January 18, 2012

 CALL TO ACTION

The video below discusses the Senate version of the House’s Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). In the Senate the bill is called the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). SOPA has gotten more attention than PIPA because it was moving faster in the legislative process. But PIPA is just as dangerous, and now it is moving faster.

PIPA would give the government new powers to block Americans’ access websites that corporations don’t like. The bill lets corporations and the US government censor entire websites and cut sites off from advertising, payments and donations.

This legislation will stifle free speech and innovation, and even threaten popular web services like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

The bill is scheduled for a test vote in the Senate on Jan. 24th: We need to act now to let our lawmakers know just how terrible it is. Will you fill out the form above to ask your lawmakers to oppose the legislation and support a filibuster?

This is a “sweet deal” for the Entertainment Industry. The industry will no longer have to deal with the complications of laws already on the books to protect their intellectual property.  Instead, these bills give more power to the government. As we all know, history has proven that government cannot be trusted with power. This is why our Founding Fathers, in their great wisdom, constructed a Constitution to limit government power and to protect citizens from the rights that only God can grant (see the Declaration of Independence, which progressives also ignore).

Here is a cute song about this issue:

Articles on issue:

• House takes Senate’s bad Internet censorship bill, tries making it worse
• Protect The Internet
• SOPA: Hollywood Finally Gets A Chance to Break the Internet
• SOPA on OpenCongress
• PIPA on OpenCongress

To help in understanding the bills before Congress and why they are so dangerous, click here.

 Contact your Congressman and Senators to express your views on this critical issue:

Contact My Representative

Contact My Senators

It is YOUR Internet

Category: Congress, Progressivism, The Constitution | No Comments »
Tags: SOPA/PIPA

December 19, 2011

Our Holy Father calls all people of good will to encourage and assist governments and corrections departments to treat prisoners with respect and dignity that is due to all human beings. He said, ““Prisoners are human beings who deserve, despite their crime, to be treated with respect and dignity. They need our attention.”

Category: Church on Justice, Human Rights | No Comments »
Tags: Address by Pope

December 16, 2011

DONGSHIGU VILLAGE, China, December 16, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Famed Batman star Christian Bale is making headlines after he traveled nine hours from Beijing to visit blind forced abortion opponent Chen Guangcheng. 

The actor never got the chance, however, as he was roughed up and forced away from Chen’s village by Chinese government officials, according to a CNN report.

“What I really wanted to do was shake the man’s hand and say ‘thank you,’ and tell him what an inspiration he is,” he said.

Bale was in Beijing for the premiere of “The Flowers of War,” a drama about the 1937 Rape of Nanjing. About his attempt to visit Chen, Bale stated, “I’m not brave doing this . . . This was just a situation – I can’t look the other way.”

According to Reggie Littlejohn, president of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers, “Christian Bale is a hero.  He is starring in the most expensive film ever made in China, which China hopes will win an Academy Award.  Nevertheless, he has the courage to stand against official injustice and has greatly raised the visibility of Chen’s case.”

Littlejohn contrasted Bale’s actions with those of Relativity Media.  “Christian Bale has used his star power to shine a light on the unjust treatment of Chen Guangcheng,” she said.  “In contrast, Relativity Media filmed ‘21 and Over’ in Linyi, where Chen is languishing under house arrest.  They did nothing to help Chen.  I hope that moviegoers will demonstrate their concern for Chen Guangcheng at the box office.  We encourage people to see ‘The Flowers of War’ and boycott ‘21 and Over.’”

Christian Bale is not the only one who has focused attention on Chen Guangcheng.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke have both recently spoken on his behalf.  “We urge Ambassador Locke to visit Chen Guangcheng,” stated Littlejohn.

The flow of Chinese citizens to visit Chen despite the risk of beatings and detention, and the Chinese and international “Sunglasses” campaigns, have raised the visibility of Chen’s case as well.  These campaigns can be found here and here.

Chen Guangcheng exposed the systematic use of forced abortion and sterilization in Linyi City in 2005.  For four years, three months, he was jailed, tortured and denied medical treatment.  Since his release he has languished under strict house arrest. 

Sign a petition to free Chen here.

Category: China Watch, Human Rights, ProLife | No Comments »
Tags: Pro-Life

December 4, 2011

Notes Human Dignity of Prisoners

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI today addressed a group of people working to the end the death penalty, expressing his hopes that their efforts will succeed.

