Sudbury Christian Messenger, October 14, 2008
14/10/08 10:26
Full Edition of the Sudbury Christian Messenger for
October 14, 2008 - Election Day in Canada
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
(2 Timothy 3:12)
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"A mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions."
O.W. Holmes
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LOCAL
1) Pregnancy Care Center announces new website
2) Take 5 for Sudbury: 40 Days for Life
3) Sudbury Ministerial Monthly Luncheon Invitation Oct. 15
4) Bible study for deaf at Glad Tidings Oct. 16
5) Lead Like Jesus Revolution: Simulcast Seminar Oct. 17 First Baptist
6) Fall Harvest Tea at St. Patrick’s Church Sunday Oct. 19
7) St. Andrew’s United Church 125th Anniversary/33rd Annual Fall Fair Oct. 24 & 25
8) Events at New Life Ivan and Isabel Allum Oct. 24 & 25 ……and others
9) Annual Elgin Street Mission Fundraising Dinner & Auction Nov. 1
10) Spaghetti Dinner at Pro Cathedral of the Assumption in North Bay Nov. 1
11) Opportunity – write for The Sudbury Star Spiritual Page
12) Local Chaplain seeks rental space in South End of Sudbury
13) Northern Ontario Regional Gathering Nov. 7 & 8
14) Book Fair: St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School + Chapters Nov. 12
15) Heads Up – Sudbury Right to Life Tea/Bazaar Nov. 15
16) Seven Cantors Musical Event Nov. 19
17) Pro-Life Mass at the Pro Cathedral of the Assumption in North Bay Dec. 12
18) Heads Up – Marriages of Integrity – Promise Keepers Conference April 3 & 4
19) Heads Up – National March for Life May 13-15 Ottawa
20) Walden Word of Life a great resource for Christian books and gifts
21) Help us keep the Church Directory and Sudbury Christian Messenger database up-to-date
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PROVINCIAL
1) Ottawa Pregnancy Care Center and Planned Parenthood suit settled out of court
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NATIONAL
1) Tories promote pro-family agenda Paul Tuns, Editor, The Interim
2) No One to Vote For Dr. Margaret Somerville
3) Canadian Artist comments on modesty in a culture of shamelessness
4) Morgentaler’s Shallow Victory
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INTERNATIONAL
1) Repressing Religion
2) Prayer Request for Christians being persecuted in India
3) Pope Congratulates Knights for their Pro-Life Work
4) Billy Graham to turn 90 …….send congratulations
5) The Silver Lining in an Obama victory
6) McDonalds agrees to stay neutral in culture wars
7) Sign the Petition to United Nations re: family and saving the unborn child
8) Pro-Abortion UN Petition Falters; Pro-Life Initiative Numbers Surging
9) UK teachers’ union advocates law to change to legalize sex with students over age of consent
10) New UN Document Promotes Controversial “Right” to Health
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WORDS OF WISDOM
1) Three Trees
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Local News & Events
1) Pregnancy Care Center announces new website
Good News!!!
The Pregnancy Care Centre of Sudbury now has a website that can be visited for information, events, help, donations and much more!! You can find us at pregnancycarecentreofsudbury.com
We look forward to hearing from all our clients and supporters as we continue the work set before us. Please continue to keep us in your prayers daily as we endeavor to care for these young souls coming to us for help of all kinds. Thank you for all your love and support. And a special thanks to all our wonderful volunteers that give of their time to be here for our moms and dads.
God bless
Ginette C. Withers
pregnancycarecentreofsudbury.com
2) TAKE 5 FOR SUDBURY...40 DAYS FOR LIFE
Calling all Christians and those concerned with helping the least of these...
Join others across North America in a 40 Day prayer and fasting movement to end abortion!
Visit the Active Christians Engaging Society website for more info, at www.sudburychristian.ca and click on the "Take 5" tab.
40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a three-point program:
Prayer and fasting
Constant vigil
Community outreach
40 Days for Life takes a determined, peaceful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion in their own neighborhoods, for their own friends and families. It puts into action a desire to cooperate with God in the carrying out of His plan for the end of abortion in America and Canada.
The 40-day campaign tracks Biblical history, where God used 40-day periods to transform individuals, communities ... and the entire world. From Noah in the flood to Moses on the mountain to the disciples after Christ's resurrection, it is clear that God sees the transformative value of His people accepting and meeting a 40-day challenge.
40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God's power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion in America and Canada.
The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God's favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America and Canada.
Learn more about 40 Days for Life at http://www.40daysforlife.com
3) Invitation from Sudbury Ministerial for monthly lunch gathering
Wednesday, October 15th
Dear Friends in Ministry:
The Kingdom of God is made up of different (and sometimes differing!) members: The next Sudbury Ministerial gathering will be at the Salvation Army church (across from Independent on Lorne St.) this coming Wednesday, October 15th (always the third Wednesday of each month). We will worship together from 11:30-12:00. We will then have lunch together (bring a bagged lunch) and get to know one another.
Blessings,
John Harvey
Rev. John Harvey (Ph.D.)
Thorneloe College School of Theology, Registrar
4) Sudbury Christian Deaf Fellowship: Monthly Ministry for Deaf at Glad Tidings
Oct. 16 “Secrets on Godly Living”
We have a monthly Deaf ministry called SCDF Sudbury Christian Deaf Fellowship. Information as follows;
Our next meeting will be Thursday October 16th, 2008 7pm to 9pm doors open at 6:45pm
We will be starting a DVD study series on "Secrets on Godly Living"
presented in American Sign Language (ASL) with Deaf Pastor Jeff Jackson.
Fellowship following, Free admission and everyone welcome. More information please e-mail deaf@gladtidingssudbury.ca
Thank you
Wendy
5) Lead Like Jesus Revolution: Simulcast Seminar
First Baptist Church Oct. 17
Blessings Sister Churches
I am sure you have heard about our "Lead Like Jesus Revolution" Simulcast but we are asking if you could please share with your church families again.
On October 17th, 2008, First Baptist Church is proud to announce that we will be hosting the "Lead Like Jesus Revolution" Simulcast.
An inspirational, informative, and interesting day-long simulcast (satellite technology) conference, its quick pace and variety of speakers and topics keep attendees engaged.
This year's line-up is outstanding - Ken Blanchard (One Minute Manager), will co-host the day with noted author John Ortberg. Local organizers are Tricia Wallenius and a team from Christian Horizons. Pastor Stan Ball is the event champion.
This simulcast is set to take place at the First Baptist Church on Friday, October 17. Our day starts at 8:15 a.m. and is finished by 4:30 p.m.
For ticket reservations see Pastor Stan, or call him at 626.6554 or at the church at 693-3278.
Price for the day is $39 and lunch is provided.
