Weekly News (Fourth Week of March 2013)

1. Life Has Exchanged the Tomb for the Sky

Lectio Divina: Easter, Year C

The first day of the week is Sunday, the day in which we celebrate Christ's resurrection. He resurrects in the night, long before the sunshine illuminates this day of celebration. [Read More]

2. Easter's Message of Hope Helps Us Face Trials, Bishops Say

Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said that turning to God is the most creative approach to problem solving ever imagined. [Read More]

3. Thousands Flood DC to Stand Up For Marriage

Washington D.C., Mar 27, 2013 / 06:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Citing concerns for the well-being of children and respect for the democratic process, participants in the national March for Marriage in Washington, D.C., stressed the importance of marriage for society. [Read More]

4. Anderson Cooper Kisses 'Boy Scout' Madonna to Offend Traditional America [Read More]


5. In New Zealand and France, Support for Same-Sex Marriage Wanes as Legalization Looms

(CNSNews.com) – As the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in two same-sex marriage cases, the approaching passage of laws legalizing same-sex marriage in New Zealand and France appear to be prompting a public opinion shift against the change. [Read More]

6. Why Easter Sunday Matters to the Pro-Life Movement

Of all the holidays and events on our calendars, I believe none are more important than Easter Sunday. [Read More]

7. What Harm Would It Do To Legalize Gay "Marriage"?

At the outset, it is worth noting that this question is often framed in a rather misleading way: “What harm would a same-sex couple getting married do to your opposite-sex marriage?” The issue, however, is not how any one couple’s marriage would affect any other specific couple’s marriage—the issue is how changing the definition of marriage under the law would change the social institution of marriage. [Read More]

8. Must-See Video: A Marriage Expert's Masterful Handling of Piers Morgan


WASHINGTON, D.C., March 28, 2013 (Heritage Foundation) - How do you throw Piers Morgan off his game? Stick to the facts, remain civil and win the argument. Heritage’s Ryan Anderson did exactly that Tuesday night in a showdown with the liberal CNN host of “Piers Morgan Live” and guest Suze Orman. [Read More]

9. Callings and Crosses

Family Matters: Single Life

There are the normative ways to draw close to God. Then there are as many other ways as there are people. [Read More]

10. Delaying Marriage

One of the major social changes in recent times is the postponement of marriage. A recent report examined the implications of this development. [Read More]

Happy Easter!

Weekly News (Third Week of March 2013)

1. Pope Gives First Impression of Simplicity, Sense of Humor

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, today commented on the Pope's first public appearance Wednesday evening, when Francis greeted the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square. [Read More]

2. Without Christ Crucified, Church a 'Pitiful' Organization, Pope Says

Vatican City, Mar 14, 2013 / 12:23 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The day after he was elected, Pope Francis emphasized that every believer – including bishops, cardinals and Popes – must proclaim Jesus crucified to be true Christians. [Read More]

 3. Pope Francis Has 'High Hopes' for Filipinos

Manila, March 14, 2013 - The new pope of the Catholic Church is banking on the Filipinos in preserving and extending the ideals of Catholic faith in the world. [Read More]

4. Divorce Not The Answer to Failing Marriages, Lay People Told

MANILA, March 10, 2013 – With House Bill 1799 or the divorce bill looming in the horizon, a Catholic priest on Sunday urged the people to throw the measure on the back burner as it does not really solve the issue of failing marriages among couples. [Read More]

5. New York Times Greets New Pope With Abortion, Gay Marriage, and the 'Dirty War'

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires is now Pope Francis, and Thursday's New York Times front-page "Man In the News" profile by Emily Schmall and Larry Rohter, "A Conservative With a Common Touch," opened respectfully. But after a dash of local color and historical context, the Times quickly mounted its old hobby horse: the Church's positions on liberal issues like abortion and gay marriage [Read More]

6.  Pope Francis: Defend the Unborn From Abortion Even if Persecuted

"Defend the unborn against abortion even if they persecute you, calumniate you, set traps for you, take you to court or kill you. No child should be deprived of the right to be born, the right to be fed, the right to go to school." [Read More]

7. New Pope Francis Called Homosexual 'Marriage' a 'Machination of the Father of Lies'

VATICAN CITY, March 13, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, is known to LifeSiteNews readers as a valiant defender of life and family. In terms of homosexual ‘marriage’, Cardinal Bergoglio fought valiantly to have the law in Argentina continue to protect the traditional family. [Read More]

8. What Would the Greeks Have Thought of Gay 'Marriage'?

March 13, 2013 (Mercatornet.com) - It is ironic that the proponents of homosexuality so often point to ancient Greece as their paradigm because of its high state of culture and its partial acceptance of homosexuality or, more accurately, pederasty. [Read More]

9. A Pope From the Heartland of the Global Church

Washington - With the election of Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the first Latin-American Vicar of Christ in the history of the Catholic Church, the College of Cardinals confirmed an inescapable truth: The pilgrim Church has traveled far beyond its base in the Eternal City. [Read More]

10. Champion of 'Feminine Genius' Celebrated on 90th Birthday

Alexandria, Va. — On her 90th birthday, noted philosopher and Catholic theologian Alice von Hildebrand has been lauded for both her teachings and example of “authentic womanhood.” [Read More]
 

Weekly News (Third Week of February 2013)

1. Pope's Resignation Directs Faithful to God

Pope Benedict XVI's greatest act – his resignation – shows the love which the pontiff has for the Church, and his detachment from personal power, says Fr. Robert Gahl, associate professor of Ethics at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. [Read More]

2. Cardinal: Lent Is Time to Help Others

MANILA, Feb. 14, 2013— In his Lenten message, the head of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church called on the faithful to help other people, especially the needy. [Read More]

3. Archbishops Decry Military Gay Benefits Plan

Washington D.C., Feb 15, 2013 / 05:06 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Two U.S. archbishops involved in defense of marriage efforts and the military spoke out against a new Pentagon policy giving gay couples many of the benefits of military spouses. [Read More]

4. Demanding Recognition of Same-Sex 'Marriage' Pushes Intolerance, Not Freedom

MANILA, Feb. 7, 2013—With steps being taken in some developed nations toward legitimizing unions or even “marriages” between persons of the same sex, some Filipinos may fall into equating such steps with the pursuit of progress and development. [Read More]

5. Father of Chinese Infant Crushed by Family Planning Vehicle Speaks Out

This report was originally published in Xian Dai Jin Bao (Zhejiang Province Branch of Xinhua News Agency) 现代金报.  What follows is a translation. [Read More]

6.  Iceland Considering Banning Porn Because of Negative Impact on Women, Children

REYKJAVIK, February 15, 2013, (LifeSiteNews.com) – The tiny state of Iceland, known for going its own way among European nations, is looking at possible ways to ban internet pornography. [Read More]

