The recent ruling by the US Supreme Court overturning the famous Roe v Wade decision has said that there is no constitutional, i.e., federal right to abortion in the United States. To those of us around the world of the Holy, Orthodox, Catholic, and Apostolic Faith, this represents a major step forward in the defence of life. However, it is not a complete victory, for the decision now simply seems to rest with the individual states that comprise the United States. Thus abortion will remain legal in many areas, and with great sadness We can only expect that over 1 million unborn children may continue to be murdered (and arguably martyred) within the United States each year. The faithful must continue to pray for this wholesale slaughter to end. At the same time, We reiterate that the faithful must be compassionate to those who are contemplating the sin of abortion so that the love of Christ may indeed turn their hearts. We also pray that neither side of this issue will resort to violence and uncharitable acts against their opponents, for that only deepens the conflict and makes reconciliation and a return to respect for life all the more difficult. Let us give thanks that the American Supreme Court has issued a ruling that is generally supportive of the doctrine of the Christian faith, and let of us continue to pray that society will learn to respect life in the example of Christ. Let us especially pray the rosary, that the intercession of the Blessed Virgin who chose life so that all mankind may have hope of everlasting life may turn the hearts of everyone.
Earlier today His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather gave an allocution in response to a recent executive order of the American president. The executive order promoted and sought to provide funding for expansion of abortions around the world. Other Catholic leaders joined in the opposition with similar statements. The complete text of the allocution is as follows:
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Archpatral Allocution on the Right to Life
regarding Recent Executive Orders
of Joseph Biden acting as
President of the United States
THE current wealth and power of the American Republic, held for what is thus far a relatively brief period in the history of world civilisation, conveys upon it tremendous responsibility in the use of both. It also makes the affairs and decisions of the United States in so many cases the business of the world, for the actions of the American government quite often have impact, even lasting impact on other nations. It is with this in mind that We, whose own nation’s history extends over twelve hundred years and involves the spreading of the saving grace and freedom of the Christian faith to all corners of the world, must and will respond to the grave and troubling orders issued recently by the American president regarding the right to life and funding for abortions, even outside of the United States political borders.
The President referred to abortion access as “…protecting women's health at home and abroad.” No one who professes the Catholic faith may in any way consider this to be legitimate, for the scourge of abortion is in no way a simple matter of healthcare. The president by that order apparently seeks to provide massive amounts of United States federal funding to organisations that provide abortions around the world. US citizens and others resident in the United States who love Christ, therefore, called by Us to petition government representatives in order to seek this order being stopped, block, or rescinded. Such is the duty of all who love Christ, for, while the First and Great Commandment is that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our mind, and all our spirit, the Second Great Commandment is that we love our neighbour as ourselves. It is that very love and those two commandments, from which all other commandments derive, that we see in the form of Christ pendant upon the Cross. How, then, can the Christian faithful turn a blind eye not only to the United States governmental endorsement of the wholesale murder of over one million children every year, so many of them from among the impoverished and ethnic minorities, but also to the current United States government effort to expand the work of both domestic and global murder factories?
We cannot call ourselves Christians if we profess to believe, but leave those beliefs with in the four walls of the church as we leave Sunday to go out in the world. Rather, we are all called to take that faith, flowing from the altar of God, the very Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross in which we participate during the mass, out into the world. God calls upon us to live our faith in our daily lives, in the workplace, and in our political participation. Filled with the fire of Christ, do not let your voice be silenced by anyone when you are speaking the truth of Christ.
As we fast approach the Lenten season, let us all around the world to dedicate ourselves spiritual acts against the persecutors of the church, that all may be called to repentance and reconciliation with Christ and His Holy Church.
FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 8 September 2020 (ORCNS) -- The Archfather d. Rutherford I gave his annual allocution on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His Holy Eminence addressed topics including political discord and the importance of Christ above all nations. The video of the allocution is below, followed by the transcript.
