Among Women ReadHER 7.7.12

Among Women ReadHER 7.7.12

Roberts' Rules
By Kathryn Jean Lopez at National Review Online
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision upholding "Obamacare", some commentary on the Chief Justice's reasoning.

A Soldier's Wife
By Calah Alexander at Barefoot and Pregnant
Maybe you've come across this "cause" (Battling Bare) on Facebook... military wives writing their spousal messages of love on their bodies in an attempt to shock and raise awareness that not all military husbands' get the help they need for post-traumatic stress disorder. It's powerful, novel, but is it too edgy in terms of propriety? It's a tough call for me. BUT, in my mind, vets not getting the help they need after they serve their country remains a greater sin.


The Dilemma of Worthiness
By Sarah Vabulas at Integrated Catholic Life
You've heard the phrase "YOLO" -- you only live once? More on that.


Optimistic Antidotes for Mom
By Patti Armstrong at CatholicMom.com
I always love Patti's in-the-trenches honesty -- one part giggle and one part common sense that I need! Hear more from her on AW 117 and a ways back on AW 39. 

Group Challenges Downs Syndrome Testing
Posted at Downs Syndrome Daily
H/T goes to my pal, blogger/author and pro-life activist Leticia Velasquez, who is an expert in the family, social, and political aspects of Down Syndrome... Here about her new book on the subject, on AW 121, and her conversion story and pro-life mission on AW 30.

Things You Should Know About Pinterest
By Fr Roderick VonHogen at his blog
Fr. Roderick, the CEO of SQPN, has been blogging more of late at this site, with tips concerning new media and evangelization. This post talks about Pinterest, which is very popular with so many women I know online. I'm on Pinterest... but not everyday. Would love your thoughts about it. In a related note, come see Fr Roderick speak, plus a great line-up at the Catholic New Media Conference this August... or get a virtual ticket if you can't come!


The Pill and Female Sex Drive
Posted at 1Flesh.org
Here's a group of young adults with a new website using blogging and video testimonies to bring about awareness and are launching a rebellion, in their own words, "that sex should be awesome and saved until marriage, that pregnancy can be justly avoided without harmful chemicals, and that love is worth fighting for." See what you think. 

The Saint and the Scapular: St. Simon Stock and Our Lady of Mount Carmel
By Kathy Schiffer at Seasons of Grace
Kathy recalls her journey through France and recalls this Marian title and saint held dear by Carmelites the world over. The Feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel comes up on July 16th.  For more on Carmelite spirituality, you may enjoy AW 109 with Erin Miller who talks about her faith journey and entry as a Third Order Carmelite. And if you want a podcast about my recent trip to France and pilgrimage to Lourdes, you can find the podcast here, and a photo-journal blog post here. 

Have you checked out the new Among Women website... now the entire podcast archives are fully downloadable, and you can listen on your smart phone!  (coming soon to iPad and other tablet formats.)

Among Women ReadHER 6.30.12 Wow - Obamacare, Vat II, Cancer, SSA, and Crucified Love all in one post!

Among Women ReadHER 6.30.12

RE: Supreme Court Upholding Pres. Obama's "Affordable health care act"& the Fortnight of Freedom underway

HHS Mandate Lawsuits Charge Forward as Only Remaining Challenges to "Obamacare"
Posted at the Becket Fund
The Becket Fund does great work, and their legal perspective and prowess is vital to people of all faiths who oppose health care initiatives that step on human dignity and religious freedoms.


Here is the Official Supreme Court Decision in a .pdf file

Video: Fortnight for Freedom Forum on Catholic TV
You'll find very excellent talking points in a town hall-style show featuring commentary from Cardinal Sean O'Malley- Archdiocese of Boston, John Garvey - the President of Catholic University of America and a constitutional lawyer, Carl Anderson - leader at the Knights of Columbus, Kim Daniels of Catholic Voices, and Angela Franks, PhD- The Institute of the New Evangelization. Note: this show is 57 mins long... if you don't have time for the whole hour, listen to the first 25 mins... you'll get a lot in the opening commentary.

Launching the Fortnight for Freedom
By Archbishop Charles Chaput OFM Cap. of Philiadelphia at First Things
Necessary reading, that is fortunately, very readable. 


US BISHOP's website on Fortnight for Freedom
Articles and information.


Why Freedom of Worship is Not Freedom of Religion
By Peggy Luksik at Catholic Online
An awesome analogy that you can use to train others in the rhetoric that sticks and makes sense of these issues. I recommend this article to be shared within the family with youngsters learning the civil discourse needed in this fight for religious freedoms.


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Why We Don't Dress Up Anymore
By Jennifer Fulwiler at her blog at National Catholic Register
Are we getting too casual at Mass and at other special events? Good observations here.


