“Hence it is, O most holy Mother of God, that thou hast greater goodness and greater charity than all the other Saints, and hast freer access to God than any of them, for thou art His Mother. Ah, deign, we beseech thee, to remember us in our miseries, who celebrate thy glories, and know how great is thy goodness.”

Saint Methodius

<http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0bz1kplegkk/s3izuux02hi/aaaaaaaasbc/hook3kpwm54/s1600-h/thomasmoreheader-785001.gif>
*Rockford Tables Proposed Bubble Zone Ordinance: 'On Hold' as City Considers
New Arguments, Implications*

*ROCKFORD, Ill.,** **Feb. 9** /Christian Newswire/ -- City of Rockford
officials have tabled its recently proposed "bubble zone" ordinance for two
months as they consider new objections from the Chicago-based Thomas More
Society and local pro-life activists. Yesterday, attorneys from the Thomas
More Society sent a letter to Rockford's mayor and aldermen respectfully
urging them to reject the bubble zone measure as ill-advised and
unconstitutional. Additionally, pro-life activists assert that enacting the
bubble zone ordinance would overlook and validate the grossly objectionable
activities on the part of the Northern Illinois Women's Center, Rockford's
abortion clinic with its notorious history of displaying obscene images and
harassing protesters. Clinic window displays feature a host of
anti-Christian symbols including a rubber chicken covering the body of Jesus
Christ on a crucifix, images of Jesus Christ making an explicit gesture with
the words "Even Jesus Hates You," and more rubber chickens dangling from
nooses. A nun doll in a miniature casket appears in another window, along
with crudely hand-drawn signs slandering priests and other pro-life sidewalk
counselors as HIV-positive perverts and child molesters.

"We've been involved in federal litigation with both the clinic proprietor,
his thug ally, and Rockford for two years now, and while we had hoped to
settle and compromise with the city, this proposed 'bubble zone' ordinance
represented a major setback. Yet we're now pleased that, at least,
discussions about the negative impact and patent illegality of the ordinance
are moving forward," said Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the
Thomas More Society. "This two month delay is a legal victory, albeit a
modest one, as prospects for passage of the bubble zone proposal have been
dimmed, if not wholly curtailed. We trust that City council members will
carefully reconsider this unwise, unwelcome, ill-timed and illicit
proposal."

In the law firm's letter to Rockford officials, Brejcha detailed how this
new ordinance, if adopted, would infringe the free speech rights of peaceful
sidewalk counselors. Moreover, it is really "anti-choice," as it deprives
expectant mothers of any genuine chance to make free, fully informed
choices. Finally, Illinois' Labor Dispute Act, which precludes municipal
regulation of labor picketing, would render Rockford's bubble-zone
"viewpoint-discriminatory" and illegal.

Pro-life advocate Kevin Rilott sent another letter to the city stating that
its officials should refrain from putting their stamp of approval on the
hateful, obscene and intimidating images displayed by the abortion clinic.
Rilott wrote, "Is this really the type of bigotry...the Rockford City
council wants to protect, promote, and defend with it's [sic] bubble zone?"

The Thomas More Society has represented pro-life activists in Rockford for
several years in both federal and state courts. The pending civil rights
lawsuit Rilott v. Rockford et al (No. 08 CV 50045) alleges hate crimes by
the abortion clinic proprietor, Wayne Webster, and his ally, Keith
Sterkeson, as well as defacement of a pro-life "bus bench" ad by a Rockford
bus driver.

IMAGES AVAILABLE:
Photos of obscene signs in window of Northern Illinois Women's Center
Photos from Rockford City Council meeting

**About the Thomas More Society
Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society is a not- for-profit, public
interest law firm based in Chicago and dedicated to fighting for the rights
and dignity of all human beings, from conception until natural death. The
Society vigorously defends clients in state and federal courtrooms around
the country, addressing vital issues across the pro-life spectrum, including
pregnancy discrimination, end-of-life health care, the right of
conscientious objection for medical workers, freedom of speech, free
exercise of religion, and peaceable nonviolent protest.

As a public interest law firm, the Thomas More Society is a nonprofit,
tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, supported solely by private donations.
Visitwww.thomasmoresociety.org<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103024801750&s=17653&e=001fcm6ywttc1c_pngmbnd6xtsdyafd-zfyaajudyleg7wwqibxt3klkbjqvrm_q43aphmf6xyhsqetctomfgcjwq7of5refwl0exzipf8c4mnvy5yrispchawqwho_wuwx>
for
more information.*

*Its president, Archbishop Fisichella, no longer has the trust of some of
its members. All because of one of his articles published in "L'Osservatore
Romano," approved by the secretariat of state. The scholar Michel Schooyans'
broadside against the false "compassion" that justifies everything

by Sandro Magister


*
** *
ROME, February 8, 2010 – In a few days, from February 11 to 13, a meeting
will be held at the Vatican of the pontifical academy for life, the
president of which is Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella.*
*
*
***Read this article here:
http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1342048?eng=y
*

*
*

*MEDIA ADVISORY,** **Feb. 9** /Christian Newswire/ -- World Congress of
Families enthusiastically endorses the upcoming "Day of Purity" (February
12).

WCF Managing Director Larry Jacobs comments: "With the culture -- including
the news and entertainment media, public education, and government --
constantly pushing teen sexual experimentation, it's refreshing to have a
day specifically dedicated to promoting premarital abstinence."

