LifeNet

Christmas - Nollaig Shona Duit

Which means, Happy Christmas to You! With thanks to the Irish online publication Lifezine -

Botticelli - this is his only signed work - The Mystic Nativity. You can go here to learn about it.

If you think you've seen this before - you have. We had the same Christmas posting in 2010 - liked it so much we're repeating it!

Important: Priest for Life wins exemption from Obamacare abortion/sterilization/contraception mandate.

Could the mandate be on it's way out?

... the federal government entered into a stipulation that it would not enforce the HHS “contraception” mandate against Priests for Life pending a revision in the rules that would protect religious liberty.

The agreement came as a result of the court strongly urging the government to enter into the stipulation. If an agreement was not reached by December 21, the court indicated it would schedule an emergency hearing December 26, and attorneys for the pro-life group said it would have ordered the exemption.

Pursuant to the terms of the binding stipulation, the government agreed that it “will not take any enforcement action against [Priests for Life], its group health plans, or the group health insurance coverage provided in connection with such plans, for not covering in the health plans any contraceptive services required to be covered” by the HHS mandate.

In August, Priests for Life indicated it would openly defy the mandate if it did not receive legal protection in court. At the time, Father Frank Pavone told LifeNews his pro-life group doesn’t qualify for the narrowly-drawn exemptions in the mandate, so his organization will not comply with it and will run the risk of fines and other possible punishment.

“The unjust and unconstitutional HHS mandate, against which Priests for Life and 57 other plaintiffs have sued the federal government, takes effect today. We at Priests for Life do not qualify for the year that the government has offered certain groups to “adapt” to the mandate. And we are not “religious” enough for this Administration,” he explained. “But regardless of all that, we do not adapt to injustice; we oppose it.”

“Therefore today, on behalf of our organization and on behalf of myself personally, I announce our conscientious objection to this mandate,” he said. “Priests for Life has the highest respect for civil government and advocates the observance of all just laws. But this policy is unjust, and today I reaffirm our intention to disobey it.”

Attend Oral Arguments in NYC to Put 'Choose Life' Plates on Road

Attend the legal defense oral arguments for The Children First Foundation's Choose Life Plates' 8-year federal lawsuit at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit - 500 Pearl Street (9th floor) in Lower Manhattan this Tuesday, December 11th, 2:00 p.m. Here's Dr. Rex's latest update:

You are invited to attend the historic legal defense by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) of our 8-year federal lawsuit seeking the approval of the pro-adoption "Choose Life" License Plate in New York State.

 

Oral arguments will be presented in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit located at 500 Pearl Street (9th floor) in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, December 11 at 2 PM.

 

Please read about this important legal battle as beautifully explained in the most recent editorial of Catholic New York: http://www.cny.org/stories/Put-Choose-Life-Plates-on-Road,8477

 

Then join us, if you can, and bring family and friends - and even high schools! - to show your support!

 

Everyone is invited to attend: high school and college students studying US History and Government, Parish Respect Life Committees, Pregnancy Centers and their supporters, pro-life and pro-family organizations are all encouraged to spread the word (please forward this email!) and come fill the Courtroom to show your support for life, liberty, freedom of speech and equal justice as protected by the US Constitution!

 

WHEN: Tuesday, December 11 at 2:00 PM (please plan to arrive early and bring ID)

 

WHERE: The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit located at 500 Pearl Street (9th floor) in Lower Manhattan near Foley Square. See the directions below for easy public transportation and by car.

 

DIRECTIONS: http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/jury_travel.php?location=manhattan

 

Please sign our petition at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/new-york-choose-life-license-plate.html

 

For more information about this 11-year effort, visit: http://www.thechildrenfirst.org/home0.aspx

 

Thank you so much! With your help New York may soon become the 30th "Choose Life State" in America!

 

Sincerely for Life,

Elizabeth B. Rex

Elizabeth B. Rex, PhD

President and Co-Founder
The Children First Foundation
Cell: 914-629-3710

 

Follow-up to pro-death Peter Singer speaking at Fordham U.

We posted about Singer's appearance last month here Leading all-out pro-death philospher Peter Singer speaking at Fordham; is this stupid, or is it us?. Before reading below, you may want to re-visit this posting.

This is a response to Singer's appearance, by Tony Felicissimo, head of the Advocates for Life in Yonkers, and a co-director of the Hudson Valley Coalition for Life.

 As far as I could see there was no visible protest of the talk - either inside or outside.  I did respond to an article on LifeSite News and here was my response:

 

   "I was present at the Fordham workshop.  I have no problem with debates centered on the issue of humane treatment of animals but I was horrified that Singer, although not speaking directly on the issues of killing the innocent, was given the cloak of credibility and respectability.  I felt sick to my stomach during the panel discussion thinking about how all the young people in attendance (at least 150+) might see this man as "compassionate."  I don't care how much Singer might be right on some issues,  his other ideas are so dangerous and debased that to give him any cloak of credibility might open others to his ugly ideas. A man who advocates abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and bestiality is not compassionate.  No amount of "academic freedom" justifies this.  The last half hour of the discussion was dedicated to questions written out by the audience.  It was also telling that while the panel found time to talk about humane treatment of chickens Professor Camosy did not choose my question to be asked of Singer:  "What is the moral status of a healthy animal compared to the moral status of a unhealthy infant human being?"  If Singer was allowed to answer that question the students would have seen what kind of man was invited.  As a religious educator I am horrified and will do all I can to discourage young people from attending Fordham."