Monday, October 17, 2005

"Abusing God's Children"

Background Information on Programs for Oregon Catholic Children

Guest Commentary
Abusing God’s Children - Part 1, 2, and 3
By Thomas Augustine
www.MichNews.com
Sep 14, 2005

Talking about Touching 

By Domenici Bitingly, Jr.
A controversial, mandatory child-abuse prevention program in Boston parochial schools
has alienated parents who simply want to assert their rights.

June 1, 2003 (CAR) - In March, a group of parents of students at St. Catherine of Siena school in Norwood, Massachusetts, gathered at their suburban Boston parish for a presentation on a new curriculum that will be taught to all students. The program was to be inaugurated this year for children at the class levels from pre-kindergarten to the 4th grade; next year it would be expanded to cover the 5th through 8th grades at all parochial grammar schools in the archdiocese.

Although the program is billed as a broad-based "personal safety" curriculum, in practice the focus is more specific. The course is entitled "Talking about Touching," and it is primarily a response by the Archdiocese of Boston to the clergy sex-abuse scandal.

As the parents were given their first exposure to the curriculum through an introductory video, some of them were shocked at what it contained. The video opened with the tableaux of a young child of about 5 years old asking his mother, "Mommy, what is sex?" And the mother responds, "Sex is when two people get undressed and rub their private parts together."

At that point John Bitingly, a father of three boys who are students at the school (and the brother of this writer), knew something was wrong. "There was no mention of chastity or love, that the two people should be married, or even that they should be of the opposite sex," he said. Referring to the video itself, he said, "And whether the child (in the video) was an actor or not, I knew that the child had just been sexually abused."
Some of the parents in Norwood were concerned that such a troubling, secular understanding should be at the heart of a curriculum being taught in a Catholic school and touching on such a sensitive topic.

But when they asked whether they would be able to have their children excused from the lessons, they were first challenged, "Why would you want to?" When they pressed, they were told that this year their children could be exempted, but that the Archdiocese of Boston had decided that every child in parochial schools and religious-education programs would be required to receive training in the sex-abuse program beginning next fall.

So these parents--all of them loyal and orthodox Catholics, active members of their parish--began to organize, and to inform themselves about their rights as parents of Catholic-school children.
The parents had several significant concerns:

• Their parental authority, as outlined in Church teaching and canon law, was being usurped;
• The program's contents violated their children's innocence;
• There were secular, worldly principles being fostered in the program that were inimical to their own Catholic principles; and
• The curriculum placed their children as the first line of defense for the archdiocese against legal liability.

PARENTAL AUTHORITY
Several fathers first approached the pastor of St. Catherine's parish, Msgr. Cornelius McCrae. The pastor urged them to organize the parents who were concerned, which they did, forming the group that took on the title "Shared Concerns of School Parents."

Msgr. McCrae proved friendly and helpful, but he made the revealing statement that, as a priest in Boston in the current climate, he could not publicly oppose the program, because he could not risk being seen as an opponent of any measure that might conceivably protect children from clerical abuse. So the parents, he said, would have to undertake their own campaign.

The Norwood parents did exactly that, organizing a meeting at which the cadre of concerned parents would present their objections to other members of the parish. This meeting was originally to be a lay-run affair, but then Msgr. McCrae changed his mind, and said that the meeting would be run by school administrators and archdiocesan officials, including Deacon Anthony Risotto, the director of the Boston archdiocese's newly formed Office of Child Advocacy, Implementation, and Oversight.

At that April meeting, the parents confronted the deacon with their dismay at being required to involve their children in a program that would, in their informed opinion, expose their children to harmful material. In asserting their rights, they presented the Church's teaching, including Pope John Paul It's words from his 1981 apostolic exhortation, Familiaris Consortio:

Sex education, which is a basic right and duty of parents, must always be carried out under their attentive guidance, whether at home or in educational centers chosen and controlled by them. In this regard, the Church reaffirms the law of subsidiarity, which the school is bound to observe when it cooperates in sex education, by entering into the same spirit that animates the parents.

Deacon Rizzuto's response, reported by several of the parents who attended the meeting, was that he had not read any of the Church documents to which they were referring, including Familiaris Consortio and Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality, a 1995 document of the Pontifical Council for the Family. In fact the deacon, a retired Air Force officer, had no particular claim to expertise in the fields of family life or child protection; he had been chosen to head the new archdiocesan office from his most recent post as overseer of the archdiocese's cemeteries.


