Catholic Family Campaign

The National Network of Abortion Funds is planning on sponsoring local bowl-a-thons in communities across the United States.  The purpose of these events are to raise funds to help women pay for their abortions, help them buy bus or plane tickets, and even offer women a place to stay when they have to travel for an abortion.

The events are scheduled for the month of April and will take place all across the country.  We need your help to contact the local bowling alleys listed below and ask them to withdraw their association from these events.  Instead, urge them to support their local crisis pregnancy center.  We have more to offer these women than money for an abortion!

Dart Bowl
5700 Grover Ave.
Austin, Texas 78756
512-452-2518
george.wall@dartbowl.com

Palace Bowling Lanes
4191 Bellaire Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77025
713-667-6554
   
Venture Lanes
6300 Maccorkle Ave
Saint Albans, WV 25177-2330
304-768-7307

Columbus Square Bowling Palace
5707 Forest Hills Boulevard
Columbus, OH 43231
614-859-1122

Southtowne Lanes
2486 Willamette St.
Eugene, Oregon  97405
541-345-8575
southtownelanes@msn.com

Town Hall Lanes
1463 Atwood Ave.
Johnston, RI 02919
401-831-6940
 THLBowl@aol.com

North Bowl
909 North 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123-2301
215-238-2695

Visit their web site to see additional locations to contact in your city.

Tags: Family Values, Pro-Life
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House Minority Leader John Boehner (R.-Ohio) said that Obama adviser Harry Knox should resign because of anti-Catholic statements he has made.

Tags: Family Values, Religious Freedoms
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Sometimes it’s prayer that brings in the faithful, but a Kirkland Catholic church is counting on TV ads. Holy Family Catholic Church has funded a new television advertising campaign to reignite the faith with lapsed Catholics.

“Catholics have drifted away from the church and we hope these ads will remind them that we are here and available for them,” said Father Kurt Nagel.

Tags: Catechism, Family Values
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Focus on the Family have purchased time during this year’s Super Bowl broadcast to air a compelling pro-life ad featuring Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and the decision his mother made 23 years ago to give birth to her unborn son when doctors were urging her to abort him.

CBS has come under withering fire from the left for its decision to air this ad.  Joy Behar of “The View” even said abortion would have been an appropriate choice since there was no way for Tim’s mom to know that he wouldn’t grow up to be a “rapist pedophile.”

Contact CBS Chairman Les Moonves and CBS Entertainment President Nancy Tellem today and urge to stand strong in the face of opposition.

Tags: Family Values, Pro-Life
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Here is something for all you Law and Order fans.  4 actors from Law and Order – Criminal Intent are working with Planned Parenthood to promote abortion. Actors Eric Bogosian @bogosiana, Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, and Julianne Nicholson lend their faces, voices and names to Planned Parenthood’s pro-abortion effort.

“The majority of insurance plans cover abortion care. The new health care system will make it harder for millions of women to purchase private health care insurance that covers abortions. This would be the most devastating restriction to abortion since Roe v. Wade.”

While we certainly support their right to promote any product or service that they want, we have an obligation to contact these actors and asks them to stop spreading false information.  Read more at Lifenews.com.

Tags: Family Values, Pro-Life
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This will be the first year that a Right to Life March and Rally will be held in Tulsa marking the 37th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision allowing legal abortion in the United States.  The Jan. 22 event is sponsored by several local organizations and a coalition of churches, including Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, charismatic, evangelical and fundamentalist and is expected to attract over 2000 participants.

The march will be a little less than one mile, and will end with a rally at Chapman Centennial Green, on 6th Street between Boston and Main. At the rally, several local speakers will address the marchers and encourage them to be resolute in their commitment to the defense of life.

Organizers say the event will offer support and solidarity to those who make the sacrifice to travel each year to Washington D.C., and remind them that they are not alone. Secondly, it will offer people who cannot travel to the National Right to Life March in Washington an opportunity to voice their opposition to abortion in a public and peaceful manner.  Finally, this march offers a wide variety of Christian churches and denominations the opportunity to work together for a common cause while testifying together to their unrelenting opposition to abortion.

