Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Dear Friends, I wanted to be able to have a happy ending to the "election story" as a Christmas present for you. As of yet, there has been nothing new, except that both parties have tried to communicate with each other. So.. there could be a Christmas gift in the making. We do have twelve days of Christmas. Keep on praying! Here is an explanation of the song we all love at this time of year. No matter what challenges the "world" gives Catholics, we find a way to remember the - REASON FOR THE SEASON The Twelve Days of Christmas Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829 were prohibited by law to practice their faith either in public or private. It was illegal to be Catholic until Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England in 1829. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a coded-message, a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young Catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities would not know that it was a religious song. "The 12 Days of Christmas" is in a sense an allegory. Each of the items in the song represents something significant to the teachings of the Catholic faith. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help Catholic children learn their faith. The better acquainted one is with the Bible, the more these interpretations have significance. The song goes, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…" The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn’t refer to an earthly suitor, but it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. i.e. the Church. 1st Day: The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them. The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the Cross. 2nd Day: The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments. 3rd Day: The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and love—the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1 Corinthians 13). 4th Day: The "four calling birds" refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ. 5th Day: The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. 6th Day: The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation. 7th Day: The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. 8th Day: The "eight maids a milking " reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount. 9th Day: The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. 10th Day: The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments 11th Day: The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles. 12th Day: The ‘twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles’ Creed: belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting. This is the time of martyrs too, St. Stephen and the Holy Innocents. May 2005 be a year when we remember those who have suffered real losses for Christ. Let us continue to bring real peace and justice to earth by valuing the sanctity of life. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! God Bless, Carolyn Wendell "Glory to God in the Highest" Luke 2:14 V.O.C.A.L. Voice of Catholics Advocating Life PO Box 458 Sublimity, OR 97385

Suffer the little children.....

Wednesday, December 08, 2004 7:11 PM Dear Friends, Two brothers, ages three and five, always knelt for their blessing from their Portland-area parish priest. Many times before or after mass they would often run up to Father and wrap their arms around him; this was their relationship. However, just before the election things seemed to change. During the homily one Sunday, his words condemned the "self-righteous" people involved in the election process and they seemed to be directed to the boy's family; known for their dedication to the pro-life cause. The family ended up last in the communion line and as the boys knelt down for thier usual blessing, Father turned and walked away. Thinking he hadn't seen them, they followed him, "like little ducklings" and went up to the altar rail and knelt again, but Father continued his work at the altar putting the remaining hosts away. The boys knelt in confusion and the parents stood in stunned silence. No blesssing and no Holy Communion. The family gathered their children and have not returned to that parish. When I heard this story told to me off-handedly and in quiet tones, I felt it needed to be made more public. An unjust action was committed in Church. If a pro-abortion church member or politician was denied communion it would be sorely condemned as mean-spirited and discriminatory. There would be media coverage in the Catholic and secular papers and all over the internet. And what about the abuse of the children and the pain of parents watching this happen? We can't change things if we don't know about them. God Bless You, Carolyn Wendell "And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." Mk 9:42 V.O.C.A.L. Voice of Catholics Advocating Life PO Box 458 Sublimity, OR 97385

Catholic Money Given to Anti-Catholics - CCHD?

Dear Friends,

"The Lord hears the cry of the poor, blessed be the Lord." This is the scripture that came to mind when I heard the presidential results. Most of us had been praying for the grace to see God's Holy Will no matter the outcome. I thank God for HIs mercy and a reprieve.


There were hundreds of new volunteers participating in this election; inspired and energized by an outpouring of God's grace. It's truly incredible. Stepping out of comfort zones was a common theme and the "zones" seem to have been left, permanently.

As advocates for innocent human life, we have our work cut out for us in Oregon. US Catholics voted President Bush 52% and Kerry 47% with moral issues as the number one reason. Oregon Catholics voted President Bush 42% and Kerry 58%with Iraq as number one reason.

Oregon was a target state with outside money flowing in because of the homosexual marriage issue. Outside money also paid for voter's registration in some Portland area Catholic churches through the Chicago-based National Committee for Worker Justice using the same name as the US Bishops program "Faithful Citizenship". The Oregon Catholic Conference agreed to the Chicago-based organization doing voter registration. As advocates for innocent human life, it seems unfair to allow outside groups into Oregon when local Catholics want to get involved. We'll work on this.

Now is the time to get back to basics. We need to re-evaluate our commitment to the Church's teachings and be good stewards of our money. Let's look into where Catholic money goes and if we want to continue financing secular groups that already get money from secular sources. Charity begins at home.