And Deacon Rizzuto replied simply that the unhappy parents should trust the teachers and the archdiocese. Rizzuto added that alternative programs and "making this program more Catholic" were options that could possibly be considered, but unless there were "enough concerned families," nothing was likely to change. And it was not clear how "enough concerned families" could be mobilized, if loyal parishioners were being encouraged to set aside their concerns and trust their teachers.

The Norwood parents were not to be so easily dissuaded from voicing their concerns. William Germino, father of a 5-year-old girl in a pre-kindergarten class, said he was concerned that the way in which sensitive material was presented in the "Talking about Touching" program would do more harm than goo--that use of explicit terms for male and female reproductive organs in front of a 5-year-old, and examples of "You put your hand in my pants and I'll put mine in yours," could very well "upset or frighten small children." He added, "It has the potential to undermine their innocence."

Despite such concerns, the Boston archdiocese has decided that parents will not be able to have their children exempted from the lesson plans. Nor will parents even be allowed to monitor the classrooms in which their children are exposed to this sensitive material. In an interview with the Associated Press, Father Christopher Coyne, the official spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston, reasoned that parents are not forced to send their children to Catholic schools, or to keep them in parochial schools if they object to particular programs.

He did not address the fact that the same curriculum will be implemented in religious-education classes for those students who do not attend Catholic schools, so that students may not be considered qualified to receive the sacraments if they do not take instruction in the "Talking about Touching" program.

Echoing the advice presented by Deacon Rizzuto, Father Coyne said that the parents of schoolchildren should trust their teachers and administrators. "At a certain point, you buy a program," he told the Associated Press.
But what is it, exactly, that parents of Boston schoolchildren are being asked to "buy into?" It is important to recall that the "Talking about Touching" program was brought into the Boston parochial schools in response to public outrage over the sexual abuse of children by priests of the archdiocese. Should concerned parents now "buy into" a program that they recognize as abuse in a different guise?

Moreover, the sex-abuse scandal that has shaken the Boston archdiocese was perhaps caused, and certainly aggravated, by the failure of chancery officials to respond to parents' complaints. When lay people complained about the behavior of abusive clerics in the past, they were ignored, or kept at arm's length, and assured that the clergy knew how to deal with the situation.

Now, after having seen the grotesque consequences of that approach, Boston's parents are again being advised to trust the "experts." And in a direct clash with the teachings of the Church, which clearly teaches that parents are the best "experts" in the formation of their own children, in this case the "experts" recognized by archdiocesan officials are psychologists, teachers, and administrators.

EXAMPLE LESSONS

During the introductory meetings at which "Talking about Touching" was presented in Norwood, the parents were given examples of lessons that would be presented to students.
In a 3rd grade class, the students would be given the following story:
This is Kerry. She is worried about something that happened to her last week when she spent the night with one of her friends. Her friend's older brother came into the bedroom, put his hand under the covers of the bed Kerry was sleeping in, and touched her vagina (private parts). She said, "Stop that!" in an assertive voice. He stopped, but then he told her to keep it a secret. Kerry is wondering what she should do. Question: How do you think Kerry felt when her friend's brother touched her vagina...

In the 1st grade, children would receive this instruction:
Cole and Mai are playing at the beach. When they go to the beach, they wear bathing suits. Their bathing suits cover up the private parts of their bodies. On boys, the bathing suit covers his penis in front and buttocks or bottom in the back. Those are his private body parts. The girl's bathing suit covers her vulva, vagina, and breasts in front, and buttocks or bottom in the back. These are her private body parts.

A 2nd grade class would be presented with this example:
This is Alex. He was visiting his aunt and uncle. Alex and his uncle were watching television and eating popcorn. His uncle told Alex that he had a special game he could play. He called it the "touching game." He said, "Let's take off our clothes and touch each other's private body parts." Alex knew this game wasn't safe, so in a strong voice he said, No, I don't want to do that." Then he got off the couch and left the room. When he got home he told his mom and dad what had happened. Alex's parents were glad that he said "No" to his uncle. They were also glad that Alex had told them what his uncle said to him.

The objection might be raised that the last scenario itself imparts a false lesson. The situation may or may not be "safe," but it is unquestionably wrong. Most children would feel a natural revulsion toward the uncle's actions, but rather than affirm that revulsion and engage in moral discourse, the children are instead presented with the vague secular idea of "wellness."

