"Faith Direct" - Right Wing Front Group?

Catholics in the Archdiocese of Washington and many other places are being encouraged (pressured?) to enroll in a commercial enterprise called "Faith Direct, Inc." instead of placing their tithe in the collection basket.  On its surface, this is an interesting way for Catholics to use electronic means of contributing to their parish.  Obviously, FD, Inc. makes money off this arrangement.

But who is "Faith Direct, Inc."?  It is a for profit company owned by Brian Walsh, a conservative Republican political operative.  Walsh's other clients, (Warfield and Walsh) include the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Heritage Foundation, the New York State Conservative Party, the Fred Thompson Presidential campaign, and Senator Trent Lott's PAC.  He also raises money for the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation (we know how conservatives love their horses).

As parishes direct the lay faithful to enroll in "FD", they are also given the opportunity to sign up for FD's Twitter messages, thereby giving Brian Walsh the ability to communicate his views and opinions directly to enrollees. Nice way to assemble a Twitter list to push the GOP agenda.

Use of "Faith Direct, Inc." is, of course, a personal decision.  We just feel the lay faithful are entitled to full disclosure.

NUNS ON THE BUS

Support Nuns on the Bus

Catholic Sisters are travelling the country to oppose the anti-Catholic, anti-poor, anti-elderly "Ryan Budget".  This budget also is the core of Mitt Romney's economic agenda. Support the nuns.

http://nunsonthebus.com/

CATHOLIC CHURCH THANKS OBAMA FOR JUSTICE FOR IMMIGRANTS

BISHOPS: “THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA”

The Catholic Church praised President Obama for his action to defer action to all young people eligible under the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, saying that it would permit young people who were brought into the United States undocumented to come out of the shadows and more fully participate in society.

“This important action will provide legal protection, and work authorization, to a vulnerable group of immigrants who are deserving of remaining in our country and contributing their talents to our communities,” said Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration. “These youth are bright, energetic, and eager to pursue their education and reach their full potential.”

In their statement, the Catholic Bishops reaffirmed that still needed is for Congress to pass President Obama’s DREAM Act, which is opposed by congressional Republican leaders and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Jesus, as a child, was an illegal migrant to Egypt, along with Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family is the special protector of the undocumented.

Conservatives: "Abortion is Okay When We Do It"

Remember the Republican philosophy, "a baby is less dead when killed by the private sector." For all of the talk about abortion by conservatives, they grow totally mute when it comes to the private sector. Abortion, to them, is not about protecting the unborn but an issue to attack liberal politicians. For profit corporations are deeply involved in financing abortions through their health care policies and their donations to Planned Parenthood. Does one ever hear of a company boss banned from speaking at a Catholic university? Calls to withhold Communion from business executives Church statements attacking CEOs by name?

Here we have Mitt Romney yukking it up with one of his top supporters, Proctor & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald, which is the large private donor to Planned Parenthood. Sources say that they give PP 1/8 of it's budget and over $102 million.

ROMNEY HEALTH CARE PLAN FUNDS ABORTIONS

ROMNEY HEALTH CARE PLAN FUNDS ABORTIONS

Obama Plan is More Pro-Life

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney released his proposal to advance health insurance coverage and it does so in a way that could fund abortions for millions of Americans, while President Obama’s health care law does not. Let’s look at the comparative features:

The Affordable Health Care Act (ACA) leave in place the right of states to prohibit the sale of health insurance plans that include abortion as a benefit. Nine states currently have such laws and more are considering them. Romney would nullify the right of states to prohibit pro-abortion insurance policies and allow pro-abortion policies to be sold in contradiction of state law so long as it was registered in at least one other state.

Both the ACA and the Romney plan would expand health insurance through tax credits and subsidies. The ACA would also add some coverage for the poor through a modest Medicaid expansion. No federal Medicaid funds can be used for abortion.

Under the Romney plan, the tax breaks for insurance would go to bosses to provide insurance for their employees. Most bosses include abortion in their policies and employees are forced to take the boss’s plan or have to buy individual policies in the private market.

Romney would also give tax breaks to persons buying an individual policy. Individual policies would be dramatically more expensive than group policies purchased by boss’s so only an economical option if a person does not have a boss’s plan.

While these individual policies would also not have the group purchasing savings of plans on the state health care exchanges that the ACA offers, unlike the ACA plans the Romney plan allows them to use their government subsidies or tax credits to pay for abortions. Unlike Romney’s plan, ACA Exchange plans cannot use government subsidies or tax credit for abortion. State may allow some plans to offer abortion coverage as a rider paid 100% by the individual, but federal law guarantees that there be pro-life options and allows states to make all of the plans pro-life. 14 states have already elected this option and more have it under consideration.

The Romney plan expects expansion of boss's plan health insurance, while the ACA expects a slight increases in boss's plans but tens of millions purchasing insurance through the exchanges.  Since boss's plans can and mostly do use tax advantages for abortion while most individuals choose pro-life plans given the option, the portion of insured Americans with abortion coverage would be starkly higher with Romney's plan.  This is assuming Romney's plan has the claimed results of increased coverage.  His critics suggest that it will not.

Wisconsin Jesuits Support Recall of Governor Walker

The Provincial for the Jesuit Province of Wisconsin, the Jesuit President of Marquette University High School and 22 other Wisconsin Jesuits are among those supporting the recall of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) in tomorrow's recall election.  Walker has been well financed by Big Money interests and has outspent his Democratic rival, yet still faces a close election.

Walker is a strident opponent of Catholic Social Teaching regarding the right of workers to form a labor union. 

God bless these sons of St. Ignatius for standing up for Catholic Truth.

MEMORIAL DAY 2012

President Barack Obama on Friday prayed for all the service members who have given their lives in the nation's wars as he proclaimed Memorial Day 2012, to be observed Monday.


"Our nation endures and thrives because of the devotion of our men and women in uniform, who, from generation to generation, carry a burden heavier than any we may ever know," Obama said in his prayer for peace. "On Memorial Day, we honor those who have borne conflict's greatest cost, mourn where the wounds of war are fresh, and pray for a just, lasting peace."

The president said the American fabric was "stitched with stories of sons and daughters who gave their lives in service to the country they loved."

"They were patriots who overthrew an empire and sparked revolution," he said. "They were courageous men and women who strained to hold a young Union together. They were ordinary citizens who rolled back the creeping tide of tyranny, who stood post through a long twilight struggle, who saw terror and extremism threaten our world's security and said, 'I'll go.'"

Behind the sustenance of the country and the safety of its heritage as a free people in a free society are all those who have borne the battle, Obama added. He asked God to "bless the souls of the venerable warriors we have lost." May God "watch over the men and women who serve us now. Today, tomorrow, and in perpetuity, let us give thanks to them by remaining true to the values and virtues for which they fight."

The president proclaimed Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and designated the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. as a time to unite in prayer. "I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day."



http://www.christianpost.com/news/obama-prays-for-fallen-troops-in-memorial-day-proclamation-75589/