Pro-Life Activism Is Not a Mission of the Church

It Is THE Mission of the Church

  

By: Rolley Haggard

Now that I have your attention, permit me to explain.

There's an ongoing debate in Reformed and Evangelical circles regarding the mission of the church. That's good, because the Body of Christ needs to be clear on what the Head expects the hands and feet to be doing.

But the way one frames the question can greatly affect the answer. So we need to make sure we're rightly framing the question.

Rightly Framing the Question

More often than not, the question “What is the mission of the church?” is framed so as to give either the exclusive mission, or the comprehensive mission, rather than the primary mission. As important as the first two are, the third is, by definition, the most important.

Exclusive mission means those things that the church and the church alone has responsibility for. There is no serious debate regarding the exclusive mission of the church. All parties are pretty much agreed that the church's exclusive mission is to minister the Word of God, particularly in fulfillment of the Great Commission. If the church doesn't do that, no one else will.

Comprehensive mission means all things the church has responsibility for. The comprehensive mission of the Church is what the aforementioned debate centers on. It involves determining what things are “official” church responsibilities and what things are not.

Primary mission means those things that are the church's most important responsibilities: the things she will be held most accountable for by Christ. Unfortunately, neither side of the debate is giving much consideration to this, and, incredibly, it is falling through the cracks. Christ and His apostles laid it out so plainly it is difficult to understand how we are overlooking it, but we are.

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Father Frank Pavone's Thoughts on the Abortionist Kermit Gosnell Trial

                                                                                     

This was published on April 15^th, before some of the charges were dismissed against Kermit Gosnell.  We need to keep posting stories about this atrocity so people can see just what abortion is and does.  

 My biggest fear is that our culture will now begin to accept infanticide and embrace it just as they did abortion over 40 years ago! 

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, talks about abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who is on trial for 7 counts of murder for killing babies AFTER they were born. Fr. Pavone also asks "Isn't this the logical outcome of the abortion mentality?"

 FR. FRANK PAVONE is one of the most prominent pro-life leaders in the world. Originally from New York, he was ordained in 1988 by Cardinal John O’Connor. He is a priest of the Amarillo Diocese and serves full-time in pro-life leadership with his bishop’s permission. In 1993 he became National Director of Priests for Life. He is also the President of the National Pro-life Religious Council, and the National Pastoral Director of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and of Rachel’s Vineyard, the world’s largest ministry of healing after abortion. He travels throughout the country, to an average of four states every week, preaching and teaching against abortion. He produces programs regularly for religious and secular radio and television networks. He was asked by Mother Teresa to speak in India on the life issues, and has addressed the pro-life caucus of the United States House of Representatives. The Vatican appointed him to the Pontifical Council for the Family, which coordinates the pro-life activities of the Catholic Church. He also serves as a member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life. He was present at the bedside of Terri Schiavo as she was dying and was an outspoken advocate for her life. He was invited by members of the Class of 2009 at Notre Dame to lead an alternate commencement ceremony for those students who refused to attend the ceremony in which President Obama was honored. Fr. Frank was invited by members of Congress to preach at the prayer service they had in the Capitol just prior to the vote on health care reform. He received the “Proudly Pro-life Award” by the National Right to Life Committee, and numerous other pro-life awards and honorary doctorates. He is the author of two books, Ending Abortion, Not Just Fighting It, and Pro-life Reflections for Every Day. Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” of the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade abortion decision, called Fr. Frank “the catalyst that brought me into the Catholic Church.”

Dr. Alveda King’s Perspective: Gosnell Must Answer for ‘House of Horrors’

By Dr. Alveda King
Director, African American Outreach

 The atrocities that took place at the West Philadelphia Women’s Medical Society by late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell should never have occurred.
I sat in a packed Philadelphia courtroom on Tuesday as three of eight murder charges were thrown out against Gosnell, whose clinic was described as a squalid "house of horrors."

The judge hearing the case — Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Minehart — apparently did not believe based on the evidence presented that three of the babies Gosnell was charged with murdering were viable — that is born alive and killed as prosecutors alleged.