Read the full press release here for more information.

Tags: Family Values, Pro-Life
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Since we are all seeing that the Pope’s prayer intentions for 2011 have been released, I bet you are asking what about 2010?  Well here you go courtesy of EWTN.

JANUARY 2010
Young people and Social Communications Media
General: That young people may learn to use modern means of social communication for their personal growth and to better prepare themselves to serve society.

Christian Unity
Missionary: That every believer in Christ may be conscious that unity among all Christians is a condition for more effective proclamation of the Gospel.

FEBRUARY 2010
Scholars
General: For all scholars and intellectuals, that by means of sincere search for the truth they may arrive at an understanding of the one true God.

The Church’s Missionary Identity
Missionary: That the Church, aware of its own missionary identity, may strive to follow Christ faithfully and to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples.

MARCH 2010
World Economy
General: That the world economy may be managed according to the principles of justice and equity, taking account of the real needs of peoples, especially the poorest.

The Churches in Africa
Missionary: That the Churches in Africa may be signs and instruments of reconciliation and justice in every part of that continent.

APRIL 2010
Fundamentalism and Extremism
General: That every tendency to fundamentalism and extremism may be countered by constant respect, by tolerance and by dialogue among all believers.

Persecuted Christians
Missionary: That Christians persecuted for the sake of the Gospel may persevere, sustained by the Holy Spirit, in faithfully witnessing to the love of God for the entire human race.

MAY 2010
Human Trafficking
General: That the shameful and monstrous commerce in human beings, which sadly involves millions of women and children, may be ended.

Priests, Religious and Committed Lay People
Missionary: That ordained ministers, religious women and men, and lay people involved in apostolic work may understand how to infuse missionary enthusiasm into the communities entrusted to their care.

JUNE 2010
Respect for Human Life
General: That every national and transnational institution may strive to guarantee respect for human life from conception to natural death.

The Churches in Asia
Missionary: That the Churches in Asia, which constitute a “little flock” among non-Christian populations, may know how to communicate the Gospel and give joyful witness to their adherence to Christ.

JULY 2010
Justice in Electing those who Govern
General: That in every nation of the world the election of officials may be carried out with justice, transparency and honesty, respecting the free decisions of citizens.

An Urban Culture of Justice, Solidarity and Peace
Missionary:That Christians may strive to offer everywhere, but especially in great urban centers, an effective contribution to the promotion of education, justice, solidarity and peace.

AUGUST 2010
The Unemployed and the Homeless
General: That those who are without work or homes or who are otherwise in serious need may find understanding and welcome, as well as concrete help in overcoming their difficulties.

Victims of Discrimination, Hunger and Forced Emigration
Missionary: That the Church may be a “home” for all people, ready to open its doors to any who are suffering from racial or religious discrimination, hunger, or wars forcing them to emigrate to other countries.

SEPTEMBER 2010
The Word of God as Sign of Social Development
General: That in less developed parts of the world the proclamation of the Word of God may renew people’s hearts, encouraging them to work actively toward authentic social progress.

The End of War
Missionary: That by opening our hearts to love we may put an end to the numerous wars and conflicts which continue to bloody our world.

OCTOBER 2010
Catholic Universities
General: That Catholic Universities may more and more be places where, in the light of the Gospel, it is possible to experience the harmonious unity existing between faith and reason.

World Mission Day
Missionary: That the World Mission Day may afford an occasion for understanding that the task of proclaiming Christ is an absolutely necessary service to which the Church is called for the benefit of humanity.

NOVEMBER 2010
Drug Addicts and Victims of Every Form of Dependence
General: That victims of drugs or of other dependence may, thanks to the support of the Christian community, find in the power of our Saving God strength for a radical life-change.

The Continent-wide Mission in Latin America
Missionary: That the Churches of Latin America may move ahead with the continent-wide mission proposed by their bishops, making it part of the universal missionary task of the People of God.

