Saturday, May 10, 2008

Please pray for Monsignor Charles Taaffe

Dear Advocates for Life,

Our dear chaplain, Monsignor Charles Taaffe of the Saint Monica, Saint Bridget, Saint Theresa homes for unwed mothers has had a massive heart attack. Dear Monsignor sent me this letter at the end of February and I now pass this on to you. He has prayed for LIFE and been a part of VOCAL from the start. In his quiet way he has strengthed our mission to advocate for the helpless and weak, the poor which Our Lord speaks about. We still need his prayers.

Please pray for him now as he needs us to storm Heaven for him.


Dear Lord, Please pray for this quiet champion of the truly least among us. He loves and works for Your Glory and Your people who are born in the image and likeness of You. Please hear our prayers and heal him Dear Lord. Amen.

Will send letter to VOCAL from Monsignor Taaffe as requested.  Can't copy it for some reason.



Sunday, April 20, 2008

The Shepherd Has Landed - Will the Archdiocese of Portland Hear and Heed His Voice

Dear Advocates of Life,

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has landed in the US. This is a timely visit in many ways

The readings for last Sunday spoke of THE Good Shepherd, Christ, and how His sheep need to hear his voice, lest they be lead astray by others who are merely trying to steal the sheep. The energetic, appreciative crowds that line the streets to see and hear Pope Benedict shows that the US is hungry and thirsty for the words of Christ through His Vicar.

The laity in Oregon is working hard focusing on the salvation of souls and having much success through the Life is Sacred Conference and Precious Children of Portland. The contractor in the project has pulled out...Thanks be to God and the sacrifice and financing by the laity.

However, we still experience concern with some of the choices made by the Archdiocese of Portland in the people they hire and the organizations they elevate and follow. These issues have been directed to the Archdiocese of Portland, directly to the Archbishop and Mary Jo Tully from me and others with no action taken to change them. These are very serious issues that need to be addressed.
The Catechism teaches, "Anyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads others to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal and responsible for the evil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged."(#2287)

It seems that our new director of the Office of Justice and Peace hears the voice of our Shepherd in Rome like this from a blog......"so, it turns out our illustrious new pope spent the anniversary of Vatican II taking our church back to the dark ages, with a special plenary indulgence for all those who worship the Blessed Virgin Mary., excellent!"

After the scandal of the homosexual workshop in May at St. Philip Neri Church, this YouTube was aired. Confirmation Teacher's Beliefs trump the Church? Our new director, Catherine Willett's sister Claire, the confirmation teacher from All Saint's Church is the main focus of this, however, Catherine's (Cat's) our director of the Office of Justice and Peace, lifestyle is mentioned in the first few sentences.

Their world view of church teachings again seem to question how the voice of the Good Shepherd is heard.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
00120 Via del Pellegrino
Citta del Vaticano

Holy Father email: benedictxvi@vatican.va

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Come One, Come All / Geared up to vote in November on family values?!? Get Ready!!!

