Blog of Fr. Peter Leung

Coach Dave get exclusive footage of Father Norman Weslin’s arrest at Notre Dame University for protesting abortion. Also featuring an interview with Pastor Rick Scarborough.

By John Jalsevac

May 14, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Under the threat of dark clouds and sometimes through pouring rain, a record-smashing crowd of 12,000 Canadians today gathered on Parliament Hill for a rally and then marched through the streets of Ottawa in protest against 40 years of legalized abortion in Canada.

The number of participants significantly exceeded last year’s record-breaking crowd of 8,000, making it by far the largest crowd in the 12 years that the march has taken place.

Those in attendance included 18 Members of Parliament.

Jim Hughes, the president of Campaign Life Coalition, the pro-life group which organizes the annual event, told LifeSiteNews that he was thrilled with the turnout. “It’s a real blessing,” he said, “especially the growing number of young people that are here.”

“This is going to make a difference,” said Hughes, who pointed out that pro-life Canadians are beginning to mark the date of the march on their calendars, and are going out of their way to make it every year. “We’re having a real impact here,” he said.

Today’s events began in the morning with interdenominational prayer services at the Canadian Reformed Church and St. George’s Anglican Church, and two Catholic masses at Notre Dame Basilica and St. Patrick’s Basilica.

Eyewitnesses at the Catholic masses said that both churches were filled to, and beyond, capacity. Approximately 900 people squeezed into St. Patrick’s Basilica, while over 1,100 overflowed Notre Dame. As well, an additional 200 or so at each location had to watch the mass on a screen in the basement of each church, due to the lack of space.

Hughes said he was especially pleased by the unprecedented show of support from the Canadian Catholic bishops, with 11 bishops celebrating at the masses. This was the first year in the history of the march that the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has thrown its official support behind the event.

At 3 p.m., after the rally on Parliament Hill and the march, representatives of Silent No More Awareness Campaign began delivering powerful testimonies about their personal experiences with abortion, repeatedly moving their listeners to tears. Just as the clock on the Hill was striking 3:00, many in the crowd marvelled that the sun suddenly broke through the clouds for the first time that day and soon afterwards the sky cleared with hardly a cloud in sight. Also, some pointed out that as each of the Silent No More Awareness speakers was introduced, as if on cue a strong wind would blow, with the strongest occuring when the Canadian leader of the group, Angelina Steenstra, was introduced.

(Source: Ottawa Citizen)

‘Life is defined as being from conception to natural death,’ MP says

By Tony Spears, The Ottawa Citizen

May 14, 2009

Thousands turned out on Parliament Hill in Ottawa May 14, 2009 for the twelfth annual National March for Life.
Photograph by: Chris Mikula, The Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA — Thousands swarmed Parliament Hill on Thursday to protest 40 years of legal abortion in Canada.

“We were hoping to grow the 8,000 we had last year and we did it,” said triumphant organizer Jim Hughes, who pegged the crowd at 10,000.

Even a steady rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the protesters. From under their umbrellas they cheered the politicians who stood to speak against abortion.

“I’ve grown up in the shadow of liberalized abortion,” thundered Conservative MP Jeff Watson.

“Life is defined as being from conception to natural death,” said Liberal MP Paul Szabo.

Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge, chair of the Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus (PPLC) was encouraged “to see so many people still interested in acknowledging the unborn as being valuable.”

There has been snickering at the PPLC’s “secretive” reputation in the mainstream media, but Bruinooge was unwilling to confirm even the size of the caucus in an interview. He did say about 25 were on hand for the protest, all of them apparently from the Conservative or Liberal parties.

Men dominated the podium, with Conservative MP Kelly Block a lone female presence.

So it was up to girls visiting from Holy Trinity High School in Oakville, Ont., to say if they felt represented on stage.

“Yes, but not fully,” said Sophie Pigon, a Grade 10 student who is firmly anti-abortion.

“I don’t think that they understand 100 per cent what it really is to have an abortion. How are they to know? They can’t ever carry a child.”

In 1969, the Trudeau government passed an amendment to the Criminal Code legalizing abortion if a hospital committee deemed the health of the mother to be in danger. In 1988 the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the entire section, ruling that “forcing a woman, by threat of criminal sanction, to carry a foetus to term” violates the right to security of the person set down in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Until then abortion doctors faced life in prison.

