Among Women ReadHER 7.21.12... CUA & Wheaton's collab on HHS, "dating", Olympics, What Women Want

Among Women ReadHER 7.21.12

Prayers for Aurora with the Office of the Dead
By Elizabeth Scalia at The Anchoress
Let us pray, pray, pray.

Philip Ryken and John Garvey: An Evangelic-Catholic Stand on Liberty
By Philip Ryken and John Garvey at the Wall Street Journal
The fight againt HHS mandate continues. In this article the President of Wheaton College (a major Evangelical institution) and the President of The Catholic University of America team up to file suit against the mandate. Stay tuned, and stay informed on this issue - a must for every Catholic. 


You can track all the lawsuits here (not just the Catholic ones.) 


Women Speak for Themselves is a cool initiative... please check it out.


Finally, if you missed Archbishop Chaput's Homily in DC on July 4th, go here and read it.

Bishops Welcome Inclusion of Conscience Provisions in a House Appropriations Bill
Posted at the USCCB
Read it for some encouragement. There's still a long way to go to make this happen.

In Defense of the 'D' Word
By Michael Hammond at the Catholic Portal at Patheos
I sent this to my sons; it's about dating. 

Abducted by Art
By Simcha Fisher at her blog at National Catholic Register
Some stirring commentary on art and comic strips and the state of weight and women. (On a related note, on AW 139 this week, we're talking to Ellen Austin about her comic strip creation, "Gracieland.") 


Should a Six Year Old Girl Be Trying to Look Sexy?
By Tony Rossi at Christopher Close-up
A good question... especially for the parents reading this.


What Women Want
By Barbara Kay at the National Post, reprinted by CERC
More commentary on the previous Atlantic Monthly article on the work/home balance for women.


The Miracle of the Violet
By Maria Morera Johnson at CatholicMom.com
If you pay attention, the little things in life have much to teach us. Over and over again. (This article is also available in Spanish.)


SQPN Announces an All-New Virtual Ticket to the CNMC
Posted at CatholicNewMediaConference.com
Can't make it the CNMC in Dallas? This might be a great option to get all the talks, plus content from previous conferences delivered to you after the event.


Prayer, Faith Guide Maryland Swimmer in Quest for Olympic Gold
By Maureen Boyle in the Catholic Standard
Praying a Hail Mary before each race, and other thoughts.

Get your catechism fix here... with the cutest catechist on the planet to date... son of author and blogger Brandon Vogt.

Among Women # 139: Conversation, Conversion & the Comics

Join me for this week's Among Women 139 where I talk about the power of conversations that can lead to conversion, as in the life of St. Joan Delanoue, a French businesswoman-turned-founder-of a religious order. 


Joining me in conversation today is wife, mother, catechist, and creator of a comic strip online, also known as a web-strip, Ellen Austin, who shares her faith, and also has a remarkable knack for seeing life through the eyes of children through her heroine of "Gracieland". 


Plus get all the details about the Catholic New Media Conference, Aug 29 - 31 in Dallas.


Listen or download this episode, AW 139, here.

Among Women ReadHER 6.9.12 On forgiveness, helping hands, and making lunch...

The Church Pushes Back
By Mark Rienzi at National Review Online
An essay by a constitutional lawyer speaking in clear language what is going on with the upcoming courts cases regarding the HHS mandate. Very compelling read, and worth sharing with others.


Our Feather-Strewn Sins Can Teach Us Mercy
By Elizabeth Scalia at Our Sunday Visitor
Must-reading for your week. Wisdom from lived experience, the sacrament of reconciliation and a dear saint.


Wife Confidential: Why I make His Lunch
By Theresa Thomas at The Integrated Life
Hey! I love "love in a lunchbag" from home. Read Theresa's motives for making her hubby's lunch each morning. And if you'd like to hear Theresa, she guested on AW last fall on episode 117.


When Your Heart Hangs By A Thread
By Timothy Dalrymple at Philosophical Fragments
The beauty of life in full view in the pediatric ward.