We have been selected as one of just 2 dozen locations in North America. Don't miss it!
"In an age so lacking in leadership and in a world so in need of Jesus, few investments will pay a greater dividend than support of Lead Like Jesus."
Dr. Mark Rutland, president of Southeastern University
God Bless
6) Fall Harvest Tea at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
Fall Harvest Tea to be held Sun. Oct 19th from 12:30 to 3:30pm at St. Patrick’s Church in the hall ( we now have an elevator and all is completely accessible)
Tickets are $3.00.
7) St. Andrew’s United Church 125th Anniversary/33rd Annual Fall Fair
October 24 and 25th
Jeannine Zadow who is involved in organizing the Annual St. Andrew’s Fall Fair invites everyone to attend the Fair.
COME CELEBRATE THE 33RD Annual Fall fair
And the 125th Anniversary of St. Andrew’s United Church
111 Larch St. Downtown
Friday Oct. 24, 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday Oct. 25, 10:00am to 3:00pm
Admission - $3.00 ;Seniors & under 14 - $2.00
Booths will include Local Crafters, Treasures, Food, Silent Auction, Books, Knitting, Sewing, Gifts Galore, Music, Baking & much more
( If you come from 6 to 7pm Friday, you can have a great meal and be serenaded by musicians, or come for lunch on Saturday between 11:30am & 1:30pm and also be entertained.
The kitchen is featuring home made chicken pot pies, vegetable soup, rolls, salad & home made apple pie. You can have all or any combination for $4.00 to $8.00.
If that doesn’t fill you up, you can indulge at the ice cream parlour too…
8) New Life upcoming event Ivan & Isabel Allum Oct. 24-26
Ivan and Isabel Allum
New Life is Hosting a visit by Ivan and Isabel Allum, Oct 24th – 26th
Hi friends,
The time has come again for Ivan and Isabel Allum to minister in our area. We are very excited to have them back for the 3rd year in a row! Many of you may have already met them and heard their wonderful and anointed teaching about the Father’s Heart and His plan to give us “a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). Sharing from years of personal experience, the Allums have imparted God’s destiny and vision wherever they go. (And they go far! – to Australia, Africa, Europe, the United States and all over Canada)
Please join us – and invite others! – to be blessed as we hear from the Father’s heart for our city, our churches and for each one of us individually.
Isabel and Ivan Allum speaking/ministering at:
3 public meetings from Oct. 24th – Oct 26th (Fri-Sun.) at 7pm each night
at Grace Family Church (468 Antwerp Av., Sudbury)
You can visit their own website at www.ivan-isabel.com
Should you have any further questions, please contact me at 855-1709 or iguse@personainternet.com
Blessings,
Ingrid Guse on behalf of
New Life Christian Centre
a) "The Cry'
The Cry is not an event. The Cry is an interdenominational movement emphasizing prayer, worship and fasting for Spiritual advance in Canada. It is a nameless and faceless movement joining the generations.
Every Cry is different and the topics that are prayed for vary depending on the issues facing our leaders, and the nation, at any given moment.
A Cry will take place in Toronto on Oct 31st.
We will be distributing info regarding "The Cry" in our city churches.
It is a group open to everyone but focused on youth.
It is this young generation rising up and saying 'enough'
It is them crying out to God for their generation and our nation.
There are number of congregations interested ...... so we assigned a contact person who would facilitate a group of interested people attending these events from our city.
Darren Parker, will be doing this.
'Darren is coming on staff here at New Life and so can be contacted through New Life.
jimsuecraig@hotmail.com
d) Heaven's Rehearsal
This is an event which again is faceless and nameless.
Its purpose is to gather every nation, every tribe, every tongue, every language, for a night of worship and exaltation of the King of Kings.
This celebration of worship will take place on November 01/08 at the Rogers' Centre in Toronto
Bus going from Sudbury, Sat. Nov 01, 10:30, returning after the event
Cost - $75 for bus and ticket before Oct 22nd, $85 after
Only a few seats left
If interested call Sue Craig 855 9404 ASAP
All inquiries: Call Sue 983 9296 or 855 9404
jimsuecraig@hotmail.com
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9) Annual Elgin Street Mission Fundraising Dinner & Auction Nov. 1
“Keeping the Mission Afloat”
Saturday, November 1, at Science North Cavern
Tickets $40.00 each Table of 8 for $300.00
Doors open for hors d’oeuvres at 5:30
Dinner at 6:30 Auction at 7:45
For tickets please call Tammy at 673 2163/administrator@themission.ca
Proceeds to North Bay pro-life
For further information, call Nancy Tremblay
10) Spaghetti Dinner at the Pro Cathedral of the Assumption in North Bay Nov. 1
Proceeds to North Bay pro-life
For further information, contact Nancy Tremblay nancy355@sympatico.ca
11) Sudbury Star Opportunity – Write for Spiritual Page !!!!!!!!
The Sudbury Star is looking for column contributions from local religion groups. If you are interested, please contact Sherri Bassett at 674 - 5271 ext 241 or by e-mail sbassett@thesudburystar.com
12) Local Chaplain Seeks Rental Space for Store in South End
Wanted! I am looking to rent / lease a small store front in the South End.
I'm looking to pay about $500 per month for my shop - "Small Things: Art,
Books, Crafts, and Delights".
Naturally, there will be two store cats - up for adoption - and hopefully an
old shop dog, looking for a new home. Call me at 522-5126 or email
jan.carrie.steven@gmail.com ♥
Jan Carrie Steven
465 Loach's Rd.
Sudbury, ON, P3E 2R2
705.522.5126
13) Northern Ontario Regional Gathering Nov. 7 & 8
Establishing The Canopy of God's Presence
Ontario Regional Gathering
Sudbury, Ontario
November 7 & 8th, 2008
It is always so good when ‘family’ gets together! Many gathered together in Elliot Lake several months ago (May 30 – 31st, 2008) to wait upon the Lord in worship and to seek His heart for our region. There was a real excitement and expectancy as God began to unfold His special destiny and purpose for our region, one that will be a blessing to our province and to the nation. A new hope and a strong desire was birthed in many to continue to journey together in this adventure of seeing a canopy of the Lord’s presence established over our region.
So just what is this “canopy” that we are longing to see? In the Old Testament the canopy was a physical place like the tent of meeting or Solomon’s Temple – the place where God’s glory, His tangible presence, could be experienced in its fullness.
But today, Ephesians 2:20-22 tells us that as believers, members of the body of Christ, we are living stones that God is fashioning into a new temple, a dwelling place in which He can live. So the canopy is actually us! Wherever believers, whose hearts are longing to see a resting place established for the Lord, gather to worship and seek the Lord rather than move from their own human wisdom or plans, a canopy of God's presence is formed, whether in a family, among friends, in homes, prayer groups, churches, workplaces.