(資料來源: 輔仁大學 - 生命倫理研究中心 維護生命電子報 2008.01.04)

美國國會有可能在1月21-22日表決是否通過「自由選擇法」（Freedom of Choice Act, FOCA），籲請懇切祈禱這個法案被駁回。若是「自由選擇法」被通過，將造成以下後果：

1. 所有醫院（包括不施行墮胎手術的天主教醫院）均被要求必須施行人工流產。若是法律確實如此要求，美國主教誓言關閉所有的天主教醫院。目前美國有超過30%的天主教醫院。
2. 原本被禁止的「已成形胎兒墮胎法」（Partial birth abortions）也將合法化，且不管胎兒大小。
3. 美國納稅人的錢將用來補助各項墮胎工作。
4. 未成年人墮胎不再需要告知父母。
5. 最重要的是美國政府將掌控墮胎議題，可能導致未來修法強迫婦女在特定情況下必須拿掉孩子（如被強暴、唐氏症胎兒等），甚至如同中國一樣，限定婦女該生幾個孩子。

或許你認為這些訊息很不可思議，但不幸地，這些訊息千真萬確！身為天主教徒和基督徒、身為人，我們反對任何扼殺無辜胎兒的行為。在法案通過之前，我們必須勇敢表達反對意見。

* 以下建議我們可以採取的行動：
1. 部分基督徒已由1月11日開始獻上九日敬禮和守齋（到1月22日），現在就加入他們的陣容。天主教徒並以玫瑰經，為此法案不獲通過懇切祈禱。
2. 非基督徒請以各自的禱告方式，連續九天為同樣的意向祈禱。
* 希望全世界共同為這些意向努力，發揮最大的影響力，只要做這三件事：
1. 轉寄這封信給五個以上的朋友；
2. 現在就執行；
3.加入從1月11日就開始的祈禱和守齋（到1月22日止）。

感謝您的合作，籲請共同努力。

Hi mom!, how are you?, I am doing just fine thanks.

Only a few days have gone by since I was conceived and I am now growing in your tummy.

To tell you the truth I can’t explain how happy I am to know that you are my mom.
It also makes me proud to know that I was conceived out of love.

I am sure I am going to be the happiest baby alive.

Mommy, a month has gone past and I have started to notice how my body is forming. I know I am not much to look at now but just wait and see I’ll make you so proud! Even though I am feeling happy I sense something is wrong!…

You seem to be having strange thoughts that leave me restless and worried, but I am sure everything is going to be ok! Don’t despair.

Two and a half months have gone by mom, I now have hands that  I can use to play with. Oh I am so happy.

Mommy, please tell me what’s wrong? Why are you crying so much lately?

Why do you and dad argue every time you meet up with one another?

Don’t you guys want me anymore? I’m going to do everything I can to make you want me…

3 months have now past mom, but you still seem to be so sad. I am not sure what is going on, I am so confused.

Today we went to see the doctor and he booked an appointment for you tomorrow.
I don’t understand why I am feeling so good and you aren’t mom!

Mommy, where are we going?, What’s happening?

Mommy, this is not normally the time you take your afternoon nap, don’t lie down.

Besides I am not tired I still want to play.

Uh!!! What is this thing doing inside of my house?

Is it a new toy?!

Hey! It’s sucking up my house…

Please…, don’t tug at me! No…. Don’t hit me you hurting me?

Can’t you see I’m still small I can’t defend myself!

Mommy!!! Stop them, that’s  my hand!!!

Mommy, my leg, they ripping it out!!!

Defend me mom!!!

Help me mom!!!

Tell them to stop, I promise I’ll stop kicking them if they do.

How is it possible that a human being can be doing this to me?

Oh mommy, I can’t go on anymore… he…lp me…

17 years have gone by since you made that fateful decision. How you still suffer over the very thought of it.

Please don’t cry, remember that I love you and I’ll be waiting for you with open arms.

Love you lots!!!

Your baby.

Participate in the campaign:
“All AGAINST ABORTION!”

Pass this presentation on….
…so we can help save lives.

A photographer decided to do coverage on one of medicines greatest achievements. An operation of a 21 week old foetus inside of it’s mothers womb, known to be suffering from ‘spina bifida’. Little did he know that the image he captured was to be of such importance in this fight for life and is still used for this purpose to this very day.

