This week: Another Planned Parenthood manager switches sides and witnesses for life. It is time again for the March for Life. The Holy Father celebrating the Mass – Ad Orientem. Victory for the good guys in one battle against freedom of religion. Republicans and Democrats join hands to censor and kill the Internet. Reasonable and sane… or extreme ideologue? Three years down, one to go – Bill Whittle gives us a summary so far.
This is a wonderful success story of 40 Days for Life. A Planned Parenthood manager converts and the “clinic” closes. Precious lives are saved.
It is almost time for the 2012 March for Life (January 23rd). What can we expect? Massive turn-out around the country. In Washington DC we will probably see even more than the record 400,000 of last year. The marchers, as every year, will be young and enthusiastic. They will be polite and not make a mess.
There will also be a dozen counter-protesters at the Supreme Court. They will be old, angry and use fowl language if the past is any guide. Also if the past is any guide, mainstream media will give little coverage. What little coverage they do give will be buried, avoid acknowledging the size of the crowd, and feature tightly cropped images of the dozen pro-aborts on the court steps.
The battle for life is being won despite the media’s efforts. Make voting pro-life your number one priority. Vote pro-life for president, congress, state government, local government and even the dog catcher. I am not kidding – those in higher offices began in lower ones. Make it impossible to be a successful politician in America for those who accept the murder of innocent life in the womb.
Yes, the Mass CAN (and should, IMHO) be celebrated Ad Orientem. Most certainly not with the priest’s back to you, but rather with all the gathered faithful facing together toward our Lord (including the priest). Our Holy Father often celebrates Mass this way. Here he is at the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord:
(This video is no longer available.)
An important victory! In a Supreme Court case looking at the right of churches to hire and fire staff free of discrimination claims. Had the decision gone the other way, the door would have opened to telling us who we must hire (or keep) as priests. Elizabeth Scalia has some excellent coverage of the decision. The Catholic News Service has the details of this specific case. Fr. Z has comments too.
The left’s war against religion (Catholicism in particular) is at least not completely unchecked. This recent decision will not make Obama happy as a more measured legal strategy will be necessary. Who can forget this classy display of respect for co-equal branches of government:
Republicans and Democrats are joining together to censor the Internet. They want contributions from entertainment companies. Entertainment companies want to shut down any site they wish. The result will NOT stop internet piracy but it WILL hurt you in a wide variety of ways. The acts are named PIPA and SOPA and your elected representatives will probably vote for them unless they know you are watching.
Reasonable and sane… or extreme ideologue? Patrick Archbold at Creative Minority Report reminds us in this video he made in 2008:
Bill Whittle takes a look at our president’s first three years. Is this what we wanted?
Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!
Its just astounding that anyone could really stand against the Born Alive Infants Protection Act.
#5: oh.my.gosh. we actually AGREE on something politically. *faints dead away*
Ad Orientem being termed as “turning backs” seems like evidence of our desire to focus on ourselves on people, rather than upon the most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord on the altar.
Learning to love the extraordinary form, though distance to participate presents an obstacle…
It is important to note that the ordinary form (a/k/a novus ordo) is also quite properly celebrated Ad Orientem, in either the local language or in Latin. See this piece for example.