If we could see a bird’s eye view of this vast region of Ontario – from Fort Severn to Windsor from Kenora to Ottawa, we would see hundreds or even thousands of these “canopies” dotting the landscape. Some would be tiny, others may be quite large.
What we are longing for is to see these many scattered canopies both multiplied and joined together - linked by cords of love into one great canopy over our region. Can you imagine what it would be like if the presence of the Lord that we have all experienced on occasion in our churches or prayer meetings – if that presence hovered over our towns or cities all the time? Can you imagine what it would be like if the spiritual atmosphere was so transformed that people found themselves longing to do random acts of kindness instead of random acts of violence?
This is our cry for our region - Lord let your glory fall! And as the canopy becomes strong over northern Ontario, we desire to see it linked with the other regions of ON – East, West and South until there is one canopy of the Lord’s presence over ON. This in turn will be knit with cords of love to the canopies over every other province and territory until we see that Canada is filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
To all those who carry this same heart, for those who like King David cannot rest until they see our region, our province and our nation made a resting place for the glory of the Lord – we invite you to come. Let us come and gather together in Sudbury on November 7 – 8th so that we might worship the Lord, seek His face and ask Him to reveal His heart for Ontario to us.
We look forward to welcoming you to Sudbury.
The Ontario North Watchmen Servant Leadership Team
Gathering Details
Registration – Online registration will be available soon. Details to follow.
Location - The Gathering will be held at New Sudbury Pentecostal Church, just off Highway 17 at corner of Levesque Street in Sudbury, Ontario Telephone: (705) 566-9447.
Meeting Schedule
Friday, Nov 7, 2008 – 7:00 p.m. Open Session 1
Saturday, Nov 8, 2008 – 9:30 a.m. Open Session 2
Saturday, Nov 8, 2008 – NOON Special GenX Luncheon Meeting*
Saturday, Nov 8, 2008 – 2:30 p.m. Open Session 3
Saturday, Nov 8, 2008 – 7:00 p.m. Open Session 4
*Special GenX Luncheon Meeting
If you are a GenXer (late 20’s to early 40’s) or a father/mother who has a heart to “walk” with the GenX generation, please join us for the Saturday luncheon special meeting. To reserve your meal ticket(s) for the GenX special meeting, please sign up at the meal registration table on Friday evening. Cost $10.00/per person.
Recommended Accommodations
Important to note: Due to a large hockey tournament in Sudbury that weekend – accommodation space is at a premium. Please reserve your accommodations in advance to avoid disappointment.
Comfort Inn East
440 Second Avenue
Sudbury ON
www.choicehotels.ca/hotels/comforthome
Phone: 705-560-4502
Fax: 705-560-0107
Toll Free: 1-866-467-8347
Note: There are a block of rooms available until October 6th. Mention “Watchmen” when you register. While you may be able to receive “block room rates” after October 6th, there is no guarantee of room availability.
Travelway Inn
1200 Paris Street
Sudbury, ON
www.travelwayinnsudbury.com
Phone: 705-522-1122
Toll Free: 1-800-461-4883
Note: There are a block of rooms available until October 6th. Mention “Watchmen” when you register. While you may be able to receive “block room rates” after October 6th, there is no guarantee of room availability.
Moonlight Inn & Suites
350 Moonlight Avenue
Sudbury, ON
reservations@moonlightinn.ca
Phone: 705-566-0321
Toll Free: 1-800-424-0321
For more information about the Gathering – Please contact ONnorthadmin@watchmen.org
14) Heads Up – Sudbury Right to Life Tea & Bazaar Nov. 15th
12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
If you want to help in any way, please call Therese St. Denis 705 566 0707
15) Book Fair: St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School + Chapters
Nov. 19
Hi Everyone!
Just a 'heads up' that there will be a Book Fair in conjunction with Chapters as a fundraiser for St. Benedict Catholic school library on Wed. Nov. 19 from 6:30-9:00 pm.
In the event you were thinking of doing some Christmas shopping at Chapters or buying a stack of books to read, perhaps you could plan to do it on this particular evening and help us raise some funds at the same time.
Thanks so much.
Libby Marinilli
St. Benedict Librarian
16) Seven Cantors Musical Event Nov. 19
On Wednesday November 19th at 7:00pm, the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra and Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue will present seven exceptional cantors, including Sudbury's own Eric Moses, performing both secular and sacred works at Glad Tidings Tabernacle in Sudbury. Tickets are $40.00 and are available at the Sudbury Theatre Centre box office or by calling (705) 674-8381, extension 21. It promises to be an exciting and inspiring evening of fantastic music... get your tickets now, this will be a sell-out event!
JFArbuckle
17) Pro-Life Mass at the Pro Cathedral of the Assumption in North Bay Dec. 12
7:00 pm
Speaker: Bishop Plouffe
18) Marriages of Integrity – A Promise Keepers Conference
Apr. 3 and Apr. 4/09
Exciting news.......Cindy and Don Croteau with the support of Pastors Jeremy and Josh from All Nations Church, are planning to bring "Marriages of Integrity" a Promise Keepers Conference to Sudbury on Friday, April 3rd and Saturday, April, 4th, 2009.
http://www.promisekeepers.ca/content/event_marriagesofintegrity
Cindy and Don attended this conference in southern Ontario, loved it completely, and received a passionate call to bring it here.
Location for the conference has been set at New Sudbury Pentecostal Church on Hwy. 17 E
Whilst ANC is spearheading this Promise Keepers event it will, of course, be open to all Sudbury area Churches; a goal has been set to have 100 couples attend.
Cindy and Don are hoping to have one couple from each local church act as liaison from the conference planning team to each church.
Ian Nairn (Discipleship Manager of Promise Keepers Canada) has requested that a foundation of prayer be started immediately.
If you would like to commit to pray please let Helen Townend helen.townend@hotmail.com know ASAP and she will send you more detailed information via e-mail.
If you would like to be the contact person for your church who brings information about this conference experience to your church, please contact Don Croteau 523 4699 dccroteau@sympatico.ca
Blessings to you and your families,
Helen Townend.& Don Croteau
19) Heads Up – National March for Life May 13-15 - Ottawa
Theme: “Exodus”
Editor’s Note: In the Spring of 2008, Sudbury, Sturgeon Falls and North Bay sent three buses to Ottawa. This year, we aim to double that total. Over 8 000 people gathered on Parliament Hill to hear moving speeches, and then to march around downtown blocks of Ottawa. It’s an inspiring event. Please plan ahead to join us.
20)Local Christian Book Seller a Great Resource
Gloria Monkhouse at Walden Word of Life on Fielding Road has a passionate heart for Christian Bibles, books and audio-visual materials for all ages.
Gloria will set up her portable book store at your church or event, upon request.
