Monica Miller Speaking In DC-MD Area Next Week

 

Annual Face The Truth Tour In Maryland Soon To Start

The annual Maryland Face the Truth Tour, spearheaded by Defend Life, will soon be underway.  Please see the flyer below for details.  Print it out and distribute it within your own circles of friends and acquaintances, churches, etc.  Be there!

Mark Houck To Speak In Maryland First Weekend In March

Defend Life is sponsoring a speaking tour featuring Mark Houck, the PA sidewalk counselor who was harassed by Federal authorities and who won his court case.  See here for a history of the relevant events.

Below is his speaking schedule.  Please attend one of these talks.

Why The Kingship Of Jesus Christ Matters

Dr. Timothy O’Donnell is President of Christendom College, located in Front Royal VA.  On Friday evening, January 14, 2022, he spoke to a group of faithful Catholics at the Rock Creek Council of the Knights of Columbus in Bethesda, MD.  This lecture was sponsored by Defend Life.

The title of Dr. O’Donnell’s talk was “The Kingship Of Christ And The Defense Of Life”.  Before his talk, Dr. O’Donnell himself gave an introduction to his topic; that can be found at https://defendlife.org/2022MarchForLifeKickoffLecturePreview.mp4.  A recording of the talk is below.

He based his talk on documents written by two popes at the dawn of the 20^th century.  They are:

• Annum Sacrum, written by Pope Leo XIII in 1899
• Quas Primas, written by Pope Pius XI in 1925  

Please watch the recording and study these two papal writings.  Both writings can be found at the website www.papalencyclicals.net.

When one reads these two papal letters, they cannot help but notice that they are lamenting the spiritual and moral climate that oppresses us today.  The situations that we see today are nothing new; the spiritual and moral rot of modernism and atheism has been festering for some time now.  In 2022 the rot has so progressed from the early 20^th century that remnants of Christianity that lingered back then have eroded, and continue to do so.

We’re in the midst of full-blown secularism.  That is painfully obvious.  Pope Pius XI listed seven effects.

1. Christ’s rule over mankind is denied.
2. The Church’s right to evangelize is denied. (Look at what constitutes “hate speech”.)
3. The Christian religion is made equal to other religions and is lowered to their level
4. The Catholic religion is made subject to civil powers (Lockdowns are a prime example)
5. There is an effort to substitute a vague, naturalistic religion for the truth of Jesus Christ (Pachamama, new age, etc)
6. Governments carry on without God and even promote disrespect for God
7. Selfish egotism attacks and destroys families.  When the family, bedrock of society, collapses, we see society collapse.

1.     For these reasons, he instituted the Feast of Christ the King who reigns through His Sacred Heart.  He asked for a consecration to the Sacred Heart.  In 1969, Pope Paul VI moved the feast to the end of the liturgical year and made it a solemnity, naming it “Feast of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”.  This was intended to give Christ’s Kingship more prominence to fight the ongoing secularism.

We can’t expect civil leaders to acknowledge Christ’s Kingship if the Church doesn’t do so.  We need to step out in courage.  That is incumbent not only on the clergy but also on laypeople.  We need to proclaim the truth, even in the face of inevitable mockery and opposition. The March for Life is an opportunity to bear witness to the truth of our Faith.

 

Dr O’Donnell ended his talk with quotes from Popes Francis and Leo XIII. 

1. Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, writes, “I invite all Christians everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them.  I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day.  No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her.  No one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.  The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk.  Whenever we take a step towards Jesus we come to realize that He is already there waiting for us with open arms.”
2. Leo XIII, in Annum Sacrum, wrote, “When the Church in the days immediately succeeding her institution was oppressed beneath the yoke of the Caesars, a young emperor saw in the heavens a cross which became at once the happy omen and cause of the glorious victory that soon followed.  And now today behold another blessed and heavenly token is offered to our sight the most Sacred Heart of Jesus with a cross rising from it shining forth the dazzling splendor of its flames of love.  In that Sacred Heart all our hopes should be placed from it the salvation of men is to be confidently besought.”·       

·      Dr O’Donnell added that if we placed our hopes in the Sacred Heart, the pro-life movement will be victorious, that many lives will be saved.  And now, the video.