7. How to Create a Strategy for Lent's Meatless Fridays

It's Lent and for many this is a time to create an intentional game plan for meatless Fridays. [Read More]
 
8. Benedict Will Still Be There for Us

Like most Catholics, I woke on the morning of Feb. 11, 2013, to a different sort of alarm. [Read More]


9. Benedict's Renunciation and The Wolves Within The Church

Monday's was an earthquake announcement that had to have greater significance than the Pope merely being tired and worn out. So, really, why did Pope Benedict suddenly announce that he would abdicate the ministry of Successor of St. Peter in only 17 days? [Read More]


10. (Video) Interview with Fr. Lou Cameli - Catholic Teaching on Homosexuality

Fr. Lou Cameli renowned theologian in the Archdiocese of Chicago, has made it his personal mission to clarify this message and get it out. He's written a new book titled Catholic Teaching on Homosexuality: New Paths to Understanding (Ave Maria Press, paperback, 192 pages) which examines the Church's magisterial teachings and offers pastoral and psychological responses to it. [Read More]

Weekly News (Second Week of January 2013)

1. Pope Calls the Incarnation God’s Gift to Mankind

VATICAN, Jan. 10, 2013 (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict reflected on the mystery of the Incarnation during his general audience Jan. 9, calling it the “original gift of Christmas.” [Read More]

2. Same Sex 'Marriage' Debate Continues

ROME, January 11, 2013 (Zenit.org).

The coming year will see the contentious issue of same-sex “marriage” continue in the forefront of news. Legislation is set to be introduced to legalize it in England and Wales. [Read More]


3. Proper Marriage Preparation, Not Divorce, A Real Need

MANILA, Jan. 7, 2013 — While pop culture has played up the notion of dream weddings and so-called “matches made in heaven” then later the breakup of marriages, hardly does it focus on one essential factor in tying the knot, which is vital to the happiness of married couples: adequate preparation. [Read More]

4. Sexual Difference Critical to Understanding Marriage, Authors Say

Washington D.C., Jan 10, 2013 / 02:13 am (CNA).- Defending the sexual complementarity between men and women in marriage is an essential first step in building up a healthy “culture of marriage” as a whole, say the authors of a new book. [Read More]


5. 20 Resolutions for Pro-Family Advocates Battling the ‘Gay’ and Transgender Agenda in 2013 [Read More]

6. 1.2 Million Abortions, 1% Consider Adoption, TV Ads Spark Change

In a country with an estimated 1.2 million abortions each year, less than 1% of single women with unplanned pregnancies choose adoption. [Read More]


7. Young Men Giving Up on Marriage: ‘Women Aren’t Women Anymore’

January 10, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Fewer young men in the US want to get married than ever, while the desire for marriage is rising among young women, according to the Pew Research Center. [Read More]

8. Facebook Allows Advertisers to Target Young Women with Abortion Ads

LONDON, UK, Jan. 11, 2013 (LifeSiteNew.com) - Facebook is defending itself after allowing an advertiser to target young British women with ads for abortion providers, reports The Telegraph. [Read More]

9. Pope Is a Huge Hit on Twitter

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI’s mass of 2.5 million followers in eight languages during his first month on Twitter has one Vatican priest calling the pontiff’s online presence “a new frontier” of evangelization. [Read More]

10. Les Mis: Movie Review

The musical Les Miserables begins and ends with the sung words “Look down!” That is, look down at the suffering, the poor, those who are told to look down, those who don’t dare lift their eyes to dream. There is a feeling of the socially-conscious Dickens’ work to Les Mis. [Read More]

Weekly News (Fourth Week of November 2012)

1. Pope Warns Gaza Conflict Could Spread to Middle East

Vatican City, Nov 21, 2012 / 11:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI is warning violence could spread through the region, after Israel continued bombing Gaza and a suicide bomb rocked Tel Aviv. [Read More]

2. Cardinal Tagle Receives Red Hat

MANILA, Nov. 24, 2012— Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle received the red hat and ring, symbols of his membership in the College of Cardinals from Pope Benedict XVI during a solemn consistory held St. Peter’s Basilica on November 24. [Read More]

3. Behavior Change, Not Condoms, Key to HIV-AIDS Prevention

MANILA, Nov. 24, 2012—No amount of condom can prevent the spread of AIDS unless a person adopts a responsible sexual behavior. [Read More]

4. Critics Find UN Contraception Push Harmful to Women

New York City, N.Y., Nov 23, 2012 / 04:03 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A United Nations population report calling for global contraceptive access has drawn fire from doctors and pro-life advocates who say the funding would better spent preventing maternal deaths. [Read More]

5. Sex: A Gift From God - Not a 'Free-For-All'

Dr. Tony Evans, author of Sacred Sex, says people have wandered so far from God's intention for sex. He hopes to help people get back to it "so that we don't have this free-for-all that's tearing our culture apart." [Read More]

6. 4th Straight Year: Obama Thanksgiving Resolution Doesn’t Thank God

For the fourth straight year, the Thanksgiving resolution from President Barack Obama fails to actually thank God — which is the fundamental reason why Thanksgiving is observed. [Read More]

7. Transhumanism: Taking the Place of Our Creator

There is a dangerous philosophy emerging in our fast-paced, technology-driven world of which most people are totally unaware. And yet, when Francis Fukuyama, economist at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, was asked what idea posed the "greatest threat to the welfare of humanity," his answer was this philosophy. [Read More]

8. Porn One of the Greatest Threats to Christianity: Christian Apologist

November 21, 2012 (Breakpoint.org) - Pornography is out there, and it’s not going away any time soon. So to help your kids guard against it, you have to prepare them. [Read More]

9. Alberta School Boards Association Rejects ‘Sexual Orientation’ Policy

EDMONTON, Alberta, 23 November, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Alberta parents who support traditional values are breathing a sigh of relief after the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) rejected a proposal calling for policies to deal with an alleged “pervasive school-wide culture of homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism”. [Read More]

10. Rekindling The Fire of Holiness

PHILADELPHIA, NOV. 23, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The Church has many good reasons why people should believe in God, believe in Jesus Christ and believe in the beauty and urgency of her own mission.  But she has only one irrefutable argument for the truth of what she teaches – the personal example of her saints. [Read More]

Weekly News (Second Week of November 2012)

1. Pope Calls Faith, Reason Dialogue Essential to Human Freedom

Vatican City, Nov 8, 2012 / 04:22 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI said cooperation between science and faith is necessary for world peace and man's destiny, as he addressed the Pontifical Academy of Sciences this morning. [Read More]

