story is not just about abortion propaganda or the condom distribution centres or the condom bottles or reproductive “rights” or gender “re-education” courses or the rest of the contraptions and programs of the culture of death and dismemberment. That’s certainly the main scandal in the story, but not the only one.
Here is another angle that really needs to be understood and appreciated. I call it the “Useful Idiot Guide to Attacking the Catholic Church”, as in, we were the useful idiots who were guided into supporting Dismemberment and Pieces’s anti-Catholic partners.
It’s not exact situation we have here in Canada, but it’s not too far off. You see, not only have we been funding pro-abortion groups, we have been funding groups which are directly attacking the Catholic Church, and in particular, the Church in the Global South. Hence the appropriate moniker, “useful idiot”. In other words, these groups take Catholic money and then use that money to attack the Catholic Church, its beleagured bishops and lay faithful in the Global South who are on the front lines opposing abortion.
After they take our money and apply it to the pro-abortion propaganda machine, they laugh at us and rightly consider us their useful idiots. Here’s a few examples:
Exhibit A
LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) has learned that a pro-abortion NGO that is going head-to-head with East Timor’s Catholic bishops in an effort to legalize abortion in the strongly Catholic country, is funded by the Canadian Catholic bishop’s official development arm, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (D&P)….Early last month the second International Women for Peace conference took place in East Timor, a country where upwards of 95% of residents are Catholic. At the conclusion of the conference, participants produced a list of recommendations, including one that said that abortion should be legalized in cases of incest and sexual abuse…also reported that the push to legalize abortion by Fokupers was creating a firestorm of controversy in the Catholic country. The Catholic bishops from the Dili and Baucau dioceses reportedly wrote in early March to the Timor-Leste Council of Ministers, the council responsible for making the country’s laws, urging them to keep abortion illegal in all circumstances. (Source)
Exhibit B
PERU, April 15, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Canadian Catholic bishops’ international aid organization, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP), is funding an international organization in Peru that includes pro-abortion groups, and that republishes their pro-abortion statements in its website, LifeSiteNews has learned. In addition, the group denounces the Catholic bishops of the Dominican Republic for their “intervention” in “government affairs”.The group, which is called the Latin American Coordinator of Rural Organizations (Coordinadora Latinoamericana de Organizaciones del Campo – CLOC) displays a “Manifesto of Women’s Organizations for the Eighth of March,” which was signed by CLOC itself, on its website. The statement claims that the “high rate of abortions done under clandestine, unhealthy, and risky conditions, constitutes a public health problem that is being treated with insensitivity by not adopting current legislation to depenalize abortion at least in cases of incest, rape, and the life of women.” (Source)
Exhibit C
PUEBLA, April 22, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Mexican organization funded by the Canadian Catholic bishops through the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (D&P), the bishops’ official international development arm, helps women to obtain legal permission for abortions, promotes the depenalization of abortion, opposes pro-life legislation, and has called for the United Nations to revoke the Vatican’s diplomatic status, LifeSiteNews (LSN) has learned. The group, known as the Comaletzin Rural Feminist Interregional Coordinator (La Coordinadora Interregional Feminista Rural Comaletzin, or simply “Comaletzin”), received $32,000 from Development and Peace in the 2007-2008 year. It is headquartered in the state of Puebla, where it promotes a radical feminist agenda that includes advocating for abortion-on-demand. (Source)
Exhibit D
In the Women’s Theatre Program (WTP) of the PETA, theatre is an artistic medium that eventually became our weapon in the face of relatively conservative political and religious influences. Women’s issues have historically been invisible in our culture…they have been considered sensitive and private matters. We use theatre to present political commentaries about women’s situations and conditions in the Philippines. We explore issues like violence against women, prostitution and trafficking, poverty, reproductive rights, and globalization, and forge partnerships with other groups (governmental, nongovernmental, and people’s organizations)… Talking about the politics of the body makes women confront their image of self and their beliefs about their own sexuality. Because women create an image of themselves from their image of their bodies, addressing the issue of body politics involves getting in touch with the self. Talking about it is the first step in reclaiming the body.” (Source)
How long do you think we will continue to be the useful idiots for these anti-Catholic groups and abortion pushers?
For at least another six weeks…if not much, much longer.
Last year, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) announced it would no longer fund the community-organizing arm of ACORN, a decision based on the disclosure of ACORN’s explicitly partisan efforts on behalf of President Barack Obama’s political campaign.
Now a much more egregious use of Catholic money has been alleged. LifeSiteNews (LSN), which operates primarily out of Toronto and is leading the investigation, has presented evidence that the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development & Peace (CCODP), an official arm of the Canadian Bishops’ Conference, is funding 16 organizations in 9 countries who advocate in favor of abortion and/or contraception.
