UNITED STATES, April 29, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Professional illustrators come in all shapes and sizes, but very few of them have a pro-life or Christian perspective. But that is something that Dan Lawlis, a professional illustrator for over 20 years who has created comic book art for companies like Marvel and DC Comics, wants to change.

Lawlis is endeavoring to use the internet to bring a new comic book vision to the world, and has made his first go at the effort with the comic called “Orange Peel” – a story set in a technologically advanced future, where evil aliens plot to take-over the neighboring planet Godderth for conquest. However, they first plan to make conquest easy by getting the inhabitants of Godderth to abandon their morality, destroy the family unit, and become so morally impoverished that they will welcome their would-be conquerors with open arms. Read the rest of this entry »

An article published on the Wall Street Journal’s website cites a story that LifeSiteNews ran a few days ago regarding the aging of the pro-abortion movement and the youth and vibrancy of the pro-life movement.  The article is short but very relevant.

Just goes to show that LifeSiteNews has a broader reach and appeal than some detractors are willing to admit.  Well done!

A Canadian human rights group is accusing the University of Ottawa of “spying” and attempting to stifle free speech after top university administrators considered preventing a well-known Burmese activist from speaking on campus.

Read the rest of this entry »

Abortion

How would you feel if the government wiped out an entire city the size of Kingston, and everyone in it every single year?  The majority of Canadians would probably not agree with this idea.  In fact there would probably be riots in the streets.  Yet that is precisely what is happening in hospitals and clinics all throughout Canada each year on a much smaller level.

In 1969, the Canadian government struck down all Canadian laws restricting abortion in Canada.  Many people mistakenly believe that abortion is legal in Canada, when in reality; we are the only western nation that simply does not have any law restricting abortion.  The result has been a steady increase in the number abortions performed each year in Canada, since 1969.  There are now around 100,000 abortions performed in Canada annually.

Abortion has seen a steady increase around the world, for example in China, families who choose to have more than one child are fined, punished, and the mothers are often forced to have abortions and are sterilized.  Since males are highly valued in China, girls are aborted at a much higher rate.  Girls that are fortunate enough to be born in China are often discarded and left to die.

Catholic teaching on the matter of abortion is very clear. In the book of Jeremiah chapter 1:5, it says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” This forms the basis of section 2270 in the catechism of the Catholic Church which states “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person. Among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” This teaching is very clear, abortion is always wrong, with no exceptions. While some people may not be prepared to be mothers and fathers, abortion is never the answer. The end never justifies the means; in other words, you can never commit an evil act (such as abortion) to ease the burden you are currently carrying (in this case the baby).

Many famous Catholics and non Catholics have spoken out against abortion.   Mother Teresa wrote “Abortion is a crime that kills not only the child but the consciences of all involved.”  Former US president Ronald Reagan once said “abortion concerns not only the unborn child; it concerns every one of us.”  And finally in a very harsh tone Martin Luther once said “those who have no love for children are swine, stocks, and logs unworthy of being called men or women.”

There are a number of things that each of us can do in order to help reduce the number or abortions in this country.   We can pray for the doctors and there associates who perform these evil acts.  We can also pray for the mothers and fathers who have chosen to avoid bringing one of their children into the world.  And then we can pray for the family members, grandparents and relatives who have been touched by abortion.  The more fearless among you could write a letter to your member of parliament or your local newspaper.  Or you could join my family and I as we attend the 14^th annual March for Life in Ottawa this May 13^th where thousands of ordinary Canadians will gather on Parliament Hill to prayerfully and peacefully to tell the government that we do not have social peace on abortion.  There will never be peace in the world while we allow children to die in the sanctuary of a mother’s womb.

Peter Beneteau, 13 years old,  received an “A” for this speech.