Give her a call at 705 682 0441 – you’ll find her to be full of wisdom and help
21) Help us update Church List on ACES site and SCM Database
If you haven’t already checked out the ACES (Active Christians Engaging Society) website, www.sudburychristian.ca, why not do it now. Once on the website, please click on 'CHURCH DIRECTORY'. This will bring you to the list of churches we are assembling, and need your help to maintain, for the Sudbury area, along with contact information for each church. If corrections or additions are needed for your church, click on 'CONTACT US', type in the changes and press send. This website is for the benefit of everyone, so please help us maintain it by sending us corrections whenever necessary. Thank you!
As well, in order to keep reaching you, when you change your e mail address, please let the Sudbury Christian Messenger Editor, Diane Ikonen, know your new address, so that our database can be maintained, and you can continue to be an important link in our Sudbury Christian network chain.
For more events that might interest Christians, please go to www.cjtk.com
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Provincial News
1) Ottawa Crisis Pregnancy Centre Settles with Planned Parenthood Out of Court
By Jonquil Frankman
October 9, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Charges filed by Ottawa's First Place Pregnancy Center against Planned Parenthood Ottawa (PPO) have been dropped following a settlement out of court on September 16, 2008. The joint settlement between the two organizations states, "First Place, a respected community organization, and PPO have resolved the litigation concerning the SENSational Tree Raffle in 2007 and agree to focus their resources on serving the public in accordance with their respective missions."
The case was initiated on May 20, 2008, when First Place pressed charges with the Ontario Supreme Court of Justice against Planned Parenthood Ottawa, reporting that the tax-payer funded organization "interfered with critical funding and defamed their charity putting their charity and the women they serve at risk."
Planned Parenthood Ottawa had launched a media attack against the First Place Pregnancy Center on November 27, 2007, the day after "The Better Halves," the Ottawa Senators' wives and girlfriends' charitable organization, had announced that the three chosen charities for their "SENSational Tree Raffle" included the First Place Pregnancy Center.
As a consequence First Place Pregnancy found itself under heavy pressure from the mainstream media and the PPO for its "anti-choice" position.
Pro-abortion columnist Heather Mallick wrote on the website of the CBC that the First Place was "sinister" and had possible connections to neo-Nazis because of its association with a local Pentecostal church, while Planned Parenthood Ottawa accused the Centre of trying to "trick" people into believing it was an "ordinary," that is, abortion-promoting, service.
In the end First Place voluntarily withdrew its name from the list of beneficiaries out of concern for the reputation of "The Better Halves" charitable organization, which was being negatively affected by the negative press.
First Place Executive Director Terri Mazik is withholding comment on the case and its settlement, due to the requirements of the settlement.
Regarding the accusations leveled against the pregnancy center for its supposed religious fundamentalism, Mazik told LifeSiteNews.com that, while the "people that work at First Place are Christian," they might be from "any denomination" and are "not [formally] connected to a Christian church." Rather, First Place receives "funding from all kinds of different sources," she said.
In response to accusations that First Place is "anti-choice," Mazik said that her organization tries to avoid using labels, which tend to be "loaded." First Place, she says, is "pro-woman and true-choice."
The First Place Pregnancy Center website provides information on all options for pregnant women, including abortion; however, it states clearly that it will not provide referrals for abortions.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Pro-Life Crisis Pregnancy Centre Bullied out of Fundraiser by Vicious Abortion Crusaders
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/dec/07120705.html
Crisis Pregnancy Centre Commences Legal Proceedings Against Planned Parenthood Ottawa
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08052207.html
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National News
1) Tories promote pro-family agenda
Tories promote pro-family agenda
By Paul Tuns, Editor, The Interim, October 2008 – Page 7 (Campaign Life Coalition)
If you take away the life issues, the Conservative Party and its leader Stephen Harper is the clear choice for social conservative voters. While the Conservative government has actively avoided dealing with life issues, it has addressed other issues dear to social conservatives.
- The Universal Childcare Plan that gives $100 per month to families for every child under the age of six. The program financially supports parents regardless of the child care arrangements they choose, unlike the Liberal and NDP plans to fund a massive national daycare program which only benefits those who send their kids to a daycare center …Dion says he will maintain the Universal Childcare Plan while Layton has not said what he will do although he has attacked the monthly $100 cheques as insufficient to address the high costs of daycare in Canada’s urban centers
- …the Conservative government also implemented a $2,000 per child tax credit and increased by 10 years the period in which parents could invest in a Registered Education Savings Plan. Both measures reduce the tax burden for families with children. The government also created a new Registered Disability Savings Plan to assist families in planning for the future financial needs of their children with special needs…
- The government also passed C-2, which raised the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16. Parliament also passed Conservative MP Ed Fast’s private members’ bill C-277 which doubled the maximum sentence for luring a child for sexual purposes from five to 10 years
- There are also stark differences on legalization of prostitution and marijuana with the Tories generally opposed to doing so and the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois generally favourable to relaxing the rules on prostitution and drugs
2) No One to Vote For
Politicians have failed to realize that Canadians' values systems are far more complex than the old left-right dichotomy.
by Margaret Somerville
Values always matter in politics. In representative democracies such as Canada, we vote for people who we believe share our values. But what if, when the rubber hits the road, our MPs act contrary to our -- and what we thought were their -- values on an issue we think is of primary importance? And what if they do that in order to get an "embarrassing issue" off the political agenda and placate a vocal minority prior to an election call?
… who do we vote for when no one represents our values?
To name just two recent examples: the legalization of same-sex marriage prior to a federal election when a Liberal minority government was in power; and the "attempted murder" of Conservative MP Ken Epp's Unborn Victims of Crime bill (Bill C-484) by the minority Conservative government to get abortion off the agenda prior to the election call.
So, who do we vote for when no one represents our values? Should we just not vote? What do these situations tell us about the "democratic deficit?" What if a majority of Canadians can't find an MP who shares and will reliably uphold their values?
First, we need to understand the changes in our societies and values that have caused these situations to arise.
One is the increasing political influence of identity-based social movements, which seem to have convinced politicians that to act contrary to their movements' values is certain to cause them to lose votes and possibly the election. It's important to understand the strategies these movements use to have their values prevail in the political public square.
In the case of same-sex marriage, gay rights advocates convinced politicians that there were only two choices: one was either for same-sex marriage and against discrimination against homosexuals; or one was against same-sex marriage and for discrimination against gay people. Given that choice, the majority of politicians chose same-sex marriage. The possibility of being against discrimination against gay people and against same-sex marriage was eliminated.
