American Supreme Court Slaps Down California Abortionists

Remarkable what happens when grownups get involved. Congratulations to our friends over at Support Circle, Alpha Pregnancy, etc.

Washington D.C., Jun 26, 2018 / 08:19 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a California law requiring pro-life pregnancy centers to post information on programs to obtain a free or low-cost abortion.

The 5-4 ruling in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) v. Becerra sent the case back to a lower court to be reconsidered, in light of the Supreme Court’s finding that “We hold that petitioners are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that the FACT Act violates the First Amendment.”

Lower courts had rejected a petition to temporarily block the California law while it was being legally challenged. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the case against the law was unlikely to succeed on its merits.

The Supreme Court reversed that ruling, saying that the Ninth Circuit was wrong to treat the speech of pregnancy centers as a lesser category of free speech simply because it is “professional speech.”

St. John Damascene; Priest, Doctor (c.676-749)

Today is the Feastday of the great Saint.

“Listen to me, people of all nations, men, women, and children, all of you who bear the Christian name: If any one preach to you something contrary to what the holy catholic Church has received from the holy apostles and fathers and councils, and has kept down to the present day, do not heed him. Do not receive the serpent’s counsel, as Eve did, to whom it was death. If an angel or an emperor teaches you anything contrary to what you have received, shut your ears.”  –St. John of Damascus, Apologia of St. John Damascene Against Those Who Decry Holy Images.

Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust in the Bay Area!

The Survivors are in San Francisco for a boot camp-and they are making their presence known.

Their Facebook page has videos of them spreading the pro-life message to UC Berkeley, Pier 39 in the City, and I heard they were at Justin Herman Plaza at noon today. Bless their brave hearts!!

Check out the videos on their Facebook page.

Nice! Italians offer Reparation for Celebration of Sodomy

Church Militant has the story:

Larger turnout than expected

A procession meant to offer reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the offenses of the local gay pride parade was a success. Organized by Committee Bl. Giovanna Scopelli in Reggio Emilia, a lay initiative aimed at repairing the scandal caused by the public celebration of sodomy, about 350 people from all over Italy attended the procession, including dozens of priests, with a notable presence of the young.

The priest leading the procession, Fr. Luigi Moncalero, once again had to explain to the press that they weren't there to hold a counter-protest. "This isn't a protest against the Gay Pride Parade, but a prayer to repair public sin: from the moral point of view, homosexuality is a disorder strongly reprimanded by the Holy Scriptures. To glorify homosexuality means not only to contradict the Bible ... but to invert Nature's natural order."

Read the whole thing.

Thanks, Holy Father....But....

Good Pope Francis (and not for the first time)  nailed the insanity of 'gender ideology' in his address to the Bishops of Poland at World Youth Day:

"In Europe, America, Latin America, Africa, and in some countries of Asia, there are genuine forms of ideological colonization taking place. And one of these - I will call it clearly by its name – is [the ideology of] 'gender'. Today children – children! – are taught in school that everyone can choose his or her sex. Why are they teaching this? Because the books are provided by the persons and institutions that give you money. These forms of ideological colonization are also supported by influential countries. And this terrible!

In a conversation with Pope Benedict, who is in good health and very perceptive, he said to me: 'Holiness, this is the age of sin against God the Creator'. He is very perceptive. God created man and woman; God created the world in a certain way… and we are doing the exact opposite."

Thank you, Holy Father, for introducing some sanity into our world. And you are right about the ideological colonization pushed around the world by wealthy and well-connected wackos.

BUT...that same colonization is taking place in Catholic schools. Holiness, these schools are under YOUR authority. The right guidance of those young souls is ultimatly YOUR responsibily. 

See here for just a few examples within the Archdiocese of San Francisco:

'Transgendered' Teacher not the Only Problem at Mercy

Gay Totalitarianism at Schools of the Sacred Heart, San Francisco

'Queer Bohemian' Chairs Theology Department at Woodside Priory School

LGBT Activist Leads Retreat at Notre Dame de Namur

'Our Mother who is within us'

Holiness, our good Archbishop is working to address this problem. You've identified the problem: I humbly beg you to assert your authority in solving it.

Your son in Christ,

Gibbons

Dr. Peter Kreeft in SF Aug. 20: "What I shall do with atheism is refute it!"