This extraordinary moment of a baby stretching out his tiny little hand and holding on to the finger of the surgeon was captured by Paul Harris.

The story behind this touching picture, reflects the struggle experienced by a couple who fought against all odds to save the life of their first child.

This amazing photo was published by various newspapers across the United States, travelling the world over eventually reaching Ireland where it became one of the most powerful voices AGAINST the legalization of ABORTION.

Say yes to life!

真福若瑟．加拉桑司鐸及其卅一位同伴殉道 (紀念)

恭讀聖路加福音 8:16-18
那時候，耶穌對群眾說：「沒有人點上燈，用器皿遮蓋住，或放在床底下的，而是放在燈台上，為叫進來的人看見光明；因為沒有隱藏的事，不被顯露的；沒有秘密 的事，不被知道而公開出來的。所以，你們應當留心要怎樣聽：因為凡有的，還要給他：凡沒有的，連他自以為有的，也要從他奪去。」

—這是基督的福音。

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 8:16-18

16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. 18 Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄

 

 Homily [7:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2047)

Mexico City, Aug 28, 2008 / 04:41 pm (CNA).- Mexico’s Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of a law in Mexico City that allows abortion up to the twelfth week of pregnancy, in ruling called “historic” by abortion supporters who want the practice legalized throughout the country.

The justices heard arguments for three days from the Mexican Attorney General and the National Commission on Human Rights, who both said the law passed by the Mexico City Legislative Assembly in 2007 was unconstitutional.

On Wednesday it was reported that of the eleven justices, eight supported abortion and established a “majority opinion” that the rights of women should be given priority over the rights of the “unborn conceived.” The official vote on the ruling takes place on Thursday.

The justices in favor of abortion are Genaro Góngora Pimentel, José de Jesús Gudiño Pelayo, Juan Silva Meza, Fernando Franco González Salas, Sergio Valls Hernández, Olga Sánchez Cordero, José Ramón Cossío and Margarita Luna Ramos.

Those who dissented and found that life is protected by the Constitution from the moment of conception were Sergio Aguirre, Mariano Azuela and Guillermo Ortiz.

According to the Mexican daily El Universal, “Azuela was the only one who brought medical and scientific questions to the discussions aimed at defining when life begins.”

“The question was avoided by the ten other justices, who concluded that it was not for the Court to determine when life begins, since it is a question about which there is no agreement throughout the world and is not a legal question,” the paper reported.

信仰生活互動坊、塔冷通心靈書舍

7月31日　(週四)　 瑪13：47-53　    (其他經文──耶18：1-6   詠145)
耶穌對群眾說：「天國好像撒在海裡的網，網羅各種的魚。網一滿了，人就拉上岸來，坐下，揀好的，
放在器皿裡；壞的，扔在外面。在今世的終結時，也將如此：天使要出去，把惡人由義人中分開，把他們扔在火裡；在那裡要有哀哭和切齒聲。這一切你們都明白了嗎？」他們說：「是的。」他就對他們說：「為此，凡成為天國門徒的經師，就好像一個家主，從他的寶庫裡，提出新的和舊的東西。」耶穌講完了這些比喻，就從那裡走了。

默　想──Ø　耶穌繼續不辭勞苦地，說著天國的比喻。在這裡，似乎將好與壞分辨，惡人和義人也被分開。在耶穌眼中，祂正在等待我們作生命上的選擇。
Ø　選擇什麼？選擇靠近上主，還是遠離祂。請謹記：領了洗的人，不代表時刻的生命投向也是上主，我們也有搖擺不定、掙扎、麻木了的時候。

請按此看照片簿

往活動相簿目錄

(By Fr. Peter Leung, CMC Children’s Choir, Oversea Chinese Youth Orchestra)

NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PRIESTS FOR LIFE
Speaker at Lift Jesus Higher Rally
at Metro Toronto Convention Centre
on April 19, 2008

Once again on this Sat. spring morning, the annual Lift Jesus Higher Rally was again held at the MTCC in downtown Toronto. School buses brought thousands of people from out of town, making the Catholic event the biggest every year. It was reported that the Adult and Youth Rallies totalled 8,000 participants. There were displays of different organizations such as Renewal Ministries (organizer), March for Life Ottawa (Campaign Life Coalition), Natural Family Planning, Medjugorje Centre, Silent No More Campaign and more.