At first, the Canadian Bishops’ Conference paid little heed to the evidence against CCODP and instead urged Catholics to continue giving to the organization. Two Canadian bishops called LSN’s reporting “false” and “malicious.” After months of following the story, however, it began to gain traction. An editorial in the Catholic newspaper of Vancouver acknowledged the scope of the CCODP scandal. Vancouver’s Archbishop, J. Michael Miller, and several other bishops demanded an internal investigation of CCODP before passing along its share of the annual Lenten collection. As a result, CCODP has asked a group of Canadian, U.S., and Mexican bishops to investigate the allegations.
This isn’t a new charge. In 2000, the CCODP was forced to stop funding the pro-abortion World March of Women after LifeSiteNews reported on the issue. That led to a huge controversy in Canada, with bishops publicly disagreeing with each other, creating widespread mainstream media coverage of the issue.
But CCODP’s denials will be considerably weakened after Wednesday’s interview on LSN with the Mexican official of an organization receiving CCODP grants ($32,000 in 2007-2008). Ofelia Pastrana Morena, the general coordinator of the Comaletzin Rural Feminist Interregional Coordinator, said in a telephone interview yesterday that the organization promotes the use of artificial birth control and “sexual and reproductive health services.” According to Pastrana Morena, if contraceptives fail, her organization seeks to make abortion available to women who don’t want what she called the “product” of conception, meaning the unborn child….
Read the rest of the article here at Inside Catholic.
Having never actually taken drugs, I can now see why my parents made such an effort to keep me away from them. In honour of earth day (yeah I know it was yesterday) I thought that I would provide the readers with some comic relief. Actually, after watching this video I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. O.K. I laughed (my side is still sore), but make no mistake these people are serious.
This is the face of the militant environmentalist movement. It is serious. It is dangerous. It hates humanity and it worships the earth. Don’t let anyone try to convince you otherwise. This religion would have us all living in huts, using leaves for toilet paper, washing our laundry (loincloths) in a muddy river and smacking them against a living rock (watch the video and you will see what I mean).
I have had some inquiries and comments about my open letter to Bishop Durocher. For the most part, the majority of people have agreed with me that his homily was in extremely bad taste.
I do, however, want to make a correction. The bishop referred to pro-life “militants” in his homily. I took issue with that label, of course, calling it an “ad hominem” attack on pro-lifers, since it carries an extremely negative connotation in English. Apparently, the bishop (who is bilingual) has responded to a query to him about this, and said that, in French, “militant” does not have the same nuance. In French, the word “militant”, he says, means someone who believes in a cause, is proud of it and is involved in it in a committed way. Although the homily was written in English, such an explanation is certainly reasonable, although his message was confusing because he juxtaposed “Development & Peace” against “Prolife Militants”.
I accept his explanation and I have corrected my response to his commentary in the original article. I also apologize for my reaction on this point. Unfortunately, I do not believe it changes the general thrust of his homily in any significant way. In fact, he should remove his entire homily from the Diocese’s website.
I have also been asked why I did not contact the Bishop in private about his homily first before airing my grievances publicly. That’s a very good question. I am well aware of what Christian charity demands in these situations. I cannot say any more than that at this time.
Please pray for Bishop Durocher and all of the bishops that they may clearly see and understand the necessity to act expeditiously and thoroughly to address the abortion scandal of Development & Peace.
Please also pray for me and my family as we have had to endure the insults of various ministers and lay people within the Church.
Carrie Prejean, otherwise known as Ms. California, stood up to homo-fascist establishment within the popular culture and she won. Not the Ms. America pageant mind you, but a pageant in which her crown will be rewarded not in this world but in the next. Unfortunately, she will face many trials and will suffer much for her defense of traditional marriage. Christians of good will can help to ease some of her pain. We can stand by her while she carries this cross. We can storm heaven with our prayers that God will give her the strength to carry on. We can tell our friends and neighbours how proud we are of her, but more importantly we can learn a great lesson. We should not be afraid to shout our beliefs from the rooftops. We should not be ashamed to proclaim what we believe to the world. We must stand for truth or we will fall for lies.
This year on May 14, 2009, Canada will mark 40 years to the day Canadian Parliament passed the infamous 
MORELIA, MEXICO April 28, 2009 (
Recently a traveler to Nicaragua returned with photos of the March 8th Women’s Collective, a funded “partner” of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP).
As Torres spoke, she reportedly stood in front of a large banner which proclaims: “VIOLENCE IS: Requiring a girl to carry a pregnancy. We demand the return of therapeutic abortion” (see photo).
As many Socon or Bust know very well by now (how could you not, I’ve been hammering this topic almost every day for past month!), Development & Peace is funding pro-abortion groups in the Global South. Three dozen of them in 20 or so countries on 3 continents…and that’s only what we know of. You know what happens to an onion when you start to pick at it right? Two things: tears and a lot of unravelling. Same deal here, I fear.
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