2. Pro-Life Leaders to Speak at a National Congress For Life in Cebu

MANILA, Nov. 10, 2012—Cebu City plays host to another big gathering of luminaries and workers in the pro-life movement as the National “Philippines for Life” Congress 2012, organized by Human Life International (HLI) Pilipinas happens on November 16-17. [Read More]

3. Re-Election of Pro-Abortion US President Impetus for PH Pro-Lifers to Intensify Advocacy

MANILA, Nov. 7, 2012—The re-election of the most pro-abortion president in US history, while a major disappointment to conservatives in that nation as well as to life and family advocates in the Philippines, may just be the motivation needed to galvanize the pro-life movement and work double tides to get pro-life candidates into public office in the 2013 elections. [Read More]

4. Washingston State Leads Same-Sex "Marriage" Sweep

Voters in the state of Washington voted to allow same-sex "marriage" Tuesday night, winning 52 to 48 percent, reflecting the blue tide that swept across the nation. [Read More]

5. Gay ‘Marriage Equality’ = Unequal Treatment for Heterosexuals

The homosexual push for “equal marriage,” otherwise known as genderless marriage, can only lead to a ban on heterosexual rights. [Read More]

6. Obama Won, But the Pro-Life Movement is Still Winning [Read More]

7. A Person is More than His Body, and Love is More than Sex

Amidst the hype of the newly “discovered” – and forged – Papyrus scroll that seemingly serves as evidence that Jesus had a wife, it is highly interesting and noteworthy that NBC news chose the following title for one of its articles on the topic: “Too Holy for Sex: The Problem of a Married Jesus.” [Read More]

8. 50 Shades of Pornography Addiction

October 30, 2012 (PornHarms.com) - Men and women view the world differently. That’s no secret. And it’s also no secret the majority of pornography is marketed toward men and it typically objectifies women as highly sexualized beings willing to cater to every whim. [Read More]

9. The Effects of Media Violence

ROME, Nov. 9, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The long-running debate over the effects of violence in the media has received new impetus from some recent studies. [Read More]

10. Christians Must Start Talking Openly About Porn: Creators of ‘Shamed’

LOS ANGELES, November 8, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Every minute Americans spend more than $3,000 on pornography. The average age of exposure to porn is now 11 years old. An estimated 25 percent of all internet searches are for porn. Every second, more than 28,000 people are looking at porn. And more than half of all divorces cite porn as a contributing factor to the breakdown of the marriage. [Read More]

Weekly News (Third Week of October 2012)

1. On The Nature of Faith

"Faith is a gift of God, but it is also a profoundly free and human act"

VATICAN, OCTOBER 24, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in St. Peter’s Square. Today the Holy Father continued his new series of catecheses on faith. [Read More]

2.  Cardinal-Designate Tagle Humbled by New Appointment

ROME, Italy, Oct. 26, 2012 – The recent appointment of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle may seem like another cause for pride for the Philippines, but for Tagle himself, the new position, if anything, humbles him. [Read More]

3. Catholics United Urges 'Gay Marriage' Surrender

Washington D.C., Oct 26, 2012 / 03:12 pm (CNA).- The group Catholics United, which until now has avoided directly contradicting Catholic teaching in its defense of Democratic political causes, has now denounced Catholic efforts to defend traditional marriage as a “far right-wing” social issue. [Read More]

4. Bishop Hits UN Proposal to Legalize Prostitution in PH

MANILA, Oct. 25, 2012—A Catholic bishop has added his voice to the growing criticism over a United Nations (UN) report recommending that sex-related jobs be legalized in the country. [Read More]

5.  Letter to Obama: Stop Attack on Ministries to Ex-'Gays'

On behalf of the Christian ministry Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), the United States Justice Foundation submitted a letter to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), calling for President Barack Obama's administration to put an end to its promotion of websites attacking Christian ministries that reach out to individuals departing from homosexual lifestyles. [Read More]

6.  Does Abortion Really Reduce Crime? Another Look at Freakonomics

Throughout the Twentieth Century, eugenicists promoted abortion and birth control, claiming that if the “lower classes” would only have fewer children, crime would also decline. [Read More]

7.  Gays Against the Gay Agenda (G.A.G.A.) Says Homosexuals 'Are Being Used to Further an Agenda [Read More]

8. Batman Actor Christian Bale Condemns Forced Abortion in China, Honors Blind Activist Chen Guangcheng

NEW YORK, October 26,  2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Actor Christian Bale presented blind forced abortion opponent Chen Guangcheng with an award last night at the annual gala of Human Rights First.  [Read More]

9.  Purgatory: An Objection Answered

In Catholic theology, Purgatory is a state (or a process, not necessarily a place) to which one’s soul travels if one has died in a state of grace, but nevertheless retains unremitted venial sins and certain ingrained bad habits and dispositions. [Read More]

10. Traditional Values Pay: Chick-Fil-A Makes Record-Breaking Profits After Marriage Controversy

ATLANTA, October 26, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Chick-fil-A has learned upholding traditional values is not just good for the soul; it’s also good for business. [Read More]

Weekly News (First Week of October 2012)

1. Pope Benedict XVI Grants Plenary Indulgence to Faithful

Apostolic Penitentiary Issues Decree on Occasion of the Year of Faith

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 5, 2012 (Zenit.org).- In a decree signed by Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro, Penitentiary Major and Bishop Krzysztof Nykiel, regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Holy Father has granted the faithful a Plenary Indulgence on the occasion of the Year of Faith. The indulgence will last the entire Year of Faith, from October 11th, 2012 to November 24th, 2013. [Read More]

2. Sto. Domingo Church Declared National Cultural Treasure

QUEZON CITY, Oct 5, 2012―The Sto. Domingo Church, one of the tallest and largest churches in the country, was declared on October 4 a national cultural treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines. [Read More]

3. Catholic Group Flunks Obama on Religious Liberty

Washington D.C., Oct 5, 2012 / 08:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Religious liberty advocacy group the Catholic Association released a voter guide on Oct. 4 that gives a failing grade to President Obama on seven key religious freedom issues. [Read More]

4. Scalia Says Abortion, Gay Rights Are Easy Cases

Justice Antonin Scalia says his method of interpreting the Constitution makes some of the most hotly disputed issues that come before the Supreme Court among the easiest to resolve. [Read More]

5. United Nations Recognizes Massive Underpopulation, Does Nothing

A recent major study by the United Nations admitted that ageing is now a worldwide “megatrend” in both developed and developing nations. Demographic Winter is arriving at breakneck speed. Within ten years, there will be over 1 billion elderly persons on the planet, and this will double to 2 billion by 2050 even as global population numbers start to decline. [Read More]

