US Bishops: Nation Needs Great Healing

Cardinal O’Malley Says Gosnell Trial Has Led to Re-examination of Abortion Issue

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 16, 2013 (Zenit.org) – The chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities called for reflection, greater respect for human life and healing in the wake of the May 13 convictions of Dr. Kermit Gosnell of Philadelphia.

“Dr. Gosnell’s trial brought much-needed attention to the tragedy of abortion,” said Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston. “His murder convictions of newly delivered infants have caused many people to re-examine their positions on abortion.”

Among Gosnell’s 237 convictions were three counts of first-degree murder of infants born alive during attempted late-term abortions, one count of infanticide, and the involuntary manslaughter of a patient who died from complications of anesthesia administered by an unlicensed nurse at his abortion clinic. He was also found guilty of conspiracy, performing abortions beyond the legal limit in Pennsylvania, and 208 violations of the state’s informed consent law. On May 14, Gosnell was sentenced to life in prison.

“In addition to the violence against defenseless unborn and newborn children, women’s lives were endangered by his unethical practices. I hope and pray that Dr. Gosnell will come to regret and repent for his many crimes,” Cardinal O’Malley said. “Our nation needs great healing from the culture of death, of which this sad story is only one example. Let us pray for the children who have been lost and the many mothers and families who silently grieve their loss. Our Lord longs to heal every person affected by the tragedy of abortion and other violence.”

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On the Net:

More information on the Catholic Church’s pastoral response to those who have been involved in abortion is available at HopeAfterAbortion.com. More information on nationwide efforts of prayer and fasting are available at www.usccb.org/fast.

Pope says there are no part-time Christians; faith is a full-time job

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service 

Pope Francis holds a dove before his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican May 15. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholics can’t put their faith on a part-time schedule or rely on it just for the moments they choose; being Christian is a full-time occupation, Pope Francis said.

If people don’t open their hearts to the Holy Spirit to let God purify and enlighten them, then “our being Christian will be superficial,” the pope said May 15 at his weekly general audience.

Knowing and doing what God wants is not possible with mere human effort — it takes the transformative action of the Holy Spirit, he said.

Speaking to more than 80,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis also announced his September visit to Cagliari on the Italian island of Sardinia, where he plans to venerate the icon of Our Lady of “Bonaria” or “Buona Aria” (“good air” or “fair wind”), the namesake of his native city of Buenos Aires.

Advocating and praying for the rights of workers

35 years ago when I lived in San Francisco Chinatown the parish I attended was mostly made up of women who worked at garment factories and their families. They did piecework and worked long hours behind locked doors and barred windows. Many women took their preschool age children with them to work because they couldn’t afford any other care for them.

I remember a weekday evening mass, I think it was All Souls Day, that was packed with garment factory workers who had come straight from work to church. During the homily, the pastor, Father Donald McDonnell, noticed that some of the workers had fallen asleep. He also noticed that their friends or family members were trying to wake them up, embarrassed that they’d fallen asleep while the priest was speaking.

Deacon Rohrbacher speaks on the ‘New Evangelization’

His mother kept all these things in her heart

By Katy Beedle Rice 

This past week I was sitting in my rocking chair by the fireplace and typing away on my laptop. My daughter Jessica came up to me, “I’m bored, Mom. I want to help you.” “Well,” I told her, “I’m writing an article about motherhood for Mother’s Day. Would you like to help me?” She quickly grabbed pen and paper and began to write. Here is her reflection on motherhood:

“For Mother’s Day we usually bring you breakfast in bed, but that isn’t what Mother’s Day is all about. It’s about celebrating what mothers do. Your vocation as mothers is keeping children in touch with God. That’s what Mary did. When they went to the Temple in Jerusalem, when they figured out Jesus was missing. She worried so much. But when she saw what was happening in the Temple, she saw Jesus sitting in the Temple listening to the teachers, listening and asking questions. She thought, he has a special gift! I sometimes wonder what he was asking. She explains how to have a good relationship with children. She understood him well. She had no idea what would happen next, but she knew God knew and God had planned a path for Jesus. She tried to understand, though no one can know everything. But she tried to understand her son.”

Life in the Spirit seminar, June 14-16