There's a New Circus in Town

I did not have the time to devote to blogging this week. Did I miss it? Actually, yes! Blogging is much less work physically than what I did. But we all need a break every now and then from what is normal so we can come to appreciate what God enables us to do.

Today, I came across this short film via a Facebook friend who is Pro-Life. I thought that I would share it with you. We all need to make the time every now and then to look at life a little differently. The film is called:

"The Butterfly Circus"

Part I

 

Part II

Who is the man in this story? His name is Nick Vujicic. He is a phenomenal person who didn't give up on God. When he asked God why he was born this way, God answered with a question: "Will you trust me?" Nick's answer was "Yes."

Nick is a world renown motivational and inspirational speaker. He discovered God's purpose for his life and wants everyone to know that, no matter what the circumstances, God has not forgotten them. Check out his website, lifewithoutlimbs.org, whose "mission is to cross boundaries and break down barriers to build bridges that bring people to the love and hope found in Jesus Christ."

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

May God bless us with new eyes to see and new ears to hear so that we may discover His purpose for our life! And may our answer to His question, "Will you trust Me?" always be a resounding "YES!!!" When we do trust in Him, we will know that it was not about us at all, but about Him all along!

Forced Abortion Is Not Choice

The Elliot Institute is a non-profit organization who has done post-abortion research since 1988. Their latest report, that came out on April 20, 2010 is called Forced Abortion in America. It exposes "a widespread epidemic of unwanted, coerced and forced abortions taking place in the U.S."  Their research would suggest that most abortions are either unwanted or coerced. 

One of the Institute's surveys found that 64% of the women who had abortions felt pressured by others to abort. The same survey showed that 80% of the women felt they had not received the counseling they needed to make a proper decision. More than half said that they felt rushed or uncertain in their decision to abort. Finally, they reported that the consequences for women who refuse to abort are often dangerous or deadly. Details of more than 200 filed cases were included in the report that showed that women or girls who resisted abortion either experienced violent attacks or were murdered.

In addition, they found that homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant women in this country. Elliot Institute spokesperson, Amy Sobie, says, "Our files contain hundreds of stories from women and girls who were attacked or killed with the intent of getting rid of the pregnancy. We've been collecting these stories for more than six years through mainstream media sources and pro-life organizations who have been diligently reporting on these kinds of cases. The information is out there, but many people aren't aware of what might be going on in their own communities."

People might not immediately connect the incidences of violence or murder with abortion because, in many cases, the woman or girl never even makes it to the abortion facility. It is the opinion of the Elliot Institute that the availability of abortion actually justifies an attacker's thinking that the woman or girl shouldn't be having this baby. Their violence follows to get rid of the unwanted child.

A few cases included in the report were:

• A Kansas man and his wife convicted of sexual abuse - The man raped his stepdaughters over a several year period, resulting in four pregnancies and at least one abortion, performed on an 11-year-old.
• Two Ohio teenagers convicted for kidnapping and assaulting a pregnant teen, killing her unborn child - One of the boys thought he was the father of the child. The two boys hit the the girl and kicked her the abdomen to cause the death of her 8-month-old unborn child. DNA tests showed he was NOT the father.
• A man sentenced to 9 years in prison for secretly giving his wife an abortion-inducing drug when she refused to abort - She taped his admission to giving her the drug and trying to convince her that she really wanted to abort.
• A high school junior beaten to death by her 22-year-old boyfriend after refusing to abort - According to police, the man hit the teen at least four times on the head with a bat and admitted he did not want her to have the baby. He pleaded guilty after leading police to the girl's body, which he had buried under leaves in the woods. The man was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison.

There were also cases in the Elliot Institute report that involved assailants using abortifacients or other drugs to secretly induce an abortion, while others focused on pregnancy discrimination by employers, schools and others that can make women feel they have no choice but to abort. Pregnancy is too often seen as a threat to a woman's ability to perform her job or continue her education by many bosses, school counselors and others.