Why Did Maryland Catholic Conference Side With NARAL Against Maryland Right To Life?

In the lead article of the latest edition for Defend Life's newsletter (in which I regularly write a column), one is led to ask that question as the MCC supported a bill in the Maryland State Legislature that would allow Planned Parenthood into schools for easy access to school-aged kids.

I needn't rehash the excellent Defend Life piece but rather, I'd suggest you read it yourselves.  Some things need to be highlighted about the MCC's support for HB 401.  First, two local pro-life groups opposed it.  Didn't Molly Sheahan think it might have been wise to inquire why the other two groups opposed it?  I would think it should have been a part of some "due-diligence" research on her part.  Second, NARAL, existing only to promote abortion, favored it.  I might have thought  that might raise a red flag or two as to whether or not HB 401 was really beneficial.  Defend Life staff questioned Sheahan about these matters, only to receive an evasive response.

So now the question must be asked.  What, or maybe, who urged Sheahan to disregard the voices of others in the pro-life community and stand side by side with rabid pro-aborts in support of HB 401?  I would not be surprised if those directives came from chanceries.  Recall that all three Maryland prelates sit on the Board of Directors of the MCC.

The Archdiocese of Washington has displayed some strange behavior towards pro-life activists.  I touched a bit on it three years ago.  Might our prelates have been willing to support HB 401 in exchange for some other favor?  We don't know.  Suffice it to say that Sheahan most likely would not have supported that bill without obtaining at least the permission of the MCC board of directors - that is, the area bishops.  I regret this episode might be more than just an error of judgment.

Today Georgetown Was Rebuked

Georgetown University went ahead with their honoring of Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood - the nation's chief organization for the murder of babies.  Sadly we're not surprised but still it is just one more insult to Catholic education in this country.  As announced two days ago, there were several protest locations at Georgetown.  Today I was at two of them.

The first one was outside Lohrfink Auditorium itself.  Because I had to spend some time to find a parking place, I arrived there about 12:40 pm.  I could see that the Students for Life contingent was penned in an area where they could be seen from the attendees at a distance but there was no chance for interaction between those going into the talk and the pro-life activists.  I stood at the bottom of the steps and distributed my flyer (see right) - for as long as I was permitted.  After about 30 minutes a woman who identified herself to me as "Dean of Student Affairs" marched herself downstairs and ushered me to the "protest pen" (for lack of a better word).  Frankly I suspect the cause of this move is because my flyer did directly rebuke Georgetown for bringing Richards to campus.  I was able to distribute about 25 of them before I was effectively stifled.  I decided not to protest the move since I do respect the fact that Georgetown is private property.  Still, I find it fascinating that a woman who makes her living, at least in part, from the murders of babies is allowed to speak on campus but pro-life activists are penned off as though they pose dire threats to the students.

Just now, out of curiosity, I went to the web page of this "Student Affairs" office and got a clue as to the icy treatment that I received.  Not surprisingly, the page reeks of dissidence against Church teaching, to the point of possibly directing students - LGBTQ students, that is - to hell.   They have a whole "resource center" dedicated to them - something that I don't see for ethnic minorities, by the way.  This resource center boasts of being "the first such center of its kind at a Catholic/Jesuit institution in the country".  Well, whoopdie-doo!  If that's what Georgetown calls "brag material", no wonder their moral credibility is swirling down the crapper!  Ever hear of a "lavender graduation"?  Well look no further!  Georgetown is having one (next week, apparently).  The whole page is designed to make it easy for these poor deluded students to confirm their own damnation.  I seem to remember Our Lord talking about those who scandalize "little ones", saying it would be better for them had millstones been tied to them as they were tossed into water.  This reeks of satanic evil, but I digress.

After about 20 minutes or so in "the pen", I left there and headed east through the campus to where I was parked.  As I walked east, I continued to distribute flyers to students passing by me.  I then reached the eastern part of campus when I heard bagpipes.  I knew then that the American Society for Tradition, Family and Property was at the O Street entrance - where they were when we protested the appearance of Kathleen Sebelius four years ago.  Today the American TFP roundly rebuked Georgetown.  You'll hear it in the video below.