The "Talking about Touching" material could also frighten young students, parents suggested, because the case studies could encourage them to see familiar adults as threats to their innocence. In several of the scenarios presented in the curriculum, the perpetrators of attempted abuse are a mother's boyfriend or foster parents. "Their minds don't need that," said Pauline Irwin, mother of three girls at the school. "You start putting these things into kids' heads."

When several parents questioned the program's emphasis on the use of explicit terms for reproductive organs, they were advised that this terminology was necessary so that the children could be "good witnesses" for prosecutors if abuse did occur. That answer provoked two objections.

First, it seemed grossly unrealistic to suggest that a prosecutor could not make use of testimony in which a child referred to his "private parts." Second, and far more important, the children were being trained as witnesses in abuse cases, a seeming admission that such cases are inevitable at the expense of their own innocence. In other words, the "Talking about Touching" campaign was pushing the children into an unwanted position as the first line of defense against abusers, putting children at risk in the name of protecting children!

THE COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN
The genesis of the "Talking about Touching" curriculum provides a fascinating case study in how secular forces - and highly questionable forces at that come into play within a Catholic-school curriculum.
The curriculum was funded by the State of Washington and produced by the Seattle-based Committee for Children. This committee is a non-profit organization that grew out of 1970s group called Judicial Advocates for Women, which itself originally grew out of Seattle COYOTE, and whose initial mission was to "educate the public about the realities of prostitution." In fact, COYOTE is an acronym for "Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics;" the group was founded in 1973 "to work for the repeal of the prostitution laws and an end to the stigma associated with sexual work." As of 1997, Seattle COYOTE's executive director was Catherine LaCroix, who billed herself as a "Dianic Wiccan priestess" and a "Shameless Sacred Whore."

The curriculum itself consists of lesson plans for children from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade and will cost each parish about $2,500 for the complete set. Sales of this program as well as other child-safety curricula netted the Committee for Children more than $8 million in revenue in 2001, according to its filings with the Internal Revenue Service.

"Talking about Touching," while recommended by numerous groups including SIECUS, an organization known for promoting the breaking down of taboos against adult-child sex, was proposed for use by the Archdiocese of Boston by the blue-ribbon Commission for the Protection of Children. The commission set up by Cardinal Bernard Law in 2002 amid the firestorm of criticism against the cardinal and the archdiocese for the mishandling of sexual abuse allegations against priests over several decades. Its overall mission was to recommend policies for the prevention of child abuse.

The commission's members included a dozen business leaders, mental health professionals, and educators, but no theologians, official representatives of the archdiocese, or even Catholic parents. As one Norwood parent observed, it seemed odd that the cardinal, who had excused the shuffling of predator priests from parish to parish by saying that the Church relied on psychiatrists and doctors, would turn to the same secular "experts" to come up with a program to prevent child abuse.

THE LIABILITY ISSUE
One of the primary reasons for implementing a curriculum that was available immediately, rather than developing an original program that could take Catholic moral principles into account, may have been the requirements of the archdiocese's insurers to decrease legal liability. In fact, "Talking about Touching" was accepted by the commission on the recommendation of the National Catholic Risk Retention Group (NCRRG), an insurance group formed in 1988 by the US bishops, which has also developed a companion program for training of adult parish leaders, called "Protecting God's Children." That group's primary mission is "financing and managing the liability risks of the Catholic Church" through "cost-effective excess liability programs."

In the end the Archdiocese of Boston has made it clear that the "Talking about Touching" curriculum will be implemented in schools and parish religious education with or without parents' support - although Father Coyne, the archdiocesan spokesman, has conceded that the mandatory requirement of the program for all parochial school children will be reconsidered.

Still, many of the concerned parents in the Boston archdiocese are unwilling to wait and see whether their children will have to endure these lessons in their schools during the next academic year. "We will be homeschooling my daughter next year," William Germino said, adding that he knows of at least one other parent who has already pulled his child out of the school. John Bettinelli added, if nothing changes in relation to the program, "We will have to homeschool. We'll have no option at that point." And the controversy shows no sign of abating, as parents with children in other Boston-area Catholic schools are joining the Shared Concerns of School Parents group at an increasing pace, and national media attention is being focused on what could be a model program for other US dioceses.


