Last
Thursday WTMJ’s John Mercure revealed a City of
Milwaukee bid for over 3 million male and female
condoms and 650,000 packages of personal
lubricant. The taxpayer funded condoms
would range from standard to rainbow colored to
extra-sensitive. PLW state director Peggy Hamill
joined Mercure on his daily afternoon radio
program stating that while liberals tell us to
“stay out their bedrooms” and “keep our rosaries
off their ovaries,” we pro-lifers are telling
them to “keep their perversions out of our
pocketbooks.” Please click here
to download the audio of the program.
Interestingly, WTMJ published a story in
October 2012 explaining that the rapidly
declining Milwaukee teen pregnancy rate was
due to programs encouraging parents and
their teens to “break the silence” and
discuss responsible sexual activity.
It did not mention publicly funded
contraception as a factor. Pro-Life
Wisconsin knows that government funded
contraception works only to fuel teen sexual
activity and consequently underage
pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease and
chemical and surgical abortion. Click
here
for an article demonstrating that while New
York City is the abortion capitol of
America, it is also the contraception
capitol of America. The “more
contraceptives, fewer abortions” theory just
doesn’t hold up in the real world. For more
information on contraception, click here.
New York archdiocesan lawsuit
against HHS Mandate moves forward
While
two lawsuits filed by Catholic dioceses in
Pittsburgh and Nashville against the HHS Mandate
were recently dismissed, a ruling by a federal
judge in New York will see the lawsuit being
contested there.
The same
argument was used by the Obama Administration’s
Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of the Department
of Health and Human Services in the Pittsburgh and
Nashville cases – that the dioceses’ lawsuits were
“premature” because the mandate might be
experiencing some “adjustments” in application as
it is implemented, especially concerning the “safe
harbor” policy that prevented the mandate from
applying to certain religious employers until
2013.
Judge
Brian Copland wasn’t buying the Administration’s
arguments this time, however. In fact, his ruling
offered a bit of a scolding and education on
constitutional principles. Please read the article
here.
The
judge pointed out the rule was announced 10 months
ago and that “the Departments have had ample
opportunity to enact a meaningful change to the
Coverage Mandate. The fact that they have not
further suggests the likelihood of injuries to
plaintiffs.” He destroyed the “safe harbor”
argument, saying, “the First Amendment does not
require citizens to accept assurances from the
government that, if the government later
determines it has made a misstep, it will take
ameliorative action.” He added, “There is no,
‘Trust us, changes are coming’ clause in the
Constitution. To the contrary, the Bill of Rights
itself, and the First Amendment in particular,
reflect a degree of skepticism towards
governmental self-restraint and self-correction."
The
Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is representing
the Archdiocese. There are still currently over 40
lawsuits filed against the mandate.
San
Francisco Archbishop calls for prayer,
fasting, and abstinence for life, liberty and
marriage
San
Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone
announced the particulars for a new pastoral
campaign this past week. The Archbishop is
calling on Catholics to pray the rosary daily,
and to fast and abstain from meat on Fridays
with an aim to preserving religious liberty (HHS
Mandate), the right to life and the institution
of marriage.
Archbishop
Cordileone hopes that those who take a stand
for life, marriage, and religious liberty will
be encouraged in their solidarity through the
new spiritual strategy:
"With the challenges this country
is facing, it is hoped that this call to
prayer and penance will help build awareness
among the faithful as well as spiritual
stamina and courage for effective witness.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops, of which Cordileone is chairman
of the subcommittee for the Promotion and
Defense of Marriage, asks Catholics to
participate in five spiritual exercises.
These include:
•
Daily Rosary;
•
Attendance at a Holy Hour on the last
Sunday of each month;
•
Participation in a Fortnight of
Freedom in the summer of 2013;
•
Inclusion in every Mass special
prayers of the faithful for the
causes of life, marriage and
liberty;
•
Fasting and abstaining from meat on
Fridays.
Instructions and
encouragement for the new spiritual
battle plans can be found at the USCCB’s
website.
As the battle for life,
marriage and religious freedom is
not against flesh and blood but
against principalities and powers,
the only way to complete victory is
through spiritual warfare.
Kristin Van Spankeren is Pro-Life
Wisconsin’s student intern on the University
of Wisconsin-Madison campus.
People
around the world – Catholic or not – praise
Blessed Mother Teresa for her work. She has
received countless prestigious honors, including
the Nobel Peace prize. When she received the
prize, she was asked, “What needs to be done to
promote world peace?” Her answer? “Go home and
love your family.”
If you
ask me, the smallest of the small are those
vulnerable in the womb. So, if peace and love
begin with loving your family and doing the small
things, then peace and love surely must begin by
protecting the unborn in our families. We need to
foster societies in which we will give of
ourselves and love “until it hurts.” I think most
can agree that this little, most humble nun of the
poor had some good things to say about world
peace. Yes, giving until it hurts will be hard.