Dear Advocates for Life and Family, Come one, Come all..... Kevin Mannix at Salem Airport Kickoff for Darlene Hooley's Congressional seat Thursday, March 6, 2008; 10:30am It's late, I know, so if you can't come, send up a prayer for a most dedicated Catholic legislator who lives the faith of the Church..come meet him. May 20th is the primary in Oregon..lots going on. CandleLight Rosary Procession: Saturday, March 8, 2008; 7:00pm During the 40 DAYS FOR LIFE, please join us to pray 15 decades of the Rosary at the abortion clinic site on MLK and Beech- a spiritual work of mercy in which we call on the all-powerful intercession of Our Lady to aid us in saving lives and souls! Please spread the word. Life Chain and Rally : Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 2:00 - 4:00pm Celebrate the last day of 40 Days for Life on Martin Luther King Jr. around Beech Street. Bring the entire family. From I-5 take Exit 303 to MLK Jr. Blvd.. South to Beech St. On Tri-Met MAX: Red or Blue Line, Convention Center Stop, Bus 6 North. Questions? 503-309-0280 or 503-334-6183 Oregon Right to Life Conference: Life the Priority, Saturday April 5th, 8:30-5pm, Eugene, Valley River Inn. Come and see great speaker to educate and energize you..call 503-463-8563. Just a note!!!! Parents Be Aware!! April 25th. The pro-gay "Day of Silence" will be observed at the schools listed at this site:go to Oregon. http://www.missionamerica.com/agenda.php?articlenum=78 Be aware, you may wish to keep your child at home that day. Please spread this around. This was very disruptive for the school day and is a political act using our children as pawns. This will be especially important for the homosexual lobby to get involved because of the two new initiatives below!!!! ********************************************************** LET OREGON VOTE!!! (thanks Restore America for the info) Here we go..get your friends, family and Church ready for the petitions. Initiative number 144, to repeal HB 2007, filed Friday, February 29, 2008 Chief Petitioners: Senator Fred Girod - Stayton Rep. Sal Esquivel - Medford Draft Ballot Title is due March 10th Comments "must be received by the Elections Division not later than March 24th in order for them to be considered in the review." Required Valid Signatures: 82,769 Initiative number 145, to repeal SB 2, filed Monday, March 3, 2008 Chief Petitioners: Sen. Gary George - Newberg Rep. Kim Thatcher - Salem Victor Vityukov - Salem Draft Ballot Title is due March 11th Comments "must be received by the Elections Division not later than March 25th in order for them to be considered in the review." Required Valid Signatures: 82,769 Signature Petitions are due for both Initiatives NLT July 3, 2008 It is anticipated that the approval process will take 4-6 weeks. Please pray for these legislators who have taken up the banner for democracy and fairness. WE NEED A COMPUTER PERSON TO HELP WITH THE CAMPAIGN. REMEMBER WE HAVE NO DEBT FROM THE LAST CAMPAIGN. Now, its not summer and we have momentum...God Bless you, if you can help in any way...call 503-769-4767 **************************************************************************************************** Remember these things are still in the works: Report on pro-homosexual activist invited to St. Philip Neri Church...Father James Schexnayder. "Justice in Pieces" with Donna Steichen of Ungodly Rage fame.....look her up.... God Bless you and yours, Carolyn Wendell www.vocalnews.org PO Box 458 Sublimity, OR 97383 503-769-4767

Friday, February 22, 2008

Rerun from 2008: US Bishops Invest in Abortion & Pornography? - What about Us? Part one

The subject line is not comforting or "appealing" since the campaign for Catholic money through Annual Appeal is upon us. US Bishops are investing in Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) 4 Billion dollars strong and Catholic United Investment Trust (CUIT). Oregon Catholics need to be wise as we are involved in this scandal through association, as will be revealed. The Code of Canon Law is very clear on "investments" and we now wonder how our money is being invested.

Where does material cooperation end and scrupulosity begin?
Is the love of money changing the hearts of the Shepherds?

The first thing to remember is that the US Bishops do not equal or trump the Holy Father or the Holy See (the seat, center of authority) The second thing to remember is the the annual appeal is not a mandatory collection. The insert in last week's church bulletin did show what each church is "supposed" to collect. I don't know what happens if pastors fail to make the quota, I hope they aren't somehow penalized if the laity loses hope in where the Catholic collection plate money goes and the quota falls short.

Where does material cooperation end and scrupulosity begin?
Are Holy Orders Really Vocations or turned into Occupations?

As you will note by looking at the pie chart on the insert, the Respect Life Office has no slice. Once again the Office of Justice and Peace gets a share, this year down from 3% to 2%, however, belonging to Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and advertising their anti-Catholic events with Oregon Catholic money hasn't changed. In fact it has been ramped up under Catherine Willett, the director and Mary Jo Tully her director. Money is easily moved.

Where does material cooperation end and scrupulosity begin?
Are these alliances hardening the hearts of the Shepherds?