Pro-life ministry in Oregon has a budget of approximately $2,000 for the year. It seems UNJUST that over $120,000 goes to outside, non-Catholic and in some cases pro-abortion, pro-homosexual groups. Let's shed some more light on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Please note the information in RED.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Archdiocese of Portland
2004 National CCHD Grants
Project: Adelante Mujeres – Holistic Education and Entrepreneurship Project
Organization: Adelante Mujeres
Geographical area: Washington County
Funding award: $30,000, 2004 national CCHD grant
Past CCHD grants:
($35,000, 2003 – 2004 national CCHD grant); ($35,000, 2002 – 03 national CCHD
grant); ($5,000, 2001 – 02 local CCHD grant);
Adelante Mujeres Education and Entrepreneurship Project addresses the most critical obstacles low-income Latina immigrant women encounter. Adelante Mujeres provides training, education and support for integral development, including vocational discernment, skills acquisition, internship opportunities, and mentoring for small business development and management.
Project: General Organizing
Organization: Oregon ACORN IMPORTANT!
Geographical area: metropolitan Portland area
Funding award: $25,000, 2004 national CCHD grant
Past CCHD grants:
($30,000, 2003 – 2004 national CCHD grant); ($27,500, 2002 – 03 national CCHD
grant) ($30,000, 2001-02 national CCHD grant);
ACORN (The Association of Community Organization for Reform Now) is an active grassroots association of lower-income and minority families. Member-chosen issues
include ending community apathy, securing fair and affordable housing and community control of urban renewal funds, equal urban infrastructures (road paving, increased lighting, more traffic controls, etc.) equal community policing and credit and loan policies.
"ACORN, a progressive membership based community organization is accustomed to media attention for its work bringing together low income people around issues like better access utility assistance. Now, the national organization is getting publicity of another kind. ACORN's Washington state office has been accused of engaging in unfair labor practices and of bringing at least one manager up from Portland to scab while workers are out on the picket line....."
"Meanwhile, ACORN workers are maintaining their picket line as well as pursuing charges of unfair labor practices against the organization through the National Labor Relations Board. What the repercussions of this incident will be on Oregon ACORN, which had started to work with Jobs with Justice, and even more closely with the New Party and the Rainbow Coalition, remains to be seen." Portland Alliance
Project: Full Inclusion


Organization: Lane Independent Living Alliance (LILA)
Geographical area: Lane County
Funding award: $40,000, 2004 national CCHD grant
Past CCHD grants:
($25,000, 2003 – 2004 national CCHD grant); ($4,600, 2002 – 03 local CCHD grant).
Project Full Inclusion will increase the involvement of people with disabilities on local boards and commissions so that we are “at the table” in the local decision-making process. People with disabilities have an important role to play in identifying issues of concern and actively participating in community life to resolve those concerns. LILA’s mission is to increases access, civil rights and voter participation for person with disabilities in Lane County.
Project: Anti-Poverty Leadership Project


Organization: Oregon ACTION IMPORTANT!
Funding award: $30,000, 2004 national CCHD grant
Past CCHD grants:
($25,000, 2003 – 2004 national CCHD grant); ($30,000, 2002 – 03 national CCHD grant);
This project is developing an expanded core of low-income leaders across the state to achieve victories on low-income issues. The leaders are playing decisive roles in
working for reforms for greater food security, affordable housing and living wages. Low income Oregonians organize through Oregon ACTION on their own behalf. Leadership training and empowerment of hundreds of people takes place through popular education training and community organizing training.
Oregon Action (oregonaction.org)
• American Civil Liberties Union - Oregon
• AFL-CIO - Oregon
• Basic Rights Oregon - (Pro-Homosexual)
• CAUSA
• Community Development Network
• Ecumentical Ministries of Oregon
• Eugene-Springfield Solidarity Network
• Fair and Clean Energy Coalition
• MoveOn.org
• Oregon Food Bank
• Oregon Human Rights Campaign
• Oregon Revenue Coalition
• Oregon Rural Action
• Oregon Trial Lawyers Association
• OSPIRG - Did paid voter's registration
• PCUN
• Rural Organzing Project
• SEIU Local 503
• Sisters In Action
• VOZ
Oregon Action is assisted by...
• Alliance For Justice
• Applied Research Center
• Center for Budget and Policy Priorities
• Center for Community Change
• Center for Third World Organizing
• Data Center
• Families USA
• Food Research and Action Center
• Midwest Academy
• Money In Politics Research Action Project
• National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
• National Voice
• Oregon Center for Progressive Policy
• SPIN Project
• TACS
• Western States Center



Latino
Organization: Portland Schools Alliance, Portland, OR
Geographical Area: Portland
Funding award: $20,000, 2004 national CCHD grant
Past CCHD grants:
($5,000, 2003 – 2004 local CCHD grant).
Project that focuses on training and organizing Latino parents to be leaders in their children’s education and the school community.