Even if they do choose to homeschool their children, the parents may be faced with another crisis in a few years, when those children are ready to receive the sacraments. If the parents cannot in good conscience send their children to parish religious-education programs that include the "Talking about Touching" curriculum, will the children be able to receive First Communion, or to be confirmed? At this point none of the parents in Norwood can answer that question. They only know that today, they may have no other options.
Author, Domenico Bettinelli, Jr. is the Managing Editor of CWR (Catholic World Report).
The Shared Concerns of School Parents web site is at (www.germino.biz/scsparents/).

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Bishop Vasa says No to "Safe Environment" Programs - part two

Bishop Vasa Says No to”Safe Environment” Programs -  part two

From Catholic World News News:http://www.cwnews.com/offtherecord/offtherecord.cf

"Kudos to Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, Oregon, who has announced that he will not comply with a new USCCB policy USCCB policy requiring sex-education programs (advertised as "safe-environment" training) for all Catholic children.
Many Catholics have aired their concerns about these programs, and this bishop, at least, has obviously been listening."

He asks:
Are such programs effective? Do such programs impose an unduly burdensome responsibility on very young children to protect themselves rather than insisting that parents take such training and take on the primary responsibility for protecting their children? Where do these programs come from? Is it true that Planned Parenthood has a hand or at least huge influence on many of them? Is it true that other groups, actively promoting early sexual activity for children, promote these programs in association with their own perverse agendas? Do such programs involve, even tangentially, the sexualization of children, which is precisely a part of the societal evil we are striving to combat? Does such a program invade the Church-guaranteed-right of parents over the education of their children in sexual matters? Do I have the right to mandate such programs and demand that parents sign a document proving that they choose to exercise their right not to have their child involved? Do such programs introduce children to sex-related issues at age-inappropriate times? Would such programs generate a fruitful spiritual harvest?
Right. That does cover the complaints, all right. Now what?
Bishop Vasa answers:
"At very least, even the possible unsatisfactory answers to any of the questions above leaves me unwilling and possibly even unable to expose the children of the diocese to harm under the guise of trying to protect them from harm."

Bishop Vasa's email address is bpvasa@dioceseofbaker.org
God Bless and protect Bishop Vasa

Friday, October 7, 2005

Bishop Vasa says 'No' to "Safe Environment Programs" part one

Dear All, For those families still suffering because of the "safe environment" programs that they feel abuse their childrens innocence, here is some wonderful news for you. Bishop Robert Vasa from the Diocese of Baker is putting the children of the Baker Diocese under his protection. He is respecting the parents and their concerns regarding their own children. He is respecting the Church and Her Teachings and he is following in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Who laid His life down for His Sheep and His little lambs.
Bishop Robert F. Vasa
Let us pray that other Bishops will ask questions of these programs so that our children will never again be subjected to abuse from the very people that are to protect them Here are his words and here is what he is concerned about. Thank God for this good Shepherd. To make sure we really protect children, we need answers 10/06/2005 Bishop Robert Vasa BEND — The next topic is one that I bring up only with great reluctance for I do not want to give any appearance whatsoever of being soft on my desire to assure the complete safety and protection of children. The Charter for the Protection of Children has been interpreted to include mandatory “safe-environment training” for all children of or connected with the Church. In the diocese, we have indicated that such training must be made available to all children under our supervision in our Catholic schools but have not taken on the nearly impossible task of assuming responsibility for every child in the diocese.
As a result of this discrepancy between a new interpretation of the charter and our diocesan policy, the annual charter audit will undoubtedly find the Diocese of Baker, and me as bishop, “Not in Compliance” and will issue a “Required Action,” which I am prepared, at this point, to ignore. I say this not because I resist efforts to protect children, but rather precisely the opposite. There are a series of questions that I believe need to be answered before I could mandate such a diocesan-wide program of “safe-environment training.” A few such questions follow: Are such programs effective? Do such programs impose an unduly burdensome responsibility on very young children to protect themselves rather than insisting that parents take such training and take on the primary responsibility for protecting their children? Where do these programs come from? Is it true that Planned Parenthood has a hand or at least huge influence on many of them? Is it true that other groups, actively promoting early sexual activity for children, promote these programs in association with their own perverse agendas? Do such programs involve, even tangentially, the sexualization of children, which is precisely a part of the societal evil we are striving to combat? Does such a program invade the Church-guaranteed-right of parents over the education of their children in sexual matters? Do I have the right to mandate such programs and demand that parents sign a document proving that they choose to exercise their right not to have their child involved? Do such programs introduce children to sex-related issues at age-inappropriate times? Would such programs generate a fruitful spiritual harvest? Would unsatisfactory answers to any of the questions above give sufficient reason to resist such programs? There are many concerned parents who have indicated to me that the answers to all of these questions are unsatisfactory. If this is true, do these multiple problematic answers provide sufficient reason to resist the charter interpretation? At very least, even the possible unsatisfactory answers to any of the questions above leaves me unwilling and possibly even unable to expose the children of the diocese to harm under the guise of trying to protect them from harm. I pray that, in this, I am neither wrong-headed nor wrong. For holding to this conviction I and the diocese may be declared negligent, weighed and found wanting. (continued)