In Oregon in the 2007 Session of the Legislature, there was NO lobbying against embryonic stem cell research, they wanted to be "behind the scenes", I ask WHY? There is no problem joining the liberals with "anti-war", and the newest, "anti-torture" letters signed by Catherine Willett and the Archbishop speaking for Catholics, why not speak out on the daily killing of unborn Catholic babies at the hands of abortionists.

According to the campaign insert, 80 ministries getting cash from us. I was told by someone involved that the prison ministry was given 1/18 of 1%....of the 3.6 million expected. They are one of the 80+ . This is why we need an audit. The following news item from New Oxford review, just released, shows and even greater need to "TRUST BUT VERIFY".

Where does material cooperation end and scrupulosity begin?
Has trust in investments replaced the Trust in Almighty God's Omnipotent Power?

The Catholic bloggers are active in exposing the abortion/embryonic stem cell research through GlaxcoSmithKline and possibly other CBIS/CUIT investments.  US Bishops - Making Bad Investments

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Lenten Alert and Action - QUEST fiasco and more....

Dear Friends, As we enter the Lenten season we must not let our guard down: souls are at stake. I am including in this email Oregon Catholic Citizens research on QUEST, a program ordered by the Archdpdx to be put together just for us. This program encourages small faith communities to replace the Church and break down the relationship between the laity and true Church leadership from Rome. The cost is being investigated, this is a three year program and Disciples in Mission cost us millions. We are bankrupt and should be careful of our expenditures. The Archbishops appeal is almost upon us and we need to be mindful of where our Catholic Collection plate money goes. Also, please join with Precious Children of Portland www.pdx4life.org in blocking the building of the abortion site on MLK Blvd. The Archdpdx has hired the contractor and architect in the past and we need to stop this scandal now. The laity has this responsiblity...we cannot depend on others to do what we know is right. We will all go before the Lord sooner or later and will be accountable for our actions or lack of them. __________________________________________________________________________ From OREGON CATHOLIC CITIZENS....... What is QUEST and why is it promoted throughout the Archdiocese of Portland? What are Small Christian Communities? Excerpts from the book "Creating Small Church Communities" by Arthur R. Baranowski Pastoring the 'Pastors' The Small Church Community is really a church. Therefore, that church needs a pastor! The term carefully chosen at St. Elizabeth Seton to designate the pastoral leader of the small community is pastoral facilitator. The "PF" is often a couple, especially if the small community is mostly couples. The word facilitator in this title refers to the PF's being at the service of the other members of the group, helping them relate to each other, keeping the group true to its purpose. The critical presumption is that the Holy Spirit speaks in each person in the small community and through each person for the others. Thus the small community's PF (like the parish's pastoral staff) need not necessarily be the wisest, holiest or most articulate. The leader, in fact, works at not being the expert - the person everyone else addresses comments toward, the one giving approval. The facilitator is also not the problem-solver, not the counselor, not the teacher. Rather, the facilitator insures an environment where all members of the group can contribute to each other and where each person takes responsibility for the rest. The church always fails when only one person tries to take care of the community. The very term facilitate means to bring out the best already present in people through a process of interaction. Thus the small community's leader facilitates communication. The pastor of the Catholic Small Church Community does what the parish's canonical pastor or the bishop does: enable each person to bring his or her gifts to the entire group, help people in the church listen to each other, keep the vision of church before the members, connect this level of church to the other levels of church. READ MORE: www.catholicculture.org/library/view,cfm?id=6520&repos=1&subrepos=&searchid-172969 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Call to Action board member boasted, "We are beginning to create a new church instead of fixing the old one" - and Small Christian Communities are major building blocks of this new construct of apostasy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Creating Small Church Communities: A Plan for Restructing the Parish and Renewing Catholic Life by Art Baranowski. St. Anthony Press Called to Be Church Workshop Shortly, we will be scheduling the Called to Be Church workshop for four core teams that have been in the process of basic formation for some time now. Fr. Art Baranowski will once again be on hand to conduct this workshop. Parishes whose core teams have previously done this workshop are welcome to send members who have joined their core teams since the original team participated to be a part of this workshop. Call the office for more information if interested. Source: Small Christian Communities (SCC) Quest web site: http://www.sccquest.