As one approached the convention centre where the event was being held, lively music could be heard from far away which grabbed the attention of the participant instantly. The whole day would be packed with prayer, talks, praise and worship, Divine Mercy prayer, exposition and Eucharistic Procession with Blessing, concluded with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Collins.

On the Youth Agenda, Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life and Founder of Missionaries of the Gospel of Life would give a talk on “The Master Has Need of You” and Sr. Sarah Burdick would speak on the topic “Choose Life”.

On the Adult Agenda, Fr. Pavone gave a powerful talk on “Winning the Battle for Life”. He had several reasons that the battle for life is winning. First of all, Christ’s death and resurrection had already won the battle over evil. He said that in the past women were led to believe that abortion will solve their problems. Now the women who aborted are leading the way to spread the news that abortion hurts women and they will not be silent anymore.

If anyone of us, especially Catholics, should say that since we do not abort, it should not be my business to stop others from doing it, then we are wrong. God granted us mercy and so we should return mercy to our fellowmen. We should try to save those who will hurt themselves. We should stop them from committing a sin that would make them regret for the rest of their lives.

For all of us who attended praise and worship, said our prayers, let us put in action what God has revealed and called us to do. Our Lady gave us a very good example. After she received news from the Angel about becoming the Mother of Jesus, she did not dwell and idle in the happy news, but quickly set forth on her journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth to assist her in her pregnancy.

If priests or consecrated people are preaching the gospel at the pulpit but do not preach about respecting and protecting life, then they are not preaching the gospel, because the gospel is about life. Someone approached Fr. Pavone one day as he was praying the rosary in front of an abortion clinic and accused him of being “self-righteous” and “judgemental”. Fr. looked at him and said: “Friend, did you not hear what we were praying just now? I just said ‘pray for us, sinners’ 150 times and you have not said it once”.

Finally, Fr. Pavone invited us all to visit his two videos on You Tube in which he demonstrated the most common abortion procedures, using the actual abortion instruments and fetal models. He asked us to view and to spread far and wide these challenging videos. The links are as follows: www.youtube.com/watch?v=us_y9GP_-DA - Dismemberment D&E Procedure
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBOAPleF1t0 - Suction Abortion Procedure. He urged us to use the “Is This What You Mean” Project: The Abortion Procedure Revealed to challenge politicians and voters.

Not surprisingly, Fr. Pavone received a standing ovation. Ralph Martin, President of Renewal Ministries and organizer, encouraged participants to ponder and pray about what Fr. Pavone had said so that we could discern what God wanted us to do.

Later on, with more talks, singing, praying, confession, adoration of the Holy Eucharist and Mass, we picked up our happy experience and head back out to the society where we have to witness and live the gospel with the power of God’s Word - “Empowering Your Life”, the theme of this year’s Rally.

Jeannie Wu

http://www.priestsforlife.org/ (photo of Fr. Frank Pavone)

http://www.lift-jesus-higher-rally.org/ (photos of other speakers)

http://renewalministries.net/toronto_conference.php (photos of a conference)

Please tune in to and promote our Defending Life program on EWTN, every Friday night at 10pm ET; our Gospel of Life TV show (see www.GospelofLife.com), and our Life on the Line radio show (see www.LifeontheLine.com).

By Fr. Frank Pavone

Abortion is largely a problem of mothers afraid to be mothers. That may be one of the reasons why there is such a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother within the Catholic element of the pro-life movement.

Let’s look at a few of the links between our beliefs about the Virgin Mary and our pro-life convictions.

There is one Mediator…

Some Christians question why we give so much devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and claim that it compromises the unique worship which Christ alone deserves. We do not, of course, “worship” Mary in any sense. She, too, is a creature, and all her importance flows from the uniqueness of Christ.

But how is it that Christ became the unique Mediator? A mediator is a bridge between the two parties being mediated, in this case, God and humanity. Christ was God from all eternity. It is precisely in taking upon Himself a human nature that He becomes the Mediator. This human nature is taken from Mary. The very fact that Christ is the one Mediator demonstrates the critical role of the one Mother from whom He became human.