The same strategy has now been used by pro-choice advocates in relation to abortion and Bill C-484: They argued that one is either for respect for women and their rights and against Bill C-484; or one is for Bill C-484 and against respect for women and their rights. Even Conservative politicians -- such as justice minister Rob Nicholson, who torpedoed Bill C-484 by proposing alternative legislation approved by pro-choice advocates -- seem to have bought their argument. The possibility of being for respect for women and their rights and for Bill C-484 (which in fact would have enshrined the right of a woman who wanted to give birth to the baby she was carrying and would not have affected access to abortion) was eliminated.
Many scholars and public thinkers are speaking of movements which are affecting the political process, such as the pro-choice and gay lobbies, as "third spaces." They include the NGOs, and grass-roots advocacy and civil society groups, created outside established national and international institutions, that are emerging as a result of the changes wrought by an interconnected, interdependent world. As we are seeing in Canada, these will affect our values; who the "we" who share those values are; and what kinds of political processes we need.
We can no longer assume, as we could in the past when we lived in small, largely homogenous societies, that all our politicians, no matter to which political party they belonged, largely shared our most fundamental values. We now belong in different socio-ethical-values camps that create borders and manifest deep divides between us. These divides are sometimes referred to as "culture wars" -- battles as to which values will prevail as the societal norms.
Where possible, however, we must try to cross those divides. One strategy is to start from agreement and move to our disagreements. That sets a different tone to our debates than focusing only on our disagreements. It helps to emphasize what we have in common and allows us to have an experience of belonging to the same moral community. When we simply took that commonality for granted, we could afford the luxury of focusing just on our disagreements, but this is no longer our situation.
The old divides and the dichotomies they reflected, between, for example, liberal and conservative political ideologies, no longer accurately reflect our values differences. For a start, fiscal (economic) conservatives can be social-values liberals, and social-values conservatives fiscal liberals. But our values differences are much more complex and varied than that. And much more complex and varied than in the past.
In the case of abortion, an either/or approach -- for instance, we are against any law at all on abortion or we are for the legal prohibition of all abortions -- fails to accommodate the complexity of Canadians' views on abortion: The prime minister was right when he said that "abortion is a complex issue," especially in the political public square. But neither our law nor most of our politicians' statements manifest that reality.
Importantly, to deal with complexity ethically means the media need to stop reducing values issues, such as abortion, to black and white stances, as they do when they require a simple "yes" or "no" answer to the question, "Are you for or against abortion?"
Who bonds with whom and how people bond to form a group with shared values -- a "we" -- is also fundamentally different from the past.
First, who the "we" are with respect to one values issue can differ radically from who the "we" are with respect to a different issue.
Take surrogate motherhood: Strong feminists and conservative Christians both agree it is unethical -- that is, they are a "we" on this issue on the basis that surrogate motherhood demeans women. As well, Christians believe it demeans human reproduction and contravenes the rights of the child. But these groups are diametrically opposed on abortion: Feminists give priority to women's right to control their bodies; conservative Christians to an unborn child's right to life.
Pollster Michael Adams, from Environics, speaks of "values tribes" forming around shared values. He notes that, unlike in the past, modern communications technology, education, travel and mobility mean people are as likely to have fellow tribe members anywhere in the world as they are in their immediate neighbourhoods. The 13 tribes he identifies differ from each other in regard to their attitudes to tradition (institutional authority) as compared with individuality, and the degree to which a person's decision making is inner-determined (autonomy), as compared with other-directed (pleasing others). Moreover, bonding is fluid for young adults whether they are "open cosmopolitans" or "continental conservatives."
Frank Graves of Ekos Research, an Ottawa polling firm, describes "open cosmopolitans" as "younger Canadians extremely receptive to diversity, immigration and the external world, who are relatively disconnected from government and politics and see themselves as post-nationalists." He found them overrepresented in Generation X (30 to 40 year olds). In contrast, "continental conservatives" are young people who are "strong supporters of the War on Terror and North American integration. They are very comfortable with the current national direction, particularly the mission in Afghanistan." They were overrepresented in Generation Y (20 to 30 year olds).
This fluidity in relation to values and bonding means it is no longer possible to group people into neat, clearly demarcated "values camps" or to label them on a permanent basis.
In a political context, one cause of this fluidity in bonding is that no one politician or political party offers a "values package" which each of us, as voters, can agree with in its entirety. That means we have to choose our most important value, hope we can find a candidate to vote for who will support that, and hold our nose about the values we disagree with. Voting for a person rather than a party, as in the past, can mean abandoning our traditional political loyalties.
All of which means, as pollsters have told us in relation to recent elections, that there are many undecided voters up until the last minute and that makes election outcomes very difficult to predict.
To conclude, there are no simple or easy answers to the changes and challenges I describe, except, from an ethics point of view, to say we need integrity, honesty, authenticity and ethics on the part of our politicians in being clear with us which values they support, even if that means losing votes. But, if that is not what we get, we must ask ourselves, "Who is responsible for politicians' responses?" and engage in some serious self-examination before answering.
Margaret Somerville DCL, LL.D, is the founding director of the Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill University.
The Ethical Imagination
The Ethical Imagination takes us "on an ethical wallaby"—a "rambling journey" that grapples with the natural and the spiritual dimensions of life and strives to weave them together.
Death Talk: The Case Against Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide
A reasoned, passionate, and wide-ranging enquiry into the euthanasia debate and its consequences for individuals and society.
Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen, September 12, 2008.
Used with permission. Copyright © 2008 Christianity.ca.
3) Canadian Artist and Catholic Novelist Michael O'Brien on Modesty in the Culture of Shamelessness
Editor's Note: The following are excerpts from Michael O'Brien's full essay which is available on LifeSiteNews.com here: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/oct/08100805.html
OTTAWA, October 8, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - "Much of current fashion, especially for women, is an assault upon the ultimate good of those who wear such clothing. It is cunningly designed for attraction, enticement, and seduction, reinforcing the great lie which dominates modern consciousness. This lie tells us that the body is simply an object which we possess as our own, to do with as we like.
"Semi-nudity has become commonplace on magazine covers, advertisements, at swimming pools and beaches. Total nudity is becoming more frequent in media such as television and film, and is rampant in the vastly more popular "private" cultural consumption of the internet. Juxtapose with these near-universal phenomena the fact that more than sixty percent of marriages now end in divorce or separation, that self-denial and sacrifice have become widely discredited concepts, and that the pursuit of happiness through the avenues of sensual satisfaction have produced a profoundly disordered society. No people in history has been so richly rewarded with pleasures, and no people in history has ever been so unhappy.
"The great lie tells us, in essence, that we have no eternal value, that our value is to be found only within the limited span of our lives, and especially in the most vital years of youth when we are strongest, most attractive, and most productive. We are, supposedly, what others tell us we are. We are worth as much or as little as they decide we are worth. In a society that is increasingly focused on sensual pleasure, this means we will be as valuable only so far as we are considered sensually attractive. Attractiveness, of course, is a subjective thing, and thus most people will find themselves objects of interest to others at some point in their lives. Generally this means they will be objects of desire. And desire's first "interface," if you will, is the body.