Project: Housing Justice Program
Organization: Community Alliance of Tenants
Geographical area: Portland area
Funding award: $25,000, 2004 national CCHD grant
Community Alliance of Tenants is a tenant-controlled membership organization that educates and empowers low-income tenants to organize and develop leadership who can advocate for better housing policies and practices. The organization also seeks to improve the quality of affordable housing by changing rental housing standards and making low-income housing more widely available.


Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Archdiocese of Portland
2004 Local CCHD Grants
Project: Crossroads People’s Organization
Organization: Sisters of the Road
Geographical Area: Portland area
Funding award: $5,000, 2004 Local Grant
Crossroads seeks to give voice to the homeless population by conducting workshops and training leaders who will work to impact public policy and establish the humane enforcement of laws affecting the homeless. Crossroads will participate in Portland’s 10 Year Plan Committee and the Subcommittee to Eradicate the Institution of Homelessness.


Project: Proyecto Educate
Organization: Huitzilin Cultural Group
Geographical Area: Independence
Funding award: $5,000, 2004 Local Grant
Huitzilin uses cultural performances to educate and inform the Latino community about leadership, mutual respect, self-determination, collaboration, and civic involvement. Their goal is to meet with local leaders and obtain representation in the Town Council, School Board, and other civic bodies so that they can impact the laws and policies that affect the Latino community.
Project: Immigrants Rights Workshops
Organization: VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Project
Geographical Area: Portland area
Funding award: $5,000, 2004 Local Grant

VOZ is a worker-led organization of day laborers that helps members build constructive relationships with employers and authorities, gain control over their lives and working conditions, and address the injustices they encounter. VOZ established a living wage of $9/hour, recovered over $80,000 in unpaid wages, and trained workers in computer use and the English language.


Project: Right to Sleep Campaign
Organization: Street Roots
Geographical Area: Portland area
Funding award: $5,000, 2004 Local Grant
Street Roots will conduct the media campaign for the Right to Sleep Campaign by empowering the homeless to write about their stories, engage in professional journalism, and produce and sell their own newspaper. The newspaper will advocate for the homeless, raise social awareness, create community, and furnish jobs that lead to professional opportunities for the homeless.
Remember: Pro-LIfe Ministry in Oregon has a budget of only $2,000. We need JUSTICE.
Please look into all of these groups. For over 20 years, CCHD has given Oregon Catholic dollars to people "not because they are Catholic, but because We are Catholic." In the spirit of true justice, it is time to make sure that Catholic money is used to save souls as well as jobs.

Let us work together to make Oregon a Culture of Life and Love.

"We are bleeding at the roots, because we are cut off from the earth and sun and stars, and love is a grinning mockery, because, poor blossom, we plucked it from its stem on the Tree of Life, and expected it to keep blooming in our civilized vase on the table."
- D.H. Lawrence

Now is the time for SPIRITUAL WORKS of MERCY!

In our quest for God's Holy will in this election it's back to basics, again. Priests for Life suggests applying the Spiritual Works of Mercy for balance; a fixture in Church teaching and often forgotten.


The Spiritual Works of Mercy are:

• To instruct the ignorant: Ignorance is lack of knowledge about a thing in a being capable of knowing. (read this a few times, if necessary)
Remember, some people have "self-imposed invincible ignorance". This can have Eternal consequences. Sometimes other issues are put ahead of abortion as more important. We have to help them and if there's a chance of an open heart.....

• To counsel the doubtful; A state in which the mind is suspended between two contradictory propositions and unable to assent to either of them.
If there is a conflict, we shouldn't act on a doubtful conscience, where our Mortal Soul is concerned. Let's help our Catholic brothers and sisters to THINK and not EMOTE.

• To admonish sinners; Fraternal correction is here taken to mean the admonishing of one's neighbor by a private individual with the purpose of reforming him or, if possible, preventing his sinful indulgence.
We are sometimes called upon to be a little "bolder" in our approach to Catholics so far removed from the Teachings of Christ. It's back to basics, the Catechism for starts and the Ten Commandments, although this often falls on dead ears. People have free will. We are just called to be faithful. REMEMBER: It is not a judgment to remind someone of the BASICS. God knows a persons heart. But if our Catholic sibling is promoting wrong teaching we have the duty to help them. Don't expect a welcome response all the time. That's when we can apply the next two spiritual works of mercy.......