All the importance of Mary flows from her Son, and worship of the Son naturally leads to honoring the Mother. Right from this fundamental point, Marian devotion teaches us something about our pro-life commitment. Mother and child belong together.

The difference between the pro-abortion side and the pro-life side is not that they favor women’s rights and we love the baby. The real difference is that they think you can separate the two and we say you can’t. The pro-abortion mentality claims you can love the mother while killing the child. The pro-life mentality asserts that you can’t harm one without harming the other and you can’t love one without loving the other. The pro-life position has never been, “Love the baby and forget about the mother.” It is rather, always and only, “Let’s love them both.”

Immaculate Conception

Mary was conceived without Original Sin. This favor was granted to her in anticipation of her role as the Mother of God. A fundamental truth that appears here, and is reflected in various Scriptures, is the relationship of God with the child in the womb and the manner in which he prepares that child for his/her mission.

This doctrine likewise proclaims to us the broader truth about victory over sin. Mary was not exempt from the need of a Savior; He simply shared with her in a unique way the victory over sin that He offers all of us.

Those who have abortions do not have them because of “freedom of choice,” but rather because they feel they have no freedom and no choice. Mountains of pressure and confusion fall upon them. Yet in the struggle against temptation and sin, there is always sufficient grace to do what is right. “God keeps his promise. He will not let you be tested beyond your strength. Along with the test he will give you a way out of it so that you may be able to endure it” (1Cor10:13). This conviction is a key tool to help those who are tempted and to encourage those who counsel others against abortion.

Annunciation (Lk.1:26-38)

Mary faces an unplanned pregnancy. Her response is Let it be done to me according to your word. She freely chooses to accept the Child, and in doing so, acknowledges the primacy of the word. In other words, the truth of God’s Word exists before her own choosing. She submits to a word, a truth, she did not create. At the heart of the “pro-choice” mentality is the idea that we create our own truth. This mentality holds that the value of the unborn child, and that child’s very right to exist, depend upon the choice of the mother. In the pro-life mentality, on the other hand, the choice of the mother must respect the truth of the inherent value of the child, which does not in any way flow from or depend upon us. Let it be done to me according to your word.

As we submit to that truth, God does not rob us of our freedom. Instead, He lifts it up to Himself.

Mary’s Practical Charity

Mary was firmly rooted in the truth and in charity. When she received Gabriel’s message and learned she would be the mother of God, she did not lose sight of the pressing needs of her kinswoman Elizabeth. She undertook the arduous journey to the hill country, and tended to Elizabeth’s needs for three months. (See Lk.1:39-56). Mary kept in touch with both heavenly and earthly reality. The truth of her new status did not distract her from Elizabeth’s needs. Mary responded to those needs in a very practical way. The same happened at Cana. The celebration there in company with Christ and the Apostles did not blind her to the real needs of the newlyweds. And she responded.

Union with God does not turn us in on ourselves. Authentic holiness makes us more aware of and responsive to the real needs of others. The pro-life movement responds to the real needs of real children and their mothers. We provide these mothers with the concrete medical, financial, psychological, and spiritual help they need. Nothing distracts us. This is Marian pro-life ministry.

There is an axiom in psychiatry that says, “Believe behavior.” See what the speaker does. The “pro-choice” (pro-abortion) movement masks over reality, and for all its rhetoric leaves women only three things: a scarred mind, a wounded body, and a dead baby. The pro-life movement, through more than 3000 helping centers throughout the nation, offers women real help in their need, and the gift of life. We learned this from a very special Mother.

Assumed into Heaven

The Assumption speaks of the victory of Life over death. “Today the virgin Mother of God was taken up into heaven to be the beginning and the pattern of the Church in its perfection…”(Preface of the Assumption, P59). The Assumption is not only about Mary; it’s about us. Mary has a unique privilege. Being the Mother of God, she was taken at once into glory upon the completion of her earthly life. Yet the entire Church is the Body of Christ. As we pray on the Ascension, “where He has gone, we hope to follow” (Preface of the Ascension, P26). We, too, are called to share an everlasting life, in body and soul, in the company of Christ and all who are saved. “I will raise him up on the last day” (Jn. 6:54).