"I am convinced that the modern harping on the supposed repressiveness of the past is really no more than a symptom of our current obsession with sex. If we were to plunge back a century or two, I think we would find that while our ancestors' manner of dress was indeed more formal, and at times even constricting, most people still wed and had children and made happy marriages with startling frequency - and with an enviable rate of success. Compare that to our own dismal, liberated era, in which the image of the cavorting human body is thrust at us a thousand times a day from the pages of the tabloids at the supermarket check-out counter, from chewing gum commercials on television, home computer screens, and from what is being worn on the beach and at church. Modesty has gone out of style."
See the full essay online here: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/oct/08100805.html
Visit Michael O'Brien's website:
http://studiobrien.com/site/index.php
4) Morgentaler’s Shallow Victory
“…Yet if Morgentaler's award was supposed to put the vice-regal seal of ordinariness upon unlimited abortion in Canada, his snowflake turned out to be unique indeed. It provoked widespread revulsion in some quarters, but more noteworthy, Rideau Hall conducted itself as if the matter left an embarrassing stench in the air.
"For his commitment to increased health care options for women, his determined efforts to influence Canadian public policy and his leadership in humanist and civil liberties organizations."
That's the brief citation explaining what Morgentaler's qualifications are. Notice anything missing? The man's name is synonymous with abortion; one doesn't drop into a Morgentaler clinic for a bad back. He does one thing, and one thing only, and yet Rideau Hall could not bring itself to even mention it. …”
Read the rest of the story
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=636666
Editor’s Note: Thanks to Sandy McDonald for sending this in
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International News
1) United Families October 1, 2008 information on United Nations CEDAW
CEDAW is the International Version of Equal Rights for Women
The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (or CEDAW as it is better known) has a history worth noting. In the 1970s and 80s the federal equal right's amendment was sent by the U.S. Senate to all 50 states for ratification. It fell three states short of passage. Since that time, the radical feminist movement infiltrated the United Nations working groups on CEDAW.
Radical Feminists are Behind CEDAW
According to the National Organization for Women (NOW), a campaign is underway to have local, state, and federal governments adopt resolutions in support of its ratification. More than a dozen states have passed resolutions in support of CEDAW, along with nearly two dozen counties and almost 50 cities. NOW called for ratification of the convention in its action agenda for the 110th U.S. Congress.
CEDAW is a Treaty and Treaties are Law
The Constitution of the United States clearly states the importance of treaties. In Article VI, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution, treaties are “supreme Law of the Land.” The founding fathers firmly believed that treaties should be upheld as constitutional.
With CEDAW comes International Oversight
Countries that ratify CEDAW are required to report to the oversight committee immediately and then every four years on how they are implementing the treaty and the demands of the committee. Currently, China and Cuba are members of the CEDAW committee. Only countries that have ratified CEDAW may apply to be members of the committee. These members are given power and authority over treaty countries with no appeal process. Following are some examples of the UN CEDAW demands:
· Governments have been directed to legalize prostitution in direct conflict with language in CEDAW that opposed prostitution.
· 37 pro-life governments have been instructed to change their laws on abortion even though abortion is not part of CEDAW.
· Poland was just questioned on its stance on abortion because of its pro-life government.
· Ireland was criticized for allowing the Catholic Church too strong a voice on public policy.
· Libya was directed to reinterpret the Koran to fall within committee guidelines.
Out of Control Courts
Justice Kennedy referenced international law when he delivered the court's ruling in Lawrence v. Texas (2004) which ruled on homosexual marriage. International law or treaties are starting to creep into state and federal case law. We believe the United States is a sovereign nation and should stay that way.
Carol Soelberg's Archive
2) Repressing Religion
US Releases Annual Survey on Religious Freedom
By Father John Flynn, LC
ROME, SEPT. 28, 2008
India is another country where religious persecution has been in the headlines in recent weeks and the Department of State’s report contains ample information on the situation.
Some Indian state governments enacted and amended "anti-conversion" laws. In addition, police and enforcement agencies often did not act swiftly to effectively counter communal attacks, including attacks against religious minorities.
Extremists
The report did affirm that the vast majority of persons from the religious groups in India live in peaceful coexistence. At the same time it acknowledged the existence of episodes of serious conflict.
While the law system generally provides remedy for violations of religious freedom, it was not enforced rigorously or effectively in many cases pertaining to religiously oriented violence, the report noted.
As a result, despite government efforts to foster communal harmony, some extremists continued to view ineffective investigation and prosecution of attacks on religious minorities, particularly at the state and local level, as a signal that they could commit such violence with impunity, the report commented.
Hindu extremists attacked Christian villagers and churches in the Kandhamal district over the last Christmas holidays. Approximately 100 churches and Christian institutions were damaged, 700 Christian homes were destroyed causing villagers to flee to nearby forests, and 22 Christian-owned businesses were affected.
The report also observed that according to some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) communal violence against religious minorities is part of a larger Hindu nationalist agenda and corresponds with ongoing state electoral politics.
According to the 2001 government census, Hindus constitute 80.5% of the population, Muslims 13.4%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.8%, and others, including Buddhists, Jains, Parsis (Zoroastrians), Jews, and Baha'is, 1.1%.
The report commented that local authorities arrested numerous Christians under state-level "anti-conversion" laws for allegedly engaging in conversions by force, allurement or fraud
Hindu nationalist organizations frequently alleged that Christian missionaries lured low-caste Hindus with offers of free education and health care; they equated such actions with forced conversions.
Christians responded, according to the report, by saying that low-caste Hindus converted of their own free will and that efforts by Hindu groups to "reconvert" these new Christians to Hinduism were themselves accompanied by offers of remuneration, and thus fraudulent.
(Ref. The World Seen From Rome
Worse Than Ever
Christians knew the attacks were coming, but no one knew they would be this deadly.
Susan Wunderink
Like many people in the eastern India state of Orissa, Nikhil Kumar Kanodia knew an attack on Christians was imminent. But unlike others, Kanodia was a police superintendent. When he declared that Hindu attacks on Christians in his district of Kandhamal would be prosecuted, he was immediately transferred. Soon afterward, Kandhamal became the epicenter of massive anti-Christian violence. Nationalist Hindus have killed, raped, and otherwise assaulted Christians, burned Christian schools, churches, and houses, and left tens of thousands homeless.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/november/3.15.html
3) Pope Commends Knights of Columbus for their Pro-Life Work
By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
VATICAN, October 6, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus, on the occasion of their recent pilgrimage to Rome, for their tireless efforts in promoting the culture of life.