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Da Firenze-Nuova Roma ai Cristifedeli di tutto il mondo, ed ai membri della Corte di Santa Maria di Walsingham, grazia, pace, e la nostra benedizione Apostolica in questa festa gioiosa della Natività della Beata Vergine Maria. This day we celebrate the birth of the New Eve by whose obedience Christ was able to be born into the world for the salvation of mankind. Our Lady was immaculately conceived, yet had free will and was under no obligation to become the Mother of God. Yet when the angel appeared to her, she said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy will – and she accepted the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. We, each of us, likewise have a choice. We can accept God, or we can reject Him. Indeed, this is a choice we must make constantly throughout our lives in all that we do. It is easy to fall away from the faith under the influences of the world, and so we must pray for conversion on a regular basis and seek the help and intervention of the Blessed Virgin. Remember the benefits to mankind from the obedience of Our Lady whose birth we joyfully celebrate this day. The decisions we face in life, though, are rarely easy, but they are simple at their core. Questions are not black and white, but right and wrong, by which is meant “of God” and “not of God.”
In the 2000 years since the Incarnation of Christ, Our Lord seems not to have penetrated the hearts of mankind, for the world seeks constantly to abandon the ways of Christ and instead seeks other ends. When God comes to people, instead of following the example of Our Lady, far too often the invitation is rejected.
Carissimi, è necessario cercare nostro Signore, cercare Cristo in tutto per sempre. Se non lo cerchiamo, certo perderemo la nostra via; perderemo la via corretta di Dio. Dobbiamo sapere e capire che quella via, la via di Dio, è veramente l’unica via. We must search for our Lord, search for Christ in everything always. If we do not search for Him, we will certainly lose our way; we will lose the right path of God. We must know and understand that that way, the way of God, is the only way. Forse pensate che non sia facile, ma abbiamo la sacra liturgia ed i sacramenti della Santa Chiesa, la sposa di Cristo, per aiutarci. Perhaps you think it is not easy, but we have the sacred liturgy and the sacraments of the Holy Church, the bride of Christ, to help us.
Today in the world there is much political upheaval and discord. This is nothing new in history. Mankind, being naturally oriented towards religion, will find something new if religion itself is abandoned. This we see in many countries today. For example, Europe is abandoning its sacred heritage, and the identity politics seen in the United States have largely replaced mainstream Protestantism that was so common, and thus is ultimately the same religion in a new package – only without God except for occasionally some warped version of God that somehow favours only one political party or viewpoint. We must caution, therefore, the Christian faithful not to make political decisions, including one’s own vote, according to political or other identity, but according only to the laws of God and the precepts of his Holy Church. Similarly, we must caution against too much identity with political parties and organisations at all, for they all too easily can insidiously replace one’s identity as a Christian or cause one’s Christian faith to be warped to fit the whims of politics. More than that, too much identification with political parties and even with national identity under the guise of patriotism, can tear away at one’s soul, pitting people against each other, breeding division where there should be unity in Christ.
Pues Dios no dice que una nación es mejor de todos los otros países. Pensais que la frontera sea una división májica o sagrada, y la gente aquí sea buena, pero la gente allá sea mal? Dijimos que no. De ningúna manera. Todos son hermanos en Cristo, pero los países vienen y se van. Solo la iglesia de Cristo es por siempre y para siempre. God does not say that one nation is better than all other countries. Do you think that the border is a magical or sacred division, and the people here are good, but the people there are bad? We say absolutely not. All are brothers and sisters in Christ, but the nations, they come and go. Only the Church of Christ is of all time and remains forever. Indeed, just as socialism and communism are opposed to and incompatible with the Christian faith, so too is nationalism. Our loyalty must first and foremost always be to God. If we are with God, He will be with us, and then who can stand against us?
Now, prepare yourselves to receive God’s blessing.
Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, + Patris, et + Filii, et Spiritus + Sancti descendat super vos et maneat semper. R. Amen.
PATRIARCHAL SEE 10 June 2020 (ORCNS) - The Archfather gave his annual Corpus Christi Allocution today. His Holy Eminence spoke of issues of social justice and the right to life, referring to the Holy Church as the original and only truly authentic instrument of social justice today. The Archfather gives five regular allocutions, or formal speeches, each year on Easter, Corpus Christi, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Christmas, and Ash Wednesday, as well as others as situations warrant. They are always addressed by tradition "From the Florentine Household to the Christian Faithful around the world, and to the members of the Court of St. Mary of Walsingham." The video and transcript of the allocution are below.
