Special Needs, Special Graces
Posted by Daria Sockey in Features on Monday, July 14, 2008
I knew something was wrong with Michael. He seldom spoke, compared with his six older siblings when they were 3. And his behavior — it was like a wind-up toy that wouldn’t ever quit, punctuated by intermittent shrieks with no apparent cause.
“This must be that ADHD you read about,” I said to myself. “And it looks like we’ll have to get him into speech therapy before long.” One thing I knew for sure... READ MORE
Speaking of Heroes
Posted by Danielle Bean in News on Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Did you read the news about Michael McMonagle, a 55 year old American who staged a pro-life protest in Tiananmen Square?
With the one-child policy that encourages abortions, couples can now have more than one child—if they pay a fine. For many families, that can be more than a year’s salary.
“In some parts of China, 10,000 yuan [or about $1,400] is the price of life,” said McMonagle, cofounder of... READ MORE
To the Brink and Back
Posted by Daria Sockey in Features on Friday, August 15, 2008
“I am so tired,” Greg Alexander said one evening to his wife, Julie.
“Me, too,” Julie replied. “Let’s get to bed early for a change.”
Greg sighed. “No, that’s not what I mean. I mean emotionally tired. Julie, I’m done. I want a divorce.”
Julie barely paused to digest this. Really, it was no huge surprise.
It was 1984. “What’s Love Got to Do With It” was popular on the radio... READ MORE
Protect Pro-Life Physicians’ Conscience Rights
Posted by Rebecca Teti in News on Monday, August 18, 2008
Mike Leavitt, the US Secretary of Health & Human Services, explained August 7th on his blog why his agency is considering issuing regulations protecting the right of pro-life physicians and pharmacists not to participate in abortion or abortion-related activities. The Secretary’s responding to a move by the certifying organizations to require doctors to make abortion referrals in order to be board... READ MORE
Pro-Life Volunteering
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Friday, August 22, 2008
Yesterday afternoon Camilla and I went to a local crisis pregnancy center that is just starting up. They had advertised that they needed pregnant women, 7-20 weeks, to act as stand-in patients while they trained their staff on their new ultrasound machine. Since I’m 16 weeks pregnant this week, I volunteered.
The center is near the campus of the big university in the next town over, and I don’t... READ MORE
The Bishops Speak
Posted by Rebecca Teti in News on Tuesday, August 26, 2008
It’s rare for a bishop to directly and publicly rebuke any public figure for a host of reasons both pastoral and pragmatic. So we have to sit up and take notice when a growing chorus of bishops singles out a specific politician --Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi-- for correction. For those who haven’t followed the story, last week Speaker Pelosi, questioned on Meet the Press about when life begins,... READ MORE
The Bishops Keep Speaking --Updated!
Posted by Rebecca Teti in News on Friday, August 29, 2008
Thought you might like an update on my post earlier this week about how our bishops have responded to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s statement that the Catholic Church doesn’t know when life begins. Since then, a few more bishops have issued statements. I’ve collected some links with a few sample quotations.
Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo writes:
As your bishop, I have the responsibility to... READ MORE
Two Arms To Arms
Posted by Rebecca Teti in News on Friday, September 05, 2008
The smallest apostolates can reap a big harvest. That’s the principle behind Project Mustard Seed, a pro-life apostolate begun in 1992 by David and Susan Arms. The idea is beautifully simple. The couple noticed that Life Decisions International published a “boycott list” of companies who contribute to Planned Parenthood. “What if those companies heard from us—a lot of us?” they thought.
Thus began... READ MORE
Trig’s Moment
Posted by Danielle Bean in News on Thursday, September 11, 2008
Have you read Michael Gerson’s piece in the Washington Post about Trig Palin? Do. You owe it your humanity. Just read it.
Trig’s moment in the spotlight is a milestone of that movement. But it comes at a paradoxical time. Unlike what is accorded African Americans and women, civil rights protections for people with Down syndrome have rapidly eroded over the past few decades. Of the cases of Down syndrome... READ MORE
Palin’s ‘Bad Example’
Posted by Rebecca Teti in News on Thursday, September 11, 2008
Are Todd & Sarah Palin heroic for welcoming baby Trig into their lives? Some think so, although I suspect any of us would do the same: accept and love our kids as they come to us. I doubt the Palins think heroism was involved.
There’s a third opinion, however, exemplified by this Canadian doctor cited in today’s Los Angeles Times. He thinks Sarah Palin is a bad example because she might encourage... READ MORE