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Further reading: Source: Catholic Culture http://www.catholicculture.org/ Compilation on Small Christian Communities Catholic Culture Staff (June 30, 2005) Description: This compilation includes links about Small Christian Communities and excerpts from the book Creating Small Church Communities by Arthur R. Baranowski. Publisher & Date: Catholic Culture, June 30, 2005 http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?id=6520 A New Experience of the Church? Stephanie Block (Catholic World News, July 2004) Description: Stephanie Block writes about the burgeoning interest in Small Christian Communities and whether or not this is good for the Church. She traces their origin back to the Call to Action Conference held in Detroit in 1976. Larger Work: Catholic World News Publisher & Date: Catholic World News, July 2004 http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?id=6519 What to Think of 'Small Faith Communities' James Likoudis (CUF NEWS, May/June/July 1996) Description: James Likoudis discusses the pros and cons of "Small Faith Communities". He says there is nothing wrong with gatherings of Catholics who meet in small groups regularly, ostensibly to study the truths of the Catholic Faith, to deepen their spiritual life, or to engage in the Church's mission for social justice. The problem is that in the United States they have developed a different agenda focusing on the leftest-liberal struggle for "social justice". Larger Work: CUF NEWS Publisher & Date: Catholics United for the Faith, May/June/July 1996 http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?id=6590 Liberationism for North America Stephanie Block (Forum Focus, Spring 2002) Description: Liberation Theology was addressed and denounced by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in its 1984 Instruction on Certain Aspects of the "Theology of Liberation". The Instruction insists that while the "issues provoking liberationism are genuine," the expanding theological movement is "a perversion of the Christian message as God entrusted it to His Church" (IX.1). In this 2002 commentary Stephanie Block examines the Marxist roots of liberation theology and exposes some of the most significant and influential organizations which share the liberationist philosophy. Larger Work: Forum Focus Pages: 4 – 22 Publisher & Date: Wanderer Forum Foundation, Inc., Hudson, WI, Spring 2002 http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?id=7756 Structures For a New Church Model Stephanie Block (The Wanderer, August 17 2000) Description: In this article, Stephanie Block writes, "Truth by consensus, see-judge-act methodology to achieve that "truth," small base communities, conscientization, and faith-based Alinskyian organizing are the five pillars on which a new "model of church" (to use the terminology of a prior Encuentro document) is being built. These elements, while not blatantly designed into the Encuentro 2000 Conference, were nevertheless a very real part of its activities, as evidenced by at least one speaker, one sponsoring organization, by the documents of the past Encuentros, and by a number of Encuentro workshops, providing a clue as to what has deeply disturbed conference critics, namely that the laudable conference goal of ethnic harmony -- at least within the Church herself -- will be swallowed by a darker goal, the destruction of the essential elements that are Catholicism. Larger Work: The Wanderer Publisher & Date: The Wanderer Printing Company, August 17, 2000 http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?id=3127 The Underground Call to Action Stephanie Block (Forum Focus., Winter 1999) Description: An analysis of Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) activities relative to Call to Action initiatives. Larger Work: Forum Focus Pages: 7 -16 Publisher & Date: Wanderer Forum Foundation, Inc., Winter 1999 http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?recnum=1318 A Commentary on the Industrial Areas Foundation Unknown (Forum Focus, December 1998) Descriptive Title: The Industrial Areas Foundation Description: This commentary was prepared in response