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Operation Save Katrina's Babies

Dear Friends I was asked if I knew of any activity to help the victims of Katrina. Here is something I just received and want to pass on. A new way of being the Hands of Christ to our children. Operation Save Katrina's Babies Dear Pro-lifers, Louisiana and Mississippi pregnancy resource centers are in desperate need of our help. Four New Orleans area pregnancy resource centers were destroyed by Katrina, and it t is unclear how incapacitated the Mississippi PRCs are, because no one has been able to get through to any of their directors. That's the bad news. The good news is that five of eight Louisiana abortion clinics were also destroyed. The PRCs in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and other outer Louisiana areas have been inundated by families needing diapers and formula. Area hospitals are also asking the centers to recover post-partum patients. The formula companies say they have sent huge shipments to the area, but they're not getting to the PRCs. I spoke with three PRC directors in Louisiana yesterday, and they gave me a list of their greatest needs. We are going to collect donations in the Chicago area over the weekend at Parkview Christian Church (11100 Orland Parkway, Orland Park, Illinois 60467), and a semi is going to deliver them to Louisiana on Monday (September 12). Here are the needs, in order of urgency: 1. Formula: Advanced Similac with iron; Enfamil with iron; any other formulas - dry, condensed, or ready to serve 2. Diapers, especially newborn 3. Infant car seats 4. Pedialyte 5. Bassinets 6. Baby wipes More than that, the PRCs desperately need money. They need to finance mobile medical units to go into the devastated areas as they are accessible. A director told me that there is lots of giving going on to churches and relief agencies, but the PRCs are being overlooked. We also need money to pay for the semi truck gas. (The truck and driver's time are being donated.) Donations for gas can be made to Concerned Women for America of IL, P. O. Box 188, Palos Heights, IL 60463. There is also a need for volunteers to go to Louisiana and stay for a week or two or longer, particularly men for protection. A nurse at the Shreveport PRC says she will help find housing. Donate directly online to: www.ctlm.org. These funds will go to finance mobile medical units and restoring pregnancy care centers. Please distribute this alert widely. Thank you very much, Jill Stanek Contact Information email: jillstanek@comcast.net web: http://www.jillstanek.com

