An Open Letter to Fr. Jenkins...

From two women that really deserve an answer... Thanks, Janie and Laura! We are SO proud of you!

Letter from Two Catholic Women Arrested at Notre Dame
5/13/2009
Catholic Online (http://www.catholic.org/)

We held signs that say “I Regret My Abortion”. We also gave our testimonies and prayed the Rosary with other Catholics who supported us.


An Open Letter to Fr. John Jenkins
President
University of Notre Dame

Dear Fr. Jenkins,

We are writing this letter to you in hopes that you can clear something up for us.

We are two Catholic women who reside in the State of Colorado. We made tragic mistakes in our younger years by having abortions. We came to the University of Notre Dame last Friday, May 8, to witness to the harm caused to us by our “choice.” We held signs that say “I Regret My Abortion”. We also gave our testimonies and prayed the Rosary with other Catholics who supported us.

We did this in hopes of saving young women years of pain, shame and guilt. We did this because college aged women have the most abortions. We did this because we wanted these young women to know that women deserve better than abortion and that women can achieve the things that they want without having their babies killed. We did this because we believe in the fundamental right to life of all human beings who are created in the image and likeness of God which is a dogmatic teaching of the Catholic Church.

We have both attended Project Rachel and Rachel’s Vineyard retreats – both Catholic healing programs for those suffering from abortion. We then joined “The Silent No More Awareness campaign”, a program sponsored by a Catholic Priest – Fr. Frank Pavone.

In all of these programs we were taught about the acceptance and mercy of God and our fellow Catholics. Also, in these programs we were encouraged to seek the counsel of a Catholic Priest – that they would help us to find redemption in the sacrament of reconciliation. We were also encouraged to share our stories so that the Catholic community and the greater community at large could hear first hand of the devastating effects of abortion.

While speaking these truths on Friday we were issued a Trespass Notice by security officers hired by the University that in part states “The University has the right to tell us that we are not wanted on University property.”

Imagine our shock after receiving this notice and being barred from speaking further, we were arrested and thrown in jail. We spent the day in a holding cell until we posted a $250 bond. As we now understand things, we are awaiting news as to whether the charges against us will be misdemeanor trespassing or a felony. This happened all because we wanted the students to know through our stories how devastating abortion is to women.

We are confused, Fr. Jenkins. Why would a Catholic University bar Catholic women from speaking the truth about a fundamental Catholic teaching, under the signage of a healing program that is sponsored by a Catholic priest, while praying the Rosary? Yet, the University would welcome, honor and have a person speak at Commencement who is virulently opposed to this same fundamental Catholic teaching?

Fr. Jenkins can you please explain this to us?
We look forward to your response.

Jane Brennan, MS
Laura Rohling
Centennial, CO
www.motherhoodinterrupted.com

Who Needs Enemies?...

Christians (Catholics included) are birth controlling ourselves right out of existance! Pay attention, because these statistics are alarming!

From the Crossroads Initiative


By today's standards, the secular agenda is trying to convince us that our children are the problem when in reality they are the only future Hope that we have!

The Latest Ad from CatholicVote.org

This is the latest video from CatholicVote.org, and with any luck will be airing during the season finale night of American Idol.



Thanks to the girls at Defining Beauty!

Fr. John Corapi on Notre Dame Scandal

The REALITY of Abortion Hits ND Campus

The latest from Jill Staneck and World Net Daily is that the consciences at Notre Dame are being challenged, and they don't like it, one bit. I like how the liberals like to blame people that believe in a person's Right to LIFE.... referring to us as "Abortion haters" and all... But could someone tell me WHO "loves" abortion??!! No one, does... Some love the "power" and politics behind abortion... When they are faced with WHAT abortion actually IS and LOOKS LIKE, nope.... they don't like it... and they don't want to acknowledge the reality... It's much easier to use "words" like "anti-abortion" and "abortion-hater"... after all, if WE use words to refer to them as "anti-life" or "pro-death" they scoff, and you will NEVER hear the media use the terms... It's all about the words... You've heard the term, "if words could kill"?... This one actually does.... Check out the entire article at the above link...

It's Time... The Lines are Being Drawn...