Apple Launches Stand Alone Podcast APP
By Fr. Roderick at this blog
iPhone users may appreciate this for their Among Women fix!


Diary from Vatican II
By Fr Robert Barron at Real Clear Religion
One of my favorite classes in grad school was learning the history while reading and discussing all the documents of Vatican II. If that makes me a theology nerd, so be it. But I think you'll like this article with its look "behind the scenes" through journal notes made by Fr. Yves Congar, a leading theologian of the 20th century.


Archbishop Fulton Sheen Becomes Venerable
By Edward Pentin at National Catholic Register
Sheen is one of my favs, this is welcomed news for the new evangelization.


Life Interrupted: Fighting Cancer and Myself
By Suleika Jaouad in the New York Times
As a cancer survivor, I cannot help be drawn to articles on the subject. This young writer is writing a series of articles. I do not know this young woman, but I can pray for her all the same. Maybe you will too as she learns the hard lessons of surrender... she poignantly brought me right back to the hardest reality that anyone chronically ill faces: "It is difficult not to equate sickness or weakness with a feeling of failure." 

Change and Same Sex Attraction in Women
By Dale O'Leary at Crisis Magazine
Just another area where the church needs to expand her ministry.

Stunning Spoken Word Performance: Crucifixion Type Love
Posted by Angela Sealana at Inspired Angela
Wow, so glad to find this on Angela's blog... 

Among Women ReadHER 1.14.12... the gamut today: joy... yummy things.. time savers... death... mothering & more

Among Women ReadHER

1.14.12

The Space Between
By Jaymie Stuart Wolfe from her column at The Pilot
Always smart, always reflective, that's why I follow Jaymie's column. I was pleased to welcome her to Among Women back on episode 114.

Being a Single Parent Isn't So Bad. There are worse things. Trust me.
By Katrina Fernandez at The Crescat
The #1 rule of good writing: write what you know. Kat speaks from a deep, compassionate well of experience.


SCOTUS Unanimous on Religious Freedom
By Elizabeth Scalia at The Anchoress
We all have to stay abreast of the news: As Christians continue to face persecution both here and abroad, this ruling from the US Supreme Court is particularly important for the operation of churches in the USA. Elizabeth Scalia gives a good round up of the issue and the ruling. Be sure to see her links embedded in the post.


Bringing Death Into the Light Was Never Crazy
By Elizabeth Scalia at First Things
Yes, a second offering from Elizabeth Scalia... another culture-related post. This time it is a cogent, compassionate, and occasionally humorous consideration on how our society avoids the truth of death, and what we lose when we do.  Elizabeth was a guest on Among Women last year, listen here.

The Fallacy of the "Yummy Mummy"
By Betty Duffy at Patheos
A sanity check here for all of us who may struggle with weight issues and perspective. 

Rape Definition Updated by the FBI
By Peter Yost of the Associated Press
Women and men need to know this information. Pass this on to college age and high school age kids too. (Sadly, date-rape is more widespread that we might like to think or imagine.) And then, there is this sad statistic.

Motherhood and the Call to Holiness
By Thomas L. McDonald at National Catholic Register
Some good comments by the women interviewed.


The Happy Mother Challenge, Day 1
By Meg Meeker, MD at her website
A good book to put on your reading list!

25 Tips to Make Your Life Easier
By the Daily Buzz 
Wow! I loved this list. (H/T The Anchoress)


Tim Tebow's Testimony
By Jennifer Roche at CatholicVote.org
I'm seeing more and more women write about Denver's QB. (Of course I live in Patriots Nation, so there's lots of trash talk going on around here. But that's besides the point. I agree with Jennifer here: Give Tebow credit for living his faith in the public square. There is persecution of such a soul, and there are graces too.


Beautiful Joy: for you!
By Hallie Lord (guest posting at Elizabeth Foss' blog)
Recalling delight in being a girl, a woman. Hear Hallie guest on AW 84.


My Father's Rosary
By CCR at The Conservatory
Found this article via someone's twitter feed. I don't really know the writer or his religious views, but I was moved that he was moved by his father's beads. Sometimes we may feel our children, or loved ones may never fully embrace the faith, but moments like this show the allure of the Holy Spirit is always at work.


12 Signs of a Spiritual Awakening
A resource posted at SilentNoMore.org
-- Silent No More Awareness is a Campaign whereby Christians make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women and men. The campaign seeks to expose and heal the secrecy and silence surrounding the emotional and physical pain of abortion. Find their new updated website here. If you have suffered an abortion, you may wish to listen Among Women 75 on that subject.


Jesus' life was about joy...