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

Culture of Life Calendar for September & October

Culture of Life Calendar for September & October Dear Friends, We are truly blessed in Oregon. The Holy Spirit is pouring out His grace to help us make sense of our existence and stay close to Him. Here are some wonderful opportunities for us to get together, as One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. Culture of Life Calendar September Friday - Sunday, September 16-18 in Portland - Rachel's Vineyard Retreat These weekend retreats are for women, men and anyone suffering after an abortion. Participation is strictly confidential and offers a beautiful opportunity to experience the healing love of Jesus Christ . For more information or registration call Lori Eckstine, Project Rachel Coordinator 541-521-5186 or 1-800-249-8074. The cost is $130 for meals, room and all retreat materials. Assistance is available. Visit their website www.rachelsvineyard.org *** Mea Culpa, work fast for this one. Thursday, September 22 - "On Being a Courageous Catholic" - Mt. Angel Abbey Retreat House An evening retreat with Father Pius X Harding, O.S.B. Father Pius X Harding, as his name indicates, has a particular interest in Pope Pius X and the errors of modernism. He will share his insights from the Church's spiritual and intellectual tradition.The talks will focus on the source of challenges to the lay Catholic today, and the spiritual and practical aspects of being a courageous Catholic. Time - 4:00 to 9:00pm and the cost is $15.00 Schedule 3:45-4:15 Check-in and settle 4:15-5:15 First Talk 5:20-5:50 Vespers with the Monks 6:00-7:00 Dinner 7:00-7:30 Casual Discussion or stroll on Abbey grounds 7:30-7:50 Compline with the Monks 8:00-8:45 Second Talk Contact: Denise Campagna - 541.753.2751 Make checks payable to Mt. Angel Retreat House, by September 8th to Alice Brown, 5125 SW Beals Corvallis, OR 97333 This event is sponsored by Corvallis Pillar of Truth, a new non-profit organization in faithful obedience to the Holy See. www.corvallispillaroftruthorg *** Saturday, September 24th Day Conference, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Salem Conference Schedule 7:00 (Morning Mass in the Church) 8:00 Coffee/ juice in the parish center 8:45 Opening Prayer 9:00 Keynote Speaker: Janet Smith Natural and Non-Violent: A Catholic View of Sexuality 11:00 Break 11:15 Dr. Lynne Bissonnette Holy Feminine 12:15 Lunch provided 1:15 Mike and Amy McDermott Covenantal Love in Marriage: Living A Christ-Centered Family Life 2:00 Break 2:15 Janet Smith Culture of Life vs. Culture of Death 4:15 Closing (Vigil Mass is at 4:30 pm in the Church) Dr. Janet E. Smith is the Fr. Michael J. McGivney Chair of Life Issues and a professor of Moral Theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary of New York. She is the author of Humanae Vitae: A Generation Later and editor of Why Humanae Vitae Was Right: A Reader and many articles on ethical and bioethics issues. Over 700,000 copies of her tape, Contraception: Why Not?" have been distributed. She taught for nine years at the University of Notre Dame and twelve years at the University of Dallas. She speaks nationally and internationally on several issues, especially the Catholic Church's teaching on sexuality. She is serving a second term as a consultor to the Pontifical Council on the Family. Dr. Lynne Bissonette is a medical doctor with specialty in psychiatry. She has been practicing medicine in the Portland area for over 28 years. Her particular interest is in marriage and the family. In addition, she is currently serving as a regional director of the Catholic Medical Association. Mike and Amy McDermott Married for thirteen years, with six wonderful children, Mike and Amy also work with the marriage preparation ministry at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Salem. Conference Registration $10 in advance, $15 at the door Send name, address and phone number with registration fee to: St. Joseph Catholic Church Respect Life Committee 721 Chemeketa St.S Salem, OR 97301 Contact and info: (503) 581-1623 www.stjosephchurch.com checks payable to: St. Joseph Catholic Church October - Respect Life Month Sunday, Oct 2, 2:30-3:30p.m. LIFE CHAIN - Salem On Lancaster Drive in Salem families and all church communities will join together for the Life Chain. Lives have been changed and babies saved through the silent example of advocates for the unborn standing peacefully with signs. Bring your children and be a witness for life. Call Salem Right to Life for information and where your church will be needed to fill up Lancaster Drive. Get your church involved. If you can't or forget to call. Just come on down. We are family. Salem Right to Life office 503.585.7856 fax 503.585.0605 ALSO ON OCTOBER 2nd You can be part of this at the same time!!!! at the Life Chain or at Home! *** Sunday, October 2nd - World-wide Prayer Event of 100,000,000!!! Sanctity of Life Sunday Worldwide Catholic Effort Aimed at Offering 100 Million Prayers for Sanctity of Life! June, 2005 - Washington, NJ - The Blue Army, USA a member nation of The World Apostolate of Fatima/Blue Army today announcded an expansive effort aimed at offering 100,000,000 prayers to Heaven on October 2, 2005 in support of the Sanctity of Life. The Worldwide Fatima Sanctitiy of Life Day initiative endeavors to produce the largest day of organized prayer the world has ever seen. What is the Blue Army? Is this a spiritual dinosaur , or a constant "militia" of Our Lady as revealed in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 for the Church militant. The Blue Army formed in response to the Red Army of Communist thought. Part of the Catholic Church, the Apostolate is calling Catholics and non-Catholics alike to implement Our Lady of Fatima's message by praying onOctober 2, 