Religious Leaders Decry Recent Attack on Faith and Life Issues

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and National Association of Evangelicals vice president Galen Carey both denounced in strong terms the recent decision by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius, herself a professed Catholic, to require health insurance providers to provide contraceptives as part of preventative health care for women.

States Bishop Loverde,

The decision ... is a direct attack against religious liberty. I am absolutely convinced that an unprecedented and very dangerous line has been crossed that goes to the heart of the freedom of religion, and that this action does intolerable violence to our First Amendment Rights... For now, we should all be united in prayer that President Obama and Secretary Kathleen Sibelius will reconsider the action they have taken. 

States Galen Cary,

Freedom of conscience is a sacred gift from God, not a grant from the state. No government has the right to compel its citizens to violate their conscience. The HHS rules trample on our most cherished freedoms and set a dangerous precedent.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events:

• All-night reparation vigil, for an end to abortion and terrorism and in reparation for the sins of the world, St. Agnes Church, 2002 N. Randolph St, Arlington, 9pm Fri. Feb. 3 to 4:30am Saturday. For more information contact Josephine Melencio at 703-243-0920.

• Gabriel Project Volunteer Training -- pregnancy assistance ministry, Saturday, Feb. 4, 9am-12:30pm, St. Rita Catholic Church, 3815 Russell Road, Alexandria, VA. Register online before Feb. 3 at arlingtondiocese.org/gpavolunteer, or for more information call 703-841-2755.

• Day of Prayer and Healing -- post-abortion retreat on February 11, for more information call 1-888-456-HOPE, or email info@helpafterabortion.org

New Poll Shows 79% of Americans Support Limits on Abortion

A poll taken for the Knights of Columbus and Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, released Monday, January 23, shows 79% in favor of laws prohibiting abortion after the first three months of pregnancy. 51% were in favor of laws prohibiting all abortions except in cases of rape, incest, to save the life of the mother, or not at all. The results are similar to an earlier poll taken two years ago.

The Unbearable Wrongness of Roe

The following article is by Michael Paulsen and published by the Witherspoon Institute:

39 years ago, the Supreme Court delivered a radical, legally untenable, immoral decision. It has forfeited its entitlement to have its decisions respected, and followed, by the other branches of government, by the states, and by the people.

Click here to read more...

 

Spring 2012 Campaign Begins With Feb. 7 Meeting

Good morning and welcome to our Spring 2012 40 Days for Life campaign updates! It is a joy to be with you to pray and witness for life in our city of Alexandria, VA. Our spring campaign will be led by our former event coordinator, Mrs. Sara Dina, and she has a few words of welcome and encouragement to share with you:

Dear Friend of 40 Days For Life Alexandria,

We read in the Psalms, "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Whenever God calls, it is up to each of us to heed His voice and harden not our hearts.

In this 40th year of legal (but not moral!) abortion in America, God is calling Christians to stand up for the innocent children being slaughtered by abortion, and also to stand for their mothers who will be irreparably harmed by their "choice." Both myself and the other team leaders of 40 Days for Life Alexandria all hope that each of you will heed Christ's call and invite you to join us for our spring 2012 campaign.

This spring, from February 22 through April 1, we will be witnessing for life in three ways:

1. Prayer and fasting (as the Lord leads);
   
2. Community outreach; and
   
3. Peaceful prayer vigil at a local abortion facility.

We remember Christ's words to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He asked them, "Could you not watch with Me one hour?" Jesus is asking that same question of each of us. Will we heed His voice, or will we harden our hearts? Remember, our Lord says in Matthew 25:40 that whatever we do for the least among us, we do for Him. Let us each hear Christ's call so that we may, at the hour of judgment, hear His words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Please come to our "Cast the Vision" meeting on February 7 to learn more about our campaign and how you can get involved. The meeting will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 6222 Franconia Road, Alexandria, at 7:30 PM in the parish hall. If you have any questions, please contact me at sara.40days@cox.net or 703-971-0678.

If you are a previous 40 Days for Life volunteer, and are ready to sign up for vigil hours, please visit www.40daysforlife.com/alexandria and sign up on our online vigil calendar. If you have questions or need assistance, contact our Vigil Coordinator at maryellen.40days@verizon.net or 703-780-2922.

I look forward to meeting each of you and standing in loving witness with you for the unborn and their mothers!

Are you planning to attend the March for Life?

The National Pro-Life Alliance is looking for volunteers who will attend the March for Life to collect petitions to support a Life at Conception Act.

On Monday, January 23 a quarter million pro-life Americans will gather on the Washington DC mall to protest the 39 years of abortion-on-demand that began with the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. As Martin Fox, President, National Pro-Life Alliance, notes,

It's important to cry out in protest against the slaughter. But it is even more important to change the law to protect the innocent unborn. If you -- or anyone you know -- are planning to attend the 39th annual March for Life, I hope you will join me, your National Pro-Life Alliance staff, and scores of other dedicated pro-lifers from around the country as we collect petitions to demand that Congress act.

If you can volunteer, please click here so they can arrange to meet you at the march.

And please forward this email to any friends or family who may attend the March for Life as well.

Living Your Faith in the Workplace with Marjorie Dannenfelser

Marjorie Dannenfelser, President, Susan B. Anthony List, is speaking on Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Raymond of Peñafort Parish. St. Raymond’s is located at 8760 Pohick Road, Springfield, VA 22153.

As president of Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) and one its original organizers, Mrs. Dannenfelser leads this organization dedicated to electing candidates and pursuing polices that will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To this end, the SBA List emphasizes the election, education, promotion and mobilization of pro-life women. Under her leadership, the organization has grown to more than 330,000 members nationwide. She was recently named one of Newsweek’s top ten “Leaders of the Christian Right." For more information, please contact: straymondprolife@aol.com.