The conviction, renewed by the Assumption, that the destiny of the human person is to be in the heights of heaven, is clearly incompatible with allowing human persons to be thrown in the garbage.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Unborn. Her image was left on the tilma of Juan Diego at a time when human sacrifice was practiced by the Aztecs. They did this because of fear and despair, thinking the gods were against them and would destroy them. In her image, Our Lady is pregnant, and is carrying the God who is so much on our side that He becomes one of us! This Christian truth restored hope, and ended the practice of human sacrifice.

In our day, the child sacrifice which is abortion is likewise fueled by despair and fear. The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to travel the nation and inspire people in their fight against abortion. You can inquire about its schedule, or request its presence in your community, by contacting The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Inc.

“It’s not any easier to raise up a spiritual family than a physical family. Some people look at the priest and say: “Well, he’s not married, he doesn’t have any children, his life must be easier.” Oh, no. To think that it’s easier is to fall into materialism. Why materialism? Because we see physical realities as the only real reality. Spiritual realities are real ones too! Some people ask us, “Can priests have children?” Sure! In fact, if we don’t have children, born of our preaching of the Word and our administration of the Sacraments, there is no growth in faith. Think of those who, through our priestly ministry, hear the call of Christ to come into the Church, or overcome obstacles to faith and prayer, or receive new life by the sacraments. These are our spiritual children! If we are not of the mind that we are to be generative, that we are to bring spiritual children into the world, then we are practicing what might be called a clerical contraception. We are ordained to bring forth life and to do so generously.” (Fr. Frank Pavone, Address to Clergy and Lay Leaders in the Philippines, 1994. For the full talk, see www.priestsforlife.org/articles/Role.html.)

By Fr. Frank Pavone

The premise of Priests for Life is that abortion will end through the Church, because Christ has conquered death, and it is He who works through each of us to bring this victory to every segment of our society. The activity of the People of God to end abortion is not primarily a response to Roe vs. Wade. It is, rather, a response to Jesus Christ.

This response, of course, overflows the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II, in The Gospel of Life, told us, “No single person or group has a monopoly on the defense and promotion of life. These are everyone’s task and responsibility” (EV 91). He says this after asserting that the effort must be ecumenical and, in fact, must include the involvement of all people of good will.

The United States Catholic Bishops have provided marvelous guidance on how the pro-life effort of the Catholic Church should be undertaken, and at the conclusion of their national Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activities, they echo what John Paul II said in the quote above. They write, “We hold in high esteem all who proclaim and serve the Gospel of life. Through their peaceful activism, education, prayer, and service, they witness to God’s truth and embody our Lord’s command to love one another as he loves us. We assure them of our continuing prayers. And we renew our appeal to all in the Catholic community to join with them and with us in building a ‘culture of life.’”

That openness to others, that esteem for those who work for life in every denomination, and even outside the realm of Christianity, is essential for success - and that attitude is inherently a Catholic attitude. The word “Catholic,” after all, means “universal.”

Clergy and laity, together, are the “Church.” We are to be united with our leaders, first and foremost the real and living Person of Jesus Christ, who lives in and works through each of us. We are to be in union with his Vicar on earth, and with the bishops in union with the Successor of Peter.

One of the important aspects of being in union with our Church leaders is to read and study what they write. When Priests for Life was established, one of the explicit goals of its mission - to which we have been faithful ever since - was to publicize the documents of the Magisterium regarding abortion. On our website, you can find statements of the Popes and bishops on abortion reaching back for decades. (See www.priestsforlife.org/magisteriumteachings.html).

These documents, of course, are to be read in the context of what our leaders say regarding the respective roles of the laity and clergy. The documents of the Second Vatican Council, for example, are crucial.

Amidst all these writings we learn that the work of the ministry should not be “clericalized.” In other words, the laity are not to wait for the priest to tell them to bring the Gospel into the world. Each of us already received that commission from the Lord when our priest baptized us and when our bishop confirmed us! Of course, we rely on our shepherds for guidance as we carry out the mission. But it would be a big mistake to imagine ourselves as awaiting instructions for every step we take.

The Church is a family, a community, a body of believers called together in faith, forming relationships with one another, and joining our gifts of grace and nature to work together to advance God’s Kingdom of life.

Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries are announcing a special project called “Is This What You Mean?” It aims to educate the public about the nature of abortion and to challenge public officials and candidates who support the legality of abortion to admit what it is.