You know, I haven't had a whole lot of time to blog these last few weeks, but I have been following and listening closely to the Obama/Notre Dame controversy, and even engaging in dialogues with ND alumni. One of the arguments, and I can totally understand, is that Obama's visit to the campus should not take away the honor due to the graduates and their "moment to shine" on their graduation day. I can totally understand that these graduates worked hard for their degrees and deserve to be recognized for this esteemed accomplishment.... But really, are we not at war, here?... Lines are being drawn in the sand ALL AROUND us and "Sparky himself" is asking "WHAT are YOU going to DO about it?!" What side are we on?...

No disrespect for the graduates, but like a wedding day, graduation is ONE day... What will you do with the REST of your life?... Despite what career path we will take, God asks us continuously, WHERE does HE fit in?... What are we going to do in order to remain close to Him?! Sure, we can say "what's the big deal?... let's 'dialogue'" or, "IF Obama was really aware of the controversy he was causing, I'd like to think he'd bow out..." yeah... I've actually heard that one... Are you kidding me?! The man KNOWS EXACTLY what he's doing! He is VERY AWARE of the controversy he is causing... Fr. Jenkins is VERY AWARE of the controversy this is causing, though I'm not sure that he knew that it would cause AS MUCH as has been demonstrated...

And then there are those who fan the flames with typical secular media rhetoric... claiming that "Violent pro-life advocates" are the problem, storming the campus by the thousands, compromising the Presidents safety.... One alumni that I've spoken with made reference to the thousands demonstrators that will be BLOCKING the families from going to their son or daughters graduation... This isn't about keeping families from their kids graduation! It is about the SCANDAL that Fr. Jenkins and President Obama are bringing to Notre Dame and her graduates!! Graduation is still two weeks away! How can they even write about something that hasn't even happened? This is about the opportunity, especially for the graduates, to stand and say, "I am Catholic and I STAND on the side of LIFE at all stages and there is no other option. I am NOT going to stand for this disregard to my core beliefs in Faith that SHOULD BE protected and defended on this Catholic University Campus...." THAT would be their real moment to shine....

Pro-life means valuing ALL life... from conception until natural death... yes... even the President's.... I pray for him to have a change of heart.... I pray for his soul... But, for right now, he has done nothing during his time in office to show me that he is in defence of preserving all human life. He has actually done quite the opposite with his rescinding of the Mexico City Policy, funding abortions over seas with my tax dollars , funding of embryonic stem cell research, his intentions with FOCA, and his reference to unplanned babies as a "mistake" that can be rubbed out, and the multiple (Catholic) anti-life appointments to his cabinet, to name just a few.... He, and this administration have drawn the lines, and we can't remain silent. I really appreciate what Ann Scheidler had to say at the end of this video...

Pig Flu...

I am of the mindset that as terrible as the Swine Flu epidemic is, I don't believe that it is as catastrophic in the US as the news media would like us to think... It seems the first 5 + minutes of every newscast is packed with the latest Swine Flu updates.... I believe that it's just the secular media trying to convince us of how devestating this COULD be and how well this current administration is taking care of us... ppphhhhttthh... whatever... If you're sick, stay home. Wash your hands, don't spread your germs.... All good practices that we should have as habits, anyway.... I guess what really annoys me is how quickly our own parishes/dioceses are to jump on the "political bandwagon" when it comes to these sorts of things.

What I mean is that, some bishops are slow to "do anything" in order to avoid adverse reactions when it comes to defending our Church and our Faith. Some are afraid to "make waves" in their own parishes and diocese when sometimes horrible liturgical abuses are going on... yet, the moment the media sets everyone in to a tail spin of swine flu madness, immediately directives are being sent out to not only stop distributing the Precious Blood, but the Eucharist MUST be received in the hand (I don't know about you, but I touch a lot less with my tongue than I do with my hands... and anyone with young children knows that their hands don't stay clean for long...) until this passes.... this was particularly tough for me, because my two oldest boys, ages 10 and 13, have always been told to receive on the tongue. I try to remind them and show them and teach them the beauty, dignity and respect to be given to Jesus in the most Holy Eucharist. I have grown tired of seeing so many young people shuffle up to communion seemingly without giving the least thought to receiving Our Lord as anything other than their obligatory "snack" sometimes just pulling their hands from pockets at the last moment, then "popping' the host in to their mouths... nope... I told my kids that they can receive on the tongue. Jesus' body was meant to be consumed, not 'popped'... Nothing against adults that choose to receive this way. My husband does. I understand that it is a choice allowed by the Church and can be done properly and reverently... I have more issue with the young... I feel that it can take away from the reverence and mystery that the Eucharist is supposed to instill in us. But again, that is my opinion....