Jacobs continued: "'Day of Purity' is a project of Liberty Counsel, which is
to be commended for its contribution here." **Click
here*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103023132099&s=17653&e=0014jajegt4cws4pwt3qlkvc1kwparkyywz-jknxigdeprwrbfgujj_grfduuwhcfppm6pdj8hzdiiqemtvouvnun44kxyulsjpiteccwambt1-0lrqyejqk4maqdaq3v168iqp7bz0ji4=>
* for the Day of Purity website.

Over 300 secondary schools, colleges and universities in 44 states are
participating in "Day of Purity," as well as hundreds of churches,
ministries and civic organizations, including American Family Association, a
World Congress of Families Partner.

"The message of 'Day of Purity' is truly countercultural," Jacobs observed.
"The culture tells teens it doesn't matter what they do, as long as they use
a condom. The dubious wisdom of this approach may be seen in skyrocketing
rates of venereal disease, teen abortions and out-of-wedlock births; not to
mention the high rates of teen depression and mental illness."

That 3 million American teen-agers contract a sexually transmitted disease
each year would suggest that "safe-sex" is the quintessential oxymoron.

"Day of Purity" is very much in keeping with the Amsterdam Declaration,
adopted at the conclusion of World Congress of Families V (August 10-12,
2009), which calls for policies that will, "protect the physical, mental,
social and spiritual development of children." **Click
here*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103023132099&s=17653&e=0014jajegt4cwtfda8hnr8dzxjrx1zrhgtfklzupzlxnb6kqsc9ya_cl-ozx1huj1oqzgsz6eofuopzwdidw7-mxyhahg1k10ey644p_vl-bdsnfu0bldyvhd8xr58-yr3wgvk2sukaocfw30vwchgpuq==>
* to read the Amsterdam Declaration in its entirety.

**Click here*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103023132099&s=17653&e=0014jajegt4cwvpiwf0ddd8ke02zsopbyedljwsjskkvv4u4etvz_6r9xbidxww3wxsmhz2rw3qkogfmy99l30smhmmrjppaqhcquve6i-hhod0yhzcmk1rtjwu5mjsf-rdkwas13xk9tzjkpyztb0nynnfs0xwyzac6jxw1xmry6lhrt-ebnseamv8khv9rwnb86iuab1vskm=>
* to read, "Sexuality: A Litmus Test For Culture" by Dr. Allan C. Carlson,
founder and International Secretary of the World Congress of Families.

For more information on World Congress of Families, go to**
www.worldcongress.org*<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103023132099&s=17653&e=0014jajegt4cwvlswjj6r-w5_xqej-vdhyry_035i5qr8hflqhyg8iurlf7kf0lkarbadgtb1p0gp15jr7ennjyhjusbs7xp2msffndhhktj2w5lrox_83nag==>
*. To schedule an interview with Larry Jacobs, contact Don Feder at 508-
405-1337 or **dfeder@rcn.com* <dfeder@rcn.com>* .

**The World Congress of Families (WCF) is an international network of
pro-family organizations, scholars, leaders and people of goodwill from more
than 60 countries that seek to restore the natural family as the fundamental
social unit and the 'seedbed' of civil society (as found in the UN Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, 1948). The WCF was founded in 1997 by Allan
Carlson and is a project of The Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society
in Rockford, Illinois
(www.profam.org<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103023132099&s=17653&e=0014jajegt4cwtwu3q8tddvnqradwex1khj_f241jppsrumqco5j94-paav_hrt1kx57citltq49o6knsumhyqfoytwzwjsbp80swav2erycac=>).
To date, there have been five World Congresses of Families Prague (1997),
Geneva (1999), Mexico City (2004) and Warsaw, Poland (2007). The fifth World
Congress of Families was held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, August 10-12, 2009
( www.worldcongress.nl<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103023132099&s=17653&e=0014jajegt4cwv14louiz8jf5ysfhialalhnzgko0yovjppt9ob_g6ho64ghdpqirhyiuxgzs4oxv1epq9pggipxggiohefq8mya62um3e-mynq51yhb6s6_w==>
and www.worldcongress.org<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103023132099&s=17653&e=0014jajegt4cwvlswjj6r-w5_xqej-vdhyry_035i5qr8hflqhyg8iurlf7kf0lkarbadgtb1p0gp15jr7ennjyhjusbs7xp2msffndhhktj2w5lrox_83nag==>
).*

At war with the USCCB; Pro-life reaction to Tebow Super Bowl ad

Matt C. Abbott

Matt C. Abbott
February 9, 2010

Would it be best for the Catholic Church in the U.S. (and Rome, for that matter) if the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops were to be dismantled? I say yes, but more on that a bit later.

First, there have been a few interesting developments in the ongoing Catholic Campaign for Human Development controversy.

Read this column here: http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/100209

---

Matt C. Abbott is a Catholic columnist with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Media and Theatre from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Management from Triton College in River Grove, Ill. He has worked in the right-to-life movement and is a published writer focused on Catholic and social issues. He can be reached at mattcabbott@gmail.com

Tags: associate's degree

 

 

A life worth living? It depends!

Judie Brown
February 9, 2010

It is always interesting to follow the trends in other countries, particularly when the subject is ending the life of a loved one due to severe disability or serious illness. There have been two such cases in the news in England over the past week.
 

To read the article, click here:
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/brown/100209