It is a project that you can easily participate in.

Below is a brief description of this project, along with initial resources that you can use. Additional information will be posted at www.priestsforlife.org/action/abortion-procedure-revealed.htm as the project develops.

Project: The Abortion Procedure Revealed – A Challenge to Politicians and Voters

We in the pro-life community have been fed up for a long time with “public servants” who can’t seem to tell the difference between serving the public and killing the public. They mask the violence of abortion with the smooth language of “choice,” and refuse to protect the victims.

These politicians are found in both major political parties; some hold public office and others seek it. And many Church leaders have been hesitant to discipline such individuals, even though many of them claim to practice their faith.

These abortion supporting politicians get away with what they are doing in large measure because they refuse to talk about what the “choice” actually is. They try to avoid the word “abortion” altogether; but even when they use it, the word has lost practically all its meaning. Voters hear the word but are left with little or no awareness of the gruesome horror it represents.

As part of the project, please spread the following videos.

From: Fr. Frank Pavone, M.E.V.
National Director, Priests for Life

Abortion -This is a Dismemberment Abortion

Abortion -This is a Suction Abortion

Visit PriestsforLife.org

[ Priests for Life Canada] Fr. Jim Whalen, National Director of Priests for Life Canada dies suddenly while conducting a Pro-Life Parish Mission.

Cumberland, Ontario, Canada, PRIESTS FOR LIFE CANADA: On Sunday, February 24, 2008, at aprox. 9:45 a.m., at the age of 68, Fr. Jim Whalen, National Director of Priests for Life Canada passed away suddenly while conducting a Pro-life Parish Mission at Most Holy Rosary Parish, Thorold, Ontario (Near Niagara Falls).

Fr. Jim, a priest of the Archdiocese of Ottawa ON, in addition to being pastor of St. Margaret-Mary Parish in Cumberland ON (near Ottawa ON), has been the founding National Director of Priests for Life Canada since the fall of 1996. Priests for Life Canada is an organization of Catholic lay people and clergy dedicated to supporting Canadian Catholic clergy and laity in the Sanctity of Life cause.

Surviving immediate family are his three sisters: Isabelle Patry, Montreal QC, Joanne Taylor, North Bay ON, and Patricia Whalen, North Bay ON.

Visitation at:

St. Margaret Mary Church

2565 Highway 174

Cumberland ON (just outside of Ottawa)

Thursday, February 28, 2008: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m and 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Map

Funeral Services at:

Divine Infant Church, Orleans ON

6658 Bilberry Drive

Orleans ON (suburban area of Ottawa)

Friday, February 29, 2008: 10:00 a.m.

Map

Interment to follow funeral Mass:

Hope Cemetery, Ottawa

4660 Bank Street, Gloucester (near Ottawa Airport)

Map

Funeral Services by:

Kelly Funeral Homes, Orleans ON

(613) 837-2370

For further information contact:

Priests for Life Canada: 1-888-300-2007

http://www.priestsforlifecanada.com/.

Let us pray for Fr. Jim Whalen.

在2008年1月10日, 我被維護生命小組邀請在中環的天主教中心的小堂為沒出生的嬰兒主持彌撒。
I was invited by a group of pro-life people to say Mass on behalf of the unborn children on the 10th January, 08 at the Chapel of Catholic Centre, Central.

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恭讀聖路加福音4:14-22

耶穌因聖神的德能，回到加里肋亞。他的名聲傳遍了臨近各地。他在他們的會堂內施教，受到眾人的稱揚。

他來到了納匝肋，自己曾受教養的地方；照他的習慣，就在安息日那天進了會堂，並站起來要誦讀。有人把依撒意亞先知書遞給他；他遂展開書卷，找到了一處，上邊寫說：「上主的神臨於我身上，因為他給我傅了油，派遣我向貧窮人傳報喜訊，向俘虜宣告釋放，向盲者宣告複明，使受壓迫者獲得自由，宣佈上主恩慈之年。」他把書卷捲起來，交給侍役，就坐下了。會堂內眾人的眼睛都注視著他。他便開始對他們說：「你們剛才聽過的這段聖經，今天應驗了。」眾人都稱讚他，驚奇他口中所說的動聽的話。

—上主的話

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 4:14-22

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄

 

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