"I express my appreciation of your efforts to provide a solid formation in the faith for young people, and to defend the moral truths necessary for a free and humane society, including the fundamental right to life of every human being," said the Holy Father.
Pro-life initiatives launched by the Knights of Columbus during election campaigning in both Canada and the US include a radio ad that features the sound of a 10-week-old unborn child's heartbeat. The voice of a woman muses, "Listening to this makes me wonder - why would anyone question that her life has begun?"
The ad concludes with, "Vote your heart. Vote Pro Life."
In August Supreme Knight Carl Anderson addressed the 126th annual convention of the Knights of Columbus in Quebec City and pledged the Knights to fight abortion-promoting politicians.
"It's time we stop accommodating pro-abortion politicians, and it's time we start demanding that they accommodate us," said Mr. Anderson in an electrifying speech in which he called for real change on abortion and the end of political manipulation of Catholic voters by abortion advocates.
The Knights have continually worked to keep their members aware of pro-life issues and to motivate them to act in unison as the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization.
For example, in July all 230,000 KofC members in Canada were called on to demand Henry Morgentaler's Order of Canada award be revoked.
The full message from the Pope to the Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus is available here: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2008/october/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20081003_knights-columbus_en.html
Read related LifeSiteNews.com articles on the Pro-life work of the Knights of Columbus:
Vote Pro-Life Radio Ads to Air During Canadian Election Courtesy of Knights of Columbus
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/sep/08092310.html
Supreme Knight of Columbus Calls for Real "Change" on Abortion and Catholic Revolt against Obama Nation
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08080703.html
Knights of Columbus Calls on All 230,000 Members to Demand Morgentaler Award be Revoked
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08071712.html
Knights of Columbus Pass Resolution to Prohibit Pro-Abortion Politicians from Knights-Sponsored Events
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/aug/07081301.html
Knights of Columbus Letter to 239,000 Canadian Members says Vote Pro-life and Pro-family
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jan/06010509.html
4) Billy Graham to Turn 90: Public Invited to Send Personal Stories, Birthday Wishes
CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 6, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - For more than 60 years, evangelist Billy Graham has preached the good news of God's love in-person to nearly 215 million people at hundreds of events and countless millions more via television and radio. Graham is a hero to pro-life advocates for his life-long staunch opposition to abortion. Now, all of the individuals, churches and ministries he has impacted have a unique opportunity to say something in return.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) announced today it is collecting stories and birthday wishes for the evangelist, who turns 90 on November 7, 2008. All who have been personally touched by an aspect of Billy Graham's ministry are welcome and encouraged to visit http://www.billygraham90.com to share a greeting or a personal story about his ministry they feel would encourage Mr. Graham at this milestone. Submissions will be accepted until November 1.
"My father is a humble man who would never expect to be honored and recognized like this on his birthday," said Franklin Graham, BGEA president and CEO and Graham's eldest son. "We urge all who made a commitment to Jesus Christ through my father's ministry to share your story or simple greeting, as nothing could uplift him more on this special day."
Along with providing a place where visitors can submit stories and greetings, http://www.billygraham90.com also contains resources that churches and other ministries can download to inform others about this birthday celebration. In addition, messages can be mailed to: Billy Graham's 90th Birthday, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201.
Following Mr. Graham's birthday in November, all of the greetings and wishes in honor of his faithful decades-long ministry will be combined into books and presented to him during a special tribute dinner with family and ministry friends later in the month.
As Mr. Graham turns 90, the impact of his ministry continues to be felt worldwide. In addition to holding international evangelistic Festivals, Franklin Graham has overseen the development of several exciting new projects at the BGEA that are reaching millions of people across the United States and around the globe.
From its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association runs a wide range of domestic and international ministries, including: large- scale festivals led by evangelists Franklin Graham and his son Will Graham; Dare to Be a Daniel, a youth evangelism training project; My Hope World Evangelism Through Television; the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of crisis-trained chaplains; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the Internet. For more information, please visit http://www.billygraham.org.
5) The Silver Lining in an Obama Victory
Many Catholics will finally realize, and admit to, the power of the political left in their Church
Commentary by Deal W. Hudson
October 8, 2008 (InsideCatholic.com) - Anecdotal evidence suggests to me there will be a silver lining if Obama wins: Many Catholics will finally realize, and admit to, the power of the political left in their Church. This will lead to a stark red state, blue state divide among Catholics in the U.S., which will be wider and deeper than what we presently see.
The average Catholic has always been resistant to seeing the instutionalized dissent, political liberalism, and Democratic Party alignment that exists throughout the Church in this country. It exists in a network whose center is at the USCCB and extends through chanceries, universities (especially Jesuit), Catholic organizations, and Catholic media.
This network has become very adept at cloaking its dissent, its political intentions, and its disdain for the agenda of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. I won't go into details because it has been chronicled often, but there are a growing number of Catholics willing to believe it because of this election.
What are these anecdotes? You have priests touting the virtues of Obama from the pulpit. You have parishes where Respect Life Sunday was completely ignored. People are shaking their heads in disbelief as they leave Mass.
Yes, you have a record number of bishops speaking out in defense of the core principles of Catholic social teaching, but Catholics wonder about the rest, the other 200 or so.
6) McDonalds agrees to stay neutral in culture wars
AFA ends boycott: McDonald's agrees to changes
October 9, 2008
Great news! McDonalds has told us they will remain neutral in the culture war regarding homosexual marriage. AFA is ending the boycott of McDonald’s. As you know, AFA called for the boycott in May after McDonald’s joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
McDonald’s said McDonald’s Vice President Richard Ellis has resigned his position on the board of NGLCC and that his seat on the board will not be replaced. McDonald’s also said that the company has no plans to renew their membership in NGLCC when it expires in December.
In an e-mail to McDonald’s franchised owners the company said, “It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald’s remains neutral on same sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association.”
We appreciate the decision by McDonald’s to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations. You might want to thank your local McDonald’s manager.
7) Petition to United Nations re: support for family
Support The Family!
The Universal Right to Life and Recognition of the Family as the Fundamental Unit of Society
We, the undersigned citizens of the member nations of the world recognize the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on its 60th anniversary adopted and proclaimed by the UN General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) on 10 December 1948. We respectfully request that all member nations and states interpret this document to mean that:
The right to life, liberty and security is for every person; that each child born or unborn, has the right to birth and a full, natural life. That a child has the right to a mother and a father, of full age, within the bonds of marriage defined as between a man and a woman. And, that the parents have the right to raise and educate their children without any limitation due to race, religion, culture or nationality.
http://unitedfamilies.mywebteam.com/default.asp?contentID=213
http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.95/default.asp
8) Pro-Abortion UN Petition Falters; Pro-Life Initiative Numbers Surging
By Samantha Singson
NEW YORK October 9, 2008 (C-FAM) - A month after the campaign was first reported in the Friday Fax, pro-abortion group Marie Stopes International has removed the ticker keeping track of names for their web-campaign calling for “Global Safe Abortion.”