TORONTO, April 27, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Archdiocese of Toronto has reached an agreement with the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (D&P) regarding funding.  Responding to concerns raised by LifeSiteNews (LSN) last year the archdiocese withheld $1.125 million in funding from D&P until the organization could ensure that each partner and project to be funded with funds from the Archdiocese of Toronto would be approved by the local bishop in the area where the project undertaken. Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins was the first bishop in the country to react to LSN’s revelations about D&P.  Less than a week after the original LSN investigative report, Collins sent a statement to all pastors of the archdiocese, which noted that the “serious allegations” were to be “investigated in detail.”  That March 17, 2009 letter added: “Development & Peace has not as yet received its funding from ShareLife for 2009. Be assured I will not allow any money raised in the Archdiocese of Toronto to be used for pro-abortion activities or organizations.”  In a statement to be released to Toronto parishes this weekend, the archdiocese explains: “With the cooperation of our partners at CCODP, the conditions stipulated by Archbishop Collins have now been met, ensuring that all contributions to ShareLife are used in accordance with the outlined criteria for the 2009 and 2010 campaigns.” The statement explains that, “Fifteen projects were identified in developing countries for ShareLife funding and endorsements have now been received by either the President of the Episcopal Conference, the Secretary-General of the Episcopal Conference, or the local Ordinary where the project is taking place, attesting to the suitability of the partner carrying out the work.” Bill Steinburg, a spokesman for the Archdiocese told LSN that projects were approved in Brazil, Honduras, Peru, Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Philippines, East Timor, Pakistan, Gaza, Iraq and Lebanon.  He also noted that many of the organizations are Caritas groups, the Catholic Church’s official development agency. The funding agreement extends into the current year 2010 campaign.  The statement explains that the archdiocese has “pledged an allocation of $900,000 to CCODP as part of our overall fundraising efforts,” for the 2010 collection.  LSN asked Steinburg about the most recent controversy over D&P slamming LSN, Campaign Life Coalition and International Right to Life as the “far right wing fringe element of North American society” and claiming falsely that the pro-life groups were associated with groups that have used violence.   Steinburg explained that the Archdiocese was leaving the conflict resolution between the pro-life groups and D&P to the bishops. He noted further that D&Ps statements about the pro-life groups would not affect the positive relationship of the archdiocese with the groups.

While this is definitely good news from a momentum perspective, the actions taken by the Archdiocese of Toronto are still not foolproof:

1. Fungibility still a problem. Notice the number of countries listed above? That likely means D&P is shifting Toronto’s money around to existing partners who have not yet been identified as being anti-life.  Nothing has really changed.  The only thing that has changed is that Toronto’s money has been ear-marked to go to these particular groups, but none of the other dioceses have had their donations likewise ear-marked. For Toronto’s initiative to have real teeth, at least a third of the dioceses in Canada have to adopt the same measure. Otherwise, it’s not going to be effective.  It’s very easy for the management of Development & Peace to keep their existing pro-abort partners, even with Toronto’s conditions. In fact, it is very likely that none of the partners identified to date will be affected by this measure.

2. Episcopal endorsements are no guarantee. While relying on the endorsement of other countries’ church officials is good, it is not as effective as having collaboration with Canadian and the recipient country’s pro-life groups.  It is very possible that one or more groups being funded is still pro-abort.  Church officials, depending on who they are and their own pro-life sensitivities might be as dismissive of pro-life concerns as Development & Peace is. Or, they might not be aware of all of the activities of the groups in question.   These kind of funding decisions must be made in collaboration with the pro-life organizations who know the score – otherwise the problems could continue.

So, in the interests of full disclosure, Development & Peace should release the names of the groups who are being funded by the Archdiocese of Toronto.

D&P ABORTION SCANDAL VIDEO & INDEX PAGE

Last week, Socon or Bust revisited Development & Peace’s continued support for the Freedom from Debt Coalition in the Philippines which supports a Bill in favour of “reproductive rights”.  Generally speaking, the phrase “reproductive rights” is code for contraception and abortion. In this particular case, it only included contraception, although in reality the leglislation is merely the stepping stone for a future abortion rights law.  Abortion does not exist where contraception is not accepted in principle.