I know that Defend Life staged a protest along M Street; about 15 people held a "life chain" with signs to explain why Richard's appearance was such an atrocity.  I was unable to get down there but I await a report as to how that went.  Now here's the video of American TFP.

Protesting Cecile Richards At Georgetown This Coming Wednesday

Almost two weeks ago I promised to post details of protests to occur this Wednesday April 20th.  Here they are.

From Jack Ames of Defend Life:  Cecile Richards, President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, will be speaking at Georgetown University at 2 PM. In response, we will have a Life Chain of signs along M Street to let people know we Stand against Planned Parenthood. Please Come, Stand up and be counted! Join me at the intersection of Wisconsin and M Streets NW, between Noon at 2 PM.  

In front of the Rafik Hariri Building that houses the Lohrfink Auditorium, Students for Life and Georgetown Right to Life will have an information table set up outside.  The display is entitled "We Don't Need Planned Parenthood".

Please come and support one of these activities - both if you can.  We've got to take a stand in the streets if we are going to combat the culture of death.

Video of MD Gubernatorial Candidates' Forum

A few weeks ago I posted notice of a MD Gubernatorial Candidates' Forum - that occurred yesterday.  I attended that last evening and took the following video.  Please watch it as you consider your votes during the primary election that will happen June 24th.  An article will appear in the next Defend Life newsletter; when that is released I'll post a link.

Maryland Gubernatorial Candidates' Forum May 20th

Defend Life and Maryland Coalition for Life are co-sponsoring a forum for Maryland's candidates for governor.  Between the two parties, there are seven candidates.

It will be held on Tuesday May 20, starting at 7:30pm.  It's in the Plum Gar Community Center in Germantown Maryland.

Please see this flyer for directions and other details.  The flyer is downloadable so please feel free to print off copies and distribute them.

An important reminder - the primary elections for Maryland will occur on June 24th.  Please attend this forum and invite others to join us, to learn as much as possible about the various candidates.

Personal Immorality Causes Political Ignorance

That is a main theme of today's Vortex; it's shown at the 2:00 mark.  Voris is right.  There is a high correlation between those who are in rebellion against God and His moral teachings and those who are utterly clueless about our society at large - that is, outside the realm of sports, entertainment and creature comforts.  They may not be able to tell you who their two Senators are, but they can tell you (with great enthusiasm) which musician is hooking up with which entertainment personality, etc.  The reason for this is simple; spiritual and moral laxity will bring with it mental flabbiness in just about every other aspect of life.  For many, physical flabbiness and laziness also comes with the package.

This spiritual and intellectual malady is sadly found among those who call themselves members of the Tea Party.  In the Tea Party rallies that I've attended, scant lip-service was paid to God.  The rest of the time was devoted to protesting governmental encroachment upon our lives: a rather short-sighted focus.  In the most recent issue of the Defend Life newsletter appears an article (written by Yours Truly) that deals with this issue as it pertains to the Tea Party; I link to it now and suggest that you read it (scroll to page 17) rather than try to rehash it here.

I've even seen this sickness within the Manhattan Declaration.  In that supposedly seminal document that ostensibly treated all the moral failings of this nation, not one peep was uttered about the pandemonium caused by contraception.  In fact, a word search on that document found not one mention of the word "contraception".  That glaring omission had "conflict of interest" screaming all over it.  Either the authors were themselves dallying with contraception or were too cowardly to confront it among their family and friends.  In any event, the authors and many who signed it literally danced around that elephant in the living room.  And of course, Michael Voris interviewed young attendees at the March for Life and found many of them approving of contraception and "gay marriage".

Now the video...

Common Core Inflicted Among Maryland High School Students

I've written a bit about Common Core in the past; read here for some background.   It has come to my attention that Common Core has indeed reared its ugly head here in Montgomery County MD.  Since this area is such a bastion of liberal drones, this comes as no surprise.  What does raise the eyebrows a bit is the audacity with which Common Core devotees bombard students with their brainwashing.

A "case in point" was published in the Freedom Outpost.  It reveals the contents of a Common-Core derived survey foisted upon sophomores at Poolesville High School in Montgomery County MD.  Please read that article in its entirety for therein is the complete survey presented to these kids.  It asks them to divulge highly personal information such as the demographics of their family, family income, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, various political convictions, etc.  Pardon my French, but none of that is any damned business of school officials.