Anyway, knowing the Monsignor of our Parish was going to read the Bishop's letter explaining the "temporary" new guidelines, we had to explain to our sons how to receive Jesus in their hands... But if that wasn't enough, the Bishop also decided that the Holy Water Fonts should also be emptied... : ( I'm sorry, but I thought that that was just going a little bit too far... My two year old was especially annoyed by this when she went to reach for the font, only to find the empty ring that holds the bowl in place... After that, when we went to sit down in our pew, she tried to say something to me that I couldn't quite "translate" but I'm pretty sure it was something about how the Bishop was going to hear from her.... : ]

Jamba Juice...

I had to look this up for my beautiful niece and God-daughter... She will TOTALLY get this... : )

It Makes SO MUCH Sense, it's Scarey....

h/t to WICatholic. I know I have had LOTS of other stuff going on in my home life, and I've neglected my blog a bit... But this gets me so upset and I think it's so important! I've mentioned before in my blog wondering if anyone else was noticing that Obama seems to have dug up EVERY liberal -small "c"atholic he could find to fill his cabinet?! It's ridiculous! This news update from RealCatholicTV explains a lot. And I hadn't heard of this news channel before, but I liked what I saw, so be sure to check them out!

Some "Fresh Air" In Store for CA Catholics?...

My sister sent me this interesting article... Half of California's Bishops are 70 or over and nearing the mandatory retirement age of 75. So what do you suppose will be in store for Catholicism in California?... What will become of Roger Cardinal Mahoney's diocese? ... and his "Religious Education Congress"?... It certainly is exciting to think about! I'm thinking that there will be some "wheat sifting" at the very least, over the next few years... I agree with the last line from the news article, though, "...may the Lord grant Pope Benedict XVI good health and long life!” Amen and amen!

One Les-, no, Two Le-, wait a minute, Three L---, TWENTY NINE LESS...

One of my first blogs last year was about Gardisal being pushed on to our young daughters as early as the age of 9, to help in the prevention of "certain strains" of HPV.... That's going on the assumption, of course, that "most" girls will start having sex at that age... so "they" say...

Anyway, syndicated columnist and author Mary Beth Bonacci gives this shocking, yet unsurprising, update on the use of Gardisal on our young daughters... And I just have to wonder what it will take for parents to stop letting secular society tell them what's best for the health of their children?... In this day and age, I, for one, am growing more and more leary of the "advice" shoveled out to me disguised as what's "best" for mine... Parents beware, be careful, be informed....

Easter Sunday

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! We had beautiful weather for this holiest of days! After early Mass we spent the day with family, enjoying the weather, the company and good food! Here's wishing you all the blessings and graces that our Risen King brings to those who call on His Name!

What's my Line?

I loved this... A wonderful memory of a wonderful priest to share for this Holy Easter!

Enjoy!

Triduum Reflection

Thirteen years ago, Holy Thursday, I stood before 60 teenagers finishing the last day of their drivers ed class..(yes, 60... I kid you not...). I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with my first baby and had a doctors appointment for that afternoon, as soon as class was over. The doctors office, anxious to finish up their appointments and leave for their long holiday weekend, called me during the day to see if I could make it in any earlier. I told them that I was teaching a class but I would try to be there by 3:00.

With my 14 year old step-daughter in tow, we headed to the doctor's office, expecting nothing more that the excitement of hearing the babies heartbeat, again... However, after my arrival, and being their last patient for the day and the only one in the office, what we thought was going to be a quick check up turned out to be something quite different... The routine, preliminary tests (blood pressure and urine) turned out to show signs of pre clampsia and the not so calm Physicians Assistant (my doctor was already gone for the day...) began barking at me "not to panic!" and how did I get there, and who was driving me and then the same to my step daughter (who did not drive...) and then began telling me that I needed to get straight to the hospital, but the hospital i was registered at didn't handle high risk babies, so if something went wrong with the baby he would have to be transferred to another hospital, or I could just go to this other hospital and avoid the possibility of being separated from my new baby altogether... yeah... real calming words...

