Youth Group Promotes Error

Bishop Thomas G. Doran of the Diocese of Rockford along with Monsignor David D. Kagan, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, released a statement regarding the error promoted by a youth group, "Young Catholics for Choice". The statement was published in the Friday 8 January 2010 issue of The Observer, the Catholic newspaper for the Diocese of Rockford.

December 21, 2009

My Dear Friends in Christ,

It has been reported to me that an organization calling itself "Young Catholics for Choice" has recently entered into collaboration with some of the family planning services in the State of Wisconsin. Through items placed in the secular media in advertising and in other ways, "Young Catholics for Choice" is attempting to convey the message that Catholics can disregard church teaching regarding conception, abortion and human sexuality in general and remain Catholics in good standing.

This is the egregious error of many Catholics in political life who are unfaithful to the Church and who purport to remain Catholics while deserting the moral teaching of Christ and the Church. Sadly, examples of this kind of conduct are not far to seek even for us in the Midwest.

This message of "Young Catholics for Choice" and of unfaithful Catholic politicians could not be further from the truth. People can call themselves by whatever name they wish, but it is the duty of the Bishops of the Church to state clearly, unequivocally and unambiguously that by professing and disseminating views in grave contradiction to Catholic teaching, members of organizations like "Young Catholics for Choice" in fact disown their Catholic heritage, tragically placing themselves outside that communion with the Church to which they are called. We pray that they may repent of their errors and renounce opinions which are contrary to the Catholic faith which they claim to profess.

The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, D.D., J.C.D.
Bishop of Rockford

The Reverend Monsignor David D. Kagan, J.C.L.
Vicar General/Moderator of the Curia

IN MEMORIAM

IN MEMORY OF THE OVER FIFTY MILLION CHILDREN WHO HAVE DIED SINCE JANUARY 22, 1973.

ETERNAL REST, GRANT UNTO THEM, O LORD,

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
MAY THEIR SOULS AND THE SOULS OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED,

THROUGH THE MERCY OF GOD, REST IN PEACE. AMEN.

Let us pray for an end to the holocaust!

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy and Queen of Peace, PRAY FOR US!

Dirty Little Secret

I was watching cable news the other day and came across a special report called “War on Women”. It immediately caught my eye and I stopped channel surfing. I was immediately plunged into an interview between three women discussing women’s issues. They were talking about how unfortunate it was that in the course of history, women have only recently gained the vote. There were statistics about domestic abuse. They made a case for society’s forgetfulness about women.

One dirty little secret was missing. There is one secret injuring millions of women and killing millions of children every year…thousands by the day. Where is the respect for LIFE in this country? Why don't we realize that abortion and disrespect for life negatively affect all of us not just the fetus?

We say we care for our women but we don’t. That is truly the war on women. We ignore post abortion trauma. We use "the pill" to cover up the symptoms of far too many medical problems instead of getting down to the root of the cause. And so I make a challenge. Women: Don’t stand for it. Demand to know the facts. Demand to be treated in a dignified manner. Demand your femininity as was ordained for you by God. You deserve to be treated as human beings and not as objects. Men: Stand up as woman’s protector. Show her the dignity you see in her. Make sure she knows you do not want any harm to come to her. If we don’t stand up and proclaim this dirty little secret, who will?

For over three and a half decades, a culture of death has loomed in the shadows. In the coming months legislation and the efforts of those who support the culture of death as a “choice” will try to advance these shadows. I call upon you to pray. Listen to the call of the Holy Spirit and help fight these evils as you are able. Several programs will begin at UST and nationwide to promote a culture of life and social justice. Please join in helping defend all life from conception until natural death.

"Dirty Little Secret", written by Kellen O'Grady, was originally published in the University of Saint Thomas's weekly Campus Ministry Bulletin, "The Good News".