Censored at "Catholic" Conference/Supreme Court, here we come

Dear Life Advocates, The Catholic Voters Conference www.catholicvotersconference.com on Tuesday night at Saint Clare Church was a new experience for me. I was at a speaker's table sitting between two young people, a gal for Obama and a guy for Merkeley. The panelist for Gordon Smith didn't show. Asking the questions was host, Bill Gallagher, news manager from KPAM radio and a Saint Clare parishioner. About fifty? people showed up. There were some friendly faces that gave me strength, as did your prayers. Thank you. The first speaker for this conference in July was Fr. Claude Pomerleau who is a liberation theology proponent. This "theology" is condemned by the Church. Here is a great article by then Cardinal Ratzinger. http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/ratzinger/liberationtheol.htm The questions for the panel were written by the people who attended Fr. Pomerleau's talk. Saint Clare Justice and Peace committee sponsoring the conference is part of the Saul Alinsky/Faith in Public Life - based Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good (MACG). So, the questions were lopsided: more on "war" than "questions on "life" probably 10/1. In fact the categories were really called: Iraq, Social, International. (Forgot what "Faith in Public Life" is? Get a FREE CD from last years' JUSTICE IN PIECES workshop with Stephanie Block that explains the great persecution and drain of money from Catholics in the pews due to the control that Faith in Public Life/EMO groups have in our Catholic Church...contact me.) The TRUTH has a RING to it, that's why there is censorship in the Church. During the Question and Answer period...pro-life warrior, Dr. Russell Sacco, noted for a picture of him holding precious ten-week old unborn feet between his fingers, got many people there riled up. Flashing symbolic "stop it right now" blue cards (in case speakers were rude or off topic) the doctor's explanation of abortion procedures created this panic. He did get a few gruesome truthful descriptions in...a quick pro-life education where none would have been. Thank you Dr. Sacco. My comments were "censored" three times by having my microphone shut off and flying blue cards again. It seemed that stating facts of Obama's record on abortion and the firmness on Church teachings were seen as "rude" . I later asked the conference leader if this response was just "consciences being pricked" and not rudeness. But, he said he was going to have to give me a bad report to the McCain Campaign anyhow. As long as my "report" to Christ the Lord is in union with His Will I am at peace. As I said that night and I'm sure John McCain would agree, I'd rather have the Truth out there and save Souls (hopefully) than get votes for McCain by being silent. To continue with the meeting....the "faith formation" teacher from Jesuit High School used as an expert on the "seamless garment", said that Cardinal Bernardin's theory was "Magisterial teaching" when asked this by a practicing Catholic in the audience. His answer showed his lack of knowledge on this issue. (This is NOT Magisterial teaching.) The Earth Charter is taught at Saint Mary Academy and Bernardin's theory as Magisterial teaching taught at Jesuit: these teachers need our prayers. Bill Mizia, Catholic School Superintendent. (see www.vocalnews.org for contact info) The meeting was cut short by fifteen minutes even though many people had their hands up. This seemed to be another aim at censorship. After the talk, a man with his teen daughter confronted me on the aborted innocent child versus the innocent Iraqi child killed in combat. He understood the difference by the answer: MOTIVE : Abortion is ALWAYS the INTENTIONAL KILLING of innocent human life, whereas, the US Military does NOT intentionally kill Iraqi children. Warnings are given so the innocent are able to flee, if at all possible. Protecting the innocent civilians is US Military policy anything else is punished. Whereas, the terrorists use children as suicide bombers. He understood and our conversation ended happily. Things can get confusing. Next month there is the third talk of the series of four. This one is on Immigration and the Economy, with a gal from Catholic Relief Services. It would be healty to have some questions for her and see where she stands. In my opinion, the people in authority at this conference have rarely, if ever, been challenged. They are making a living with Catholic money so they should live the Catholic life. I am still "debating" the leader of the conference via email. One statement he made to a group of us afterwards was that if something wasn't "Ex Cathedra" from the Chair of Peter, then belief in it was up for grabs; he brought up Humane Vitae, out of the blue. When challenged, he said "You make a good point about ExCathedra statements. It's a very poor debating tool and you're right, all things that are "truth" are not ExCathedra. Nor are all things truth in Holy Scripture, or recorded by a Bishop, a Cardinal or a Pope." hmmm He went on in his note to me... "I hope you will either quit this charade of Catholics for McCain or actually get behind, commit to, and learn about the real policies of Senator McCain. " (what about abortion/marriage policies of Obama, what policy of McCain's is of more severe proportion? VOCAL) He continues...."Or, conversely (and I do mean conversely), become an agent of change in our church and culture to turn away from recreational sexuality and save lives through sexuality that doesn't transmit lethal disease or generate unwanted pregnancy and which never places a woman in the position of having to even choose." What kind of sexuality? I'm almost afraid to ask. I don't think that Catholics for McCain is a CHARADE.. I don't think that being an advocate for unborn life is a charade. I don't believe the that Church teachings are a charade. I do believe John McCain when he says that he'll be a pro-life President. (google Saddleback church/McCain) His actions in the past have shown him to be an honorable man. He supports unborn life and traditional marriage something that Obama is against. Even if you think it's a charade...help me. The plan is to have someone for each county. This is a way to get to know people of like mind. It's just until Nov. I'll have things to send you that the Archdiocese allows to have in churches, issue pieces, and church teachings to help us all have informed consciences and defend our beliefs with TRUTH. WE can have FREE CONFERENCE CALLS and get togethers. The McCain campaign will pay for some nice meetings for us. That would be a treat. Usually it's all volunteer. We don't have any budget for pro-life ministries in Oregon. Justice and Peace has at least $80,000 to help support Saul Alinsky groups through advertising and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon "ministries"...like Climate "Justice". Knowing how hard these election cycles can be, thank you to those priests/Bishops who support the Church and Her Teachings and need our prayers in this battle. By standing firm on the foundational issues of Life and Family, the Ship will stay on course, even though the rudder might be hard to control. We need to pray for all priests and Bishops that they may be standards for Christ. He Will Come Again. This election may not have the perfect candidate for us..however, in the case of the fundamental issue of life and saving marriage between one-man and one-woman, we need someone who will pick Supreme Court justices that don't legislate from the bench. These are fundamental issues that take top priority. They keep us grounded, on the narrow path. Sad to say, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the people of Oregon regarding Measure 303 Domestic Partnerships. Now it must go before the Supreme Court. We know first hand about this movement of liberal judges to have our society made in their image. www.worldnetdaily.com "Court Trashes Right to Vote" Thanks again for your prayers. Let's play charades for Life. God Bless you and yours, Carolyn "It is not slavery to surrender to Christ, for only the Truth can make us free. In ardent charity, tempered by humility and understanding, with no taint of animosity or of prejudice, let us beg the Holy Spirit to teach us all truth, to show us the established and secure road to the eternal vision of God, which is the eternal destiny of every soul." The Signs of the Times...Understanding the Church since Vatican II by Fr. Richard Gilsdorf, page 24. www.vocalnews.org VOCAL Voice of Catholics Advocating Life PO Box 458 Sublimity, OR 97385 503-769-4767 Member of the Catholc Media Coalition "In line with the Church, on-line with the World".