• To bear wrongs patiently 

• To forgive offenses willingly 

This next one could be if someones heart is changed and they need a good confession and a kind word, or during this stressful time, encouragement and a reminder what Jesus says, " I am with you always."
 • To comfort the afflicted

Then we must remember to always - "Pray without ceasing", St. Paul.
• To pray for the living and the dead: the application of the mind to Divine things, not merely to acquire a knowledge of them but to make use of such knowledge as a means of union with God. We can't forget the souls in purgatory, who rely on us for prayers.

Prayer suggestions: THE ROSARY - Priests for Life Novena until Nov. 2nd.; Divine Mercy Chaplet, at least say "Jesus, I trust in You." (even if you are having a tough time believing it). Fasting goes along with this and adds a supernatural element to intensify the prayer. Eat less, talk less, turn off TV more, read to the kids (again).

Remember:
Justice - It is a moral quality or habit which perfects the will and inclines it to render to each and to all what belongs to them.

Jesus Christ says: "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's render unto God what is God's." and "You cannot serve Two masters."

We belong to Christ and have the indelible marks to prove it. It is TRUE JUSTICE to listen to someone who died for our us, as "old fashioned" as that sounds.

We are a supernatural people; a spiritual people. Let's apply a spiritual work of mercy if the situation arises. The only thing standing between KNOWING something and DOING something is PAIN. Sometimes in speaking out for the truth we have to "DO IT AFRAID". So...

BOTTOM LINE

ABORTION  -  INTRINSIC EVIL. It is never allowed for a Catholic to support in word or deed.

There have been 45 Million abortions since 1973.
There are 1.3 million abortions done each year.
There are 36 abortions done each day in Oregon.


WAR - is always a failure of mankind. Sometimes necessary for self-defense or helping countries with oppressive governments. "Despite the Vatican's vociferous opposition to the war, the bloody terrorist attacks and the continuing insurgency have convinced the Pope that only an increased military presence, including NATO troops, can secure peace."

There have been approximately 1,100 American War causalities in the Iraqi war.

"It is the question of the lay Catholics duty to be morally coherent, found within one's conscience, which is one and indivisible. There cannot be two parallel lives in their existence: on one hand, the so-called 'spiritual life', with its values and demands; and on the other, the so-called 'secular' life, that is, life in a family, at work, in social responsibilities, in the responsibilities of public life and in culture." (emphasis added) 

FIGHTING FOR INNOCENCE

Great News for all of us who are fighting against the destruction of innocence to our Oregon Catholic children through the " safe environments programs". The issue of putting the inclusion of children in the USSCB's Charter preventing futher sexual abuse is being put on the agenda. I haven't asked permission to publically acknowledge the Bishop who submitted the request, but when I do, I'll let you know. Suffice it to say, he is an awesome man of God who is an oasis of reason and love, a real Shepherd among Shepherds. Let's all pray for the US Bishops November meeting where this will be addressed, not that we need something else to pray for, but like St. Paul says, "Pray without ceasing." For your information! This was in Monday's Oregonian. Passed on through the Defense of Marriage Team: Nina Rhea. There will be a conference to combat pornography this Friday October 22, at 9 am to 4pm at Kingstad Center, 15450 S.W. Millikan Way in Beaverton. The conference is free, reserved lunch $10. • To register call Marilyn Dougall at 503-292-2763 - president, Oregon Association of Mothers. "The Fight Against Pornography" is designed to help families, government leaders, law enforcement officials and educators fight pornography and protect children. Organizers specifically want to attract parents, educators, business and civic leaders, law enforcement officials and medical professionals. [Comment from Nina: I would add pastors.] "Portland has close to as many sex businesses as does Los Angeles, but the LA population is seven times more". The nondenominational group hopes the conference raises concerns about pornography, Dougall said, "so people are more aware of the need to protect the children here". The speakers are Roger Young, a retired FBI special agent who has investigated more that 1,000 cases involving the sexual exploitation of children, prostitution and obscenity; Robert Peters, is president of Morality in Media, based in NY; Jack Samad, executive vice president of the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families; and Dennis Shaw, chief operating officer of i-SAFE America Inc. Please pass on this information to those you think might be able to attend. I plan to attend and see if the Good Lord has some more "ammunition" to help keep our children as innocent as we can. "And keep the job of training a child to the parents, as a God-given right", as the good Bishop said. "It is the question of the lay Catholic's duty to be morally coherent, found within one's conscience, which is one and indivisible. There cannot be two parallel lives in their existence: on one hand, the so-called 'spiritual life', with its values and demands; and on the other, the so-called 'secular' life, that is, life in a family, at work, in social responsibilities, in the responsibilities of public life and in culture." (emphasis added) - DOCTRINAL NOTE on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to all Bishops of the Catholic Church.