TRANSCRIPT
FROM the Florentine household to the Christian faithful around the world, and the members of the Court of St. Mary of Walsingham, grace, peace, and Our Apostolic Blessing on this wonderful Feast of Corpus Christi in the year of our Lord 2020. This day in the liturgical calendar finds the world descended further into chaos and turmoil and division and upheaval. But any student of history will know that this is not unusual, this is not new, this is quite common, and perhaps is even the standard state of things in the world. Today we hear so often talked about this concept of social justice, and it is indeed a fine thing to seek justice authentic justice for all. Yet this term is so often misused and abused by individuals and organisations for political and other agendas. In fact, that abuse is often such that it harms the very people that they claim to be trying to help. And thus we submit that the only authentic and indeed the original institution of social justice is the Church of Christ.
That social justice of the church is rooted in the church’s social doctrine, which derives from moral theology. Christ came into the world, performed miracles, taught the truth, suffered, was crucified, buried, descended into hell, rose from the dead, walked the earth as the risen Lord, and then gloriously ascended into heaven not for one group of people, but for all people and all time. It is for this reason that the church is the only authentic institution of social justice in the world. All that we do indeed flows from the altar of God, whereupon takes place that same true and living Sacrifice.
And so today in the world when people talk of justice and equality, such conversations are ultimately fruitless and meaningless without a respect for life. Indeed the world today has abandoned as a whole its respect for life. No person, no organisation, no nation has any right to demand justice for any individual or group of people if it does not first respect life. No nation, no people may demand justice while the curse of abortion continues to exist. We cannot talk about the rights of man when we have the wholesale slaughter of millions of people around the world each year in the form of abortion.
The right to life is the most fundamental and foundational right that exists. When we talk about other rights, they assume one thing – and that is that you are alive to exercise that right. And therefore again the right to life is the most fundamental right on earth that we can discuss. So until that becomes the centre of the argument, of the debate, the centre of the discussion, everything else is meaningless and can not exist in any authentic way leading to a true solution. This is what the Church of Christ teaches, and this is the framework of authentic social justice that must take place in the world if we as Christians are to try to make the world a better place, as we should; if we are to try to help our fellow man, as we should; if we are to see those suffering and see them as our brothers, as we should. None of that can in fact take place or have any true meaning if it does not flow from the altar of God, if it is not centred on a foundation of a right to life. That is the first discussion that must be had today in society.
It is the Body of Christ that we celebrates this day in the liturgical calendar that unites humanity. It is the Body of Christ that leads to authentic social justice among mankind. Now, go into the world to build this respect for life among your fellow man so that we may try to help establish the kingdom of God here on earth.
And now prepare yourself for God's blessing.
Et benedictio Dei omnipotensis, Patris, + et Filii, + et Spiritus + Sancti, descendat super vos et maneat semper. R. Amen.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. Nov. 20, 2010 (ACNS) - The new inspirational video series, Live Each Moment, was launched today by the Anglo-Catholic Archdiocese of the Southwest. The series features informal homilies given by the Archbishop and is intended to help make every moment in life count. The videos are available on the Archdiocese's YouTube Channel, as well as on the series's own page. The first episode is also shown below.
According to the following letter sent to supporters, the political group Catholic Vote was most successful in this recent election.
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Dear CatholicVote Supporter,The votes are in.
And the Catholic vote was decisive.
Republicans took control of the house in a massive sweep, while the Senate remains in the hands of the Democrats by a slim margin.
Early indications suggest the GOP won 53% of the Catholic vote with Democrats garnering 45% of Catholics, according to a CNN exit poll. After losing the Catholic vote by 10 points in 2008, this eight point advantage represents an 18-point shift in support to the Republican Party.
CatholicVote.org Candidates
Catholic Republicans like Bobby Schilling in Illinois-17, Sean Duffy in Wisconsin-7, and Dan Benishek in Michigan-1 all won seats held previously by Catholic Democrats who supported the health care bill. All three of these winning candidates happen to be proud pro-life Catholics, and were endorsed by CatholicVote!