The 72-year-old physician, nevertheless still faces the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder in the four remaining baby deaths for which he is charged. Prosecutors have argued that Gosnell and his staff killed these so-called “viable” babies by cutting the backs of their necks after they lived through an abortion procedure.
The judge also upheld murder charges in the case of an adult patient, Karnamaya Monger, 41, who died of an overdose of anesthetics prescribed by Gosnell. 

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 Dr. Alveda C. King grew up in the civil rights movement led by her uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  She is a pastoral associate and director of African-American outreach for Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries.  Her family home in Birmingham, Ala., was bombed, as was her father’s church office in Louisville, Ky.  Alveda herself was jailed during the open housing movement.

Documentary on the Murder Trial of Abortionist Kermit Gosnell to Air on Fox News on May 5th

From Father Frank Pavone

On Sunday, May 5 at 9pm ET, FOX News will air nationally a documentary about the abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell who has been on trial for the murder of babies born alive and of a woman who came to his abortion clinic. This is a very important trial that raises many key issues in our national debate over abortion. We encourage you to watch it and get others to watch it as well.

Brothers and Sisters,

Abortionist Kermit Gosnell is on trial during these days in Philadelphia. He, his wife, and eight other staffers were arrested for murder: murder of seven live babies outside the womb and one mother. Eight of the nine who were arrested with him have pled guilty and we will hear testimony from them during these weeks of the trial.

I urge you to read the transcript of the Grand Jury report (pdf) about this man and the destructive killing business he operated. And let me assure you of one thing. He is the rule, not the exception, in the abortion industry.

transcript of trial  

He, along with every abortionist in America, deserves to be tried for crimes against humanity and should be behind bars.

Let’s pray and work tirelessly for the hastening of that day.

link to Priests for LIfe website 

 

Priest Wants Bodies of Babies Gosnell Killed for a Proper Burial

Father Frank Pavone, the director of Priests for Life, has asked officials in the Kermit Gosnell murder trial case if he can have the bodies of the babies after the all of the court proceedings are finished. He wants a proper burial of the remains of 45 babies killed by the abortion practitioner and his abortion clinic staff.

“These are not just medical waste. These are human bodies — real human being were killed,” Pavone said. “There are two reasons here: One, to properly honor these children of course who have been dishonored by what Gosnell did. And secondly, to alert the public and to raise the consciousness that we are talking about real killings here.”

Pavone said the medical examiner said he would get back to him about the request.

Pavone has also asked the judge to meet with Gosnell if he would be willing to talk to him.

 click here to see video of interview with Fox News

The Tragedy of Abortion

From Matt Smith, President 
Catholic Advocate 
 

All life is sacred.

Last week, we grieved for the victims of a vicious terror attack and horrific accident, rallying behind Boston and West, Texas, during their times of tragedy. We celebrated the heroism of the first responders working — and risking their own lives — to protect the lives of thousands of innocent bystanders.

Why did a Pennsylvania judge yesterday throw out three of seven first degree murder charges against Kermit Gosnell, an abortion doctor accused of killing seven infants after they were born alive?

How does President Obama justify headlining the Planned Parenthood annual gala tomorrow night?

For a country that talks about treasuring life during times of tragedy, we certainly turn a blind eye to the tragedies happening every day in Planned Parenthood clinics and other doctors' offices throughout the country.

The double standard is horrifying. As Americans, we should praise those who defend and protect life instead of bankrolling those who take life away with our tax dollars. This is why we urgently need to support the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, which will ban federal funding from any organization that performs abortions.

Will you call your member of Congress today and ask him/her to support the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act?

 Use this link to view H.R. 217 Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act

Our goal is to reach all 435 Congressional offices by May 1 — one week from today. Can we count on your help? 

Use this link to find your Congress member

Thank you in advance for standing up for the sanctity of life.

Whose Rights?

The Paradox of Moral Relativism

 

 

 

 

Whose rights are protected in a relativistic culture?