San Francisco's Star of the Sea parish (under the wonderful Fr. Joseph Illo) is hosting Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College, on August 20. Dr. Kreeft's subject will be "Answering Atheism." Dr. Kreeft answers a few questions about the event over at California Catholic Daily.

The good Professor will also speak at St. Apollinaris Church in Napa and at the Religious Education Congress of the Diocese of Santa Rosa.

Visit CalCatholic for full details and registration/tickets.

Walk for Life West Coast JANUARY 23!

San Francisco's Walk for Life West Coast, one of the two largest pro-life events in the country, will take place on January 23, 2016 at Civic Center Plaza. Check out the great promo video:

As always, there are many events surrounding the Walk: it's the biggest Catholic weekend (outside of Christmas and Easter, of course) in the Bay Area. At Saints Peter and Paul Church we will have all-night Adoration for Life beginning at 8 PM on Friday, January 22. 

EVERY Catholic, EVERY American who takes the founding principles seriously should be at the Walk. 

For a full list of events, go here: http://www.walkforlifewc.com/event-info/event-schedule/

¡La Super Estrella de Música Latina, Emmanuel, se unira a la Caminata por la Vida de la Costa Oeste del 2016!

Wow! Mexican music superstar Emmanuel will be a speaker at January 23's Walk for Life West Coast. I'm not too wired into the Latino popular music scene, but those who are tell me he is gigantic. Here's the Walk's press release annoucing the exciting news (English version follows).

¡La Super Estrella de Música Latina, Emmanuel, se unira a la
Caminata por la Vida de la Costa Oeste del 2016!

Los organizadores del evento están encantados con la presencia del legendario cantante pro-vida mexicano el 23 de enero

San Francisco, 29 de septiembre del 2015 - La Caminata por la Vida de la Costa Oeste tiene el honor de anunciar que Emmanuel (nacido en la Ciudad de México como Jesús Emmanuel Acha Martínez) se unirá a la doceava Caminata anual por la Vida de la Costa Oeste en San Francisco el 23 de enero del 2016.

"Esto es tan emocionante-Emmanuel es conocido en todo el mundo de habla hispana por sus hermosas baladas!", Dijo Eva Muntean, co-fundadora de la Caminata. "Pero a pesar de que nos encanta su extraordinaria música,  su voluntad de poner su fama en la línea a favor de la vida, en defensa de los más pequeños entre nosotros, eso es lo que más admiramos!"

Muntean continuo diciendo, "Emmanuel tiene una larga historia de estar del lado de la vida. Ha utilizado su talento y fama para ayudar a los necesitados, uniéndose en el recaudo de fondos y para crear conciencia a otras estrellas del mundo de habla hispana como el actor Eduardo Verástegui , la actriz Verónica Castro y Karyme Lozano. Él comparte nuestra convicción de que el aborto daña a las mujeres, y, ¡estamos encantados y honrados de que se una a nosotros el 23 de enero del 2016!

Emmanuel entró a la escena musical en México en la década de los 70. Por la década de los 80 fue sin duda la estrella más grande del país. Su cuarto álbum Íntimamente  tuvo siete canciones de éxito por si solas.

La Caminata por la Vida de la Costa Oeste del 2016 dará inicio a las 12:30 de la tarde, con un manifestación en la Plaza del Centro Cívico de la ciudad. Tras la manifestación, en la que hablaran Emmanuel y otros, los caminantes marcharán por la calle Market.

Fundada en el 2005 por un grupo de residentes del área de la bahía de San Francisco, la misión de la Caminata por la Vida de la Costa Oeste es cambiar las percepciones de una sociedad que piensa que el aborto es una respuesta. Se esperan participantes de toda el área de la bahía y de todo Estados Unidos y Canadá.

Para más detalles y para ver un poderoso video promocional para la Caminata y que se puede compartir en las redes sociales, por favor visite: www.walkforlifewc.com

Para realizar una entrevista con cualquiera de los oradores u organizadores de la Caminata por la Vida de la Costa Oeste, por favor póngase en contacto con:
Rose Trabbic, Publicista, Camina Pro Vida de la Costa Oeste,
media@walkforlifewc.com o (239)867-4180

________________________________

Latino Music Superstar Emmanuel to join

2016 Walk for Life West Coast!

Organizers delighted with presence of Mexico’s legendary pro-life singer at January 23 event

San Francisco, September 21, 2015 – The Walk for Life West Coast is honored to announce that Emmanuel (born Jesús Emmanuel Acha Martinez in Mexico City) will be joining the 12^th Annual Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco on January 23, 2016.

