Among Women ReadHER 4.21.12... love, brides, nfp, facebook, blogs & more

Among Women ReadHER 4.21.12

Love Desires to Know the Beloved
By Randall Smith at The Catholic Thing
This is brilliant. We cannot love what we do not know. A "must read" for anyone who is trying to not just think about faith, or "be spiritual", but actually go deeper and live the faith. 


America's Crisis of Character
By Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal
Read it. Decide in advance not to panic, but to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. (See Micah 6:8.)

The Resurrection of Our Bodies
By Christopher West at Theology of the Body Institute
Short, but power-packed catechesis here. (FWIW, in a similar vein, here is my article on the same theme from last week at Amazing Catechists.)


Here Comes the Catholic Bride
By Lori Hadesek Chaplin at National Catholic Register
Shopping for a bridal gown? Some options and opinions here worth a look.


The Bride Who Was Groomed for a Career
By Lea Singh at Mercator
This packs a punch, that is worth deep consideration by women of all ages. Nothing speaks more loudly to us than the voice of experience. This will dare you to scrutinize your own life in terms of the way you've spent it. Your feminine genius may call out to you in this, so be forewarned, your mileage may vary. 


The End of Women
By Carolyn Moynihan
If that last article got your attention, you probably should read this one. These are exactly the themes that a new feminism proposed by the Church needs to address.

Young Catholic Women Try to Modernize The Message of Birth Control

By Michelle Boorstein at Washington Post

This headline is slightly misleading, but lots of content on the subject of Natural Family Planning and its attraction or rejection by women (especially Catholic or Christian women) who might use it or reject it.

Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?
By Stephen Marche in The Atlantic
Loneliness, narcissism, isolation, connections... lots of food for thought here. Loved this line: "...we are left thinking about who we are all the time, without ever really thinking about who we are." Important words for a Christian to consider.


Divine Mercy
By Amy Welborn at Charlotte Was Both
A beautiful memoir of saying goodbye to your parents' house and the memories there. 


A Beautiful Love Story
By Jill Joiner at Echoes of the Cross at Patheos
Another more brief slice-of-life post that reflects the power of real love. A piece from last month that I must have missed, but worth the read.


The Mystery of Motherhood
By Sherry Boas at Catholic Mom
This one needed a "love" button for facebook.


Life After Lesbianism
By Dawn Wilde at LifeSite News
A very brave post, and one we need more of, frankly. 
(This is an issue I'd like to address on Among Women, but as yet, have not found a guest willing to talk about the subject. If any of you have any insight or resources on this subject, send me a private email at pat.gohn@comcast.net.)  


Dateline Series Proves What We Don't Know About Kids
By Mary Beth Hicks at a Family Events
Some very good help for parents here.


A Prayer Campaign for the Protection of Religious Freedoms
Posted at the USCCB
The US Bishops are calling us to pray for the protection of religious liberty in the US, and offer prayer card for our use. You'll also find bulletin announcements and other resources on this page.

Watch a 4 minute video featuring Bishop William Lori describing forming consciences on faithful citizenship. From the USCCB.

Test of Fire: Election 2012
Posted by Bishop Christopher Coyne (of Indianapolis) at Thoughts of a Catholic Bishop
Recommended by Bishop Coyne, it describes our duty to know the issues and to vote in the Nov. election.

Mother, May We Fight for Freedom?
Posted by Kathryn Lopez at K-Lo at Large
K-Lo posts the entire text of Mother Agnes Mary Donovan from Sisters for Life, and her stirring speech/reflection at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast this week.

The Crucible of Conscience... my latest column at Patheos

The news is filled with conscience discussions where religious freedom and conscience clauses are concerned. The fathers of the Second Vatican Council give us one of the most profound definitions of conscience, and from that we discern the reason we must defend its preciousness. My latest column at Patheos addresses the subject. Here's an excerpt:

The conscience is hidden deep, yet it defines us; it is our interior sanctuary where we meet God. The interior defines everything we are exteriorly. 

We find out how deeply we know this God when we are in the crucible: when our conscience, seared by the heat of painful circumstances, is tried for all we are worth. 

There comes a point when you must reach into the deepest part of you and make a decision for or against… or you have to survey the landscape and say this is as far as I go and no further. 

These are the moments when you admit that life isn’t just a random freefall or that everything is unrelated or of no consequence. But rather, it is more about connections and integrity and things holding together in an abundant web of life and time in eternity. 

These are the places where we ascend or descend to…  where the boundaries of truth, beauty, and goodness leave off… and falsehood, ugliness, and evil begin. Our conscience helps us find and run our fingers along the outer edges of precarious ledges. Otherwise we might slip and fall, hurtling into danger. Or worse.

 There's more here. 

This makes me think... we've heard a lot about conscience in the media, how about from the CCC?

1795 "Conscience is man's most secret core, and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths" (Gaudium et Spes, par 16).

1796 Conscience is a judgment of reason by which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act.

1797 For the man who has committed evil, the verdict of his conscience remains a pledge of conversion and of hope.

1798 A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. Everyone must avail himself of the means to form his conscience.

1799 Faced with a moral choice, conscience can make either a right judgment in accordance with reason and the divine law or, on the contrary, an erroneous judgment that departs from them.

1800 A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience.

1801 Conscience can remain in ignorance or make erroneous judgments. Such ignorance and errors are not always free of guilt.

1802 The Word of God is a light for our path. We must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. This is how moral conscience is formed.