6. Number of Gay Characters on TV at All Time High: ‘Glee,’ ‘True Blood’ Have The Most

HOLLYWOOD, October 5, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Never before have there been so many homosexual characters portrayed on broadcast and cable television, according to the latest report from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). [Read More]

7. Childless by Choice - A Decision You May Live to Regret

October 1, 2012 (Mercatornet.com) - When it comes to major life decisions, who in his right mind wouldn’t choose what sounded like more fun and less work? This, according to one observer, is the rationale behind a new trend in Canada: childlessness. Says Joe O’Connor in a recent National Post op-ed. [Read More]

8. Should Mentally Handicapped People and Children be Baptized? [Read More]


9. The Happy Priest: The Unitive and Procreative Dimensions of the Marital Act

By being a total gift of themselves, married spouses, through the marital embrace, make visible the invisible reality of God who is love and God who loves us unconditionally. [Read More]

10. Fr. Barron on the “Seven Great Qualities of a New Evangelist”

Weekly News (Fourth Week of September 2012)

1. Religious Liberty at Risk

ROME, SEPT. 28, 2012 (Zenit.org). - Two recent reports on religious liberty have amply documented the challenges believers face in practicing their faith. [Read More]

2. Pro-Life Speakers in UP Forum Urge Students to Protect Freedom Threatened by RH Bill

MANILA, Sept. 24, 2012—Forty years after the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines, Filipinos are still hounded by attempts to impose legislation despite vehement opposition. Fortunately, the opposition is sustained – and continuously growing, as more and more life-loving, God-respecting citizens learn more about a measure which seeks to earmark P14 billion of taxpayers’ money annually for its implementation. [Read More]

3. Book Busts Myths About Church Teaching on Hot Topics

Denver, Colo., Sep 27, 2012 / 04:23 am (CNA).- Dr. Christopher Kaczor's new book addresses some of the most widely-held myths about the Catholic Church and its teachings, tackling sensitive topics like homosexuality and the abuse scandal. [Read More]

4. ‘Kvetch and Retreat’: Paul Ryan’s Capitulation on Homosexuals in the Military

Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s recent politically correct reversal on homosexuals in the military (to align with his running-mate) illustrates why conservatives often lose in politics by following a defeatist model of “Kvetch and Retreat,” as laid out by New York Orthodox Rabbi Mayer Schiller. [Read More]

5.  Why Teen Pregnancies Are On The Rise

PASAY CITY, September 19, 2012—Factors like lesser parental supervision, lesser stigma for pregnancies outside of marriage, earlier sexual activity and inadequate life skills, among others make it easier for teens today to get pregnant, according to a professor. [Read More]

6. Study: Urging Better Care for Pregnant Women Upsets Abortion Backers

New York, NY (CFAM/LifeNews) — A new study critiquing a drug’s effectiveness in childbirth sparked a vicious backlash from the abortion lobby this week, deepening concerns over the politicization of international maternal health research. [Read More]

7. Mother Teresa at 100: The Life and Work of a Modern Saint

In recent weeks, as we’ve celebrated her feast day and the 101st celebration of her birth,  we’ve been pondering the life and amazing contributions of a tiny woman who made a huge impact on our world. [Read More]

8. Dad Finds Porn on His 13-Year-Old Son’s Computer, Suggests Better Porn Sites

September 28, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – It’s a situation too many parents find themselves in nowadays: they stumble across their child’s web browser history, or walk into his room and catch him in the act - viewing porn. [Read More]

9. Megachuch Pastor Joel Osteen Dodges CNN Questions on Homosexuality

September 27, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Texas Megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen squirmed under a barrage of question about his beliefs on homosexuality during a discussion on CNN’s “Talking points with Soledad O’Brien” last Thursday. [Read More]

10. Abstracted From Reality: France Bans ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any stranger — or at least give a glimpse of how strange they will soon become for us — France has decided to ban the words “mother” and “father” in regard to the civil-legal treatment of marriage. [Read More]

Weekly News (Second Week of September 2012)

1. Benedict XVI: Fundamentalism a 'Falsification' of Religion

Aboard the papal plane, Sep 14, 2012 / 05:07 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict described fundamentalism as “a falsification of religion,” which goes against its true purpose as “an invitation to share God’s peace throughout the world.” [Read More]

2. Confusion Over Sexual Identity Contributes to Rise in HIV-AIDS Cases

MAKATI City, Sept. 13, 2012―With 88% of new HIV-AIDS infections being transmitted through “men having sex with men” (MSM), a recent HIV-AIDS training identified sexual orientation confusion as indirectly contributing to the spread of the virus. [Read More]

3. Embracing ‘Gay’ Lifestyle Contrary to Gaining Authentic Joy – Ex-‘Gay’

MANILA, Sept. 14, 2012—Living out one’s sexual attraction to persons of the same sex may give a semblance of fulfillment, but it is essentially a hindrance to attaining real joy, said a former entertainment writer and showbiz talk-show host who for years was steeped in what is often referred to as the “homosexual lifestyle.” [Read More]

4. RH Bill Is Not Pro-Life

by Bernardo M. Villegas, Ph.D.

It is not my usual practice to debate with specific individuals or groups about the issues I address in my columns. I am making an exception this time, as some might already have inferred from the title of this commentary. [Read More]

5. Christians Are Winning the Abortion Battle, But Don’t Stop Fighting [Read More]

6. Boys Will Be Girls and Girls Will Be Boys?

A conservative activist is concerned about the summer camps for transgender children that promote and normalize homosexuality, cross-dressing and transgenderism. [Read More]

7. Study: Time is Ripe for Catholic Church to Reaffirm Teaching on Contraception

WASHINGTON, DC, September 12, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A ground-breaking study titled “What Catholic Women Think About Faith, Conscience, and Contraception” offers new data that may finally lay to rest the oft-touted claim that “98 percent of Catholics use birth control.” [Read More]

8. On Humility and Staying Humble [Read More]

9. Marriage and Child Poverty

Collapse of Cultural Norms Regarding Marriage, Childbirth 'Has Been a Disaster'

ROME, SEPT. 14, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The economic problems caused by single parenthood were the topic of a report published last week by Heritage Foundation, a think tank based in Washington D.C. [Read More]

10. Ravi Zacharias: "A Sincere Christian Must Not Practice Homosexual Behavior."

Below is a YouTube video of world renowned Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias responding in an open forum (early this year) to the question: “Is it possible for a man or woman to live a sincere Christian life as a homosexual?