2005. This worldwide event will spread Our Lady's plan forpeace, which is focused on hard work, following the commandments and prayer,especially the Rosary. By joining together with over 40 Member Nations and those who work hard for the Sanctity of Life, the massive effort results in the goal of sending 100,000,000 prayers to heaven from all corners of theworld. This event begins a movement that intensifies worldwide efforts to spread and emphasize the importance of the message of Fatima to pray.and pray often to resolve the problems confronting today's society. "Together we will bring the message of Fatima to life for millions of peoplearound the world, not just in big cities around the world but also to tiny villages," said Michael La Corte, Executive Director. "We will spread the message of Fatima not just to those who pray regularly, but also to many of God's children who don't fully understand the power of Our Lady's message." The world community is invited to visit www.bluearmy.com and register their pledge to pray the Rosary or according to their faith, on Worldwide Fatima Sanctity of Life Day. In registering their pledge, participants will be remembered in a Holy Mass at the Blue Army National Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Washington, NJ and in Fatima, Portugal. Each participant's name will be placed in Fatima at the site where the Apparitions took place.In addition, all visitors to www.bluearmy.com who register their pledge to say the Rosary or offer 20 minutes of prayer on October 2nd for the Sanctity of Life will be automatically entered into a special drawing to win a Free Spiritual Journey for four to Fatima, Portugal!"We ask all humanity to encourage your Catholic and Non-Catholic friends, family and loved ones, to register their pledge and if possible attend one of our October 2nd events being held throughout the United States and the world. With your help, heaven will smile as it receives 100,000,000 prayers for the sanctity of life," continued Michael La Corte. On October 2nd, Blue Army will also dedicate an inspirational monument Mary,Mother of the Life Within in Washington, NJ. Dr. Alan Keyes, one of theworld's most notable Sanctity of Life Champions, will join with Father Andrew Apostolic, one of the most recognized speakers on the message of Fatima, to address the thousands of faithful. His Excellency Bishop Bootkoski the local ordinary and the Spiritual Advisor for the Blue Army will dedicate the monument. Attendees will learn, pray, act on and spread Our Lady's message of salvation for the world. About Blue Army Shrine The Blue Army, USA is the only "Our Lady of Fatima" Apostolate that is part of the Catholic Church. They are recognized as a "Private Association of the Faithful." As such, the Church reviews their publications and actions in regards to theological accuracy, faith and morals. No other Fatima organization maintains this status. The Blue Army began the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF), an organization that has garnered motions by Pope John Paul II to be raised to the status of International "Public Association of the Faithful" a status granted to only about 11 other catholic lay organizations." *** October 21-23 - Medford - Rachel's Vineyard Retreat (see September retreat information) *** Saturday, October 22th - Oregon Right to Life Silent and Oral Auction, Red Lion Hotel, Salem "UNDER THE SEA"..... Save This Date!!! Silent auction begins at 5pm. Please mark your calendar to join us for a fun and exciting evening with friends, including entertainment, a live auction, and a silent auction. Call 503.463.8563 or email www.ortl.org we will add you to our invitation list. *** Thursday - Sunday October 27-30 SILENT Retreat, Our Lady of Peace Retreat, Beaverton This silent retreat entails Holy Mass, Adoration, the Rosary, conferences, time for private reflection, meals in silence, opportunity for Confession and Spiritual Direction. Cost for room and board, $175 For more information call 312-527-1739 or see their website www.opusangelorum.org Retreat Masters - Father Titus Kieninger and Fr. Wolfgang Seitz of the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross. Father Titus is presently professor of philosophy and spiritual director at the major seminary of the Holy Cross in Brazil. He is also superior of the Community in Detroit, Michigan. Father Wolfgang Seitz, originally from Germany is the Director of Opus Angelorum for the U.S. A Blessed Opportunity. Pope John Paul II said that "silence is the sanctuary of prayer". Only he who flees the noise of the world and enters into the silence of the heart can hear the voice of God. Take your Guardian Angel on this retreat. They need a break from all the noise too. *** Friday evening - Sunday afternoon, October 28-30 Mother/Daughter Retreat, Mt. Angel Abbey The retreat will be geared for mothers with daughters in their teens through adulthood. As a mother, what would you like to experience with your daughter on this weekend. Any suggestions and/or things you think need to be addressed in your lives, please direct them to Linda Mayer (503) 981-9090 or email Linda at eAre1Body@msn.com Any questions regarding the retreat can be directed to Fr. Michael Mee at Mt. Angel Abbey at (503) 845-3414 . (Correction - Holy Family Academy is 1st through 8th with a one day/week kindergarten. ) God Bless Us and God Please bless those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Carolyn "Spiritual Childhood is not spiritual foolishness or softness; it is a sane and forceful way which, due to its difficult easiness, the soul must begin and then continue, lead by the hand of God." Saint Josemaria Escriva VOCAL Voice of Catholics Advocating Life PO Box 458 Sublimity, OR 97385 Member of Catholic Media Coalition "Inline with the Church, online with the world"