It is precisely on this point that relativistic societies face a serious dilemma:

Doctor's on Fetal Pain

A wealth of anatomical, behavioral and physiological evidence shows that the developing human fetus is capable of experiencing tremendous pain by 20 weeks post-fertilization.

Anatomical:

Pain receptors are present throughout the unborn child’s entire body by no later than 16 weeks after fertilization, and nerves link these receptors to the brain’s thalamus and subcortical plate by no later than 20 weeks. For unborn children, says Dr. Paul Ranalli, a neurologist at the University of Toronto, 20 weeks is a “uniquely vulnerable time, since the pain system is fully established, yet the higher level pain-modifying system has barely begun to develop.” As a result, unborn babies at this age probably feel pain more intensely than adults.

Behavioral:

By 8 weeks after fertilization, the unborn child reacts to touch. By 20 weeks post-fertilization, the unborn child reacts to stimuli that would be recognized as painful if applied to an adult human—for example, by recoiling. Surgeons entering the womb to perform corrective procedures on unborn children have seen those babies flinch, jerk and recoil from sharp objects and incisions. In addition, ultrasound technology shows that unborn babies at 20 weeks and earlier react physically to outside stimuli such as sound, light and touch.

article continues here

 This site is devoted to the promotion of awareness about the scientific evidence that fetuses experience pain. We have posted an open letter to legislators which physicians may sign to support the evidence of fetal pain.

Progress in Harrisburg; Action Required; April 24th Event

From Mike McMonagle, President
Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania

Thank you again for your support of efforts to effect pro-life public policies in our state government.  I report on three topics.

1.  Obamacare Abortion Opt-Out Legislation

2.  Other pro-life legislative initiatives

3.  Continued non-action by Gov. Corbett's Administration

1.  Obamacare Abortion Opt-Out Legislation

On April 12, 2013, I reported the passage of the Senate version of this legislation, S.B. 3, in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on April 10, 2013.  I also expressed a concern, shared by other leaders in the Pa. pro-life movement during an April 11, 2013 conference call, that the House Health Committee had scheduled a vote on the House version of this legislation, H.B. 818, on April 15, 2013.

Our concern was that the passage of H.B. 818 by the House, rather than waiting for and passing S.B. 3, would result in the same impasse that prevented the passage of this legislation during the 2011-2012 legislative term.

Since I sent my April 12, 2013 e-mail, I have learned that the April 10, 2013 passage of S.B. 3 by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee finally resulted in serious negotiations between the Pa.House and Senate leaders about this legislation.  The bad news from these negotiations is the continued insistence of House leaders that this legislation be a House bill and their continuing refusal to run the S.B. 3 in the House.

The good news from these negotiations is that Sen. Don White, the Chairman of the Pa. Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, proved to be a genuine pro-life legislator and statesman and agreed to run H.B.818 in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.  Senate President Scarnati and Senate Majority Leader Pileggi both supported Sen. White's decision.

So, on April 15, 2013, the Pa. House Health Committee passed H.B. 818 on a mostly party line vote.  All of the Republicans (except Rep. Scott Petri, who was absent) voted for H.B. 818 and against the "health exception" amendment and all of the Democrats voted for this amendment  and against the final bill, except for Rep. Gerald Mullery who voted for the final bill.

On April 17, 2013, the Pa. House took up H.B.818 on second consideration, which means debating and voting on amendments.  The House defeated all of the amendments offered by pro-abortion representatives.  The results of these votes are available on the Pa. House website.

link to website here 

The Pa. House Appropriations Committee is likely to vote on H.B. 818 on April 22, 2013 with the final passage in the House vote occurring on April 23 or 24, 2013.

Senator White, Senator Corman (the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee), Senate President Scarnati and Senate Majority Leader Pileggi have all promised prompt action on H.B. 818 in the Pa.Senate once the House passes H.B. 818.

2.  Other pro-life legislative initiatives

These developments concerning Obamacare Abortion Opt-Out legislation provide welcome news.  Nevertheless, the passage of this legislation is long overdue and does not nearly suffice for the aggressive pro-life legislative agenda that should be enacted by a House, Senate and Governor with pro-life majorities and position.