(Source: americansfortruth.com)

Weekly News (Fifth Week of August 2012)

1. Philippines Looking Forward to Canonization of Native Son

CEBU, Philippines, AUG. 30, 2012 (Zenit.org).- On Oct. 21, Benedict XVI will canonize Blessed Pedro Calungsod who gave his life for the faith on April 2, 1672, in Guam. [Read More]

2. AIDS Cure Alone Not Enough

MANILA, August 30, 2012— As science takes steps forward to stop “needless deaths” from HIV/AIDS, Msgr. Robert Vitillo urged governments to take measures that would prevent “needless infections”. [Read More]

3. Restoring Hope for Homosexuals

A new organization aimed at providing Christian-based help for homosexuals is in the beginning stages of development. It is designed to be a place for homosexuals disenchanted with Exodus International. [Read More]

4. Defeat Barack Obama: The Most Extreme President Ever on Abortion

America has never had a more pro-abortion President than Barack Obama. In another time, Obama’s views on late abortions and on eliminating virtually all current protections for unborn children and their mothers would have been considered a scandal. They would have disqualified him from holding high office. [Read More]

5. Pope Suggests It’s Best to Be ‘Honest’ and Leave The Church If You Don’t Believe: HLI Priest

VATICAN CITY, August 28, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In his Angelus address Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Judas’ betrayal of Christ, saying that Judas’ problem was failing to leave Christ when he no longer believed – a “falsehood,” said the Pope, “which is a mark of the devil.” [Read More]

6. University Upholds Study Finding Children Do Better With Straight Parents Than Homosexuals

AUSTIN, TX, August 30, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) - A Texas university has determined that “no formal investigation is warranted” against a professor who published a rigorous study this summer finding that children of heterosexual parents fare better in many respects than children of homosexual parents. [Read More]

7. Religious People Donate More to Church and Charity

A recent study reveals that states where religious participation is highest give the greatest percentage of their discretionary income to charitable organizations. Conversely, states that are less religious give less. [Read More]

8. Demographics as The Grim Reaper: The Death Knell of Low Birth Rates

The developed countries are suffering a severe birth dearth and, as a result, an enormous shift in global power will soon be upon us. [Read More]

9. Five Ways to Stop Your Six Year Old from Becoming a Sex Object

A new study just out from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, shows that girls as young as six are being conditioned by secular media to view themselves as sex objects. [Read More]

10. No Divine Life Without a Social Life

One day, as I was listening to the radio, a mother called in to a Catholic talk show with a concern. She said that although her family prays the rosary on a regular basis, her high school daughter was being “lost” to some very important issues such as same-sex marriage. [Read More]

Weekly News (Third Week of August 2012)

1. Devotion to Mary Profoundly Biblical, Argentinean Bishop Says

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug 15, 2012 / 04:09 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Archbishop Jose Maria Arancedo of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz, Argentina said devotion to the Virgin Mary has solid biblical and ecclesial roots that culminate in an encounter with Christ. [Read More]

2. Church Boosts NFP Campaign Amid Battle Over RH Bill

MANILA, August 16, 2012— Amid a battle with President Benigno Aquino III over a proposed contraception measure, the Catholic Church is promoting natural family planning. [Read More]

3. “Blogger” Who Launched Smear Attack vs. Sotto Is on Abortion Campaigner’s Payroll

Alfredo R. Melgar, the “blogger” credited for exposing Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s supposed plagiarism1 on the smear website of the neo-atheist Filipino Freethinkers, is no ordinary blogger after all. [Read More]

4. Moscow City Court Upholds Ban on Gay Pride Parades In Moscow For The Next 100 Years

Moscow, August 17, Interfax - The Moscow City Court has again upheld a ban on gay pride parades in Moscow for the next 100 years. Gay pride parade organizers intend to contest the decision. [Read More]

5. Abortion - the Center of Planned Parenthood’s Business Model

It is impossible to ensure that taxpayer dollars directed to Planned Parenthood for so-called family-planning services don’t also pay for abortions, and it is for that reason alone that it was appropriate for the New Hampshire Executive Council to reject the abortion business’s state contract for family-planning services last year. [Read More]

6. Birth Control and Disinformation: The Risks of Philanthropy

In a CNN interview, Melinda Gates has stated that for her, a Catholic, giving to women improved access to contraception is a full-time job. And, to the Guardian, she has confided her anguish as a believer, conscious that the 450 million Euros represent a challenge to the Church hierarchy. [Read More]

7. Choose Face Time Over Screen Time

In a restaurant recently, my wife and I couldn’t help but notice a family with four young children at the table across from us. As soon as everyone settled into their chairs, each child, including the youngest, who stayed in his stroller, quickly pulled out a technological device. [Read More]

8. The Moral Downside of Climate Change

Now that parishes and Catholic schools are being urged to show a documentary on climate change, perhaps it is time to comment on the wisdom of attempting to turn climate change into a moral issue. [Read More]

9. Fast and Furious

Growing up in a Media Saturated World

ROME, AUG. 17, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Violence, video games, and sex: what effect does it have on children and adolescents? The latest contribution to this debate comes in a book recently published in Australia. [Read More]

10. Sotto Bares Foreign Agenda Behind RH Bill

MANILA, Aug. 15, 2012–Foreign organizations are out to circumvent the country’s strict abortion laws and control the population by way of the “reproductive health” (RH) bill, Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III bared Wednesday. [Read More]

Weekly News (Second Week of August 2012)

1. Pope Benedict Challenges Believers to Put God Before Worldly Cares

(CNA/EWTN News).- God’s promise of a new and eternal life deserves priority over earthly desires for things that can never satisfy the heart, Pope Benedict XVI taught in his Aug. 5 Sunday Angelus address at Castel Gandolfo. [Read More]

2. ‘Youth, Most Threatened By Rise in HIV-AIDS Cases’

MANILA, August 9, 2012―With 27% of HIV-AIDS cases involving young people, alarm bells are sounding off that young Filipinos are the most-at-risk segment of the population at present. [Read More]

3. Church Leader Urges Congress: Prioritize Flood Victims’ Needs Over RH Bill Discussions

MANILA, August 8, 2012—After Congress “prematurely” terminated the debates over the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill, both pro- and anti-RH bill legislators are being called to give their full attention to the needs of their displaced constituents rather than prioritize the amendment of the bill. [Read More]

4. Homosexual Lobby Group Human Rights Campaign Strongly Opposes Rep. Paul Ryan

The nation’s most powerful “gay” lobby group, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), put out the graphic below about Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), after he was picked Sunday as VP running mate by Mitt Romney. [Read More]

5. Polling Data: Young Adults More Pro-Life Than Other Age Groups [Read More]

6. Lee Kuan Yew: “Enormous” Problems if Singaporeans Don’t Procreate

Former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has expressed concerns over Singapore’s low fertility rate. He was speaking at the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru National Day celebration dinner on Saturday. [Read More]