Category: Death Penalty | No Comments »
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December 3, 2011

This week, the Senate considered legislation specifically authorizing our military to arrest and detain anyone, including U.S. citizens inside America, who the President suspects may be connected to Al Qaeda or the Taliban. This legislation removes the rights granted by God and protected by the Constitution. The legislation allows the military, at the whim of the President, to use the military as Gestapo-style force.

This legislation is just the most recent evidence that President Obama and his Progressive cronies care less about the Constitution and the Declaration of the Independence, which is our birthright as citizens, and are piece by piece setting up a near-dictatorship. 

Senate Legislation 1867 is one of the scariest legislation in history. It is a legislation allowing the President dictatorial power. Our Rights detailed in the Constitution are to be held higher than the government.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0OE98Tjl5M

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pctQF5LHvqY

Here is the Statement of the President’s support of the Senate bill:

Download (PDF)

Category: Anti-American Acts, Congress, The Constitution | No Comments »
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September 28, 2011

Youcef in Prison

Youcef Nadarkhani was convicted of apostasy and sentenced to death. Youcef converted to Christianity as a boy and has never been a Muslim as an adult.

When asked to “repent” by the Judges, Youcef stated, “Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?” The judges replied, “To the religion of your ancestors, Islam.” To which he replied, “I cannot.”

Several agencies are trying to get the sentence overturn. See updates on the website of the American Center for Law and Justice.

Category: Anti-Christian Acts, Muslim Watch | 2 Comments »
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March 3, 2011

March 2, 2011 – Pakistan (Justice Watch) — Mr. Ashfaq Fateh, our correspondent in Pakistan, reports that Mr. Clement Shahbaz Bhatti, the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Pakistan (a Committed Christian) was brutally murdered by the four unidentified men in the capital of Islamabad, Pakistan. Mr. Bhatti was instrumental in seeking the repeal of the blasphemy laws that can bring death to anyone perceived to blaspheme Islam or Muhammad. The Christians are mourning and protesting nationwide.

Asian News International reports:

Ashfaq Fateh gives an analysis:

Category: Anti-Christian Acts, Muslim Watch | 1 Comment »
Tags: Pakistan

February 9, 2011

There has been some controversy over whether or not Restorative Justice is consistent with Catholic Teaching. Any idea can be misapplied or abused, but the fundamental philosophy of the Restorative Justice approach to Criminal Justice is very Christian in nature. Criminal Justice as it is practiced today is based upon revenge, not justice or even punishment. Revenge is never justified.  When punishment is administered it may not be motivated by revenge. Restorative Justice recognizes these flaws in our Criminal Justice system and recommends an approach far more consistent with Christian values.

In the book, Restorative Justice: How It Works by Marian Liebmann, the author explains:

…a way of looking at restorative justice is to think of it as a balance between a number of different tensions: – a balance between the therapeutic and the retributive models of justice
- a balance between the rights of offenders and the needs of victims
- a balance between the need to rehabilitate offenders and the duty to protect the public.

As one blurb from restorativejustice.org states:

Restorative justice emphasizes repairing the harm caused by crime. When victims, offenders and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results can be transformational.

Restorative programmes are characterized by four key values:

1. Encounter: Create opportunities for victims, offenders and community members who want to do so to meet to discuss the crime and its aftermath
2. Amends: Expect offenders to take steps to repair the harm they have caused
3. Reintegration: Seek to restore victims and offenders  to whole, contributing members of society
4. Inclusion: Provide opportunities for parties with a stake in a specific crime to participate in its resolution

The United States Council of Catholic Bishops published a document on this subject called:

Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice

Most Rev. Ricardo Ramirez, C.S.B., Bishop of Las Cruces spoke about this USCCB document in a speech entitled Catholic Social Teaching on Restorative Justice:

Download (PDF)

Additional articles on Restorative Justice in the Catholic Church include:

Restorative Justice and Catholic Social Thought by Fr. Kurt M. Denk, S.J.:

Download (PDF)

Position Statement on Restorative Justice, Society of St. Vincent de Paul:

Download (PDF)

Category: Church on Justice, Restorative Justice | 2 Comments »
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February 3, 2011

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

Make no mistake folks. Planned Parenthood is the most evil organization on the planet. Here is yet another example.

…from 40 Days for Life

Your attendance on a nationwide video webcast event TONIGHT is vital!

Here’s what’s going on …

• National media outlets are abuzz with the shocking story of the undercover sting operation that caught abortion giant Planned Parenthood red-handed in the despicable act of aiding and abetting human sex trafficking and prostitution of women and girls as young as 14.

