Tens of thousands rally for religious freedom in 143 US cities

(CNA/EWTN News).- After drawing 54,000 people to 143 nationwide protests, leaders of the Stand Up For Religious Freedom campaign are more determined than ever to end the federal contraception mandate.

“From coast to coast, the response of the crowds at these rallies was a tremendous optimism that we can change the HHS mandate,” said Pro-Life Action League Executive Director Eric Scheidler, who planned the March 23 “Rally for Religious Freedom” with Citizens for a Pro-Life Society.

“People came out for the very first time in their lives, to any sort of grassroots protest activity,” Scheidler said of Stand Up For Religious Freedom's first effort.  “That happened in Chicago. It happened in San Francisco, in Washington, D.C., in New York, Philadelphia, and other large cities.”

Each of those cities drew between 900 and 2,500 people, united in their desire to restore religious freedom by ending the president's contraception coverage rule. “Before the rally, there was a real sense almost of despair – and certainly discouragement – that the federal government would be trying to strong-arm the religious institutions of this country,” Scheidler said, describing the mood he observed after the controversial rule was confirmed earlier this year. MORE

A look back at this week’s Supreme Court Oral Arguments on ObamaCare

 (NationalRightToLifeNews.org) – I would be fibbing if I said I had read more than a portion of the transcript of the oral arguments on ObamaCare presented this week to the Supreme Court. A fairly hefty portion, but nothing like all 300+pages. (If my granddaughter snoozes tomorrow, I might take a whack at it.) I would encourage you to read as much as your schedule permits. If you have more time, you can dial up www.scotusblog.com where you can listen to selected audio of the six hours of back and forth. MORE

GOOD NEWS: 40 Days for Life Ends With 668 Babies Saved From Abortion

(LifeNews.com) - Today is “Day 41.” We take time now to look back at the blessings God has provided during the 40 Days for Life campaign that just ended, of course. But just as importantly, we also look to the future. For this campaign, we have received reports of 668 babies spared from abortion — that we know of! Many of the local campaigns are still compiling reports, so it’s highly likely that this number will increase as the national team receives more of their updates. Praise God!  MORE

GOOD NEWS: October Baby Pro-Life Movie Makes Top 10 in Opening Weekend

(LifeNews.com) - After a resounding success in a limited release, October Baby premiered nationally on Friday. The movie has received strong support from the pro-life community — drawing rave reviews and it received strong support form the public — despite the premier of other top films. Although much of the media focus for the weekend centered on the premier of “The Hunger Games” and second week of “21 Jump Street,” October Baby cracked the top 10 in its first full weekend of release. The pro-life movie received about $1.7 million on only 390 screens for a ninth place finish, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com. MORE

Cardinal Dolan says HHS mandate fight 'tough' but winnable

(CNA) - Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York says that although opponents of the federal contraception mandate face a difficult struggle, religious groups can achieve victory through persistence. “We have to be very vigorous in insisting that this is not about contraception. It’s about religious freedom,” said the cardinal, who is president of the U.S. bishops’ conference. He said the debate is a “tough battle” because proponents of the coverage mandate have chosen an issue they know the Catholic Church is “not very popular on.”  MORE

GOOD NEWS: Wisconsin Governor Signs Pro-Life Measures into law

(NationalRightToLifeNews.org) - SB 306, the Coercive and Web Cam Abortion Prevention Act authored by Senator Mary Lazich and Representative Michelle Litjens.  For far too long, numbers of women have reported that they were coerced into having abortions.  The new law ensures that an assessment will be made to determine if a woman’s consent to an abortion is voluntary.  The bill requires that the abortionist speak to the woman in private to determine if she is being coerced. MORE

GOOD NEWS: Vatican Approves Texts for 'Blessing of a Child in the Womb'

(USCCB.org) - The Vatican has approved the publication of the "Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb," which will be printed in English and Spanish in a combined booklet and should be available for parishes by Mothers' Day. The U.S. bishops who collaborated on the development of the blessing welcomed the announcement of the recognitio, or approval, by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome.   MORE

GOOD NEWS: ‘Heart-rending’: Young Slovakian sculptor captures post-abortion pain, mercy and forgiveness

(LifeSiteNews.com) - As an art student, Martin Hudáček of Slovakia was moved to create a sculpture to draw attention to the devastation abortion can bring to the woman, and to the fact that through the love and mercy of God, reconciliation and healing are possible.  MORE

Obama Agency: Pepsi Using Aborted Fetal Cells is Ordinary Business

(LifeNews.com) - PepsiCo has come under fire from pro-life advocates because it has been contracting with a research firm that uses fetal cells from babies victimized by abortions to test and produce artificial flavor enhancers. Now, the Obama administration is set to face more criticism because an agency has declared that Pepsi’s use of the company and its controversial flavor testing process constitutes “ordinary business.”  MORE

HHS Adds Insult to My Injury

by Mary McClusky

After many frustrating years of searching for answers to various health symptoms, I was diagnosed with a hormonal disorder, the cause of which is still unknown.  After four years of marriage, I've finally accepted the painful reality that I might never become pregnant or give birth to a child who has my husband's wit and generous, loving heart. So the recent federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate that would force me to pay for other women's contraceptives and sterilizations as part of the new health care law's "preventive services" mandate adds insult to my injury. MORE

“There is need for a crusade of manliness and purity to counteract and nullify the savage work of those who think man is a beast. And that crusade is your work.”

- St. Josemaria Escriva

“The nation doesn’t simply need what we have. It needs what we are.”

- St. Edith Stein

“The Internet causes billions of images to appear on millions of computer monitors around the planet. From this galaxy of sight and sound will the face of Christ emerge and the voice of Christ be heard? For it is only when his face is seen and his voice heard that the world will know the glad tidings of our redemption. This is the purpose of evangelization. And this is what will make the Internet a genuinely human space, for if there is no room for Christ, there is no room for man.”

- Blessed John Paul II

QUICK QUESTIONS about Catholic Teaching and Practice

Catholic Answers, a leader in Catholic apologetics, has a helpful resource on their website for learning about Catholic teachings and practices.  Check out their Quick Questions section to find answers to questions you might have.  You can access it here.  They also broadcast an excellent question and answer program about the faith: Catholic Answers Live!  You can listen to previous shows from this section on their website.

The Leading Edge of Tyranny

Celebrated commentator Chuck Colson offered an interesting and challenging analysis of the whole HHS Mandate.  He boldly claims: "Make no mistake: What we are witnessing is indeed the leading edge of tyranny.” 

Click here to listen to the audio or to read the full text of the commentary.

FROM THE USCCB RESPECT LIFE PROGRAM:

Life Matters: Contraception

From the standpoint of women's health alone—putting aside all the important moral reasons why contraception is wrong—there are many serious reasons to reject contraception: increased access does not reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions. 

Instead, it increases rates of STDs.

Hormonal contraceptives also put women at higher risk of potentially fatal blood clots, heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer.

Read it here