More distressing yet is the emergence of Common Core in Maryland Catholic Schools.  The Sept-Oct issue of the Defend Life newsletter has a four-page article; on the link go to page 6 and read on.  It's clear that the Archdiocese of Baltimore's education office has allowed itself to become "useful dupes" of the Common Core progressives.  While the author was unable to ascertain the stance of the Archdiocese of Washington, I think it reasonable (in light of their lack of response to the reporter) to assume that it too has swallowed the proverbial kook-aid.  Our children aren't safe even there.

In 2014 we will have the chance to replace a goodly number of these officials.  All state-wide and lower-level seats are up for grabs.  Many of the local school boards are too.  Some minds and voices of sanity would be a welcome relief.  Let's work for that.

Gun Control Is Dissent From Church Teaching

In the March/April 2013 issue of the Defend Life newsletter an article of mine appears on page 17 (note: below the jump break I'll reproduce the unedited article for therein are some links to referential material.)  The main thrust of the article is to outline why I strongly believe that the underlying philosophy behind the current push for "gun control" is actually anti-life.  Despite what the "seamless-garment" groupies incessantly chant, the movement to restrict access to the tools of self defense constitutes significant dissent from Catholic Church teaching.

I won't rehash my article; you can read it for yourselves.  I'll also put below the jump break a montage of clips where progressive (aka Democratic) politicians make no bones about their ambitions to make a mockery of our Second Amendment rights.

Petition For Revocation Of Licenses Of Carhart And Germantown Death Center

Below is a link to a petition initiated by Defend Life for the revoke the Maryland license of Leroy Carhart and to suspend the license of Germantown Reproductive Health Services, Inc.  It is addressed to both the Maryland Board of Physicians and Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.  Please sign this now and pass word of this to your pro-life contacts.  They do not have to be Maryland residents to sign it.  Thank you.

http://www.change.org/petitions/revoke-carhart-s-medical-license-suspend-the-license-of-abortion-facility


Also, please call the comments line of Shady Grove Hospital at 240-826-6920 and insist that they file a formal complaint with the Maryland Board of Physicians to expose Carhart's gross callousness and incompetence.  You may well get a greeting that disavows any responsibility and states that Carhart is not affiliated with the hospital.  While that may be true, they still have a professional responsibility to alert proper authorities of malpractice evidence as it is presented to them.  It certainly was so presented on February 7th. Keep calling until you are at least able to leave a message.

See http://www.prayforgermantown.com/ for other needed steps to take.  And above all, pray to Our Lord this Lent.

Michael Voris In Bethesda MD

On Friday, Jan 11, 2013, Michael Voris of ChurchMilitant.TV (whom you see on the Vortex clips frequently posted here) gave an address at the Rock Creek Council KofC Hall in Bethesda, MD.  His address was part of an ongong lecture series conducted by Defend Life.  I recorded it and post that video below.  Please watch it and pass it along to your contacts.  Click here if you can't see embedded video.

Pro-Life Activism Opportunities In Maryland

There are two activism opportunities arising in July.  I list them in chronological order.

2012 Artscape in Baltimore  Join pro-life activists at this event as they educate Artscape attendees of the reality of abortion.  They will be doing so via pictures of abortion victims, distribution of literature and discussions with attendees.  Activists will be there Friday July 20th and Saturday July 21st, from 4:00pm till 7:30pm at the intersection of Mount Royal Avenue and North Charles Street.  For additional information please contact Kurt Linnemann at klinnemann@cbrinfo.org or 410-913-3931.

12th Annual Face The Truth Tour  Conducted by Defend Life from July 23rd to July 27th.  Please visit Defend Life's website for the latest information, including a schedule of the tour and a downloadable flyer.

Maryland News: Bad And Good

First I'll give the bad news.  It appears that State's Attorney Ellis Rollins (for Cecil County MD) dropped criminal murder charges against Steven Chase Brigham and Nicola Riley.  I've blogged on the sordid careers of these two baby-killers (put their names in the search box).  Operation Rescue has more on this.  Kinda makes one wonder what pressure was brought to bear on Mr. Rollins.