Celestial Magazine
A new magazine for Catholic Women looking for Subscribers


The Gift
From DivorcedCatholic.org's newsletter of encouragement, this post (very short) is worth the read. If you or someone you know is facing divorce, you may wish to listen to Lisa Duffy, co-founder of DivorcedCatholic.org talk about divorce and hope on Among Women 97.


My Dream for My Daughter
By Denise Hunnell, MD at Human Life International
A good piece that upholds the value of womanhood and a reminder that fertility is not a disease to be treated... we can hope to have our daughters grow up without thinking their dreams rely on their fertility being suppressed or obliterated.


ProtectOurGirls.com
Are you opposed to sex-selection abortions? They are happening in the USA and only a few states have bans. Information at this website operated by LiveAction, complete with a video that reveals what's is being said on the inside.


Africa E-Book Project
Catholic author Brandon Vogt and others have a great project here. Consider giving your support to support seminarians in Cameroon.


Inspiration sportsmanship by a woman at a Track Meet in Ohio. State Champ helps a competitor after a fall. Two thumb up!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Among Women Podcast #135: Books: For the Fun of It!

Among Women 135 takes a look at a new book, Catholic Family Fun, from Catholic wife and mom, author-blogger, Sarah Reinhard. Together we share fun memories of growing up, and ways to keep families bonded together using the glue of fun! It's all part of the conversation we had as we take ideas from her new book and head into the summer months. Plus enter a special free drawing for this book! (Send in your name to via the contact details below.)

Check out Sarah's previous guest post on the AW blog from last month.

Also featured in this episode, a reading describing the faith and faith-filled death of St Monica, patron of mothers, from Augustine's Confessions.


This week, we have a few announcements!

Don't forget to make your reservations to attend the Catholic New Media Conference, Aug. 29-31 in Dallas.


Among Women Special Edition: on Joy!  Send Pat your reflections on what gives you joy, or where you find joy... for a future edition of the Among Women Podcast later this summer.  Contact Pat at pat.gohn@comcast.net or find AW on facebook.

Finally, listen to this new podcast as Pat announces her book project that will be of special interest to the AW listening audience.

Among Women Podcast #134 Sarah Hart Sings Her Heart

Among Women 134 features the powerful songs and testimony of Sarah Hart. In a joyful departure from our normal format, I'm delighted to welcome Sarah Hart to Among Women. In this episode, Sarah shares the stories behind some of her songs (and some of my favorites)... from her Grammy-nominated "Better Than A Hallelujah" to "Wonderfully Made" to "Prayer for This House," and more.

Together we share the concerns often found on a woman's heart, as we explore themes of faith, life and death, the feminine genius, family, and prayer. Sarah shares her heart not only in concerts as a singer and songwriter, but as beautiful wife, mother, and evangelist with a passion for women's ministry. Don't miss this one!  Find Sarah Hart's music on iTunes.

Among Women Podcast 133 features The Bright Maidens, Part 2.

Among Women 133 welcomes back the beautiful trio of twenty-somethings, the Bright Maidens. Otherwise known as bloggers Trista Leigh, Julie Robison, and Elizabeth Hillgrove.  This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation talking about what's on the minds of these fabulous women. This week we'll be talking about virginity, chastity, theology of the body, and what attracts modern women to the pro-life cause. Catch up on Part 1 here. or on iTunes.

This episode also profiles one of the youngest blesseds I know, Jacinta Marto, the youngest visionary from the Marian apparitions of Fatima, beatified in 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

The take away here is that even young people are called to live saintly lives, and all of us are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ . I think you'll enjoy the young women profiled on today's episode.

Feel free to subscribe to Among Women, or leave a rating or review for the podcast on our iTunes page.

Don't forget to "like" our Among Women Facebook page.

Also, I've put out a call for feedback for an upcoming Special Edition of AW (where we feature the voices and comments of AW listeners.) The topic is joy. I'm looking for feedback on either one or both of these questions: What brings you joy? Where do you find joy?