Updates: Monsignor Taaffe, Donna Steichen event, Pro-family Initiatives. NEW! Catholics for McCain

Dear Advocates for Life, Monsignor Taaffe's funeral would have pleased him. His friends and those he has helped were in attendance. And a family member slipped little statues of a cocker spaniel, border collie and a leprechaun in his casket...a reminder of his love of his dogs and Ireland. The Father Taaffe Foundation will continue to function with great leadership with the attentive spirit of our dear Monsignor leading the way. To make donations to his homes for unwed mothers please send to Father Taaffe Foundation/PO Box 47/Salem, OR 97308. Email address is taaffefdn@hotmail.com/phone 503.393.2843. The Donna Steichen event is being postponed. We planned for her to be out here by now..however she's convalescing from orthopedic surgery and is not able to travel at present. Her new book "Chosen" will be out soon. More on this later. Her writings include, Ungodly Rage: The Hidden Face of Catholic Feminism , Prodigal Daughters: Catholic Women Come Home to the Church where seventeen women of the baby boom generation share their poignant personal stories of apostasy and repentance. Let's pray for her speedy recovery for her sake and ours. We'll reschedule. Regarding the initiatives. From the 2007 legislative session two pro-homosexual activity bills were signed into law. SB2/special protective rights for any sexual activity and HB 2007/domestic partnership. In January 2008 they became law. Since HB 2007 was short only five signatures (there is a "formula" so one signature is worth approx. 500 votes) and when those five people attached to the signatures went to their respective county clerks office to verify their signatures to make them "count" they were told that the Legal time of 30 days was now down to 10 and they were "late". Yes, this is illegal probably, SO....this was appealed to the State Federal Court, which sided with Basic Rights (homosexual lobby) SO..it went to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.....and it looked good, now it is back to a three judge team in Portland again and we are waiting their verdict. IF they agree with our side, that the five signatures are valid.....we vote on Domestic Partnerships in November. If not, we are looking toward 2010. In the meantime....there was a replacement initiative #303 against domestic partnerships...we had the signatures to start the process to vote in November, however, the Oregon Supreme Court held up the "naming" of the initiative until time ran out. The citizens of Oregon are being held hostage by a few at the top. We should know soon about the answer. The Alliance Defense Fund from Arizona is helping the citizens of Oregon. We are indebted to them and their search for truth and justice. NEW!!! Catholics for McCain. If you are interested in helping the John McCain for President campaign and be part of the coalition, please let me know. I was asked to be Chairman of the Catholic Coalition. Thankfully, this is a team effort and I know that the intelligent, justice seeking Catholics in Oregon can help educate, pray and work our way to a state that supports LIFE. I have handouts that compare the candidates on abortion and other LIfe issues. They are very well researched and easy to follow. If you'd like to have some I'll send you any quantity. FREE. Please prayerfully consider being part of Catholics for McCain. You will get a package of bumper stickers, signs and information. We are getting County leaders in place...contact me, if you'd like to be a leader or co-leader. If you have any questions as to John McCain's pro-life stand, I'll find the answer and share these questions/answers in an email. God Bless you and yours, Carolyn Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput has proposed this definition of proportionate when it comes to voting. "What is a 'proportionate' reason when it comes to the abortion issue?," he wrote in January 2008. "It's the kind of reason we will be able to explain, with a clean heart, to the victims of abortion when we meet them face to face in the next life - which we most certainly will. If we're confident that these victims will accept our motives as something more than an alibi, then we can proceed." www.vocalnews.org VOCAL Voice of Catholics Advocating Life PO Box 458 Sublimity, OR 97385 503-769-4767 Member of the Catholc Media Coalition "In line with the Church, on-line with the World".