The Friday Fax reported last month that after a year of campaigning the Marie Stopes abortion petition had garnered fewer than 600 signers. A month later, a count of campaign signatures reveals that only 50 more people have added their signatures to the Marie Stopes petition.
Conversely, a pro-life initiative that began less than two weeks ago as a counterpoint to the Marie Stopes campaign has yielded more than 26,000 signatures. The “International Call for the Rights and Dignity of the Human Person and the Family,” launched by the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), has generated a massive response from concerned pro-lifers from around the globe.
The Marie Stopes campaign was launched at the International Global Safe Abortion Conference last October in London, an event held in conjunction with the Women Deliver conference, which was sponsored by various United Nations agencies including UNICEF. Both the conference and the campaign seek to bolster international commitment to abortion and call “for women’s access to legal, safe abortion to be recognized as a fundamental human right.”
The Marie Stopes call to action says that it is “intolerable” that restrictive laws, lack of resources and “politically and ideologically-motivated interference” remain obstacles for women to access “contraceptive and abortion technologies to save women’s lives.”
Campaign organizers plan to continue to collect signatures online and will seek institutional endorsement of the safe abortion call to action. They hope the call to action will be used at the international level as a tool to influence policy and generate funding to tackle the issue of unsafe abortion.
The C-FAM petition urges UN member states to interpret the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to give proper consideration to the right to life and the family.
The petition stresses that “the right to life of every human being, from conception to natural death, each child having the right to be conceived, born and educated within the family, based on marriage between a woman and a man, the family being the natural and fundamental group unit of society.” The petition also stresses the right of parents to choose how their children should be educated.
The petition is being circulated globally in French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Dutch and Slovenian. The C-FAM campaign will run until the end of November and partner organizations from around globe will be running similar campaigns to bolster support for the right to life and family at the international level.
Both Marie Stopes and C-FAM plan to present their petitions to the UN community on December 10, when the UN commemorates the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the foundational international human rights document.
C-FAM President Austin Ruse said, "We have known all along that support for radical abortion rights is supported mostly by elites. Ask everyday citizens around the world about abortion, and they are against it."
9) UK's Largest Teachers' Union Lobbies to Legalize Sex with Students
By Hilary White
LONDON, October 9, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The largest UK teachers' union wants the government to decriminalise sex with students who are over the legal age of consent. Chris Keates, the general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), said that teachers who have sex with pupils over the age of consent should not be placed on the sex offenders register. Keates called prosecution for statutory rape "a real anomaly in the law that we are concerned about."
NASUWT complained that media reports had misrepresented their position. "To describe the NASUWT's comments on this as 'teachers want the right to bed pupils' as one report has done, simply for pointing out an anomaly which criminalises a teacher but would leave any other adult free from prosecution for the same type of relationship, is a travesty."
Gregory Carlin, however, a child protection activist and head of the Irish Anti-Trafficking Coalition, said that such ideas were another sign of the erosion of legal protections for young people against exploitation.
"If the NASUWT philosophy has its day," he said, "exploiting a 16 year old in a brothel would carry no extra penalty." Under the same logic, he said, "Jail guards would be able to take their pick from their charges and foster parents would be spared prosecution for having sex with foster children."
In an official statement dated October 6th, Keates said, "From the time the Sexual Offences legislation was first drafted in 2001 the NASUWT consistently raised the significant anomaly within its provisions. A teacher having a consensual relationship with a pupil over the age of 16 on the roll of the school in which they teach is liable under the Act to prosecution and being placed on the sex offenders register.
"However, if the same teacher has a consensual relationship with a young person of the same age who attends another school they would not be prosecuted or classed as sex offenders."
Carlin told LifeSiteNews.com that Keates "knows what she was asking for," which is simply to "legalise sex crimes."
List 99 is a secret register of men and women who are barred from working with children by the Department of Education and Skills. Carlin said, "Thousands of teachers are referred to List 99 each year, most of them from the NASUWT. In fact, the referrals doubled between 2003 and 2005."
10) New UN Document Promotes Controversial "Right" to Health
By Susan Yoshihara, Ph.D.
NEW YORK October 9, 2008 (C-FAM) - A recently released document from the United Nation's (UN) top health and human rights agencies promotes a litigious approach to enforcing controversial new rights through a broad "right to health." The document re-interprets existing human rights treaties to assert that states are already obligated to provide rights such as "sexual and reproductive health services" for adolescent girls, rights for "intersex" children, non-discrimination on the basis of "sexual orientation." The document claims that in order to realize these rights nations should change national laws, restrict businesses, limit intellectual property rights, and generally contravene international trade arrangements.
Released jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), the document entitled "The Right to Health" is meant to "shed light on the right to health in international human rights law as it currently stands" and "elaborates upon States' obligations with respect to the right." The United States and European countries have repeatedly rejected a "right to health," arguing that, if taken seriously, such a right would entail mandatory government-provided universal health care for all citizens and non-citizens among other things.
Instead, nations maintain that they are obligated to the right as it was negotiated and ratified by states party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), that is, the "right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health." And while the WHO-UNHCR document asserts nations are obligated to uphold the WHO definition of health, as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity," nations in fact deleted that phrase when negotiating the ICESCR and opted for a targeted right that would be realized "progressively" over time.
In order to progressively realize the rights in the ICESCR, states agreed to take "steps" aimed at four specific goals; reducing the stillbirth rate, improving industrial hygiene, controlling epidemics, and creating conditions to ensure medical services for the sick. This new document, however, promotes numerous new "steps" to the right to health which were created by the committee that monitors the ICESCR: changing national laws, policies, budgets, and regulations to enact the many new rights enumerated in their "general comments." One of these "steps" is the requirement to liberalize abortion laws.
In reality, the committee has no authority to interpret or enforce the treaty. Acting in their "personal capacity," committee members are unaccountable to member states and often come from special interest non-governmental organizations. Nonetheless, the document claims that the committee will be increasingly important in "holding states accountable" for rights. The reason is that nations began negotiating an "optional protocol" to the ICESCR in 2007. According to the document, "The adoption of such a protocol would offer an additional avenue for individuals to submit complaints related to the right to health," allowing UN special rapporteurs and committee members to intervene in sovereign states to solicit complaints and find states in "violation" of the treaty.
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Words of Wisdom
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Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said,
'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'
Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'
Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and
straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the Hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, 'and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the Woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the Storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.
We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
Please keep this moving... pass it on, so God may inspire more people on the way.
May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you in the palm of His hand.
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God knows I'm not perfect, just that I Love Him.
" Good Day and God Bless "
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