Send you answers via the facebook page, or via email at pat.gohn@comcast.net, or, most favorable would be your own voice recorded on our voicemail feedback line at 206-203-2024, or by emailing me an mp3 file.

Among Women Podcast # 132... The Bright Maidens & Me

Among Women 132 welcomes a trio of bloggers known as The Bright Maidens: Elizabeth Hillgrove, Trista Leigh, and Julie Robison. In this part one of a two-part series, we tackle their top concerns as young Catholic women, and explore their online alter egos as the Brights Maidens, an online facebook group featuring commentary and outreach for twenty-something Catholic women. This week's episode also profiles Christian mystic, St. Hildegard of Bingen, from the 11th century.

This episode also talks about details regarding Pat's participation in the SQPN Marathon this Saturday. Plus her talk at Theology at BAR this Monday night in New Haven, CT.
Listen to this episode.

Don't be afraid or discouraged by the HHS mandate. Listen and learn from these women speaking out against religious liberty.

"Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God's own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God." 

--Pope St. Leo the Great, as cited in the CATECHISM, par. 1691.

Ok, so I thought it was best to start out with the hope we have.

I'll admit that, earlier this week, I was a discouraged by the way the Senate voted on the Blunt amendment with regard to the current assault on the Catholic Church, and others, regarding the HHS Mandate. I think Kathryn Lopez said it rather succinctly: "The majority of the Senate did not want to protect the First Amendement. Thanks, guys." She reminds: "Elections matter."

I'm not a political pundit, and I may not have all the compelling political arguments about this down pat. But I'm someone who takes our moral obligations as Christians seriously.

I know one thing. Silence is great virtue when it comes to prayer. But not so much when it comes to issues of justice. Better stated, perhaps, we must draw strength from the silence of our prayer and move out from there into the world.

We must meet God in the sanctuary of our conscience, and then live in such a way so as to protect the rights of conscience in the individual, and in our country at large, in terms of our First Amendment right to religious liberty in the Constitution. 

The dignity of the human person demands that we protest this affront to conscience and religious freedom. The law of love demands that we act based on our care for our neighbor.

The world needs your credible witness and mine. Sure, it's scary. But it is necessary. 

This is Lent. We've got the spiritual tools to combat sin and injustice.

• Fasting.
• Prayer.
• Alms.

We've got the social and political tools to defeat this mandate and to be a force for good in our world.

• Speaking up and protesting.
• Signing petitions.
• Voting.

The most important tool is our own voice in our spheres of influence.

You may have heard claims that this is a contraception issue and a women's issue. But it is first and foremost an issue of conscience and religious liberty, an issue dear to women and men of many religious traditions. 

Let's not have people wonder, where are the women who care about this?

Let's make sure we can say: Here. We. Are.

While there are many people across the country speaking out about this. We need the passionate voices of women to be seen and heard, and not just Catholic women.

So I'd like to offer the rest of this post as a roundup of women speaking out on this subject.

As reported on NRO, Helen Alvare and Kim Daniels sent this reply to the Obama administration. And they have a petition going that I encourage women to sign over at WomenSpeakforThemselves.com

Here's the Heritage Foundation's Women Speak Out: Obamacare Tramples Religious Liberty panel:



Here's another good panel -- listen to the audio from the Catholic Information Center's event, partnered with AltCatholicah, Women Challenging the HHS Mandate, with a lively panel of very qualified women from the legal and medical professions discussing this subject matter.


I'm adding my voice here...

You may have already heard this, but Kathryn Lopez and Elizabeth Scalia reviewed the basics of this debate a few weeks back on Among Women. 

I love the hope in that opening video that we have as Catholic Christians. I have always loved that quote from Pope St. Leo. Let me encourage you to strongly consider your role in this struggle.

Pray. Hope. Act.