-- From the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Among Women Podcast #124 features Elizabeth Scalia and Kathryn Lopez discussing Catholic opposition to the US HHS Mandate

Among Women 124 is a Special Edition that looks at objection of US Catholic Bishops, and multitudes of Catholics and others who view the federal mandate from the Health and Human Services Department as a violation of religious liberty. This Special Edition unpacks this issue with references to press releases from the USCCB, and commentary from Catholic opinion journalist, Kathryn Lopez, editor of National Review Online, and Catholic blogger and pundit, Elizabeth Scalia, managing editor of the Catholic portal at Patheos. 

Please listen to this podcast, read the links, and share with others.

Among Women ReadHER 2.4.12 Catholics against HHS Mandate... saints, sex, the examen & more

Among Women ReadHER 

2.4.12

Note: Earlier this week you may have read my post containing a variety of links regarding the Catholic concerns over recent decisions within the US department of Health and Human Services rejecting conscience clauses within "Obamacare". 


Here it is: Helpful articles, video & action tips re Obamacare's affront to religious freedom and conscience


Take time this week to pray and evaluate your role in fighting initiatives that demean the dignity of the human person and promote a culture of death. As I've said in the past, this is not a political commentary blog... and yet... we've had many discussions on Among Women regarding the moral issues surrounding certain health care issues, respect life issues, and our role in the public square. This intersection cannot be ignored, so check out that earlier post for links on that subject.


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St Philomena Encourages Youth to be Pure
By Eddie O'Neill at National Catholic Register
Another send up to this great saint. Hear about St. Philomena on the Among Women Podcast episode 103.


Sex and the Eternal City
By Kathryn Lopez at National Review Online
An interview with Christopher West about his new book on the subject of Theology of the Body and the new evangelization. A good read.


The Eternal Child
By Heather King at Shirt of Flame
Beautiful. Haunting. Real. Healing. (You can hear Heather King speak of her latest book about the life of St. Therese of Lisieux on AW 108.)

Why You Should Wear the Miraculous Medal
By Taylor Marshall at Canterbury Tales
An info-packed teaching on this great sacramental.


The Conscience and the Examen
By Marcia Morrissey from her column at Patheos
Here's a healthy spiritual practice. 

Pretty Happy Funny Real
By Margaret Bern at Minnesota Mom
Delightful pictures and commentary about her daughter's first confession.


Inside the Mom (of a toddler) Brain
By Lauren Warner at Sipping Lemonade
A picture is worthy of a 1000's words...  you will smile.


Happy Birthday Coffee & Canticles - Giveaway week!
By Daria Sockey at Coffee & Canticles
Divine Office enthusiast gives real life advice for praying with the Liturgy of the Hours. She's also giving away some nice books.


Say No to Competition (among women, friends, etc.)
By Meg Meeker, MD at her website
Great advice from Dr. Meeker!


Why Catholic Women Don't Make Good Mommy Bloggers
By Betty Duffy, guest posting over at The Anchoress.
Oh, this is rich. Like the way dark chocolate makes so much more sense to me than white chocolate.


And finally, this ode to the tech "symphony" (?) around many of us... H/T to Deacon Greg at The Deacon's Bench

Digitals from Chris Crutchfield
on Vimeo.

Helpful articles, video & action tips for Catholics re Obamacare's affront to religious freedom & conscience clauses

Note: This is not a political commentary blog. Yet, we've had many discussions on Among Women regarding the moral issues surrounding certain health care issues, respect life issues, and our role in the public square. Recent decisions within the US department of Health and Human Services rejecting conscience clauses within "Obamacare" touch us all. Take time this week to pray and evaluate your role in fighting initiatives that demean the dignity of the human person and promote a culture of death.

HHS Contraception Mandate is "un-American"

By Archbishop (and Cardinal-designate) Timothy Dolan of New York in USA Today

It's a brief article. Read it. Then watch a short video of +Dolan's criticism of the mandate. Are we peeved enough to act yet? Take action here via the US Bishops website.

The Jesus Mandate vs The Obama Mandate

By Bishop William Lori of the Diocese of Bridgeport

Read on! Get educated and understand the source of this righteous indignation.

Obamacare's Great Gift: Clarification

By Elizabeth Scalia at First Things

Elizabeth writes: "Now is the time for all good Catholics to come to the aid of providers-- the schools, hospitals, charities, and soup kitchens who serve communities in need without asking affiliations." 

A Petition for All Freedom-loving Americans to Sign

By Frank Weathers at Catholic Lane

A comprehensive look at why we must fight this mandate. The reason to petition the White House at their site: "Why should I bother to help?” Simple. How many bishops are there in the United States? 145. How many votes do they command? 145. If only the bishops speak, and there is no other tangible sign of support from the rest of us, you know, backing them up, they will just be perceived as barking in thin air. 145 + 25,000, on the other hand, might just get a little more notice."

The HHS Mandate: Now it Personal

By Julie Davis at Happy Catholic

Even small business owners like Julie and husband will be affected, forcing them to bring up religion in the workplace and why they may have to drop health coverages. This article also links to the petition in Frank Weathers' article, above.


Current List of Bishops who Speak Out against Obama/HHS Mandate (115 153 at this posting)
By Thomas Peters at Catholic Vote.org
I'm sure this list will grow. Thomas also writes about other notable updates on this topic including a legislative move by Senator Marco Rubio to rescind the mandate.