Below you can read the Filipino Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on the Bill in question.  

How obscene it is that Canadian Catholic money is going to organizations which fight against Catholic moral teachings.  Canadian Catholic money is effectively going to organizations that oppose Catholic bishops in the developing world.  (See Exhibits A, B, C)

It’s a kind of sick sexual imperialism being exported to the poor. 

The first report about D&P’s immoral activities came to light in March 2009.  It’s now been over a year.  If this controversy had been about Development & Peace funding groups which espoused racism, does anyone seriously doubt that this sham would not have been cleaned up in mere days if not hours?

What does that tell us about the Canadian bishops and their concern for the unborn? 

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Standing up for the Gospel of Life
CBCP Pastoral Statement on Reproductive Health Bill

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative power of God (CCC 2258). The Church carries out the mandate of the Lord to go and proclaim to all the nations the Gospel of Life. The protection and preservation of human life and the preservation of the integrity of the procreative act of parents are important elements of our mission from the Lord. It is our fidelity to the Gospel of Life and our pastoral charity for the poor that leads us your pastors to make this moral stand regarding Reproductive Health Bill 5043 that is the object of deliberation in Congress. Read the rest of this entry »

ROME, April 27, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In a few pointed phrases addressed to the new Belgian ambassador to the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI gently chided the Belgian government for seeking to suppress the Church’s right to speak on moral issues – an apparent reference to the Belgium Parliament’s decision last year to pass a motion criticizing remarks made by the pope about Catholic teaching on condoms….

I’m afraid this is just the beginning.  The Left is going to persecute the Church.  I’ve said this for a long time now. The time is coming when the Pope will not be permitted to visit any country he wants to.

who, as they say on the Island, has “bullocks”.

We thought that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty was postponing the implementation of the sex-ed portion of the new curriculum, but according to an article from the National Post entitled “McGuinty vows to implement most of controversial health curriculum” it seems that the Premier is sending conflicting signals about his intentions:

McGuinty abruptly shelved the proposed curriculum Friday because of a backlash over its sexual-education component. However, McGuinty told reporters sexual education is only one of 12 broad themes covered in the new curriculum. “The 11 other areas don’t appear to be controversial in any way,” he said. “I think we can find a way to introduce much of that into the curriculum this September. So it’s not been for naught.”

The problem is that McGuinty hasn’t been very forthcoming about what exactly is going to be implemented and what isn’t. We don’t want the sex-ed portion to be implemented through the backdoor, once the protests have let up. 

To all you parents out there: you need to get in touch with the government and keep pressuring them about the school curriculum. 

To all the Ontario bishops that pressured the government:  we thank you for your earlier actions and we implore your continued support on this matter.

And let’s not forget to keep praying.

If this discovery turns out to be authentic, it would be marvellous. 

Here’s a thoughtful and striking article by Barbara Kay of the National Post on sex education in public schools.  Here’s a good excerpt:

Unless countered by vigorous instruction at home, no children in the last several decades have left school believing their sexuality has a higher purpose than giving them bodily pleasure. From adolescence they have been encouraged by sex educators — no, pressured — to maximize sexual pleasure (but with condoms!), and made to feel abnormal if they prefer chastity to sex without love or commitment. What’s so good about that?

Read the whole article here.

TORONTO SUN – A married Harbord Collegiate teacher reported to have two children is charged with sexual exploitation involving a female student. (Source)

As we’ve been pointing out since forever, these things aren’t limited to just priests.  But the media seldom pays attention. 

Notice how the accused teacher is married and has two kids.  So why do people keep insisting that the priest sex-abuse problem is all about their vow of celibacy?

Where are the bishops? And how long with this phony “unity” be tolerated?

There is a limit to obeying fools and heretics without dire consequences.