DECEMBER 2010
The Experience of Personal Suffering as a Help to Others who Suffer
General: That our personal experience of suffering may be an occasion for better understanding the situation of unease and pain which is the lot of many people who are alone, sick or aged, and stir us all to give them generous help.

Opening Our Doors to Christ
Missionary: That the peoples of the earth may open their doors to Christ and to His Gospel of peace, brotherhood and justice.

Tags: Family Values, Human Dignity, Religious Freedoms
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The Vatican has released the complete list of Pope Bendict XVI’s prayer intentions for all of 2011.  This is a full year in advance.

January

General Intention: That the riches of creation be preserved, valued and made available to all, as a precious gifts from God to mankind.

Missionary Intention: That Christians may achieve full unity, bearing witness of the universal fatherhood of God to the entire human race.
February

General Intention: That the family may be respected by all in its identity and that its irreplaceable contribution to all of society be recognized.

Missionary Intention: That in the mission territories where the struggle against disease is most urgent, Christian communities may witness to the presence of Christ to those who suffer.
March

General Intention: That the nations of Latin America may walk in fidelity to the Gospel and be bountiful in social justice and peace.

Missionary Intention: That the Holy Spirit may give light and strength to the Christian communities and the faithful who are persecuted or discriminated against because of the Gospel.
April

General Intention: That the Church may offer new generations, through the believable proclamation of the Gospel, ever-new reasons of life and hope.

Missionary Intention: That missionaries, with the proclamation of the Gospel and their witness of life, may bring Christ to all those who do not yet know Him.
May

General Intention: That those who work in the media may always respect truth, solidarity and the dignity of each person.

Missionary Intention: That the Lord may grant the Church in China the capacity to persevere in fidelity to the Gospel and to grow in unity.
June

General Intention: That priests, united to the Heart of Christ, may always be true witnesses of the caring and merciful love of God.

Missionary Intention: That the Holy Spirit may bring forth from our communities numerous missionary vocations, willing to fully consecrate themselves to spreading the Kingdom of God.
July

General Intention: That Christians may contribute to alleviating the material and spiritual suffering of AIDS patients, especially in the poorest countries.

Missionary Intention: For the religious who work in mission territories, that they may be witnesses of the joy of the Gospel and living signs of the love of Christ.
August

General Intention: That the World Youth Day taking place in Madrid may encourage all the young people of the world to root and found their lives in Christ.

Missionary Intention: That Christians of the West, docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, may re-encounter the freshness and enthusiasm of their faith.

September

General Intention: For all teachers, that they may convey love in truth and educate in authentic moral and spiritual values.

Missionary Intention: That the Christian communities spread throughout the Asian continent may proclaim the Gospel with fervor, bearing witness to beauty with the joy of the faith.

October

General Intention: For the terminally ill, that in their sufferings they may be sustained by faith in God and by the love of others.

Missionary Intention: That the celebration of World Mission Sunday may increase in the People of God the passion for evangelization and the support of missionary activity through prayer and economic aid for the poorest Churches.

November

General Intention: For the eastern Churches, that their venerable tradition may be known and appreciated as a spiritual treasure for the entire Church.

Missionary Intention: That the African continent may find in Christ the strength to fulfill the path of reconciliation and justice, indicated in the second Synod of Bishops for Africa.
December

General Intention: That the nations of the earth, through knowledge and mutual respect, may grow in harmony and peace.

Missionary Intention: That children and young people may be messengers of the Gospel and that their dignity may always be respected and preserved from all violence and exploitation.

Tags: Family Values, Human Dignity, Religious Freedoms
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Racism, bigotry, anti-Christian hatred, and vicious personal attacks on people with HIV have been displayed in the windows of a Rockford abortion facility.  And the local government has not acted to stop it and are losing the trust of the citizens.  For those of you who are near Rockford, this is an opportunity to go and offer your support.  Remember:

All that it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke

January 22, 2010, 7:30am at Rockford’s Abortion Mill, 1400 Broadway

This is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe V. Wade that has resulted in the deaths of over 50 million children in the United States.