------
Other women speaking out in related articles:

• Professor Janet Smith, also hear her conversation with Drew Mariano on radio.
• Theologian Pia Di Solenni
• Sr. Mary Ann Walsh
• Marybeth Hicks
• Peggy Noonan
• Elizabeth Scalia
• Emily Stimpson
• Hillary Senour
• Alveda King
• Cathy Ruse
• Kat Fernandez
• Carrie Severino

Earlier posts on this blog about with links to this subject:

• 3.3.12
• 2.11.12
• 2.4.12
• 1.28.12
• 11.6.09

The AW podcast on this subject.

Among Women ReadHER 12.31.11

Among Women ReadHER

12.31.11

Eve in Mary Reconciled, As Are We All
By Elizabeth Scalia at The Anchoress
This is from a few weeks back but still relevant during the Christmas season. (I must have missed it while I was traveling!) Turn to it now -- if only for the brilliant, provocative, and powerful illustration that accompanies it. Just stare into it and take it in. If you love Mary, I dare your heart not to be moved. As always I tip my hat to the equally brilliant wordsmith, otherwise known as The Anchoress, whose blog has long been a favorite stop of mine. (Hear Elizabeth Scalia on an AW episode from last January.)

A Dad at Christmas

By Elizabeth Foss at The Catholic Herald

More loveliness for the Christmas season from the ever-wise Elizabeth Foss.

Let Me Not Keep Christmas
By William O'Leary at Catechesis in the Third Millennium
Short and inspired.

Making Movies for Christ

By Robyn Lee at Amazing Catechists

Our YouTube-fixated culture proves that even home movies can reach millions of eyes. Let's get going, Catholic friends. DO try this at home!

Virgin is the New Mermaid

By Alicia Therese from On Earth, As It Is

A powerful metaphor for the case for chastity among singles.


All the Things in 2011
By Maria Johnson at Another Cup of Coffee
Nice reflection on gratitude.

New Catholic TV Show Aimed at Catholic Women

By Christopher S. Pinco at The Pilot

Coming in January, "The Gist", featuring Danielle Bean, Rachel Balducci and Carolee McGrath! Here's a trailer:

Hear Danielle on a previous episode of AW discussing her recent book with Elizabeth Foss.

Among Women Podcast # 118 features Teresa Tomeo

Among Women 118 challenges us to take time this Advent to go deeper with Christ and the Church. This week, we'll draw inspiration from two women whose lives were transformed by doing just that. The program presents a profile of Dorothy Day, whose 20th century conversion and convictions regarding service to the homeless, poor, and disenfranchised inspired countless Americans through the Catholic Worker Movement. Her cause for canonization is underway.

We also visit with media expert and radio/TV host, Teresa Tomeo, as she unpacks themes from her latest book, Extreme Makeover: Women Transformed by Christ, not Conformed to the Culture. (View trailer below.)

Together we talk about a woman's relationship with the media, plus evaluate media's potentially toxic effects on a woman's wellbeing. Don't miss taking a media "reality check"in light of your relationship with Christ on Among Women today!

Subscribe to Among Women via iTunes.

The trailer for Teresa Tomeo's Extreme Makeover...


image credit

Among Women ReadHER 11. 12. 11... war on women, grateful tweets, internet's influence & more

Among Women ReadHer

11.12.11

What I Am Never Going to Tell You
By Elizabeth Foss at her blog, In the Heart of my Home.
This is such an important post by a very wise mother, Elizabeth Foss: even "great" parenting does not guarantee that our children will live lives that reflect our faith and values. (My two cents: Loving children despite their free will is the toughest job parents face... Witness the forgiving father in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Some may one day return to a Christian walk, and some may not.)

The Real War on Women
By Kathryn Jean Lopez
No nonsense, straight talk. Lopez never preaches. Just states it very plainly.


The Personhood Initiative: Mississippi Voters Fail A Reality Check
By Phil Lawler on CatholicCulture.org
We need more discussion on the subject of personhood as a path to promoting the culture of life.


All That We Behold is Full of Blessing -- Wm. Wordsworth
By Maria Johnson
I've been a #gratefultweeter, following the lead of folks like Maria and @MattSwaim... I recommend #gratefultweeting... it can be a form of evangelism, offering a smile rather than a frown to twitter news feeds. There's another take on this, here.