Dr. David Reardon, PhD,  biomedical ethicist and director of the Elliot Institute, said that it is not unusual to come across cases of women being pressured, threatened, or subjected to violence because they refuse to abort. Not only do studies show that homicide is the leading killer of pregnant women in the U.S., but women in abusive relationships are at higher risk of being the object of violence during pregnancy.

Even when she is not physically threatened, women who face intense pressure to abort are often threatened with abandonment, lack of support or emotional blackmail. Abortion is supposedly a woman's choice, and yet women who have suffered either physical or emotional violence for not aborting know that it is not true.

There is a real need for legislation that would hold abortion clinics liable for not screening women for evidence of coercion or pressure to abort. But if they were directed to the proper resources that can help them, the clinics that make the majority of their money from abortion services would probably not survive. It is financially better for them to assume that a woman coming to them for an abortion is doing so because it is her choice. It is this "no questions asked" policy that harms women in abusive circumstances. This also includes young girls who are the victims of sexual predators. 

Women should never be the object of violence or pressure due to an unwanted pregnancy. A women who is forced into an unwanted abortion is also a wounded one.

Unwanted abortions are an internationally recognized violation of a woman's rights. Negligent, deceptive, rushed or high-pressure counseling is common. Unwanted abortions and symptoms of trauma, injury and 4 times higher maternal death rates  

plus high suicide rates in the first year after abortion, present a portrait of injustice at best, not "choice" in any authentic understanding of the word. ~ "Abortion Is the Un-Choice"

Sources:

Report Finds Women Who Refuse Abortions Often Face Violent Attacks, Death  

by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor, May 21, 2010

Forced Abortion in America Report - by the Elliot Institute, April 20, 2010

Why Is Abortion the Un-choice? Sponsored by the Elliot Institute

Birth Control v Natural Family Planning

Now this is a really cute series of videos modeled off the PC v Apple commercials, only instead of computers talking to one another it is Natural Family Planning vs. Contraception.

There really IS a difference between birth control and NFP. 

NFP wins, hands down because it's not about the sex. 

It's about relationships.

NFP takes two. It builds trust.

It is love giving and life giving - and it improves overall intimacy.

NFP is natural.

It has no chemical side effects.

It has no health risks.

Contraception and the media.

NFP has great health benefits - but the media won't report it

because contraception controls the media.

Contraception is followed by divorce, infertility, abortion and mysogeny.

NFP is followed by life-long marriage, health, and love.

Still, the media listens to those who contracept.

The UN sends contraception to third world countries before food 

as though to say, "Contracept and THEN we will give you food."

NFP users provide for the basic needs of people

in third world countries without manipulation.

Those who contracept seem to have selective

hearing when it comes to health issues.

Those who use NFP are more aware of general health issues.

Abortion Workers Quit to Become Pro-Life

More Abortion Workers Quit with Pro-Lifers' Help

May 20, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A few nights ago, I shared the stage at a pregnancy center banquet in San Antonio with Abby Johnson, the former Planned Parenthood director who experienced a profound conversion and left the abortion industry during last fall's 40 Days for Life campaign.

As Abby shared the story of her conversion, I was  again amazed at how God has transformed her life - through the prayers and efforts of faithful people.

40 Days for Life- Abby Johnson story from David on Vimeo.

Abby is just one of 35 abortion workers who have quit their jobs at 40 Days for Life locations. We just received two more amazing reports ...

Mike Stack, 40 Days for Life leader in Southfield, Michigan, reports:

"A week or so ago we got word that the office manager at the Womancare Abortion facility where we have been holding the Southfield 40 Days for Life vigils quit her job.

"A few of the prayer warriors during the Spring campaign had befriended her and found out that she really didn't like working there but felt trapped and unable to find another job. One of the prayer warriors, Christine, arranged to get her resume and did a professional upgrade for her.

"We put the word out to our prayer warriors and a couple months later Casey found a new job and has happily quit working for the abortion facility."

Stack said he later learned that a man whose car had fallen into a ditch at the same clinic had run off with a pro-lifer's cell phone - but even that event, he said, had been "used" by God: Christine and the office manager had started up their conversation after both were drawn to the peculiar sight of the car in the ditch. "Praise God!" he said.