 “This is so exciting—Emmanuel is known throughout the entire Spanish-speaking world for his beautiful ballads!” said Eva Muntean, a co-founder of the Walk.  “But while we love his extraordinary music, it is his willingness to put his fame on the line for life, in defense of the littlest among us, that we admire the most!”

Muntean continues, “Emmanuel has a long history of standing for life. He has used his talent and fame to help those in need, joining other stars from the Spanish-speaking world such as actor Eduardo Verastegui and actress Veronica Castro Lozano Karyme in raising both funds and awareness. He shares our conviction that abortion hurts women, and we are delighted and honored to have him join us on January 23, 2016!”

Emmanuel came on the music scene in Mexico in the 1970’s. By the 1980’s he was arguably the country’s biggest star. His fourth album Íntimamente (Intimately) had seven separate hit songs.

The 2016 Walk for Life West Coast will begin at 12:30 PM with a rally in the city’s Civic Center Plaza. Following the rally, where Emmanuel and others will be speaking, walkers will march down Market Street.

Founded in 2005 by a group of San Francisco Bay Area residents, the Walk for Life West Coast’s mission is to change the perceptions of a society that thinks abortion is an answer. Walk participants are expected from throughout the Bay Area and across the United States and Canada.

For more details, and to view a powerful promo video for the walk that can be shared on social media, please visit: www.walkforlifewc.com

Archbishop Cordileone Leads SF Protest Against Planned Parenthood!

That's where a good shepherd should be. Bless him!

Today pro-lifers in San Francisco joined people of conscience all over the country in protesting the murderous organization. Archbishop Cordileone led his flock in prayer and witness against the legal murder of the defenseless.

Photos are from Kelly Connelly, Valerie Schmalz, and SF News Feed.

Latest Planned Parenthood Video

The continuing obscenity that is taxpayer-funder abortion and the sale of fetal body parts continues to be exposed by the Center for Medical Progress. Their latest video is below.

On Monday, the Senate voted 53-46 to defund Planned Parenthood. All but two of the votes to defund the loathsome organization were from Republicans; all but two of the votes to continue funding were from Democrats.

The Democrats are the Party of Death and how any person (let alone a Catholic) can continue to vote for them indicates a moral failure on the voters part. I understand it certainly: the Democrats will give you free stuff, maybe even stuff you need, but that is not a sufficient reason.

"We are running the real risk of leaving no place for God in our celebrations"

A beautiful and important piece by Cardinal Robert Sarah.

The translation is from Rorate Caeli. The opening paragraphs are reproduced below. What a marvelous understanding His Eminence shows of the Liturgy is about.

THE SILENT ACTION OF THE HEART

Cardinal Robert Sarah
L'Osservatore Romano
June 12, 2015
[Exclusive Rorate translation by Contributor Francesca Romana]

Fifty years after its promulgation by Pope Paul VI will the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy from the Second Vatican Council be read? “Sacrosanctum concilium “ is not de facto a simple catalogue of reform “recipes” but a real “magna carta” of every liturgical action.

With it, the ecumenical council gives us a magisterial lesson in method. Indeed, far from being content with a disciplinary and exterior approach, the council wants to make us reflect on what the liturgy is in its essence. The practice of the Church always comes from what She receives and contemplates in Revelation. Pastoral care cannot be disconnected from doctrine.

In the Church, “that which comes from action is ordered to contemplation” (cfr. n. 2). The Council’s Constitution invites us to rediscover the Trinitarian origin of the liturgical action. Indeed, the Council establishes continuity between the mission of Christ the Redeemer and the liturgical mission of the Church. “Just as Christ was sent by His Father, so also He sent the Apostles” so that “by means of sacrifice and sacraments, around which the entire liturgical life revolves” they accomplish ”the work of salvation”. (n.6).