Parents: Beware the Dangers of Peer Orientation
By Jennifer Fulwiler
This subject really resonates with me. As a former youth minister (in the years before my children came) it became very clear to me that parents needed to be the molders and shapers of conscience and perspective, and it their absence, other voices would fill the vacuum. (I write a little bit on the shaping of conscience in a child, this week at Catholic Mom.)


Virtually Pleasuring Ourselves Out of Existence
By Betty Duffy at Patheos
Very astute and challenging about the power of the internet's addictive pull. 


Fr Robert Barron discusses the new translation of the Roman Missal... (under 15 minutes.)

Got saints? Here are some great podcasts on the saints.

Happy All Saints Day!

We love the saints around here. If you're looking for some of our previous shows on saints, check out these:

AW 113 with Lisa Hendey, talking about her new book A Book of Saints for Catholic Mom

AW 51 with Ronda Chervin, discussing her Treasury of Women Saints. 

AW 17 with Gina Loehr, conversing about Real Women, Real Saints. 

 Of course, Among Women has an entire master index/archive listed by the saints we have covered.

And don't forget the Saint Cast with Paul Cammarata - an archive of over 140 podcasts!

Among Women #111 - Women: Bearers of the Good News

Among Women 111 completes the two-part series with Scripture scholar and author, Dr Mary Healy, of Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.  Come hear an amazing talk that will raise your dignity as a woman as Dr. Healy unpacks the riches of Scripture and re-introduces to the qualities we know reside in our deepest selves.

Oh, and while Dr. Healy tackles some of the greats of the bible,  I'll do a brief survey of the life of Joanna, one of the "little women" of the bible.  Check it out here.

And may I ask for your prayers this week? This week I'll be off speaking and participating in the Catholic New Media Conference. Better yet, pray for the whole team and all the participants, too!

Among Women 110 - Bearers of the Good News, Pt. 1 - a great presentation for women!

AW 110 features an amazing teaching on women in the bible from Scripture scholar, Dr. Mary Healy, from the faculty of Sacred Heart Seminary. Dr. Healy unpacks the stories of women who exemplified the feminine genius in part one of this two-part presentation from the National Catholic Bible Conference, July 2011. 


Pat also looks at one of the little known saints that is favored by Pope Benedict, St. Juliana from Belgium. She was at 12th century saint, devoted to Christ in the Eucharist, and whose prayerful influence in the Church gave us Corpus Christi Sunday.

Also, this is the last week to send in your contributions for the Among Women Special Edition: "What I love about the rosary," scheduled for early October.

I am also taking audio feedback and written feedback for an upcoming AW Special Edition: What I Love About the Rosary.  To participate, just share what you love about the Rosary, by calling our feedback line at 206-203-2024, or message via Facebook at the Among Women Podcast page. Or email me at amongwomenpodcast@me.com. Audio files that you record on your mobile phone or via iTunes are good too! 

Entries must be received by 6pm EST, Monday, Sept. 26. All participants will have their names placed in a free drawing for a handcrafted rosary from Rustic Rosaries by Margaret Rose.

Among Women ReadHer... 7.9.11

Among Women ReadHer

7.9.11

Holy Women & Everyday Hero Priests 

-- Elizabeth Scalia, The Anchoress

Good book recommendation from the Holy Father, and more!

Forget You, Feminism

--Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review Online

An interesting discussion on the subject of feminism and female candidates for office. 


How Facebook is Like a Swingset
--Karen Edmisten at Faith and Family Live


A New Role for Maria Goretti?
--Sr. Anne Flanagan, DSP from Nunblog
A patron saint for domestic abuse? Check it out.


Wisconsin Marian Shrine: "Turnout has been incredible!"
--Deacon Greg at The Deacon's Bench
Recall, this is the first Marian apparition site approved in the USA. Here's the original article the Deacon cites, with great photos of the shrine. You may recall my conversation with Dr. Maura Hearden about it on AW 83. And here's a past post about Dr. Hearden's recent visit to the shrine.