And here is the latest from one of the 40 Days for Life coordinators in a location that must remain anonymous for now:

"I just got word from an anonymous doctor friend of mine that an old school buddy of his quit the abortion clinic in our town, due to the peaceful 'local uprising over the past year' that made him feel 'bad' about what he was doing! He couldn't handle how gentle and nice we were to the women going in, and even to him, as he came out.

"It is truly a miracle that a soul so hardened has been touched by the peaceful and prayerful witness at the abortion mill! Peace, prayers and love works miracles -- the gentleness, honestly and love saves souls in the long run!"

Regardless of what is happening in the political arena or with the latest Supreme Court nomination, know that with God ALL things are possible - changing minds, touching hearts, saving lives, and impacting eternal souls.

Abortion As a "Miscarriage Experience"?

In Cedar Rapids, IA, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland president, Cecile Richards, was the keynote speaker at the recent 30 year anniversary celebration of the abortion cartel. She shared with fellow abortion activists the details of the telemed abortion scheme it has set up in Iowa in which women are instructed on the use of the dangerous drug, RU-486***, via a video conference. They are never seen by a physician. 

Sixteen small Planned Parenthood of the Heartland offices are administering the dangerous abortion drug in this way. Cecile Richards revealed her organization's strategy plan for 2015 that will expand drug-induced abortions into every Planned Parenthood clinic through the use of the "telemed abortion" scheme.

The pro-life group, Operation Rescue, spent weeks investigating the Iowa telemed abortion practice which deviates from the FDA protocols in both dosage and number of recommended office visits. The Iowa Board of Medicine is currently investigating the "care and treatment" practices of abortion practitioner Susan Haskell and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. With no emergency plan, not only will more babies die, there will also be a greater danger to women of serious medical complications or death. It is feared that Planned Parenthood's telemed abortion scheme is dangerous, illegal, and violates FDA protocols for usage of the drug. 

According to a receptionist at one of the clinics, "There wouldn’t be anything to go wrong in the medical procedure because you don’t do anything with that right away. You get one pill there in the clinic and that pill stops the pregnancy from growing. Then they give you four more pills, and those pills they send you home with, and they’ll give you the instructions on how and when you would take those."  

The first drug the woman takes doesn't just "stop the pregnancy from growing" but is intended to kill her baby by blocking progesterone, the hormone needed to maintain a pregnancy. The receptionist said, "There wouldn't be anything to go wrong" because things would only go awry for the mother after taking the other pills at home.

The secondary set of pills are intended to empty the womb of its contents by causing contractions. At this point in time, the woman is on her own at home to deal with the painful and risky part of the abortion. As Operation Rescue president, Troy Newman says, "I cannot imagine a woman going through the process of miscarriage, either natural or forced, and not having access to a physician, especially for follow-up care. Any number of things could go wrong, and to never actually be seen by a licensed doctor during the entire process seems risky at best, grossly negligent, and perhaps criminal.”

Newman is also emphatic to say, that if allowed to spread, this push-button abortion scheme will only increase the number of abortions at a time when abortion rates are actually falling and abortion clinics are closing. Nationally, abortion rates have dropped as the number of surgical abortion clinics has declined. In Iowa, however, abortion rates have remained steady because telemed abortions have offset the lower number of surgical abortions. 

Dr. Tom Ross, a PP physician in Iowa who implements the telemed system, refers to the RU-486 drugs as "medication" and the medical abortion as a "miscarriage experience." He is certain that he fulfills his legal obligation to oversee the abortion process and is also confident that the Iowa Medical Board will approve of the system which has been vetted by private lawyers. 

(please note that embedding information for the above video
on the kccitv YouTube channel has been disabled)

I would not call private lawyers the most qualified professionals to vet the issue since it was lawyers who legalized abortion in the first place with Roe v Wade in 1973. Never mind the fact that the continuation of the human race depends on live births, legal jargon defines an unwanted pregnancy as a "medical condition" as though it was an affliction or disease - and abortion gets rid of it. Describing RU-486 as a "medication" and medical abortion as a "miscarriage experience" is misguiding and only compounds the issue. Using such deceitfully "neutral language" is problematic because such terminology distances the person(s) from the action to the point of denying responsibility for the action.

