Jeffrey Miller

Back in September Bellarmine Veritas Ministry revealed that a number of groups being funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development had acted in direct opposition to Church teaching. Most of these groups were subsequently dropped by the CCHD which in most cases had been funding these groups for several years. Last week this same ministry reported that the “community organizing” group PICO was still being funded even though they provide contraception and so-called emergency contraception.” See A Shepherd’s Voice for details.

I remember when the report first came out someone working with CCHD or the USCCB had said they were unaware of the other activities of these groups they were funding. I certainly believe this to be true that they were unaware. Though it would have taken only a couple minutes of Googling to determine how problematic these groups are via their sites. No doubt they had their blinders on. In the so-called “Social Justice” arena there are many groups under this umbrella term that have missions directly contrary to the truth of the Church, though there is some overlap in the Church’s ministry towards the poor.

Unfortunately this is all part of the larger problem of the schism between social justice and pro-life causes. From the USCCB on down there are separate organizations and offices. The USCCB on their main page lists a “Life Issues” section and a “Social Justice Issues” section. Please tell me how the pro-life cause is not a integral part of social justice? Cardinal George, tear down this wall. This separation causes confusion and damage. You can not separate the fight for the unborn and others having their lives threatened from the preferential love for the poor. It is part of the preferential love for the poor that we love the poorest of the poor- those in the womb unable to defend themselves. Just as you can not call yourself pro-life and turn your back on the poor. It is love of God and neighbor that is the foundation of any acts we take in regard to social justice.

It was always a false claim that pro-lifers did not care about the child once it was born. Though judging by organizations that define themselves in the social justice arena, they usually either say nothing about abortion or they are directly part of the culture of death. So many Catholics that work under the social justice umbrella have become quite myopic about the groups they deal with and see as their partners. Go to the web site of so many religious orders in the United States and you see plenty of “social justice” links and support of the U.N. despite the intrinsic evils that their partner sites support. The USCCB via CCHD has been pretty much the same way. For anyone with any sensitivity about the culture of death the very names of the groups that CCHD supported would raise alarm bells. That they could go on supporting these groups for years and years without the least bit investigation into those they were partnered with says a lot about those working in the narrowly defined social justice area.

We should be working together towards a culture of life which see the dignity of every human person. We can neither turn our backs on the poor or the unborn and must constantly remember that whatever we do to the least of these we do for Him. Blessed Mother Teresa is the very model of the unity we should be seeing the distressing disguise of both the poorest of the poor, the elderly or infirm in need of care, or the child in the womb. She embodied the very view we must all hold to and to live out.

This schism between pro-life and social justice must end. From the USCCB on down to our hearts any false divisions must be removed. Abortion is the preeminent social justice issue of our times. But once again it is not an either/or situation and the Catholic both/and must prevail.

Blessed Mother Teresa pray for us.

I must admit it is nice to hear the President of Planned Parenthood complain about the Bishops. That finally the Bishops are seen by them as the kids in Scooby Doo – “Those meddling Bishops.” Plus the other voices angry at the Bishops for actually proclaiming the truth and defending the unborn.

Now I think the Stupak-Pitts Amendment is mostly political theatre since it can be done away with in reconciliation with the Senate bill or plenty of other political ploys. But still the vote was important and at every step of the way we must work to defend life, even if our efforts might be done away with at a later time. We can never stop doing what is right. Though the reaction is rather strange. Anger at the amendment of the bill that was not suppose to fund abortion in it any way. The normal two faces of politicians were once again asserting two things 1) This bill does not fund abortion 2) The Amendment goes to far in not allowing funding of abortion.

It is not surprising that the defenders of the Culture of Death are upset by any restriction on abortion in the health care plan. So of course the Democratic Party must bow to their masters and respond.

President Obama said today that Congress needs to change abortion-related language in the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives this weekend.

“I laid out a very simple principle, which is this is a health care bill, not an abortion bill,” Obama said. “And we’re not looking to change what is the principle that has been in place for a very long time, which is federal dollars are not used to subsidize abortions.”

Saying the bill cannot change the status quo regarding the ban on federally funded abortions, the president said, “There are strong feelings on both sides” about an amendment passed Saturday and added to the legislation, “and what that tells me is that there needs to be some more work before we get to the point where we’re not changing the status quo.”… [reference]

What? Oh wait the translation says “I oppose the Stupak-Pitts amendment because it does exactly what I said I wanted.” Yes the President that promised the Pope to reduce abortions and said “his” health care bill would not fund abortions is beholden to his masters at Planned Parenthood and NARAL to act.

Obama told… Tapper that he was confident that the final legislation will ensure that “neither side feels that it’s being betrayed.”

This is a step down for the President to go from messiah to Solomon. Sorry you can not both please God and Satan and you cannot please both sides of the abortion debate. Though there is a parallel with Solomon. Solomon said he would split the baby in two. In this debate there is one side that has no problem with splitting the baby in two or for that matter a hundred pieces. And there is a side who would protect the baby. Once again we know which side is telling the truth.

The four pregnancy centers in Montgomery County that don’t provide abortion services would be required to tell potential clients that they should go elsewhere for medical advice, under new legislation proposed by Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg.

Trachtenberg said the private centers, which promote themselves as a place to help women with unexpected pregnancies, often provide false and misleading medical information about the dangers of abortions or contraceptives in attempts to convince women not to abort their pregnancies.

Her resolution would require the centers to present potential clients with disclaimers in English and Spanish that the information given by the center isn’t intended as “medical advice or to establish a doctor patient relationship.” It would also require the centers to tell potential clients that they should consult with a health care provider before making decisions about their pregnancies.

“It’s pretty much just a consumer protection measure more than anything else,” Trachtenberg said. “We’re not saying they can’t seek clients and they can’t counsel them.”

She noted that the four centers outnumber the three full-service family planning clinics in Montgomery, which are funded partially with county dollars. [reference]

This tactic is becoming more popular because emergency pregnancy centers are cutting into aborturary profits.

Well then how about a sign like this to fulfill the law?

Plus what is good for the Goose is good for the Gander. If you are required to post what you don’t do, abortion clinics should have signs like this.