Christians will gather to pray and remember the 50 million children who have been killed nationally by abortion and the more than 50,000 children who have been killed inside of Rockford’s own abortion mill.

Our prayers will include:

The Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Stations of the Cross, and the Litany for Life in Rockford

Please join us for this Day of Penance and Rally for Life in Rockford.

For more information please contact the Rockford Pro-Life Initiative at RockfordProLife.com or 815-494-0333

“everything collapses without respect for life.” Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo

“Some will say that the defense of innocent life is only one issue among many, that it is important but not fundamental. They are wrong. In the natural moral law, the good of life is the most fundamental good and the condition for the enjoyment of all other goods.”  Archbishop Raymond Burke

“The taking of innocent human life is so heinous, so horribly evil, and so absolutely opposite to the law of Almighty God that abortion must take precedence over every other issue.” Bishop James Timlin

“…we have a most grave obligation to defend all human life from the moment of conception until natural death. God help us if we fail in this most fundamental obligation.”  Archbishop John Myers

Tags: Family Values, Pro-Life
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This is a great opportunity to support the Susan B Anthony List as they work hard to elect Pro-Life candidates and protect taxpayer funds from funding abortion.

Monday, January 11th

10:00 AM—Pittsburgh, PA

225 Ross St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219  15219  (Between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave)
Sidewalk in front of Congressman Doyle’s district office.

Local Representatives who need to hear from you!

• Jason Altmire (PA-04)
• Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03)
• Mike Doyle (PA-14)
• Alan Mollohan (WV-01)
• John Murtha (PA-12)

Local Leaders joining with Marilyn Musgrave:

• Georgette Forney, co-founder of Silent No More, president of Anglicans for Life
• Amy Scheuring, Executive Director of the Women’s Choice Network

1:30 PM—Youngstown, OH

4137 Boardman Canfield Road, Canfield, OH 44406
In front of Congressman Wilson’s Office.

Local Representatives who need to hear from you!

• Tim Ryan (OH-17)
• Zack Space (OH-18)
• Charlie Wilson (OH-06)

Local Leaders joining with Marilyn Musgrave:

• Georgette Forney, co-founder of Silent No More, president of Anglicans for Life
• Sally Dubinski, Director of Pregnancy Help Center
• Judy Welsh, Director of Women United for Life-
• Melinda Knight, Director, Office Pro-Life, Marriage and Family, Diocese of Youngstown
• Natalie Wardle, Youth Minister, St. Stephen’s Church, Bordman, OH

4:00 PM—Erie, PA

208 E. Bayfront Parkway Suite 102, Erie, PA 16507
Right in front Rep. Dahlkemper’s office.
Special Directions: Head East on Bayfront Parkway, turn left (North) on Hudson St., and the Intermodal Transportation Center on your right, at the bottom of Hudson on your right.

Local Representatives who need to hear from you!

• Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03)

Local Leaders joining with Marilyn Musgrave:

• Georgette Forney, co-founder of Silent No More, president of Anglicans for Life
• Melanie Brewer, Chair, Erie County Young Republicans

Tuesday, January 12th

9:00 AM—Cleveland, OH

Willard Park, next to City Hall. 601 Lakeside East Avenue, Cleveland, OH.

Local Representatives who need to hear from you!

• John Boccieri (OH-16)
• Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
• Tim Ryan (OH-17)

Local Leaders joining with Marilyn Musgrave:

• Molly Smith, President of Cleveland Right to Life
• Diane Stover, Director, North East Ohio Value Voters

11: 45 AM – Toledo, OH
One Maritime Plaza, Toledo, Ohio 43604
Sidewalk in front of Congresswoman Kaptur’s office

Local Representatives who need to hear from you!

• Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

Local Leaders joining with Marilyn Musgrave:

• Ann Barrick, Toledo 40 Days for Life Campaign Director
• Ana Thompson, Toledo Physician

3:30 PM—South Bend, IN
207 West Colfax Avenue, South Bend, IN 46601

In front of Congressman Donnelly’s district office.

