Wednesday, December 24, 2008

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

We always talk about self-respect. The only reason a person deserves respect from themselves is because they are human. If, therefore, they deserve respect for themselves simply because they are human then it follows that those around them deserve respect at least for the same reason. And on top of deserving respect simply because one is a human being a person may also earn respect due to their age, position, or actions. Problems arise when we do not give to others the respect they are due. For example we should be respectful enough of one another to not curse and tell dirty jokes. Our job as Catholics is to help each other (not meaning just other Catholics but all humanity) to get to Heaven. St. Paul says, in his letter to the Romans, "judge this rather, that you not put a stumbling block or a scandal in your brother's way". Curses and dirty jokes, even if they don't seem to affect you, can lead others to sin. St. Paul has made it clear that our first thought should be for those around us. Christ Himself said "It is impossible that scandals should not come: but woe to him through whom they come. It were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones." I didn't say it, Jesus did. The most popular excuse for a sin is that "I'm not hurting anyone". A sin is a sin specifically because it is hurting someone whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. The greatest sin, as Christ made clear, is that which leads another person to sin, thereby estranging them from God. It is bad enough to pull yourself away from God but to bring another with you at least doubles the crime. I had a group of friends who were obsessed with dirty jokes and after spending alot of time around them I found myself thinking about things that I don't want to think about. Now I've been led to a state of sin which I am having a long hard struggle with simply because my friends did not respect me as a friend and as a human being.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Stop the Planned Parenthood Bailout

Tired of bailouts?

Well they aren’t going away anytime soon. Now the abortion industry wants one!

We all knew that Planned Parenthood was going to have a special seat at the table in the Obama administration. Well it hasn’t taken them long at all to roll out their extreme agenda.

Abortion groups have submitted their 50 page proposal to the Obama-Biden transition team. At the top of the list? More taxpayer dollars for abortion organizations like Planned Parenthood. How much more? Over 1.5 billion dollars more!

The Abortion Bailout Package:
· $1 BILLION dollars in taxpayer funding for International Abortion Groups like UNFPA, an international aid organization connected to coercive abortion as part of China’s coercive one-child policy
· $700 million in taxpayer funding for “Title X” Health Clinics (aka your local Planned Parenthood affiliate)
· Repeal the Hyde Amendment – Vastly expanding federal taxpayer funding for abortions
· Include Abortion coverage in any taxpayer-subsidized national health care program
· Expand taxpayer-funded abortions through the Peace Corps program
It is an outrage for Planned Parenthood to expect you to give your hard earned dollars to fund the destruction of innocent life.

Join citizens across our great country in telling their Senators to keep your tax dollars out of the abortion provid ers. Tell them to Stop the Abortion Bailout!

Sign the Petition today!

Tell your Senator today that Planned Parenthood should not get a bailout.

~Marjorie Dannenfelser
Susan B. Anthony List President