Catholic Bishops Weigh Into Budget Debate

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Weekly Briefing 15 September 2011 Catholic Bishops Weigh Into Budget Debate by Colin Mason As Congress struggles to balance our out-of-control federal budget, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has officially put its oar into the debate. In an open letter to congress, the USCCB (along with Catholic Relief Services), told federal budget-crunchers exactly what programs they thought should be sliced from the budget. And, (surprise surprise) they are the same programs that we at PRI recommend cutting. The letter was specifically addressed to the ponderously-titled Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, which is essentially the group of lawmakers who decide how to spend our foreign aid dollars. In the letter, the USCCB gave a ringing endorsement to the Mexico City Policy, the Helms Amendment, and the Kemp-Kasten amendment, saying: As you consider appropriations language, we strongly support restoring the Mexico City Policy against funding groups that perform or promote abortion, and denying funding to the U.N. Population Fund which supports a program of coerced abortion and involuntary sterilization in China. It is also important to preserve the Helms Amendment, prohibiting U.S. funding for abortion, and the Kemp-Kasten provision, prohibiting support of organizations involved in programs of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. Why does the Catholic leadership recommend these policy adjustments so forthrightly? Aren't policy matters supposed to be prudential concerns, decided by the state and left alone by the Church? Yes and no. Obviously, the Catholic Bishops Conference has no legislative authority. But when it comes to issues like abortion, the Church has always taken an unequivocal stance against the practice and has strongly opposed spending public money on it. And as such, it is well within the Church's rights to make public recommendations based on these views. Which is exactly what they did, by unequivocally supporting legislation that restricts or prohibits the use of federal money to fund abortion. By doing this, the Church made it abundantly clear that, while it supports many of the activities that federal foreign aid dollars go toward, it will never, ever bend on the issue of abortion. That being said, the letter makes positive recommendations as well. According to the USCCB, when not being lavished on abortion and other destructive measures, American foreign aid funds are actually a very good thing. As such, the budget shouldn't simply be haphazardly sliced, but should be trimmed in such a way that its positive programs can continue to do their important work. "We welcome appropriate efforts to reduce our nation's deficit and debt," the letter says, "but we urge the Subcommittee to work with other members of Congress to be fiscally responsible in morally appropriate ways." And what, according to the Bishops, count as a "morally appropriate" way to control the budget? By prioritizing the dollars the way the Church has always requested they be prioritized: placing the poorest, the most vulnerable, and the weakest at the head of the line. The letter charges the Committee to "give priority to those who are poor and vulnerable at home and abroad" and to "cut with great care, eliminating only those expenses unrelated to basic human needs and development." This is a stinging blow in the face of all of those who claim that the Catholic Church is willing to cut an indiscriminate swathe through American aid services, so long as abortion is kept out of the picture. The very opposite is the case. The Church recognizes that its commitment to taking a stand against abortion comes with a very positive responsibility: a responsibility to provide real aid and succor to the poor and needy. This is why the Church supports many legitimate American aid projects. And this is why the Church supports policies like the Mexico City Policy and others that protect life from conception. We couldn't agree more. Stand with us, and the Catholic Bishops. Sign our petition to bring back the Mexico City policy. Share this article on Facebook. Share this article on Twitter. Colin Mason is the Director of Media Production at Population Research Institute.   Media Contact: Colin Mason (540) 622-5240, ext. 209 Contact PRI online (c) 2010 Population Research Institute. Permission to reprint granted. Redistribute widely. Credit required. PRI is a 501(c)(3) educational organization. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to PRI, please go to our Donations Page. All donations (of any size) are welcomed and appreciated. The pro-life Population Research Institute is dedicated to ending human rights abuses committed in the name of "family planning," and to ending counter-productive social and economic paradigms premised on the myth of "overpopulation." Find us at pop.org.

Father Capodanno: Beyond the Call of Duty

http://www.tfpstudentaction.org/politically-incorrect/hall-of-heroes/father-capodanno-beyond-the-call-of-duty.html?utm_source=sm&utm_medium=email&utm_content=SAE0081&utm_campaign=MainNewsletter

ZENIT - Are You Envious Because I Am Generous? A homily on the parable of the workers

http://www.zenit.org/article-33429?l=english

ZENIT - Pope Benedict XVI advice to Engaged Couples

http://www.zenit.org/article-33410?l=english

Cardinal Bauttista on Eucharist

The Eucharist "is an invitation to solidarity and commitment to the poor, the suffering, the little ones, the marginalized," the cardinal reflected. "It is light to recognize the face of Christ in the face of our brothers. To acknowledge Christ in the Holy Host, in fact, leads to being able to see him also in our brothers and it opens our hearts to go out to meet every poverty."

--Cardinal Bauttista, Sept. 18

Saint Bridget of Sweden 5.20: Fasting, Works, Presumption, Mercy … devil persuades the imperfect man to fast beyond his strength, to promise to do …

St. Agnes's lesson to the daughter about not relapsing and not advancing properly, and about the right way to begin or continue with abstinence, and about what kind of continence is pleasing to God.

Chapter 20

Agnes speaks: "Daughter, stand firm and do not relapse, for a serpent lies at your heels ready to bite. Yet, do not rush unduly ahead either, for the tip of a sharp lance is in front of you, and if you advance at the wrong speed, you will be wounded. What does a relapse mean if not letting trials lead to regrets about having taken on a more austere and wholesome way of life and to a desire of returning to old habits and delighting the mind with dirty thoughts? Such thoughts, even if they give some pleasure to the mind, only obscure every good thing and by degrees lead away from all goodness. Nor should you rush unduly ahead, that is, punish yourself beyond your strength or imitate the good works of others beyond your capacity. God has ordained from eternity that heaven should be opened to sinners through works of love and humility, yet by preserving moderation and discretion in every way. Now, then, the envious devil persuades the imperfect man to fast beyond his strength, to promise to do unaccustomed things that he cannot manage, to desire to imitate more perfect models without considering his own strengths and weaknesses. The devil does this either in order that, when the man's strength fails him, he should continue with his badly begun vows out of human embarrassment rather than for the sake of God, or in order that he should quickly give up the struggle because of his indiscretion and weakness.