I believe that a strong consensus exists among Pa. pro-life leaders that our next pro-life legislative initiative should be legislation (similar to that passed by the U.S. House in March 2011) to de-fund abortion committers, such as Planned Parenthood.  Rep. Daryl Metcalf introduced such a bill (H.B. 2465) in May 2012, but it received no action in the House.

Opportunity for Effective Action on April 24, 2013

The passage of a de-funding bill and/or any other pro-life legislative initiative will require significant activity by pro-life citizens in Pa.  I request your participation in a press conference and "Lobby Day" in our State Capitol on Wednesday, April 24, 2013.

At 9:30 AM, Rep. Rick Saccone is hosting a press conference in the media center to promulgate a resolution by the Pa. General Assembly that promotes April 30, 2013 as a Day of Prayer and Fasting.  This day is the 150th anniversary of such a proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on April 30, 1863.  Use this link to view this resolution 

use this link to see an earlier article promoting this day 

I believe that some pro-life citizens are planning appropriate activities for April 30, 2013 in their local areas.  For example, in S.E. Pa., a prayer vigil and sidewalk counseling will occur on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 from 9-11 AM at the Planned Parenthood abortion chamber in West Chester.  Abortionist Lee Tripp commits abortions at this abortion chamber on Tuesdays.

After the Press Conference on April 24, 2013, at approximately 10 AM, we will gather in the Cafeteria for a briefing and organizational meeting.  We will then meet with and distribute information to certain key legislators.  Please join us for this effort in our State Capitol.

3.  Continued non-action by Gov. Corbett's Administration

My April 12, 2013 e-mail reported on our continuing efforts to obtain positive results from the March 4, 2013 meeting with Lt. Gov. Cawley and Sec. Branstetter. Since then, another week of non-action and another promise from Lt. Gov.Cawley of, "We'll get back to you," has occurred.

Nevertheless, more disappointing , was a recent letter sent by Pa. Dept. of Health (DOH) Acting Secretary Michael Wolf.  In this letter, Acting Sec. Wolf continues the highly intellectually dishonest practice of the DOH, under Gov. Corbett, of stating that they "need complaints" before they will act on our requests.

For example, one clear implication of Acting Sec. Wolf's position is that, before DOH will act to stop the abortion industry's cover-up of sexual assaults against minors, the DOH requires a"complaint" from one of these girls 15 or younger "treated"at an abortion facility.  This position is outrageous, effectively exempts the Pa. abortion industry from our child abuse reporting laws, and conflicts with Gov. Corbett's position as Attorney General.

The evidence of these cover-ups is in the reports filed by the abortion facilities. We are asking the DOH to require Pa. abortion facilities show the mandated reports for the abortions they commit on girls 15 and under.  If these abortion facilities fail to make these reports, then we are asking the DOH to revoke the license for those abortion facilities that fail to do so.

I request that you also contact Lt. Gov.Cawley and request a positive response to our March 4, 2013 requests of Gov.Corbett's Administration.  His contact information is

Lt.Gov. Jim Cawley

200Main Capitol Building

Harrisburg,PA  17120-0022

jimcawley@pa.gov

717-787-3300

Philippine Prelate: Don’t Vote for Candidates who Support Abortion, Divorce

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen Dagupan

Emphasizing that the Church does not endorse political candidates, the vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said in a pastoral letter that Catholics should not vote for candidates who support abortion, divorce, or same-sex marriage.

“When the Church ENDORSES CANDIDATES in political elections she always ends up a LOSER,” wrote Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen Dagupan. “The endorsed candidate may win in the votes but the Church never wins with him. In endorsing candidates, the Bride of Christ the Church tarnishes her spiritual mission with the stain of the mundane. The endorsed candidate might win but religion has been reduced to a political party; religion has been used for political gain and our spiritual mission has been compromised. We will be lonesome widows after the elections for marrying partisan politics during the campaign.” 

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