7. Priest Says iPads, Tablets No Substitute For Missalettes

Rome, Italy, Aug 10, 2012 / 04:05 pm (CNA).- In a recent blog post, Father Antonio Spadaro, known as the Vatican’s “cyber theologian,” said that devices such as iPads, smart phones and tablets should not be used instead of missalettes at Mass. [Read More]

8. Oxford Study: Loving Fathers’ Involvement Vital to Good Behavioral Development of Infant

A study carried from Oxford University has found that fathers who have a close, loving relationship with their infant children have a profound impact on the behavioral development of their kids as they grow older. [Read More]

9. Cure for Culture Shock

The deadly shooting rampage during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises that left 12 dead and dozens wounded revived our fitful national debate about the impact films that feature human brutality have on the consciences of their audiences. [Read More]

10. Marketing Natural Family Planning

WASHINGTON, D.C., AUG. 8, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the last full week of July as national Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, with a focus on introducing people to the concept of NFP in general, debunking the common misconceptions that have been attached to it, and attempting to convince couples to use NFP in place of artificial means of contraception. [Read More]

Weekly News (First Week of August 2012)

1. Pope Urges Trust-filled Prayer

Notes St. Alphonsus' Teaching That Prayer Is Necessary for Salvation

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 1, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is encouraging the faithful to turn to God in prayer with trust, seeing God as a Father who takes care of us. [Read More]

2. Church Brings Anti-RH Campaign to The Streets

MANILA, August 4, 2012—Thousands of Catholic faithful from across the Philippines will troop to various public places, cathedrals and streets to manifest their strong opposition to the controversial Reproductive Health bill now pending at both houses of Congress. [Read More]

3. Spanish Olympic Athlete to Enter Seminary After London Games

Madrid, Spain, Aug 3, 2012 / 04:06 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Carlos Ballve – known as “Litus” to his friends – plays defense on the Spanish field hockey team that is competing in the London 2012 Olympic Games. But as soon as the competition ends, he will head to a Belgium seminary to begin the process of becoming priest. [Read More]

4. Poll: Churchgoers Still Oppose Same-Sex 'Marriage'

According to the research, churchgoing America is still against homosexual "marriage," while non-churchgoers are more in favor of it. White evangelicals and black Christians are the strongest opponents. [Read More]

5. How to Contact Chick-fil-A to Support their Defense of Traditional Marriage and Biblical Values [Read More]

6. Do Pro-Lifers Make Faulty Arguments? How to Recognize and Avoid Them

Trent Horn is back in studio for one more episode, to discuss logical fallacies that both pro-life and pro-choice advocates make. [Read More]

7. ‘Campaign for Humanae Vitae’ Seeks One Million Signatures

August 1, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York made the stunning admission in March that he believes America’s bishops had failed in their duty to teach the faithful the prophetic message of Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical that reiterated the Church’s condemnation of contraception. [Read More]

8. ‘Same-Sex Behavior Is Hazardous, Is Harmful, and Is Dangerous’: Scottish Catholic Media Director

GLASGOW, Scotland, August 2, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The director of the Scottish Catholic Media Office has defended statements made by Archbishop-elect of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia. In which he argued that society has been silent when it comes to the health risks and dangers of the homosexual lifestyle. [Read More]

9. In the Absence of Fathers: A Story of Elephants and Men

Wade Horn, Ph.D., President of the National Fatherhood Initiative, had an intriguing article entitled “Of Elephants and Men” in a recent issue of Fatherhood Today magazine. I found Dr. Horn’s story about young elephants to be simply fascinating, and you will too. [Read More]

10. Sexual Content in the Movies

Risky Behavior, Pregnancy and Diseases

ROME, AUG. 2, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The media really does influence adolescents' behavior and early exposure to sexual content in the movies leads them to commence sexual activity at an earlier age and to take more risks. [Read More]

Weekly News (Fourth Week of July 2012)

1. Denver Bishops Mourn With Community Over Theater Tragedy

DENVER — Archbishop Samuel Aquila and Auxiliary Bishop James Conley mourned with the Denver community after a gunman opened fire in a local movie theater on July 20, killing 12 and wounding more than 50. [Read More]

2. Catholic Chaplain Helps Families and Survivors After Aurora Shootings

Englewood, Colo., Jul 21, 2012 / 07:24 am (CNA).- At Swedish Medical Center, where 23 victims of a deadly movie theater attack were brought in the early hours of June 20, lay Catholic chaplain Marcus Ebenhoe is helping family, friends, and survivors. [Read More]

3. Train Online Missionaries, Parishes and Dioceses Urged

MANILA, July 19, 2012—Organizers of the first Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMS) held last weekend urged youth coordinators in the dioceses to replicate the highly successful event in their respective regions to train young Catholics to be online missionaries. [Read More]

4. Google Faces Criticism Over Global Push for Gay Advocacy

Krakow, Poland, Jul 19, 2012 / 02:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Google's push for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships in countries like Poland has drawn the ire of critics, who suggest the company should address basic human rights violations elsewhere. [Read More]

5. Pro-Life Opposition to Melinda Gates Population Summit Not Fading

New York, NY (CFAM/LifeNews) — Pro-life protesters at the Family Planning Summit in London last week signaled that opposition to the multi-billion dollar campaign is not going away. [Read More]

6. Contest Draws Attention to Natural Family Planning

Voting for Favorite Video Now Open to the Public

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, July 19, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Goodness Reigns, a Catholic media site, is inviting the public to vote in its mini contest titled "Natural Family Planning: The Better Way." Judges for the event have already chosen as their favorite Leah Chen's video "Natural Family Planning Explained." [Read More]

7. Misperception Clouds the Truth

Americans are massively overestimating the percentage of the population that is homosexual -- a phenomenon that a pro-family activist says plays right into an "information war against the truth." [Read More]

8. The New York Times Reports Marriage leads to Economic Prosperity

NEW YORK, July 19, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – The definition of marriage has long been considered a religious or legal argument. However, a growing number of economists, journalists, and social researchers are concluding that getting and staying married is a key to economic prosperity and domestic tranquility. [Read More]

9. Author of Controversial ‘Gold Standard’ Study on Gay Parenting Being Investigated by University

July 16, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The University of Texas has launched a “scientific misconduct” investigation of UT sociologist Mark Regnerus, after he was accused by homosexual activists of “scientific misconduct” in his recent study. [Read More]

10. Facebooking for God: Nun Recruits Online

CNN has a nice feature video on the Good Shepherd Sisters in Quebec, highlighting their innovative methods to attract new vocations. [Read More]

Weekly News (Third Week of July 2012)