Local Representatives who need to hear from you!

• Joe Donnelly (IN-02)

Local Leaders joining with Marilyn Musgrave:

• Mary Akre, Local 40 Days for Life coordinator
• Mia Reini, Volunteer, The Gabriel Project
• Mary Forr, Vice President of Notre Dame Right to Life
• Kathleen Donahue, Notre Dame Student

Wednesday, January 13th

9:00 AM—Cincinnati, OH
Carew Tower, 441 Vine Street, Suite 3003, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (corner of Vine and 5th)
Outside Congressman Driehaus’ office.

Local Representatives who need to hear from you!

• Steve Driehaus (OH-01)
• Baron Hill (IN-09)

Local Leaders joining with Marilyn Musgrave:

• State Senator Shannon Jones—Ohio’s 7th Senate District
• Paula Westwood, Executive Director of Cincinnati Right to Life

1:00 PM—Terre Haute, IN
901 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana 47807
Outside Congressman Ellsworth’s Office, Southeast Corner of 9th and Wabash Avenue.

Local Representatives who need to hear from you!

• Brad Ellsworth (IN-08)

Local Leaders joining with Marilyn Musgrave:

• Mary Ellen Van Dyke—Director of Vanderburgh County Right to Life in Evansville.
• Sharon Carey, President Wabash Valley Crisis Pregnancy Center.
• Jennifer Buell, President Wabash County Right to Life.

3:00 PM – Indianapolis, IN
200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204
Indiana Statehouse, South Atrium, 200 W Washington St., Indianapolis, In 46204

Local Representatives who need to hear from you!

• Brad Ellsworth (IN-08)

Local Leaders joining with Marilyn Musgrave:

• Sue Swayze, Indiana Family Institute.
• Sally Williams, Indiana Right to Life.

Tags: Family Values, Pro-Life
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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has been very supportive of health care reform but has expressed disappointment at the direction that the current legislation is taking.

USCCB Position on Health Care Reform includes the following:

• a truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity
• access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of immigrants
• pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism including freedom of conscience and variety of options
• restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers

The USCCB has issued an updated bulletin insert and is encouraging parishioners to get involved and contact their Representatives and Senators.

As long-time advocates of health care reform, the U.S. Catholic bishops continue to make the moral case that genuine health care reform must protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Health care reform should not advance a pro-abortion agenda in our country.

• On November 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed major health care reform that reaffirms the essential, longstanding and widely supported policy against using federal funds for elective abortions and includes positive measures on affordability and immigrants.

• On December 24, the U.S. Senate rejected this policy and passed health care reform that requires federal funds to help subsidize and promote health plans that cover elective abortions. All purchasers of such plans will be required to pay for other people’s abortions through a separate payment solely to pay for abortion.

• Outside the abortion context, neither bill has adequate conscience protection for health care providers, plans or employers.

• These two bills must now be combined into one bill that both the House and Senate will vote on in final form. Provisions against abortion funding and in favor of conscience protection, affordability, and immigrants’ access to health care must be part of a fair and just health care reform bill, or the final bill must be opposed.

Read the rest of the insert and ACT today!

Tags: Family Values, Pro-Life
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A coalition of pro-life advocates and religious leaders plan to gather in Houston on Jan. 18 to oppose what is expected to be the largest abortion clinic in the country.  If you are in the Houston area, make plans to join them.

Planned Parenthood is converting a former bank building into a 78,000 square foot facility.  The clinic is strategically located in a part of Houston that is surrounded by black and Hispanic neighborhoods raising the question of whether Planned Parenthood is intentionally targeting minorities.

Read more…

Tags: Family Values, Pro-Life
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As our Representatives head back to Washington and Congress goes back in session, we have an obligation to educate ourselves on the current health care debate.  This has the potential to have the most significant legislation and societal changes of our lifetime.

Implementation of any of the existing health care reform initiatives will have the effect of institutionalizing deeply held values from both the left and the right.  The premise that health care is a basic human right which everyone should have access to is a concept that liberal politicians have been advocating for decades.  The tenets of Catholic Social Justice implies that same thing and this has been strongly supported by the USCCB.