Our culture has become adept at making abortion look rather benign - as a woman's right to choose - while maligning a woman's pregnancy directly and her fertility indirectly. The pro-abortion population avoids terms that would make the culture see abortion for what it really is - the intentional termination of a human life. Many post-abortive women bury the guilt of what they have done only to have it resurface years or even decades later. They eventually must face the very painful consequences of their decision.

_________________________________________


***Below are two paragraphs from a pro-abortion website that are intended to describe how RU-486 works. Notice the language used, as it is very telling. It never refers to a baby or even a fetus - only a pregnancy that is expelled 6-8 hours after taking the second medication. And it leads the woman into thinking that it will be an easy experience.

Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. Because this hormone is blocked, the uterine lining begins to shed, the cervix begins to soften and bleeding may occur. With the later addition of the second medication, misoprostol, the uterus contracts and the pregnancy is usually expelled within 6 to 8 hours.

The second paragraph is intended to emphasize a woman's choice, her control over her situation, and her sense of empowerment. It really has nothing to do with how RU-486 works, but everything to do with how they think a woman should feel in this situation. It describes the bleeding and cramping as "side effects" - as though they have nothing to do with the abortion itself.

Because the woman chooses when she takes the second medication within the time frame of 24 to 72 hours after the first medication, she has some control over the timing of when she expels the pregnancy and experiences the side effects of bleeding and cramping. Some women choose the Medical Abortion because of the privacy it offers. Some women feel empowered by taking an active role in the process.

About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the country and is a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue has its headquarters in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006.  From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.

Sources:
Planned Parenthood President Says Telemed Abortion Scheme Going Nationwide
by Steven Ertelt , LifeNews.com Editor - May 21, 2010

Planned Parenthood Reveals 5-Year Plan to Expand Abortion Through Use of Telemed Scheme

Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, info@operationrescue.org 
Special Report: 'Telemed Abortion’ Endanger Women and Drive Up Insurance Costs 
A special report from Operation Rescue By Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor

State Investigating Dangerous Telemed Abortions at Planned Parenthood Centers by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor, May 4, 2010 
The Feminist Women's Health Center 

Holy Spirit Novena - Day 9

NOVENA FOR THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

NINTH DAY (Saturday, Vigil of Pentecost)

Thou, on those who evermore Thee confess and Thee Adore, in Thy sevenfold gift, Descend; Give Them Comfort when they die; Give them Life with Thee on high; Give them joys which never end. Amen

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit

The gifts of the Holy Spirit perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit, our service becomes more sincere and generous, the practice of virtue more perfect. Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation and are known as Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These Fruits in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God, to serve Whom is to reign.

"Pentecost" watercolor by Estella Canziani, 1936

Prayer

Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thy inspiration may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen. 

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. 
*               *
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
*     *     *     *     *     *     *

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
 

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and have my being. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, looking at His Five Wounds, trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant is listening." Amen.

Holy Spirit Novena - Day 8

NOVENA FOR THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

EIGHTH DAY (Friday, 7th Week of Easter)

Bend the stubborn heart and will, melt the frozen warm the chill. Guide the steps that go astray!

The Gift of Wisdom

Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. Of wisdom it is written "all good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hands." It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their pleasure, while the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Savior: "Take up thy cross and follow me, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.

Prayer

Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. 
*               *
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
*     *     *     *     *     *     *

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
 

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and have my being. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, looking at His Five Wounds, trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant is listening." Amen.

Holy Spirit Novena - Day 7

NOVENA FOR THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

SEVENTH DAY (Thursday, 7th Week of Easter)

Heal our wounds--our strength renews; On our dryness pour Thy dew, Wash the stains of guilt away.

The Gift of Counsel

The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must be done, especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public servants, and Christians. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. "Above all these things, pray to the Most High, that He may direct thy way in truth."

