Pro-life provisions in US bishops' grant ruled unconstitutional

Pro-life provisions in US bishops' grant ruled unconstitutional. Abortion and contraception are so much a right, that the Church which has provided the largest, most qualified assistence to these women victimized by the sex trade, has been effectively cast aside from receiving money to support the effort. Sad...

Obama Praises Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz in New Video | LifeNews.com

Obama Praises Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz in New Video
How sad it is that those who place profit over the people they claim to serve, those who would see the only choice as murder (versus adoption or taking responsibility) are praised. While I agree with the president that women are not a special interest group, he must remember that the only interest of PP is money, murder, and self.

Divorce

What does the Church teach about divorce? Marriage, again, is a sacrament in the Church. Assuming the couple was free to marry, and had the correct intentions (wanting to be married, knowing what they were entering, etc), they are married until natural death. Once the sacrament occurs, it is only ended in the death of one of the spouses. When a couple divorces, it only ends a legal marriage, and does not affect the sacrament. This means that they are presumed to be married until it is shown that the sacrament did not occur. A divorced man or woman (who remains unmarried) remains in good standing with the Church and can receive the sacraments. The Church treats them as if they are little more than legally separated. See the next weeks’ articles for more on this.

Pastor's Notes for 3/25

Dear parishioners,
Our sympathy to the family of Hank Bernardy, who died a few weeks ago. We held a memorial service for him this last Friday. May he rest in peace.
This is the last week before Holy Week already. Are you prepared? I encourage you now to review the liturgical schedule if you are a lector, server, etc., for next week. Make time next week to attend especially the Triduum services. With the new translation, they will be 'new' for all of us! If you haven't yet, make time, too, for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We will have our communal celebrations next Sunday (1 at St. Mary, 2:30 at OLV, and 4 at St. Anne's). I am still looking for help to prepare a meal for the 5 priests in attendance.
This week is also the Chrism Mass at St. Anastasia's in Hutchingson. It is a beautiful liturgy, and you are welcome to attend. If you do, could you help me collect the sacred oils? Call me!
Last week, I finished my first revised draft of the book I am in process of writing. I have it in the hands of a proofreader currently, and will be taking it from there. It has proven to be a challenge, but I like how it seems to be coming together. I hope that many will find it useful for it years to come.
In Christ,
Fr. Todd Petersen

Religious freedom rally draws a crowd in San Francisco

I was unable to attend the rally for Religious Freedom, but was able to take some time for prayer. I was pleased to read the linked report, and laughed at the 'miracle' attributed to President Obama:

At the rally, Father Joseph Fessio of Ignatius Press told the crowd that when Obama was elected, "some people thought they were voting for a Messiah."
"Last month, he performed a true miracle," Fessio said. "He united all of the Catholic bishops in the U.S."

Friday Fax: US Bullies “Contraceptive Mandate” on International Community

US Bullies “Contraceptive Mandate” on International Community
Contraception is being treated as a paramount right, and fertility is treated as the worst disease… We face a tremendous battle, not over contraception (alone, anyway) but over the very culture. May sanity prevail.

Further evidence of a lost understanding to Marriage

New Marriage Mockery: Bride Marries Self

Last week, Nadine Schweigert married herself in a symbolic wedding ceremony. The 36-year-old divorced mom of three wore blue satin and clutched a bouquet of white roses as she walked down the aisle before a gathering of 45 friends and family members in Fargo, North Dakota.
She vowed to “to enjoy inhabiting my own life and to relish a lifelong love affair with my beautiful self,” reports Fargo’s InForum newspaper . After the ring was exchanged with the bride and her inner-groom, guests were encouraged to “blow kisses at the world,” and later, eat cake.
Schweigert, who followed the ceremony with a solo honeymoon in New Orleans, claims the wedding was her way of showing the world she’s learned to love and accept herself as a woman flying solo.
“I was waiting for someone to come along and make me happy,” she told reporter Tammy Swift . “At some point, a friend said, ‘Why do you need someone to marry you to be happy? Marry yourself.’”

If we every needed to have a conversation of the true definition of marriage, it is now!