to proposed changes in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) guidelines. It provides information about the Industrial Areas Foundation, which receives the largest percentage of CHD grants of any CHD grantee Larger Work: Forum Focus Pages: 7-21 Publisher & Date: The Wanderer Forum Foundation, Inc., December 1998 http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?id=2885 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" (Mt 4 :1-4) ********************************************************************************************************* ********************************************************************************************************* FROM BILL DISS AND PRECIOUS CHILDREN OF PORTLAND www.pdx4life.com 40 Days For Life February 6th - March 16th YOU can help save lives! This spring, from February 6 - March 16, our community will be one of 59 cities in 31 states joining together for one of the largest simultaneous pro-life mobilizations in history -- the national 40 Days for Life campaign. 40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life effort that consists of: 40 days of prayer and fasting 40 days of peaceful vigil 40 days of community outreach We are praying that, with God's help, this groundbreaking effort will mark the beginning of the end of abortion in our city and throughout America. Take a stand for life While all aspects of 40 Days for Life are crucial in our effort to end abortion, the most visible component is the peaceful prayer vigil Vigil Information for Portland: We would love to have you at these locations at any of the times listed or find a friend or two and come at other times. Please stop by for just 20 minutes if you cannot stay an hour; your presence will make a difference! Drive by and honk for life and give us a thumbs UP. Day of Week Location Times Sundays NE Beech and MLK 12:30pm – 4:30pm Tuesdays 15th and NE Fremont 4:00pm – 5:30pm Wednesdays SE 50th, 3 blocks N. of Powell 8am – 7:00pm Thursdays NE Beech and MLK 4:00pm – 5:30pm Fridays NE Beech and MLK 4:00pm – 5:30pm Fridays Beaverton: 12220 SW 1st St by Post Office 9:00am – 7:00pm Saturdays NW 25th and Lovejoy 9:00am – 2:00pm The Wednesday site is particular important because that is the current headquarters and main prenatal killing center for Planned Parenthood. If you have questions on vigil times or locations contact or need signs contact: Portland: 503-309-0280 or 503-334-6183 Beaverton: 503-430-7087 Salem: 503-569-4794 McMinnville: 503-434-6789 Outreach Information: Please write and call the following that all have some part in building the huge new Planned Parenthood prenatal killing center on MLK Blvd. City Officials who own and control the land sale. Mayor Tom Potter 1221 SW Fourth Avenue Portland, OR 97204 503-823-4120 Commissioner Mark Rosenbaum 1675 SW Marlow Avenue, Ste. 401 Portland OR 97225 (503) 352-1300 Commissioner Charles Wilhoite 9655 NW Marvin Ln Portland, OR 97229-9168 (503) 203-8469 Beech St. Developers (People who will buy land for Planned Parenthood) James Adamson 2044 E Burnside, Ste. C Portland OR 97214 801-558-7704 Timothy Ray 2814 NE 40th Ave. Portland, OR 97212 503-249-0134 Brett Anderson 2525 N Sumner Portland, OR 97217 503-519-5210 Architect for the abortion center Ankrom Moisan Architects 6720 SW Macadam Ave. Portland, OR 97219 (503) 245-7100 Proposed Contractors: Bob Walsh 4240 SW Fairview Blvd. Portland, OR 97221 503-228-5912 Al Beyer 2905 SW First Ave. Portland OR 97201 503-849-7168 Please tell these people: "I urge you to not have any thing to do with Planned Parenthood and their plans to build the prenatal killing center on MLK Blvd." Please contact us at 40DaysPDX@gmail.com or call 503-309-0280 to learn more, to sign up for specific hours, or to let us know how you feel called to serve God in this effort. See www.40DaysForLife.com. ********************************************************************************************************* ********************************************************************************************************* Things to learn and never forget: CALL to ACTION - group who conducts anti-Catholic events "woman ordination" etc., and is connected with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. LIBERATION THEOLOGY - condemned by the Church. It directs true Justice and Peace due Christ and replaces focus on starting groups that build economic base to replace church. Used freely in our Office of Justice and Peace and new director focus as proved by events and advertising on Archdpdx website for Ecumenical ministries of Oregon events. Do what you can this Lent. Even a well placed prayer can move mountains. God Bless you and yours, Carolyn www.vocalnews.org 503-769-4767 Member of Catholic Media Coalition - " In line with the Church, on-line with the World."