Actuating the liturgy is therefore nothing other than actuating the work of Christ. The liturgy in its essence is “actio Christi”. [It is]the “work of Christ the Lord in redeeming mankind and giving perfect glory to God.” (n.5) It is He who is the great Priest, the true subject, the true actor in the liturgy (n.7). If this vital principle is not accepted in faith, there is the risk of making the liturgy into a human work, a self-celebration of the community....

We run the real risk of leaving no space for God in our celebrations. We risk the temptation of the Hebrews in the desert. They attempted to create worship according to their own stature and measure, [but] let us not forget they ended up prostrate before the idol of the Golden Calf."

Emphasis added.

Read the whole thing. 

“For Love Alone” Documentary to Screen in SF & LA May 15 & 16

“An invaluable resource in promoting vocations”

In the months of May and June there will be a traveling screening throughout the United States and Canada of the documentary film For Love Alone. For Love Alone, a joint production of the Conference of Major Superiors of Women Religious and Grassroots Films “highlights the lives of women religious throughout the United States and emphasizes the great rewards and trials of dedicating one’s life to God.”

As of this writing, For Love Alone has screened at the Wake Up the World Rally in Toronto, Canada on May 3: At St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia on May 4, at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, in Boynton Beach, FL on May 5; at Texas A&M in College Station, TX on May 6; and at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, CO on May 7.

The film has met with an enthusiastic response, and if it is anything like Grassroots Films’ acclaimed priestly vocations video Fishers of Men, that is not surprising:

After seeing the film at Toronto’s Wake Up the World Rally, Anishka S. said: "Many of us have not grown up or ever met nuns. This film gave us the perfect exposure to what the consecrated life is like. What a beautiful insight!"

Following the Boynton Beach screening, Msgr. David Toups, the Rector of St. Vincent DePaul Regional Seminary said "For me this film speaks to the complementarity of our vocations as priests and religious. Our calls are meant to be mutually inspiring...this film makes me want to be a better priest." 

First year theology student Anthony Cavaliere, of the Diocese of Tallahassee, agreed: "I feel that this film captured the essence of consecrated life here in own back yard. I was very impressed by the honesty of the film, and the ways that is showed the beautiful simplicity that the sisters embody in their daily life and ministry. I know that this film will be an invaluable resource in promoting vocations. The joy that this film brings is very contagious."

Upcoming screenings will be at Catholic Underground in New York on Saturday, May 9; at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN on May 11; at the Archdiocesan Office of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, Canada on May 12; at the Archdiocese of Portland, OR on May 14; at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Franciscio on May 15; at Catholic Underground of Los Angeles on May 16, and at the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, NE on July 12.

The San Francisco screening will be at the St. Francis Room of St. Mary’s Cathedral on Friday, May 15 at 7:00 PM. The showing will be preceded by Eucharistic Adoration in the Cathedral at 6:00 PM. A number of the Sisters whose orders are profiled in the film will be in attendance to answer questions.

The Los Angeles screening will be on Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 PM at Catholic Underground at 8634 Holloway Dr, West Hollywood, California 90069. The Sisters will also be in attendance at the screening.

The Conference of Major Superiors of Women Religious was founded in 1992. Its history webpage describes its mission “In the spring of 1992, eighty major superiors of women religious from across the United States, under the guidance of Cardinal James Hickey, supported a petition to the Holy Father for the approval of a second conference or council of women religious in the United States. On June 13th the permission was granted and the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR) was canonically erected.” 

While it is perhaps too strong to say that the CMSWR was founded in opposition to the liberal Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the fact that he eighty major superiors saw a need for a second conference is suggestive, to say the least. What is certain is that many of the fastest growing (and youngest) orders of women religious are affiliated with the CMSWR, attracted by its greater emphasis on prayer, and religious community. Wikipedia writes: “According to the 2009 Study on Recent Vocations by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, the average median age of nuns and sisters in CMSWR institutes was 60, compared with 74 for those in LCWR; among those joining CMSWR institutes only 15% were over 40, compared with 56% for LCWR institutes; 43% of the CMSWR institutes had at least 5 novices, compared with 9% of the LCWR institutes. “

To learn more about the San Francisco screening, visit:

https://www.facebook.com/events/100272480308933

To learn more about the Los Angeles screening, visit:

https://www.facebook.com/events/803085713143728/

Archbishop Cordileone acts on Catholic Schools: they "exist to affirm and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ as held and taught by the Catholic Church"

Bless his Lionheart! Forgive the long post  title, but this initiative is so important every word is also important. Excerpts from Valerie Schmalz's article on the front page of today's Catholic San Francisco are below.