Prayer

Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long.

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. 
*               *
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
*     *     *     *     *     *     *

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
 

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and have my being. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, looking at His Five Wounds, trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant is listening." Amen.

Planned Parenthood Telemeds - The Future of "Women's Health Care"?

Telemedicine is a rapidly growing practice of interactive clinical medicine in which patients are consulted and medical information is transferred to the patient via teleconferencing hook-up. It may also be used for remote medical exams or procedures.

In Iowa a few months ago RU-486 was administered via skype. Planned Parenthood doctors are now able to talk to and dispense RU-486 to a patient in a remote location using a camera and microphone hooked up to the internet. This allows two-way communication between doctor and patient after on-site staff has counseled the woman. The doctor, after "visiting" with the pre-abortive woman, can then press a computer button to activate the opening of a drawer at the patient's location for her to receive the pills. The woman then takes the first pills as the doctor watches.

THIS IS HEALTH CARE? On the contrary, it only allows the doctor to further distance self from the act that initiates an abortion, and only intervene when complications occur, putting an ever greater burden of guilt on the woman.

Only a physician can prescribe RU-486 and it isn't even a safe drug due to the kinds of complications that can occur. These include hemorrhaging that may require blood transfusions or incomplete abortions that may require a surgical abortion procedure.

In the first six years after the drug was made available in the US, the FDA acknowledged the following statistics*:

• six deaths
• nine life-threatening incidents
• 232 hospitalizations
• 116 blood transfusions
• 88 cases of infections
• 1070 adverse events reports

Yet Planned Parenthood, a supposed advocate of "women's health", would administer this drug with less medical attention and supervision. Isn't there something the least bit wrong with this picture? With Planned Parenthood, women's reproductive health is slipping further and further into abuse and neglect.

Not only that, "Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is making a killing on medical abortions," says Operation Rescue President Troy Newman who has collected evidence in Iowa against smaller Planned Parenthood clinics. They have no licensed physician on site so the overhead costs are much less than in doctor staffed clinics, yet they charge insurance companies $1,000 for this "doctor-less medical  abortion". This is 2½ times the national average. Women who pay cash for the identical procedure pay $500 - half of what insurance companies have to pay. Such over-billing allows Planned Parenthood to keep their smaller clinics up and running while it drives up the cost of health insurance. Blank Check government funding of abortion will assure that that will not change. Planned Parenthood has laid claim to a gold mine with the "telemed abortion".

Operation Rescue also discovered that Planned Parenthood does not abide by FDA protocols for RU-486 abortions with regard to dosage and number of recommended office visits. Even for follow-ups, the woman never has access to a licensed physician. Depending on the method of administration, RU-486 has a failure rate of 7-20%, and with no licensed physician immediately available to them, women are often left in life-threatening situations.

*Letter from David W. Boyer, Assistant Commissioner for Legislation, Food and Drug Administration, to the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources (May 2, 2006) (on file with Subcommittee).


Information from:
Telemed Abortions in Iowa by Jeanne Monahan, May 19, 2010
Telemed Abortions - A Dangeorus and Costly New Trend Opinion by ChristianNewsWire, March 29, 2010 
Abortion via Skype? Iowa Investigates Dangerous "Telemed Abortions" Opinion by ChristianNewsWire, (May 04, 2010)

Miss USA Crown

24-year-old Miss Michigan beat out 50 other women to take the title of Miss USA on Sunday night. Rima Fakih took the top spot at the pageant that took place in Las Vegas. An Arab-American, her family moved from Lebanon to the United States when she was an infant. She was raised in New York and the family moved to Michigan in 2003. She told pageant organizers that they celebrate both Christian and Muslim faiths. 

During the interview portion of the pageant, Fakih was asked if she thought health insurance should pay for birth control. She replied that birth control pills are costly and should be covered "just like every other medication even though it's a controlled substance."  Never mind the somewhat ignorant controlled substance statement (prescriptions are only considered a controlled substance in the UK), hasn't anyone ever told Rima that the pill causes breast cancer and strokes? Why should health insurance pay for a drug known to cause cancer and strokes? But it's all about political correctness and women's rights - never mind that the birth control pill has done more to enslave women to the desires of men than anything besides pornography in the last 50 years. 