Yes, it may be inconvenient for you. Yes, setting
aside your life to love another will take
everything you have. You won’t want to do it.
We
should listen to her anyway. Read
more...
Join
pro-life Wisconsinites and 400,000 people from
around the nation to mark the anniversary of the
deadly Roe v. Wade decision.
The
annual March for Life will be held Friday,
January 25, in Washington, D.C. Pro-Life
Wisconsin's buses will be leaving on Wednesday,
January 23, and returning Sunday,January 27.
The
cost for the trip, including travel to and from
Washington as well as hotel accommodations (four
to a room) is $275. Call Pro-Life Wisconsin at
262-796-1111 to register. Register NOW to
guarantee a seat! Download
form here.
- The
poisionous candy: emergency contraception for
kids’(American
Life League) A running controversy centers on
the question of whether or not it is a good idea
to provide pre-prescriptions of morning after
pills to young people who have not yet reached
the age of 17. Read more here.
Empty
Manger Caroling Wednesday, Dec. 19 Join PLW's affiliate,
Vigil for Life for the third annual Empty
Manger Caroling on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. on
the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood, 1306 Orin Road,
Madison. The purpose of this
event is two-fold: to bring joy to a place of
great sadness through the carols we sing and
to point to the "empty mangers" in our day and
age due to the destruction of abortion.
40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Saturday,
January 12, 2013
Join
us for 15 Decades of the Rosary from 11 a.m. -
Noon on the State Street steps of the State
Capitol in Madison followed by Pro-Life Potluck
and Program 12:15 - 3 p.m., St. Patrick Catholic
Church basement (404 E. Main St., Madison, WI)
featuring, Jerry Schmutte, "Planned Parenthood's
Agenda." Sponsored by Pro-Life Wisconsin, Vigil
For Life Madison, and Diocese of Madison. For those who can NOT pray outdoors at the
Capitol that day:
Please pray 15 Decades of Rosary INDOORS at St.
Patrick Church from 11-noon In case of inclement
weather, we will ALL pray INDOORS at St. Patrick
Church. Questions? Contact Bette - 608-358-5963 or
info@vigilforlife.org
PLW
Racine Area has a prayer vigil every
Wednesday from 11:00 a.m until noon at the
Racine Planned Parenthood (832 Main St.) All are
welcome to join with your presence or your
prayers.
PLW
Juneau County meets the second Tuesday of
the month at the Hatch Public Library Community
Room in Mauston at 7 p.m.
PLW
Walworth County will again begin their
Monday prayer vigils at Planned Parenthood in
Delavan in April. Contact Phil Cullen at
262-742-3299 for more information.
PLW
Marathon County prays the Rosary monthly
on a Saturday at 10:45 a.m. Please call Ron
Putzer at 715-842-5368 to confirm the date.
PLW
Fond du Lac County prays in front of
Planned Parenthood (333 N Peters Ave, Fond du
Lac) on the second Saturday of the month from
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For information call
Ann at 920-921-6062 or Julie at 920-923-0437. A
pro-life Rosary is also said Saturdays at 8:30
a.m. before the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Mary's
Church ( Marquette St. at E. Merrill Ave,Fond du
Lac.)
Vigil
for Life - PLW Dane County has a perpetual
presence on the sidewalks in from of Madison's
Planned Parenthood abortion facility (3706 Orin
Road.) Each day that Planned Parenthood is open
for business, at least two people will be
scheduled to be present on the sidewalk.
Mon.-Wed. (9 a.m.-11 a.m.), Thurs. (1 p.m. - 6
p.m.), and Fri. (1 p.m.-3 p.m.) Individuals or
groups are needed to sign up for these two hour
shifts, especially on a monthly basis. Click
here to view the online scheduling calendar or
contact Elizabeth Weisshaar at
info@vigilforlife.org.
PLW
Milwaukee County gathers Saturday mornings
at the Affiliated abortion center (1428 N.
Farwell, Milw.) from 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Sidewalk counselors are needed! If you can come
pray or counsel women, contact Peggy Hamill at
262-796-1111 ext. 11 or email
info@prolifewisconsin.org.
PLW
Outagamie County invites you to love your
preborn neighbor as yourself, by going out to
the places where abortions are sold and
committed. Please plan to come and sidewalk
counsel (beside the driveway), pray and witness
with signs at Planned Parenthood Appleton North
(3800 N. Gillett St.)
PLW
Kenosha has consecrated our fight against
Planned Parenthood to Jesus through Mary. You
are invited to pray Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. in
front of the Planned Parenthood (Roosevelt &
36th Ave.) Please come pray the Rosary, the
Chaplet of Divine Mercy and other prayers with
us. For more information, contact Karie Kinzler
at kakinzler7@yahoo.com or call her at
262-646-0301.
PLW
Rock County daily praise and thank God
for the Jan. 13, 2012 permanent closure of the
Rockford, Il. abortion mill. They meet monthly
(except June-August) at St. Jude's Hall, Beloit.