So, it didn't take me long to decide that I would just go to this other hospital, if that's what needed to be done, now the question was "how?"... Would they call me an ambulance, or could someone come get and take me?... My stepdaughter called her dad and brother, and they were down to the doctors office withing 20 minutes to take me. Once at the hospital I signed in and was put in a room with monitors and nothing to eat since lunch earlier that day. At 8pm the nurse came in to my room where my husband was sitting with me, discussing that they would induce me in the morning when she told my husband with a BIG smile "visiting hour ova..." My husband smiled back and told her "No. I'd like to stay with my wife a little while longer..." this was our first baby, and I had no prior problems with the pregnancy, so this was all still sinking in last minute. The sweet Korean nurse smiled again and shook her head, "Visiting hour ova..." My husband again explained to her that he would like to stay a little while longer... after the third time she smiled and left and we finished up our time and he hesitantly went home for the evening, assuring me that he would be back in the morning.

I slept through the night as best I could, never having been given any dinner, and not being too sure of the immediate future, and trying to contemplate being a "mom" very soon... Very early the next morning I was wheeled to another room and "induced". Because of the pre clampsia, I was not allowed to move around, but given a catheter and some pillows, getting as comfortable as i could while I waited for the labor to come... It was Good Friday...

I remember labor pains coming and going. I remember friends and family stopping in to check on me throughout the day. I remember when my water broke that evening and the nurses coming to help... again, I wasn't even allowed to get out of bed... My labor continued long in to the night, and I was given some kind of pain medicine that made me more loopy than anything. I guess it was a good day for fasting, because I never did get anything to eat, from lunch the previous day...

By midnight I was in the delivery room and anxious to push, but the nurse would keep telling me "not yet..." THAT was agony! FINALLY! the time came and I was able to push! but between the pain medicine, being exhausted and my blood pressure spiking and plummeting I was in and out of consciousness... It took some extra help from the doctor, but I was finally able to deliver a healthy, beautiful baby boy, 7 lbs. 8 oz., at 12:35am, Holy Saturday morning... God is good... It really is true that the "bad" really doesn't seem to matter, once you hold that baby in your arms... there is nothing better... My husband, mom and sister, all in the room with me, were really scared by my health and progress... I was clueless... But I was told that I came very close to dying during delivery... Now it seems like a lifetime ago, and I would do it all over again, and again... 4 more times, 4 more blessings... My oldest son was 13 last Monday...

There isn't a Holy Week that goes by since then that I don't stop and think about the one spent in the hospital 13 years ago... I was tired, sick, hungry, frustrated and at times a little lonely, and it gave me a glimpse at what Jesus and His Mother must have felt... but to hold that new life in my arms at the end of it, made all the difference. this it the time that we meditate on Jesus' suffering and death... He did that for us.. so that we may have that new life in Him... So that we may have that new life WITH Him, forever... Take time over these next few days in quiet anticipation of what is to come... With all that is going on in the world , God is still in control and we can still count on Him to help us through. Have a Blessed and Holy Triduum...

I'm Still Here...

I have been neglecting my blog this week, it has REALLY been hectic! Since we use a charter school, this last week the school had what they call "History Camp" at our local Pioneer Village. The kids get to attend Monday - Wednesday, learning something new each day about life during the pioneer times and bringing home various projects to show what they've learned, from candle making to home made pickles, to sewing, etc... Then on Thursday, the last day of the camp, all of the public school kids are bussed in to the Village, where our kids share with them the various things they've learned. Anyway! Normally it's one of my favorite weeks of the year, where I get the opportunity to have a little "me" time. But this year, my sister, God BLESS her! gave me a well needed hand in house hunting. Yeah, after 20 years in our little bitty home, we've decided it's time to move... But after this week, I know why I have put it off for so long... House hunting can be REALLY stressful... Finding the right home in the right place at the right price is draining...

As far as the hunting goes, we have yet to find "the one". There was one that was a "definite possibility", but when I called about it, it was already in escrow... : ( So! Back to square one... my husband is taking this next week off, so there will be more time to look, between dentist appointments, and Holy Week happenings...

So! Between History Camp, and house hunting, we've been working on our Parish Cross project. Each week during Lent different families were asked to participate in creating a "Lenten cross" that represents that weeks Gospel. We got Palm Sunday. They gave us a blank cross and a print out of the Gospel to read together. After reading through it a couple of times, my oldest son wrote down some notes and the little ones drew some ideas. That was LAST week. Yesterday we finally got busy trying to put some of the ideas together and this is what we came up with... I think it turned out pretty good. The younger ones helped with some of the painting and my oldest did most of the drawing artwork. I'm pretty proud of them... : )