“Our once great western Christian civilization is dying. If this matters to followers of Jesus Christ, then we must set aside our denominational differences and work together to strengthen the things that remain and reclaim what has been lost. Evangelicals and Catholics must stand together to re-establish that former Christian culture and moral consensus. We have the numbers and the organization but the question is this: Do we have the will to win this present spiritual battle for Jesus Christ against secularism? Will we prayerfully and cooperatively work toward a new Christian spiritual revival ― or will we choose to hunker down in our churches and denominationalisms and watch everything sink into the spiritual and moral abyss of a New Dark Age?” - Mark Davis Pickup

Monday, October 28, 2019

HUMAN OPINIONS AND DETRACTORS

Human Opinions and Detractors—by Father Jim Canova

When Jesus went into the house of Zacchaeus many people complained at his association with a sinner. He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house!  Meanwhile, the Lord responded to the conversion of Zacchaeus with some of the most beautiful words of the Gospels: Today salvation has come to this house…
Do not care too much about who likes you and who does not. Why waste time worrying about who is for you and who is against you? Besides, you would be startled at what people really think of you! Just do your best to please Our Lord, and He will be on your side. He will stand by you as long as you hate sin and try to avoid it in your daily life. When He is with you, what does it matter who else is against you?
Never be disturbed when others say things that hurt. If you thought more often of your sins, you might even agree with some of their remarks.
Speak often with Our Lord, and people will impress you less than they do now. The more you advance in prayer, the less will you be tempted to talk against others. What they say or do against you, will seem so trivial when you have learned to join Our Lord through prayer and recol­lection.
Our Lord knows what you really are. What people say about you, will not change what you are nor what Our Lord thinks of you.
Just do your best for Our Lord’s sake, and do not worry what anyone may think or say of you.
Do not fear the judgments of those around you. Live for Our Lord by trying to please Him in your daily life. Then will you enjoy His peace – a peace which only He can give!
In God alone will you find true peace and joy. You must not desire to please others, and when there is question of doing what is right, do not fear to displease them! Only God’s judgment is important. All will agree with God’s opinion of you at the Last Judgment.
This article was  submitted by Fr. Jim Canova to ProLife Corner, and online presence of Stephenson County Right To Life, Freeport, Illinois. Link here

Sunday, October 20, 2019

CULTURE OF LIFE AND BEAR FOOD?

Businessman Mac Brydon
of Macron, Georgia
American Life League's Culture of Life Studies Program has teamed together with Macron Georgia entrepreneur, Mac Brydon, in support of his peanut business called Bear Food. Mr. Brydon has Down's Syndrome and employs people with special needs. Well done, Mac! Well done American Life League and their Culture of Life Studies Program! Click on the words Bear Food above for a link to an article about this partnership.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

A SPEECH ABOUT FAITH, FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND THE VALUE OF EVERY HUMAN LIFE

LaRee Pickup addressed the
United States National
Right to Life Prayer Breakfast
about what really matters in life:
Life itself
Nine years ago, my wife LaRee addressed the United States National Right To Life Prayer Breakfast. She spoke to an audience of over 800 people about her experience with the heartbreak of abortion, serious degenerative disease and disability of a loved-one, end of life issues, and how love (both human and divine) can transcend it all, if we let it. She spoke of the innate value of every human being for no other reason than we are all made in the image of God and deserve to be loved, included, nurtured, and protected. Her story captivated the audience from all 50 states. She spoke from her heart to their hearts about the importance of faith, family and interdependent community. You could have heard a pin drop. People openly wept at the simple yet profound truths of which she spoke—truths that build and sustain every civilized society. 

Friday, October 11, 2019

A BRIEF THOUGHT FOR TODAY ON THE SOURCE OF MEANING


Your connection with God, and your connection with other people is the most important thing you can do in life. Love is where meaning is found.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

I AM A PARIAH IN MY OWN COUNTRY!