Now the good news.  In summer of 2008, several members of Defend Life's Face the Truth Tour underwent false arrests in Harford County, MD.  Eventually charges against all of them were dropped (almost right after the arrests, since they weren't even formulated at the time of the arrests).  Defend Life pursued justice, and now the Maryland Board of Public Works will be paying over $385,000 to the falsely-arrested pro-lifers.  Moreover, the Maryland State Police must implement a training program within 120 days to train its officers and employees in the meaning of the First and Fourth Amendments   Yes, there is justice, and the Bill of Rights still means something!

Pro-Lifers' Free Speech Rights Vindicated In Harford County MD

In the summer of 2008, a number of pro-life demonstrators were arrested in Harford County.  Some of the young women were subjected to multiple strip searches.  The pro-lifers subsequently filed civil suit, with the assistance of the Alliance Defense Fund, American Catholic Lawyers' Association and the Thomas More Society.  Defend Life, to which I link on the right side bar, was one of the plaintiffs.

On July 13th, federal judge Richard Bennett ruled in favor of the pro-life plaintiffs, agreeing that their First and Fourth Amendment rights were utterly disregarded by Maryland state troopers.  We congratulate our pro-life colleagues and give thanks to God.

January Events - Mark Your Calendars And Be There!

Here are items of interest for Catholics and any others interested in the protection of life, Godly marriage and other pressing moral issues.  Residents of Montgomery County Maryland especially, take note!

1. Pastors' Free Breakfast, being held January 20th, Thursday, 8am - 10am, in Montgomery Village MD.  All are welcome to hear updates on local, state and national issues.  More details here on this downloadable flyer.
2. March for Life Kickoff Lecture, with US Representative Andy Harris, from Maryland's First Congressional district, on Friday, January 21st, starting at 7:30pm, at the Rock Creek Council Knights of Columbus in Bethesda, MD.  See this downloadable flyer.
3. Kick Out Carhart Prayer Meeting and Rally, at Neelsville Presbyterian Church in Germantown MD, Saturday January 22, from 7pm to 10pm
4. Germantown Prayer Walk, Sunday January 23, from 2pm to 3:15pm, around the Germantown Reproductive Health Services, where Leroy Carhart is now perpetrating late-term abortions.  Note: background information for these last two items can be found at http://www.kickoutcarhart.com/

Last but not least is the Annual March for Life on Monday January 24th.  Please be at as many of these events as possible.  Your prayerful witness is desperately needed.

MD Pro-Life Activists Vindicated In Suit Against Harford County

In the summer of 2008, the annual Face the Truth Tour, spearheaded by Defend Life, was interrupted in Harford County when police arrested the FTT participants who were peacefully standing along the road with their signs.  Moreover, three of the young women were strip-searched by the police.

Defend Life and the pro-life activists filed suit against the State of Maryland, Harford Couty and the Town of Bel Air.  They were, and are, being assisted by attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund.

Harford County has settled with the activists.  According to the Lifenews article, the Harford State Attorney opposed the sheriff's office and its treatment of the pro-lifers.  However, there are two other defendants in the case: the Town of Bel Air and the State of Maryland.  If they do not settle, there will be a trial in federal court.

Here are links to other news sources:
http://www.defendlife.org/Aug08Newsletter.pdf
http://www.defendlife.org/SepOct2008Newsletter.pdf

Here's an explanation of the Face the Truth Tour concept and its origins.
http://www.prolifeaction.org/truth/

Black Friday In Tyson's Corner, Virginia

Shoppers swarming into the mall there to get early-bird bargains for their Christmas shopping received a reminder of their duties as decent human beings.  Christmas is about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came as a baby.  Today, many other babies, thousands every day, are being slaughtered via abortion.  These shoppers received a much-needed challenge to shake them out of complaceny and hopefully to stir their consciences.  About 20 pro-lifers showed pictures of the true nature of abortion, in what is commonly called a Face the Truth tour.  Yes the pictures are gory, but - that's the nature of abortion.  Click here if you can't see embedded video.



As Peter Shinn said in the video, if anyone is interested in starting such an effort in their locality, please contact Pro-Life Unity or Defend Life.  Alternatively, you may also contact Joe Scheidler's Pro-Life Action League.