This trailer has been out for sometime, so it's not so new, but it is still worth sharing. If you haven't heard of this film project, click away!

Finally, a little silliness from LOL Saints, featuring St. Teresa of Avila.

The F.U.N Quotient... girlfriends!

On deciding where to eat for Girls Night Out...

Some 15-year-old girlfriends decided to meet for dinner. They discussed where to eat and finally agreed on McDonald's next to the Sea Side Restaurant because they only had $6.50 between them and Bobby, the cute boy in science class, lived on that street.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 25-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because it had free snacks, there was no cover charge, the beer was cheap, the band was good and there were lots of cute guys.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 35-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because the combos were good, it was near the gym and if they went late enough, there wouldn't be many whiny little kids.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 45-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because the martinis were big and they could make a dinner just out of the appetizers.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 55-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because the prices were reasonable, it had windows which opened (in case of hot flashes), the wine list was good and fish was good for their cholesterol.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 65-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because they had an Early Bird Special and the lighting was good.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 75-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because the food wasn't too spicy and it was handicapped accessible.

10 years later, the same girlfriends, now 85-year-olds, discussed where to meet for dinner. Finally they agreed to meet at the Sea Side Restaurant because they'd never been there before.

Among Women ReadHer... 6.11.11

Among Women ReadHer

6.11.11

Miscarriage
-- Fr Frank Pavone from Priests for Life on Catholic Lane
Sensitive commentary.


Things I've Learned in Times of Doubt 
-- Karen Edmisten on her blog of the same name
Thumbs up, Karen!


Faith in the Time of Breast Lumps 
-- Elizabeth Esther
What to do while you're waiting for the diagnostic exam.


Pagan Convert: Christie Martin 
-- Christie Martin at Why I'm Catholic
Her conversion story in her own words.

How to Tie Your Shoes
-- courtesy of Julie Davis at Happy Catholic
Gosh, a small revelation.


Taking Class with the X-Men 
-- Maria Morera Johnson at Patheos' Catholic Portal
Got super-hero fans at your house? Need some help conversing with them? Check this out.


Teaching Self Control [to children] is Great Summer Exercise
-- Mary Beth Hicks
One of the fruits of the Spirit, don't ya know...


The Ins and Outs of Opening a Door for a Woman 
-- Brett & Kate McKay
So, what's your experience?


Finally, a story of a remarkable woman...
Watch this video clip about forgiving your son's killer. 
HT: Deacon Greg at The Deacon's Bench

Among Women ReadHer...5.28.11

Among Women ReadHer

5.28.11

Desparately Seeking Pregnancy - Ellen Gable Hrkach at CatholicMom.com
Support for infertility sufferers. 
Related: Among Women Podcast 89 features a talk about miscarriage and family life with Ellen Gable Hrkach.

Video: The second episode for "The Catholic View for Women" is posted at EWTN.
This time the panel talks about Catholic identity. Episode 3 recently aired, but is not on-demand yet.

News from the Vatican for a meeting for Families in 2012

The Church's Divorce Dilemma - Emily Stimpson at OSV
Related: Among Women Podcast 98 features a talk with Lisa Duffy of DivorcedCatholic.org.

Clothing for Girls Sends Wrong Message - Mary Beth Hicks at Family Events
Much needed commentary, plus interesting supplemental articles at the bottom of the page, especially the Sexualization of Girls report by the APA.


New Catechism for Youth:

The Fun Quotient... ahhh, the differences between women & men!

Among Women #89- The Sacred Heart

In Among Women 89, I discuss my recent trip to Paris and Sacre Coeur, plus the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as seen through the life of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.  Also my guest is author Ellen Gable Hrkach, who is also a wife and a mother. She has suffered seven pregnancy losses, and she lovingly discusses this topic with us today.  It is a message of hope and healing, and I think many women will benefit from her sharing.

Also in this week's show, an invitation to send me your favorite Bible verses for an upcoming Among Women Special Edition!