Miss Oklahoma, Morgan Woolard, took a question regarding the new immigration law in Arizona. She stated that although she is opposed to illegal immigration and racial profiling, she supports the law because she believes in state's rights which make America wonderful. Well, her statements cost her the competition. While her answer was much more informed than that of Fakih, needless to say, it was not politically correct. I applaud Miss Woolard for her intelligence and her courage to say what she believed.

If you want to be Miss USA, I guess you have to stick with what is politically correct. I say the crown isn't worth the box it came in.

Holy Spirit Novena - Day 6

NOVENA FOR THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

SIXTH DAY (Wednesday, 7th Week of Easter)

If Thou take Thy grace away, nothing pure in man will stay, All his good is turned to ill.

The Gift of Understanding

Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our Catholic faith. BY faith we know them, but by Understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them. It enables us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and through them to be quickened to newness of life. Our faith ceases to be sterile and inactive, but inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the faith that is in us; we begin to "walk worthy of God in all things pleasing, and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Prayer

Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternal light in Thy Light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. 
*               *
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
*     *     *     *     *     *     *

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
 

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and have my being. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, looking at His Five Wounds, trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant is listening." Amen.

Planned Parenthood's Lucrative Scheme

The fast food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken, is making huge contributions to the Susan G. Komen foundation by giving them a percentage of sales of their "pink buckets." I hope they know what they are getting themselves into. Commendably, Susan's sister, Nancy Goodman Brinker, vowed to do everything in her power to eradicate breast cancer. But unfortunately, SGK makes substantial donations to Planned Parenthood who provides abortions and promotes the birth control pill.  Both are linked to breast cancer. All PP has to do is use the money "to screen and treat breast cancer."

What a lucrative scheme!

• Get money to "find the cure" for breast cancer.
• Make money by causing breast cancer.

By the way, SGK and PP have swapped board members over the last 10 years. On top of that, Eric Brinker, son of Nancy Brinker, is on the board of SGK. Is there a more sinister word for this than lucrative? Such a dishonor to Susan Komen and every other woman who has succumbed to this wicked disease called breast cancer!

But at least there are better options to support breast cancer research than SGK, and they are morally responsible organizations that also do NOT involve embryonic stem cell research. They include:

• Pink Money
• The Breast Cancer Prevention Institute
• The Coalition on Breast Cancer/Abortion
• Cinta Latina

The Tide is Turning

From the Gallup Daily News

May 14, 2010

The New Normal on Abortion: Americans More "Pro-Life"

For second year straight, "pro-life" and "pro-choice" closely matched

by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ -- The conservative shift in Americans' views on abortion that Gallup first recorded a year ago has carried over into 2010. Slightly more Americans call themselves "pro-life" than "pro-choice," 47% vs. 45%, according to a May 3-6 Gallup poll. This is nearly identical to the 47% to 46% division found last July following a more strongly pro-life advantage of 51% to 42% last May.

While the two-percentage-point gap in current abortion views is not significant, it represents the third consecutive time Gallup has found more Americans taking the pro-life than pro-choice position on this measure since May 2009, suggesting a real change in public opinion. By contrast, in nearly all readings on this question since 1995, and each survey from 2003 to 2008, more Americans called themselves pro-choice than pro-life.
Shift Limited to Republicans and Independents
According to two-year averages of these results since 2001, Republicans have become more likely to call themselves pro-life since polling conducted in 2003/2004, as have Republican-leaning independents since 2005/2006. Independents who lean to neither party also became more likely to call themselves "pro-life" between 2003/2004 and 2005/2006, but have since held steady.
Democrats' self-identification with the pro-life position has moved in the other direction, declining from 37% in 2003/2004 to 31% in 2009/2010. Among independents who lean Democratic, there has been no movement in either direction.