In South Carolina, CatholicVote-endorsed Mick Mulvaney shocked the political world by ousting Nancy Pelosi’s Budget Chairman John Spratt, who has been in office since 1983.
In Virginia, the founder of the liberal Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good (a group that publicly justified Catholic support for pro-abortion candidates) lost his seat to pro-life challenger Robert Hurt. CatholicVote.org backed Hurt with a radio blitz during the final week of the campaign.
We also backed Republican Jeff Fortenberry in Nebraska and pro-life Democrat Dan Lipinski in Illinois – both of whom were re-elected. Lipinski was one of the only members of the Stupak coalition that refused to compromise. He voted against Obamacare.
CatholicVote-endorsed candidate Frank Guinta unseated Rep. Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire. Shea-Porter claimed a Catholic faith, yet supported abortion and so-called same-sex “marriages.”
In northern Virginia, CatholicVote endorsed Keith Fimian still trails Rep. Gerry Connolly by a mere 820 votes. Some absentee ballots are apparently still to be counted and a recount appears likely. Please pray for Keith. Our candidate in NY-22, George Phillips, did better than anyone expected, but came up short to Rep. Maurice Hinchey.
And in the marquee Senate race in Nevada, Harry Reid defeated CatholicVote-backed Sharron Angle in a disappointing loss.
Putting it in perspective
This means our 2010 Midterm Election campaign racked up 8 wins, 2 losses and one race not yet decided. But we also helped lead the charge in educating, and mobilizing the most important voting bloc in America – the Catholic vote!
Together we are building a movement, and today you should feel proud.
Victories at the ballot box are a start, and the new Republican Party needs to know we expect them to deliver.
Economic issues may have been the biggest story of this election, but let’s not forget what we said last May. Votes have consequences, and virtually every so- called “pro-life” legislator that voted for Obamacare went down to defeat last night.
Those legislators that stood firm on principle, defended life, and opposed the stifling impact of a runaway federal government were rewarded.
We are grateful beyond measure for your help.
Whatever good we may have accomplished, may God be praised!
Members of the National Council of Churches met with Obama on All Saints' Day to thank him for his leadership and passage of the health care bill. No Roman Catholic or Anglican representatives were present, other than Katharine Shori, Presiding Bishopess of the Episcopal Church of the USA. The delegation also pressed him to work more for families facing hunger and poverty. What is most unusual about this meeting is that health care was praised as an accomplishment, despite it vast number of problems from a Christian moral standpoint.
According to Church doctrine, the provisions of "Obamacare" that appear to provide for the funding of abortions, require death counseling, provides for care to illegal aliens and other government mandates are contrary to the notion of individual liberty and freedom of conscience, as well as right to life, and therefore contrary to Christian morality. And then there is the potential for massive and excessive taxation to fund the program, the details of which are still not even clear.
"That leaders of "mainline" denominations would travel to Washignton D.C. and meet with Obama in person to praise his actions of inflicting this travesty on us is extremely disturbing to me. I think it says a lot about their character. It also is very telling who did not attend this meeting. I don't think any Anglo-Catholic or Roman Catholic leaders went, and I certainly can't see them praising him on these issues," Father X, an Anglo-Catholic priest said, speaking anonymously.
The delegation included Bishop Johncy Itty of Church World Service, Bishop Mark Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Bishop John R. Bryant of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Rev. Sharon Watkins of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Stanley J. Noffsinger of the Church of the Brethren, Archbishop Khajag S. Barsamian of the Armenian Church of America, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of The Episcopal Church, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, Rev. Gradye Parsons of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller of the Moravian Church, Thomas Swain of the Religious Society of Friends, Rev. Wesley S. Granberg-Michaelson of the Reformed Church in America, Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader of the United Methodist Church, Metropolitan Jonah of the Orthodox Church in America, Rev. Geoffrey Black of the United Church of Christ, and Dr. Walter L. Parrish III of the Progressive National Baptist Convention.
Deborah Gyapong, Canadian journalist for religious newspapers, spoke at the International Pro-Life Movement this past weekend as part of the media panel. Her presentation centered on how to get good coverage for the pro-life movement and get away from some of the negative stereotypes currently being experienced. Read the complete story at the link below.