Contact Charlene Tolmie at 608-362-3406 or
Sister Rosalia Bauer at 608-364-2830.
Servants of Our Lady of
Guadalupe are hosting a pro-Life
pilgrimage and prayer vigil, December 12, 2012 at the Shrine
of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La
Crosse. 8:30
a.m. - prayer at Pilgrim Center, 10:30
a.m. - prayer vigil at Memorial to the
Unborn, 12:15 p.m -
Mass, lunch on your own, and 3:30
p.m. - holy hour. Join the servants
for their regular prayer
vigil at 5 p.m. at the Options
Clinic. Questions?
Contact Jen
Dunnett at
715-340-2779 or
vitapretiosa@gmail.com.
Bus
trip to D.C. for the March for Life from
Phillips, WI: A bus from St. Therese Church
in Phillips to Washington, D.C. to attend the
March for Life will be leaving Phillips on
Thursday, January 24 and returning Saturday,
January 26. The cost is $165.00 for the bus
only. Meals will be extra. A tour of
the National Holocaust Museum before returning
home will be included. To reserve a spot on the
bus call Florence Runnheim, 715-474-6708. Call
soon to reserve your seat. Scholarships may still
be available. Youth are welcome and encouraged to
come.
Love Life
Library invites life
advocates to participate in brainstorming
evangelizing toward respect of human life in
2013. Those who were in the forefront, 2,3,4
decades ago in the fight for life meet to share
and support each other in this ministry. Meeting
the first Tuesday of the month
from 8:15-10:30 a.m. 5424
W. Bluemound Rd., southeast corner of bldg.
Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Prayer Vigils
Mondays at 4:30 p.m. in
Wisconsin Rapids on
8th Street by the Shopko mall to pray for
the closing of Planned Parenthood.
Questions? Contact Will Goodman at
608-698-7443 or Jen
Dunnett at vitapretiosa@gmail.com.
Tuesdays 3-4 p.m. in Winona,
MN in front of Semcac,
and abortifacient delegate of Planned
Parenthood. Questions? Contact Will
Goodman at 608-698-7443
or Jen Dunnett at vitapretiosa@gmail.com.
Wednesdays
4-6 p.m. in La Crosse in
front of Options(corner of Caledonia and
St. Paul Streets. Questions? Contact Jen
Dunnett at 715-340-2779 or
vitapretiosa@gmail.com.
Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in
Stevens Point in
front of the strip mall next to Family
Video to pray for the closing of Family
Planning Health Services. Questions?
Contact Jen Dunnett at 715-340-2779 or
via email vitapretiosa@gmail.com.
Fridays in Madison
-12:10
p.m. mass at St. Patrick followed by
prayer and counseling at Planned
Parenthood on Orin Road (around 12:50
p.m.)Around 4 p.m., driving to Holy
Redeemer for holy hour and optional
dinner. Questions? Contact Will Goodman at
608-698-7443 or Jen Dunnett at
vitapretiosa@gmail.com.
The
third Monday of every month in Berlinat All
Saints Catholic Church there is a Rosary for
life ar the church's monument for the unborn
after the 5:15 p.m. Mass. Everyone is welcome.
Sheboygan County Pro-Life
Outreach prays
in front of Planned Parenthood (2108 Kohler Memorial Drive, Sheboygan) every Thursday
from 4:00 to 4:45
p.m. For more information
call Sarah at 920-452-2759 or
Shannon at 920-457-8422.
Thursdays in Kenosha at St.
Mary's Catholic Church (7307 40th Ave.) there is
an 8:00 a.m. Mass, followed by a Rosary procession
to nearby Planned Parenthood. For more information
call Monica at 262-515-3132 or Laura at
262-358-0705.
Thursdays
from 6-6:30 p.m.in West Bend The pro-life
group at St. Frances Cabrini Parish meets at
Planned Parenthood (532 Shepherd's Drive on the
west end of town about 1 1/2 miles west of Hwy. 45
and W. Washington St.-a.k.a. Hwy. 33. It's in a
mall on the north side of the street.
If you enjoy
receiving the Monday Update every week, please consider
donating to Pro-Life Wisconsin’s life-saving work. For your
convenience, credit card donations are accepted by phone,
(262) 796-1111 or toll-free (877) GOD’S WILL or use our
secure online donation form. Thank you for your generosity!
People
around the world – Catholic or not – praise
Blessed Mother Teresa for her work. She has
received countless prestigious honors, including
the Nobel Peace prize. When she received the
prize, she was asked, “What needs to be done to
promote world peace?” Her answer? “Go home and
love your family.”
Join
pro-life Wisconsinites and 400,000 people from
around the nation to mark the anniversary of the
deadly Roe v. Wade decision.
Empty
Manger Caroling Wednesday, Dec. 19
Servants of Our Lady of
Guadalupe are hosting a pro-Life
pilgrimage and prayer vigil, December 12, 2012 at the