1. Philippine Bishops Release Pastoral Letter on New Evangelization

Highlight 9 Priorities Leading Up to 5th Centenary of Arrival of Catholicism

MANILA, Philippines, JULY 12, 2012, (Zenit.org).- Looking towards the celebration of the fifth centenary of the arrival of Christianity to the nation, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) released a pastoral letter on Era of the New Evangelization. [Read More]

2. Use Social Media But Value Real Relationships — Tagle

MARIKINA City, July 15, 2012—Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle urged the over 400 participants of the 1st Catholic Social Media Summit to consider the possibility that the desire to accumulate an enormous number of contacts on social networking sites indicates a yearning for authentic relationships that the virtual world cannot provide. [Read More]

3. Christianity Changing Lives of India's 'Untouchables'

Bangalore, India, Jul 12, 2012 / 04:07 am (CNA).- A human rights group in India says Christianity has brought slow but lasting change to the country's Dalits or “untouchables,” especially for the community's women who are often victims of prostitution and human trafficking. [Read More]

4. Statement by Andy Comiskey Expressing Concern About Exodus International and Alan Chambers [Read More]

5. World Population Day: What Is the UN Doing?

Billions of Dollars Directed to Reducing Births, While Countries Face Aging Populations

ROME, JULY 13, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Last Wednesday was the United Nation’s World Population Day. Predictably the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) marked it by calling for more funds for family planning. [Read More]

6. Int’l Campaign Counters Gates Foundation’s bid to Depopulate Asia, Africa

MANILA, July 13, 2012—The world’s largest international pro-life organization has launched a campaign to defend the rights of women, in response to yet another massive effort by the British government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to carry out its depopulation agenda in developing nations. [Read More]

7. Does the Church Hate Persons With Same-Sex Attraction?

Father Paul Check of Courage International puts the question of homosexuality in its proper context.

As the California Proposition 8 marriage case wends its way toward the U.S. Supreme Court, the Church is subjected to increasingly hostile attacks. The NewCivilRightsMovement.com, which reports on same-sex “marriage” issues, tells its readers, “The Catholic Church is the world’s single largest anti-gay hate group” and that Pope Benedict’s defense of the traditional family in January was “preposterous anti-gay hate speech.” [Read More]

8. Abortion Is ‘Directly Linked to Porn’: Anti-Porn Crusader

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A group of men campaigning against what they call the “pandemic” of pornography say that their fight is “directly linked” to the fight against abortion. [Read More]

9. Focusing on Wholeness: God’s Plan for Human Sexuality

July 13, 2012 (Breakpoint.org) - When it comes to sexuality, we Christians are mostly known for what we’re against, instead of what we’re for. [Read More]

10. Young Doctor Follows the Divine Physician

Meet a 28-year-old physician who is inspired by Mother Teresa. [Read More]

Weekly News (Second Week of July 2012)

1. Vatican Astronomer Says 'God Particle' is Misnamed, But Exciting

Rome, Italy, Jul 6, 2012 / 04:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- While it has no direct bearing on theology or revelation, the scientific discovery hailed by some as the “God particle” is an important achievement, a Vatican astronomer says. [Read More]

2. Christian Meditation Community to Hold Conferences in Manila

MANILA, July 7, 2012—The World Community for Christian Meditation here in the Philippines is organizing a meditation event for fellow practitioners, communities, priests, religious congregations and seminarians on July 11 and 12 at De La Salle University-Taft in Manila. [Read More]

3. Family and Life Commission Confab to Focus on RH Bill

MANILA, July 4, 2012–The Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) will conduct a 4-day conference that will focus on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill and other anti-life and anti-family bills. [Read More]

4. Bill Gates Backs Gay Marriage Drive With $100K Gift

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) —Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder Bill Gates have each donated $100,000 to the campaign supporting the state's new gay marriage law, which faces a referendum vote in November. [Read More]

5. The Overhauling of Straight America’: Homosexuals Lay Out Marketing Blueprint [Read More]

6. Underpopulation: Muslim World Faces Devastating Fertility Decline

New York, NY (CFAM/LifeNews) — Fertility rates of Muslim populations around the world have almost literally fallen off a cliff, so steep has been their decline. Policy makers at the UN and elsewhere have barely noticed this. [Read More]

7. Brad Pitt’s Mom Slams Obama on Abortion

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri, July 6, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Brad Pitt’s mother has shocked the Hollywood star’s fans after slamming President Obama for his views on abortion and same-sex “marriage” in a letter to the local paper in Missouri. [Read More]

8. Ex-Scientology Leader: Messy Tom Cruise Divorce Could Destroy the Allegedly Pro-Abort Cult

LOS ANGELES, California, July 6, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A former leader in the Church of Scientology is warning that a messy divorce between movie stars Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes could “blow Scientology wide open.” In addition to concerns about harassment and abuse, the cult has faced numerous allegations of coercing members into committing abortions. [Read More]

9. The Hidden Costs of Reproductive Technology

Studies Show True Risks of In Vitro Fertilization

ROME, JULY 6, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The number of babies born as a result of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) has reached an estimated total of 5 million, according to information presented at the 28th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), which opened on July 1, in Istanbul, Turkey. [Read More]

10. Know Thyself: 10 Reflections from St. Teresa of Avila on the Spiritual Life

St. Teresa of Avila, one of the great doctors of the Church, wrote some of the most beautiful and animated descriptions of the intricacies of the spiritual life. [Read More]

Weekly News (First Week of July 2012)

1. Defending Religious Freedom

Threats at Home and Abroad

ROME, JUNE 28, 2012 (Zenit.org).- As the Church in the United States continues its campaign to defend religious liberty, with its “Fortnight for Freedom” campaign a recently-published book examined the variety of threats. [Read More]

2. Church to Oppose Mega Casino Project

MANILA, June 29, 2012— If the government would allow the proliferation of more casino in the country, it must prepare for the consequences of more addicts, stealing and putting more stress on their families, a ranking Catholic bishop said. [Read More]

3. Use Funds For RH to Address Child Labor Problem – Bishop

MANILA, July 2, 2012— Spend funds intended for contraceptives to solve the burgeoning problem of child labor, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Jose Palma told government officials during a recent interview over Radio Veritas. [Read More]

4. President Using Military to Advance LGBT Agenda

A conservative military watchdog thinks the recent government-sanctioned events in honor of the military's homosexuals will spread to bases around the world if Barack Obama is re-elected president. [Read More]

5. Facebook Founder Chris Hughes Donates $100,000 to Pro Homosexual 'Marriage’ Forces in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine — Supporters of same-sex marriage exceeded the $100,000 they needed to raise to receive a matching contribution from a co-founder of Facebook. [Read More]