The difference of opinion among Americans, and even among Catholics comes down to the delivery of health care services and what those basic services represent.

Earlier this fall, Kansas City, Kansas Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Kansas City – St. Joseph Bishop Robert W. Finn have released a joint pastoral statement on Principles of Catholic Social Teaching and Health Care Reform.  The statement reflects the fundamental principles of Catholic social and moral teaching that must accompany any evaluation of the varied health reform proposals.  Included in the letter was an in depth explanation of the principles of Subsidiarity and Solidarity; both of which play a significant role in defining the need for and the limitations of health care reform.

For years, the right has been successful in restricting the use of federal dollars in funding abortions.  Depending on the language that comes out of the conference committee, the signing of this legislation could ingrain the use of tax dollars for the funding of abortion in federal law or provide a permanent injunction against it.

Each of us has an obligation to educate ourselves on the legislation as it clears the committee and heads back to the House and the Senate for a final vote.   As Catholics we have an obligation to actively promote a just and moral solution to the existing health care crisis.  There is no excuse for sitting back and relying on the press or even our Priest and Bishops to let us know what is going on.  The obligation lies with each of us individually.

Tags: Family Values, Pro-Life
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In a previous article, I lamented the death of civil discourse.   You can find it on the web, on the Sunday morning talk shows, on talk radio and even here on the Examiner.

There was an article over the weekend titled “What’s your Senator’s stance on employee protections for women”  which is indicative of the overall tone of the debate sweeping this country.  In the article, the author repeated the “Republicans for Rape” label that has been directed at the 30 Republican Senators who failed to support the amendment put forth by Senator Al Franken that forbid the awarding of Federal contracts to corporations that required their employees to sign clauses requiring arbitration.  Specifically, this amendment was drafted because of allegations that an employee of defense contractor KBR was sexually assaulted by her co-workers in Iraq and then imprisoned in a shipping container after she reported the attack to the company.   The allegations were investigated by both the State Department and the Department of Justice.  Both declined to take further action.  Her lawsuit against the company is currently moving through the courts.

One thing that the article failed to mention was that this legislation was objectionable to the Department of Defense, Chambers of Commerce and both large and small businesses all across the country.  In fact the Department of Defense went so far as to issue a statement directly to the Senate expressing their concerns;

“The Department of Defense, the prime contractor, and higher tier subcontractors may not be in a position to know about such things. Enforcement would be problematic, especially in cases where privity of contract does not exist between parties within the supply chain that supports a contract,”

In short, this is bad legislation that is difficult to enforce, delays justice for victims, increases litigation costs for employers, and in many cases provides less monetary benefit to victims.

In “Wiggans for Governor of Kansas”, this same author repeated the accusation that Sen. Sam Brownback is a “Republican for Rape”, a hyper-partisan and anti-abortion zealot who is a member of “The Family” with a twisted view of Christ.

The inclusion of arbitration clauses in employment and other contracts is a real issue that deserves scrutiny.  It can reasonably be argued that the inclusion these clauses favor the employer much more than the employee who is being asked to give up rights to take grievances to court.    However, name calling and sensational accusations lead to more of the same; not solutions.

Tags: Family Values
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My colleague over at the Portland Progressive Examiner page has a good article on politics and religion.  It is too bad that he has it backwards.  The Manhattan Declaration is not an attempt to force any specific denominations beliefs on society; it is a step in the process to ensure that Christians  have a place at the table.  Christians enjoy the same rights as all Americans; the right to participate in the political process.  With that participation comes, the values and principles that we as individuals possess. Specifically, the Manhattan Declaration addresses the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and religious liberty.  These are issues that have been under attack from left for the last three decades.  Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, Catholic Bishops and other religious leaders are well within their rights as American citizens to advocate for their position; and failure to do so is to fail to provide the leadership and example that every organization expects of its leaders. Read more…

Tags: Family Values, Religious Freedoms
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