“On May 17, the CMA’s annual conference heard Charlie O’Donnell, a consultant in emergency and intensive care medicine, say that “orthodox” Catholics training in obstetrics and gynecology would have such huge obstacles they would have little choice but to “emigrate.” Physicians are routinely faced with requests for artificial contraceptives, artificial procreation treatments or Viagra for “gay couples,” and there is simply no room left in the profession for the Christian worldview in medicine in Britain…. To be a sound Catholic regarding sexual ethics it is not possible to train as a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist.”

“This year’s CMA conference addressed the question of conscience in the context of the physician’s work.  The conference brochure asked, “What is conscience? What does the Church say? What does the law state? How can we work in workplaces which are hostile to individuals’ consciences? What can a Catholic conscience bring to the places and services in which we work? ….”  Dr. O’Donnell, Tully said, “was being just very blunt and pragmatic about it. It’s gone beyond the point where conscientious objection is a practicable alternative for someone specializing in those fields.”  “Abortion is not the issue,” he added. “That’s morally equivalent to running old ladies down in the street. That’s not a moral dilemma.” The real matter is the total engulfing of the medical profession in the “culture of death,” he said. “Abortion is a consequence of that – a symptom, as it were.”

“Paul Tully added that at least a third to half of the practices now considered a normal part of obstetric medicine would be impossible for a conscientious Catholic…. Dr. O’Donnell [explained] it is not feasible to undertake training in the field because so many cases involve some major objectionable practice – non-therapeutic sterilization, IVF, gender reassignment and so on.” “It has gone beyond simply discriminating against individuals. The culture of death has ingrained itself so deeply in the National Health Service that everyday work in obstetrics and gynecology entails numerous instances of promoting evil. But he echoed Dr. Ward, saying, “The anti-life onslaught is international, and with the UK and its EU partners intensively seeking to destroy pro-life culture in every corner of the world there are few places left where this might be possible.”

Why should the result be any different under universal healthcare in the U.S.?

IRVING, TX, May 27, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who led the military to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, says that he would have allowed homosexual leaders for Boy Scouts of America.  Gates, who was elected to head the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for a two-year term, last week said that he “would have supported having gay Scoutmasters, but at the same time, ‘I fully accept the decision that was democratically arrived at by 1,500 volunteers from across the entire country.'”

BSA allowed openly homosexual scouts for the first time beginning  January 1, 2014.  “The policy [now] reads that ‘No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.’”  Due to last year’s vote, the organization Trail Life USA was created. The new group says it aims “to be the premier national character development organization for young men which produces Godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens.” Furthermore, the decision by BSA to allow gay scouts has led to criticism from people on both sides of the debate. Homosexual activists say the group did not go far enough, whereas many Christian parents and groups say BSA is bowing to public pressure from homosexual advocates to affect its membership, despite its Christian roots.  Trail Life said it had 500 groups join it as of December 2013.

“Corporate pressure [to allow gay scout leaders] has been especially aggressive” [from Walt Disney World, Merck & Co., Ernst & Young, Major League Baseball, and AT&T, e.g.]. Over 70 percent of BSA’s membership consists of faith-based organizations, and many of its Catholic, Mormon, and United Methodist-affiliated troops have expressed concern about the new policy. The Southern Baptist Convention, which has 4,000 troops affiliated with it, condemned last year’s change.  BSA says its policies will protect its members from abuse by Scout leaders, whether homosexual or heterosexual. Those policies include a mandate that at least two adults are present at all times, and leaders are not allowed to touch Scouts.

So, is your parish still hosting a Boy Scout troop?  If so, why?  Aren’t there enough risks to the children?

BY JOHN-HENRY WESTEN,  Mon May 26, 2014, LifeSiteNews

Clearly Canadian liberal leader Trudeau is acting as Thought Police to require all liberal politicians to embrace his political pro-abortive policies.  But the principal defense against such Thought Police is a good offense, of Truth.  In face of the recent, egregious actions of Trudeau, five Canadian bishops have stood up for and articulated the truth for life. Cardinal Collins et al are on our list this week for Heroic Hierarchy.  (See discussion below).

TORONTO, May 26, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The office of Toronto Cardinal Thomas Collins has been inundated with positive reaction to the Cardinal’s letter confronting Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.  The recent remarks by the self-professed Catholic politician insisting that all new Liberal candidates support the “right to choose,” has thus far been met with public opposition from five Canadian bishops.

In a letter to Trudeau earlier this month, Cardinal Collins expressed his deep concern with his stand, noting that had Pope Francis chosen a different vocation he would himself be denied the opportunity to run as a Liberal.  The  communications director for the Archdiocese of Toronto, told the Catholic Register that the huge reaction was “overwhelmingly positive, from both within and outside of the Catholic community.”

Jim Hughes, national president of Campaign Life Coalition, said that having pro-life and pro-family advocates congratulate both faith and political leaders when those leaders do the hard work of public confrontation has been an aim of Campaign Life Coalition for many years.  “I’m happy to hear people responded so positively,” said Hughes. “I wonder if the Cardinal knows how muc h support for him is out there in the (pro-life) community and I hope this will encourage him to speak out more often.” The reality of the need for the grassroots pro-life and pro-family community to communicate their thanks to leaders who stick their necks out in the public square is keenly felt in politics as well as religion.   AMEN!

The bishops that have thus far spoken out against Trudeau’s missive include: 1) Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto 2) Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast 3) Calgary Bishop Fred Henry 4) Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith 5) Ottawa Auxiliary Bishop Christian Riesbeck The communications by the bishops have had an impact even in the political sphere. According to MacCarthy, “… a number of people … contacted our office by phone or email and indicated that they will no longer be members of the Liberal party.”

DISCUSSION POINT:  

Is it “heroic” to do one’s job as a bishop or cardinal?  Or does it become heroic when the onslaught of social pressure makes it difficult and painful?  Does the refusal of so many peers to take action make a single action “heroic?”  Or does it take much more to be “heroic”?  Join the discussion with a comment.

QUOTES TO CONSIDER:    

Luke 17:10:  “So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”

Hebrews 12:3-4:  “Consider Him Who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or faint-hearted.  In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”