6. Archbishop Fulton Sheen Beatification Could Come 'Very Quickly'

Peoria, Ill., Jun 30, 2012 / 07:09 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A priest connected with the cause of Archbishop Fulton Sheen has said the “historic speed” with which he was declared venerable could be a sign that next steps to the beatification and canonization of the famous U.S. television evangelist and author might proceed at a rapid pace. [Read More]

7. Forced Abortion: The Most Despicable Human Rights Violation

On June 2nd, a despicable human rights violation was committed, and the world took notice. Chinese woman Feng Jianmei was dragged from her home, beaten, and forced to abort her seven month old unborn child, because it was her second pregnancy. [Read More]

8. Leading California Gay Rights Leader Arrested Over Child Porn Possession

June 27, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A prominent leader in the gay-rights movement in California headed to jail on June 22 after police say they caught him in possession of graphic images of toddlers engaged in lewd acts of sodomy and oral sex. [Read More]

9. Pro-Lifers on Obamacare Ruling: ‘Abortion Is the Greatest Social Injustice’

(CNSNews.com) – Pro-life activists gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court on Thursday expressed disappointment in the court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act, which upheld all of the law except the expansion of Medicaid – including the requirement that Americans buy health insurance plans that pay for contraceptives and abortion. [Read More]

10. How Will Gay ‘Marriage’ Hurt Us? Here’s How.

June 28, 2012 (Breakpoint.org) - Christians are often asked by gay activists why they oppose same-sex “marriage.” “How does our marriage hurt you?” they ask. [Read More]

Weekly News (Fourth Week of June 2012)

1. Pope Gives Advice to Keep Catholics From Falling Away:

Be Better Believers, More Pious, Welcoming in Our Parishes

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 22, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI met today with a group of bishops from Colombia in Rome for their ad limina visits, offering them some concrete advice on growing religious pluralism and the increasing presence of evangelical communities in the country. [Read More]

2. Priest Raps Bill Banning Religious Rites, Symbols in Gov't Offices

MANILA, June 20, 2012—An executive official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines hit a proposed bill seeking to impose a ban on holding religious ceremonies and displaying religious symbols in government offices on the pretext of religious freedom. [Read More]

3. California Flaunting Deviant Lifestyles in Upcoming Parades

A California family leader says two "gay pride" events scheduled in the state are harmful because they advocate for "false rights." [Read More]

4. Marian Event Answer to Threats vs. Life, Practice of Faith

MANILA, June 18, 2012—As the moves to uphold life and the faith must always be accompanied by the Blessed Mother, a Marian Congress on Faith & Life has been organized as the Catholic faithful’s answer to the current threats against life and the practice of faith. [Read More]

5. Linda Harvey: Don't Get Married - Get Even

How ‘non-discrimination’ laws are used to discriminate against people of faith

Relatively few self-identified homosexuals get “married,” even when same-sex unions become legal. But perhaps that was never the main point anyway. [Read More]

6. Abortion Proponents Admit Defeat at Rio Conference

RIO DE JANERIO, June 20 (C-FAM) In an astounding show of solidarity, a diverse group of countries rallied together with the Holy See to successfully remove any mention of reproductive rights or population control from the final outcome document produced during the last round of UN negotiations at the Rio +20 conference this week. [Read More]

7. Study: Belief in Hell is Associated with Reduced Crime

EUGENE, OR June 21, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Religions are thought to serve as bulwarks against unethical behaviors. However, when it comes to predicting criminal behavior, the specific religious beliefs one holds is the determining factor, says a University of Oregon psychologist. [Read More]

8. Catholic Charity Helps Lift People Out of Poverty

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Allison Yancey and her family, of Wadesville, Ind., had been sponsoring a Filipino child through the charitable organization Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA) for 11 years, but it wasn’t until she joined a mission trip in 2011 and met her sponsored child that she fully realized the impact of their sponsorship. [Read More]

9. The After Effects of Bullying Can Last a Lifetime [Read More]

10. Vatican Unveils ‘Year of Faith’ Plans

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has approved a formula for a special “Mass for the New Evangelization” for the upcoming Year of Faith, as well as devised an official hymn, a dedicated website and a multilingual pastoral guide to coincide with the event. [Read More]

Weekly News (Third Week of June 2012)

1. Vatican's New Project Dives Into Sports Ethics

Vatican City, Jun 15, 2012 / 02:59 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The ethics of sports will be the focus of a new initiative launched June 14 by two Vatican departments. [Read More]

2. Pro-Life Philippines’ Forum to Discuss Same-Sex Attraction

MANILA, June 14, 2012—A half-day seminar aimed at educating the public and pro-lifers on the issue of same-sex attraction is being organized by Pro-Life Philippines Foundation on July 21. [Read More]

3. More Porn, More 'Ransom Money'

A leading organization that opposes pornography and indecency is fighting against a proposal to allow more porn domains on the worldwide web. [Read More]

4. RH Bill a Foreign Concept to Filipinos – US Pro-Lifer

MANILA, June 14, 2012—Some sectors may praise what they regard as the merits of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, but another pro-lifer from a nation that is grappling with the consequences of institutionalized contraception, comprehensive sex education and abortion has pointed out that the measure is alien to a culture that is immensely fond of children, such as that of Filipinos. [Read More]

5. Study Finds Children of Same-Sex Partners Face Difficulties as Adults

Austin, Texas, Jun 13, 2012 / 03:59 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Children brought up by partners in same-sex relationships are encountering more difficulties in adulthood than their conventionally-raised counterparts, according to new findings published June 10. [Read More]

6. Washington Times Graphic on Homosexual Parenting Study Reveals Risks of Having Lesbian ‘Mothers’ [Read More]

7. Because of Abortion, Not All Dads Can Celebrate Father’s Day

As a father and now grandfather, I have entered an era of my life that’s blessed me with a profound respect for the significance of Father’s Day. [Read More]

8. Club Unicorn: I Am a Gay, Devout Mormon, Happily Married To a Woman, With Three Children

Editor’s Note: Homosexuality is one of the most challenging issues that we at LifeSiteNews.com deal with. In all of our reporting on the issue we seek always to integrate the principle of “love in truth” - that is, in all cases to love all people, but also to present them with the truth, which can be extremely challenging if they experience same-sex attraction, and especially if they have given themselves to the homosexual lifestyle. [Read More]

9. Open Your Home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

June is the traditional month dedicated to the Sacred Heart, and the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Friday following the Second Sunday after Pentecost. This year it falls on June 15. What better time to enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus as King of yourself, your home and your family? [Read More]

10. Spreading Lies

De-Bunking Myths About Christianity

ROME, JUNE 15, 2012 (Zenit.org).- “Christianity is the main, central, most common, and most thoroughly and purposefully marginalized, obscured and publicly and privately misrepresented belief system in the final decades of the 20th century and the opening years of the 21st.” [Read More]