Age and Gender Trends Mirror Overall Pattern
All age groups have become more attached to the pro-life label since 2005, with particularly large increases among young adults and those aged 50 to 64 years in the latest period between 2007/2008 and 2009/2010.

Both genders have also become more likely to identify as pro-life, with the increase among women coming mainly since 2008, whereas the increase in men started after 2006.

Underlying Moral Reaction to Abortion is Unchanged
It is not entirely clear why Americans have grown more likely to embrace the pro-life label when defining their own views on the issue, especially because there has not been an attendant increase in opposition to abortion on moral grounds.
Half of Americans currently say abortion is morally wrong -- in line with most of Gallup's readings on this question since 2001, although higher than the initial 45% recorded in 2001 and a one-time 44% reading in 2006.

Barring evidence that Americans are growing more wary about the morality of abortion per se, the trends by party identification suggest that increased political polarization may be a factor in Republicans' preference for the "pro-life" label, particularly since Barack Obama took office. Whatever the cause, the effect is that the pro-life label has become increasingly dominant among Republicans and to a lesser degree among independents, while the pro-choice label has become more dominant among Democrats.

Survey Methods

Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,029 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted May 3-6, 2010. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.


Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones (for respondents with a landline telephone) and cellular phones (for respondents who are cell phone only).


In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

The Truth Contained in "Bloodmoney"

The truth that Planned Parenthood doesn't want us to know is right before our eyes! Will we seek the truth that will set us free?

The  following link is to this new independent film which needs our  support to expose the corruption of Planned Parenthood. The  movie is called "Blood Money", and  in order for the producers to get it into the theaters they need to show that millions of interested people have visited  their website.

You need only visit the website; there is  no need to sign-up as a supporter unless you are compelled to  do so. The link is the trailer for the movie.   PLEASE HELP GET THIS IMPORTANT  FILM INTO THEATERS BY VISITING THE WEBSITE, then forward this  to your family and friends!  Americans NEED to see this...

http://www.bloodmoneyfilm.com/trailer.php

Please pray with me for the end of abortion!

Heavenly Father pour out your Grace upon those souls whose hearts are hardened to Your Truth. Soften their hearts and make them turn to You for not only are You Just, You are full and overflowing with Mercy! There is nothing that cannot be redeemed by the Precious Blood of Your Son Who has already merited the Grace to be given through the Blood of His cross.

Sweet Mother Mary, take these Graces from your Son and distribute them with the generosity of Your Motherly Heart. Immerse the souls of those who have participated in abortion in any way into the ocean of His Mercy so that they may turn away from their former life and be filled with the forgiveness and peace that awaits them through the Holy Spirit! Fill them, Sweet Spirit, with self-sacrificial love, so that they may use their knowledge and gifts for the glory of Your Name!

Blessed Mother, embrace these tiny babies who are lost to this world to abortion. Hold them close to your Immaculate Heart and unite what they suffered with your suffering, on behalf of these same sinners who caused you to have to watch Jesus in His agony. As your Immaculate Heart was united to His Sacred Heart on the cross - yours pierced with a sword and His pierced with a lance - may your love for all your children be a gift that Our Heavenly Father cannot refuse as it comes united to the sacrifice of His and your only Son.

May these little angels then fly from the bosom of the Sorrowful Mother to sing before the throne of God. May they give Him eternal glory through Christ Our Lord. Amen!

Holy Spirit Novena - Day 5

NOVENA FOR THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

FIFTH DAY (Tuesday, 7th Week of Easter)

Light immortal! Light Divine! Visit Thou these hearts of Thine, And our inmost being fill!

The Gift of Knowledge

The gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate created things at their true worth--in their relation to God. Knowledge unmasks the pretense of creatures, reveals their emptiness, and points out their only true purpose as instruments in the service of God. It shows us the loving care of God even in adversity, and directs us to glorify Him in every circumstance of life. Guided by its light, we put first things first, and prize the friendship of God beyond all else. "Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesses it."

Prayer

Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. 
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Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
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ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
 

On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and have my being. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, looking at His Five Wounds, trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant is listening." Amen.