The Archdiocese has also released a special supplement to this week's Catholic San Francisco which consists of: the Archbishop's letter to school faculty; the documentitself: "Statement of the High Schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco Regarding the Teachings and Practice of the Catholic Church”; a statement from Maureen Huntington, Superintendent of the S.F. Department of Catholic Schools; and Q and A about the new teachers' union contract. The supplement may be found here (PDF).

Here's a (very) short video of His Excellency outlining the initiative:

Archdiocese: Catholic schools exist to ‘affirm and proclaim’ Gospel of Jesus
February 3rd, 2015
By Valerie Schmalz 

Faculty handbook changes emphasize that teachers, staff must not publicly contradict Catholic teaching

 The Archdiocese of San Francisco is proposing three new clauses to the contracts for the teachers in the archdiocesan Catholic high schools. The purpose is to further clarify that Catholic schools – as the first clause states – “exist to affirm and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ as held and taught by his Catholic Church.”

 The archdiocese is also adding detailed statements of Catholic teaching on sexual morality and religious practice – taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church – into the faculty and staff handbooks of the four archdiocesan high schools, Archbishop Riordan, Marin Catholic and Junipero Serra high schools and Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory. The handbook additions will take effect in the 2015-16 school year and are not part of the contract.

 While the handbook and contract changes reiterate more strongly the responsibility of teachers and staff not to contradict Catholic teaching in school and in their public lives, they do not contain anything essentially new and are intended to clarify existing expectations that Catholic teachers in their professional and public lives uphold Catholic teaching, archdiocesan Catholic Schools Superintendent Maureen Huntington said.

The intent is not to drive any teacher out of the schools, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone and Huntington said....

Archbishop’s letter
Archbishop Cordileone specifically addressed concerns about job security in a letter dated February 2015 to teachers. 

“At the outset, I wish to state clearly and emphatically that the intention underlying this document is not to target for dismissal from our schools any teachers, singly or collectively, nor does it introduce anything essentially new into the contract or the faculty handbook,” the archbishop wrote in the letter.

The handbook additions clearly state that the institution believes in the listed items, and does not require each individual staff member or teacher to assent to each stated item of Catholic doctrine. That is because the archdiocese recognizes that some Catholic teachers and other non-Catholic teachers may not agree with all that the Catholic Church teaches, Archbishop Cordileone said. The aim of the handbook additions is to specify for all what the church teaches and require that high school staff and teachers not contradict Catholic teachings in a school environment or in public actions. ...

 Archbishop Cordileone explained the reasoning in his letter to the archdiocesan teachers, saying “I see a need to provide more clarity for our teachers.” “For a Catholic high school to attain excellence, it must be at one and the same time an excellent institution of secondary education and a truly Catholic institution,” he said. “Changes in our secular society over the last few decades have brought new challenges to this endeavor in both senses, as we now face both increased difficulties in educating our students well in an array of academic subjects, and unprecedented challenges in forming our young people with a deep and strong Catholic identity as well as knowledge and practice of the Catholic faith,” the archbishop wrote....

Changes cover ‘hot button’ issues
The additions to the faculty handbooks cover what Archbishop Cordileone termed “hot button” issues and are drawn directly from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. They include statements of Catholic teaching on abortion, same-sex marriage, artificial contraception and artificial means of reproduction such as in-vitro fertilization as well as affirming the authority of the magisterium of the Catholic Church and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

 “Confusion about the church’s stance is prevalent in areas of sexual morality and religious practice,” Archbishop Cordileone said. “For this reason, the statements for inclusion in the faculty handbook focus on these two areas. This focus does not imply lesser importance to Catholic teachings on social justice, which in fact are widely accepted and well interpreted in Catholic educational institutions.”

 “There is nothing new under the Catholic sun with this approach,” said Jesuit Father John Piderit, moderator of the curia/vicar for administration for the archdiocese. “It is in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is straightforward.” 

Read the whole thing.