• Disturbing undercover video footage was publicly released Tuesday, documenting a Planned Parenthood clinic manager assuring an undercover investigator posing as a pimp that the organization would secretly provide full access to abortions and other services — despite knowing full well that the services were for underage victims of human trafficking.

• In just the last 36 hours, Planned Parenthood’s troubling actions have been reported by hundreds of major media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, MSNBC, and Fox News.

Since the story broke, Planned Parenthood has panicked and shifted into damage control mode …

• Initially Planned Parenthood tried to shift the blame onto Lila Rose, the young activist whose organization, Live Action, exposed the despicable Planned Parenthood behavior.

• Abortion advocates then claimed the problem was that the video had been “edited” — before learning that the entire, unedited footage was sent to federal authorities for the investigation.

• New Jersey — the state where the sting was conducted — then announced that their attorney general is now looking into the allegations.

• In another desperate attempt to deflect criticism, Planned Parenthood fired the clinic manager in the video late Tuesday — trying to blame the actions on a lone employee, rather than accept responsibility for a widespread problem.

• Members of Congress and leading anti-human trafficking advocates are now calling for a freeze on the $350+ MILLION of taxpayer funds that Planned Parenthood receives annually.

Our national director, David Bereit, is being quoted in numerous media outlets, saying:

“As the father of a young girl, I cannot imagine any parent trusting Planned Parenthood with their daughter after watching this shocking and disturbing video. The revelation that a Planned Parenthood office is willing to aid and abet illegal trafficking of sex slaves — to help line the pockets of pimps with cash — raises the question: Who else is being exploited at Planned Parenthood’s other 820 locations? This demands an immediate federal investigation for the sake of all our daughters, and — at the very least — Congress should freeze all taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood until the investigation is complete.”

To respond swiftly to this crisis — and to take decisive action to strip Planned Parenthood of its taxpayer funding — 40 Days for Life is helping to organize a huge movement-wide video webcast TONIGHT … and your attendance is critical!

You do not need to pre-register to attend. The webcast will be live streamed tonight, Thursday 2/3, at 8:30 PM Eastern (5:30 PM Pacific) online at:

http://www.ExposePlannedParenthood.com

On the webcast, you’ll be among the first to see the disturbing undercover video footage — and you’ll learn how YOU can take action to help strip all tax funding from Planned Parenthood.

Here are the details:

* WHAT: Expose Planned Parenthood Video Webcast

* DATE: TONIGHT! Thursday, February 3

* TIME: 8:30 PM Eastern, 7:30 PM Central, 6:30 PM Mountain, 5:30 PM Pacific

At event time, join the LIVE video webcast at:

http://www.ExposePlannedParenthood.com

LILA ROSE, president of Live Action, will be on the webcast to show the video footage and detail Planned Parenthood’s inexcusable actions.

Joining Lila will be top pro-life leaders, including 40 Days for Life national director DAVID BEREIT and:

* TONY PERKINS, Family Research Council
* MARJORIE DANNENFELSER, Susan B. Anthony List
* STEVEN WAGNER, Former Director, Human Trafficking Program, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
* ABBY JOHNSON, Former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate and author
* WENDY WRIGHT, Concerned Women for America
* CHARMAINE YOEST, Americans United for Life
* DR. ALVEDA KING, Niece of Dr. Martin Luther King
* KRISTAN HAWKINS, Students for Life

During tonight’s one-time-only event, you will …

• See the shocking undercover video, explained by Lila Rose, President of Live Action

• Learn from top pro-life experts how Planned Parenthood is aiding and abetting illegal human trafficking while receiving HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of our tax dollars

• Discover what YOU can do about it!

Hope you can join us on this important live event tonight!

For Life,

Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

Category: Planned Parenthood | 1 Comment »
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October 25, 2010

January 2005
In the last five years, more juvenile offenders were killed in Texas than in the rest of the world combined. America continues to defend its right to execute children.

“They think we’re beasts. And we deserve nothing else other than our execution,” despairs Oswaldo. He’s been on death row since he was 17, after accidentally killing a man during an armed robbery. “In 12 years, I haven’t had a hug or a kiss.” In Louisiana, Lawrence Jacob Jr is also fighting for his life. Like Oswaldo, he was only 17 when he was sentenced to death. “I’m not asking you to release me. I’m only asking you for the chance to rehabilitate,” he reasons. Cerebral research proves that the brains of 17 year olds have not developed as much as adults. “Youths at that age are much too impulsive and don’t have the control,” explains one expert. But in America, that’s no bar to their execution.

Category: CERR Prison Project, Death Penalty, Videos on Prison | 3 Comments »
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