It’s federal election season in Canada. Canadians have the Liberal Party, the Conservatives, the New Democratic Party (NDP), the Peoples’ Party, Bloc Québécois (Quebec's separatist party) and the Greens to choose from as the next government. The Liberals and Conservatives are in a dead heat for 1st place. On the 7th of October 2019, we were treated to a English debate amongst the leaders. A pretty motley group but there’s our choices. They shouted over, er, I mean debated about the economy, each others’ faulty characters, the economy, energy, the environment, immigration and so forth—the usual topics one would expect in such an election forum. At one point, the topic turned to abortion. 
The only pro-Life candidate is the Conservative Andrew Scheer. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported: 
“The debate turned briefly to the subject of abortion and a woman's right to choose, which saw Scheer facing attacks from all on the stage. 
"The laws of access on this issue have not changed for 30 years under Liberal prime ministers, under Conservative prime ministers, they will not change when I am prime minister," Scheer said.” [1] 

Pretty soft pro-Life! What’s the point of Scheer saying he is pro-Life if he’s has no intention of trying to extend Canada’s constitutionally guarantee of the right to life to the youngest and most vulnerable members of Canadian society?
What I found revealing is that the Liberals, the NDP and the Greens will not allow a pro-Life candidate to run for Member of Parliament in their parties. Liberal Leader, Justin Trudeau, challenged Scheer about why he would even sign the nomination papers of any pro-Life candidate? To 21st Century progressive thought, it’s unthinkably to the Prime Minister that the Conservatives would allow any candidate for Parliament who would not wholeheartedly embrace a woman’s right to choose death for her unwanted or inconvenient unborn child. After all, it’s a Canadian value.
In Canada, a woman can have an abortion for any reason at all, or no reason whatsoever; and she can have as many abortions as she wants—all paid by the Canadian taxpayer. All she needs to do is call her friendly neighbourhood abortion clinic and make an appointment. Remember, It’s a Canadian value. The unfettered right of women to kill their unwanted pre-born children is so deeply ingrained into the Canadian political psyche; anyone who might give any modicum of concern to the child’s life is anathema. We are unfit for public office and should not be allowed to be Members of Parliament. The People’s House is now only for those people whose views do not offend the sensibilities of Canada’s new progressive elite in government and the media.
The pressure is on Andrew Scheer to close the door to pro-Life people in Canada’s Parliament. Our mainline secular media are fully supportive of the idea and are prepared to shame Andrew Scheer into not allowing pro-Life candidates within the Conservative roster of candidates for Parliament. I predict he will cave to the pressure.
The allure of power corrupts people and the Conservatives are no exception. They want back in power. They will throw anybody under the bus who dare speak for protecting the most voiceless of the Canadian family: Unborn children. It's an affront to the progressive ideal of Choice even when it involves killing another or oneself. Choice and autonomy trump all other considerations.
In "Canadian values" it’s now wrong to oppose euthanasia. Progressives like to use the flowery innocuous sounding euphemism Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) for lethal injection of our sickest and most disabled citizens. After all, Canadians are a polite people even when embracing what previous generations called murder. We like euphemisms that disguise ugly and unpleasant truth or deeds.
The concept of the sanctity of human life is passé—so hopelessly old fashioned for Canada’s Brave New World. Dinosaurs like me who still hold dear the concept that every life is worth living and deserves protection and care, has no place in public office or even the arena of public discourse. My views are unwelcome with Canada’s political elite. Indeed! 

I refuse to pledge my allegiance to this new Canadian value of unfettered choice, regardless of how barbaric it may be. People like me are effectively shut out. I do not fit into the country of my birth. I am a pariah.

Mark Davis Pickup 

Thursday, October 3, 2019

CANADA'S RESPECTABLE BIGOTRY AND "SOFT AUTHORITARIANISM"

There is a respectable bigotry amongst Canada's liberal and progressive elite. It is a prejudice against people of faith, and particularly a  prejudice against Christians. American author Wesley J. Smith has just written a penetrating article about this politically correct bigotry in an article entitled "CANADA GOES SOFTLY AUTHORITARIAN: Morality now begins and ends with government," in The American Spectator, 03 October, 2019.

MDP