For this reason, use as your measure your own self, that is, your strengths and weaknesses, since some people are stronger by nature, others weaker, some more fervent by the grace of God, others keener due to good habits. Hence, regulate your life in agreement with the advice of God-fearing men, so that the serpent does not sting you due to your thoughtlessness, and so that the poisonous tip of the sword, that is, the poisonous suggestion of the devil, does not delude your mind so as to make you want to seem more than you are or long to become something beyond your strength and powers.

There are, indeed, some people who believe they can reach heaven by their own merits, and God spares them from the devil's temptations due to his hidden plan. There are others who think they can make reparation to God for their transgressions with their own works. The error of all of these is altogether damning, for even if a person were to kill his body a hundred times over, he could not make up a thousandth of the account he owes to God, because it is God who gives us the ability and the will, seasons and health, who fills us with a desire for the good, who gives us riches and honor, who kills and gives life, raises up and lays low. All things are in his hand. Hence to him alone should all honor be given, and no one deserves to be counted for anything before God.

Since you are wondering about the lady who came for indulgences but was corrupted, I answer you: There are some women who have the virtue of continence but do not love it. They experience neither a great longing for pleasure nor violent temptation. If honorable proposals of marriage were made to them, they would accept. However, since no great offers are made to them, they look down on lesser offers. In this way, continence sometimes gives rise to pride and presumption, which, by divine permission, leads to a fall, such as you have now heard. If a woman were so minded as not to want to be stained even once, not even if the whole world were offered her, it would be impossible for such a woman to be left to shame. If, however, in his secret justice, God permitted such a one to fall, it would rather lead to her reward than to sin, provided that she fell against her will.

Know, then, that God is like an eagle that from on high views everything down below. If an eagle should see anything rising up from the ground, it immediately swoops down and snatches it. If it catches sight of something poisonous coming against it, it would pierce it like an arrow. If something unclean is dropped on it from above, it gets rid of it with a great shake just like a goose does. God acts like that as well. If he sees human hearts rising against him due to the weakness of the flesh or the devil's temptations against the will of the spirit, he immediately swoops down through an inspiration of contrition and penance and brings it to naught, making the person return to God and come to himself again. If the poison of carnal desire or greed enters the heart, God quickly pierces the mind with the arrow of his love, so that the person does not persevere in sin and get separated from God. If some impurity of pride or the dirt of lust defiles the spirit, he shakes it quickly off, just like a goose, through constant faith and hope, so that the spirit does not become hardened in vice or the soul that is joined to God become stained unto damnation. Therefore, my daughter, in all your feelings and actions, consider God's justice and mercy, and always keep the end in sight."

http://www.catholic-saints.net

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Stethoscope Video with surprise ending

http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/stethoscope.html

When difficulties come thick and fast...Saint Josemaria Escriva on Fortitude

The person with fortitude is one who perseveres in doing what his conscience tells him he ought to do. He does not measure the value of a task exclusively by the benefit he receives from it, but rather by the service he renders to others. The strong man will at times suffer, but he stands firm; he may be driven to tears, but he will brush them aside. When difficulties come thick and fast, he does not bend before them. Remember the example given us in the book of the Machabees: an old man, Eleazar, prefers to die rather than break God's law. 'By manfully giving up my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws.'

Magis Reflection on laborers in God's vineyard

Reflection

• Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

• From today's gospel (Mt 20:1-16):

  The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner

  who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.

  After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,

  he sent them into his vineyard.

  A nugget of wisdom that we Jesuit scholastics (seminarians) often hear is 'compare and despair'. In the long process of formation, scholastics are sent to different work experiments and have unique summer opportunities - some that are more appealing than others. Like any group of people that work closely with one another, one inevitably compares himself to others in the group. I work harder than he does. She's more affable and talented than I am. He dresses like a slob! She talks too much and doesn't pull her weight. Why does he get the special attention and promotions? These comparisons lead to an unhealthy fixation on deficiencies (others' or one's own), and causes despair and uncharitable thoughts.

  So too, in the life of faith. I can't seem to pray as well as she does. He is a living saint...and then there's the rest o f us. I can't believe she calls herself a Christian. He is a lazy free-loader. Certainly there is room for fraternal correction done in charity when we see things that need attention, especially if they give scandal. But our Gospel reminds us today that Christ calls us to labor in His vineyard -- not to supervise it.

  The challenge that dedicated believers face is not whether we are willing to work for the Kingdom of God. The subtle caveat is that we are willing to work for God conditionally-i.e., on our terms, making sure that we're getting an equitable reward. Prayer time in, grace out; devotion to God in, special favors out. Who cannot relate to the day laborers who began early and stayed to the end, only to get the same daily wage as those who straggled in toward the end? The stout human heart is far more calculating than God's generous one; how quickly we forget graces received when we compare our relationship to God with another's. We do well to recall that He has been generous and patient with us - especially at times when we were the late stragglers who received an umerited grace from God.

  'My friend, I am not cheating you.

  Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?

  Take what is yours and go.

  What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?

  Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?

  Are you envious because I am generous?'

  Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

  May the grace today be to labor joyfully in the vineyard, free from idle comparing and despairing.

  Mr. Joseph Simmons, SJ

U.S. Catholic Bishops on stem cell research

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/stem-cell-research/