Weekly News (Fourth Week of May 2012)

1. Pope: Growing Up Without a Dad Affects Concept of God

Says Christ Shows Us Who a Father Is and What a True Father Is Like

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that people today might have difficulty understanding the fatherhood of God, due to the prevalent problem in our culture of a lack of fathers in children's lives. [Read More]

2. ‘Sex Issues’ Top Youth Problem — Survey

MANILA, May 26, 2012―The most urgent concern of young people today are sex-related issues like pre-marital sex and teen pregnancies, according to a recent survey among Catholic youth ministers in the country. [Read More]

3. What Gets The Vote Is What Lawmakers Will Push – Bishop Cruz

MANILA, May 16, 2012–Retired Archbishop Emeritus Oscar V. Cruz, Judicial Vicar of the National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal (NAMT), yesterday warned that advocates of same-sex unions will not get the support from Filipino voters in the coming elections. [Read More]

4. Why Gay Is Not the New Black

You can't compare skin color and behavior -- and skin color is innate and immutable; sexual orientation is not. And those are just two reasons. [Read More]

5. Hey Pro-Lifers: Six Things NOT to Do To End Abortion

For nearly forty years, pro-lifers have fought the infamous legality of abortion in our nation. We have seen victories and failures, progress and setbacks. We have seen more strides made in this movement in the last two years than we’ve ever seen in the past. [Read More]

6. Cardinal Schonborn: A Faithful Catholic Minority Can Re-Convert Europe

Rome, Italy, May 26, 2012 / 06:03 am (CNA).- Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna believes the small but growing number of faithful Catholic families in Europe can win the continent back to the Christian faith. [Read More]

7. The Strange Diffidence of Pro-Family Leaders on Homosexuality versus Pro-Life Issues

MADRID, Spain–Attending the Sixth World Congress of Families put on by the Howard Center, I am struck once again by the enormous gulf between the international pro-life groups and leaders that have assembled here — with their tremendous progress, momentum and cultural influence — and the diffident, ambiguous and defensive posture of pro-family groups and leaders opposing organized homosexuality. [Read More]

8. Parents Are Happier Than Non-Parents: Study

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 25, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Researchers at three North American universities have found that people who have children “report relatively higher levels of happiness, positive emotion, and meaning in life” than people who do not. [Read More]

9. No Evidence That Anti-Bullying Legislation Works: New Report

OTTAWA, May 24, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - With legislation to combat bullying in schools currently being hotly debated in Ontario, and with many other provinces promising to consider such legislation, an investigation into anti-bullying policies and legislation across North America by the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (IMFC) has found that the effectiveness of these policies remains unproven. [Read More]

10. My Catholic Kid is Gay! Now What??

In a previous article, I detailed my ongoing struggle with same-sex attraction (SSA) as I live out my vocation as a Catholic wife and mother. From that perspective, I’d like to share what I think is an authentically loving response to what strikes fear into the hearts of most faithful Catholic parents: your son or daughter coming out as a gay man or lesbian. [Read More]

11. Who Is The Holy Spirit?

Happy Pentecost Sunday!

Lady Gaga Exposes the Philippines

What can we learn about the moral state of our nation from the recent Lady Gaga concert? Anthony Perez of Pro-Life Philippines exposes the elephant in the room that is slowly eroding the moral fabric of our society.

We have spent the past few days trying to inform and educate everyone on who Lady Gaga is, what her shows and songs are all about, and why the supposedly sold-out concerts should not push through. In the end, it was Lady Gaga who exposed our nation and gave us a picture of something we knew all along but was just too proud to admit: that we may have the trappings of a largely Christian nation, but deep inside, we are falling apart. Like a majestic Church from the outside, but inside are cracks on the walls and columns.

In the past two articles I have mentioned something about the venom spewed out by church-haters and liberals against us who uphold what is true and just.

Below are but some of the comments which I got from a popular social networking site, on one of the pages that report the news:

Perhaps the most difficult question I had to answer in the midst of this controversy was: What is wrong with Lady Gaga?

What is wrong with Lady Gaga?

For many of us Pro-Lifers, the question is a simple one. It’s so simple and so basic that it’s that hard to explain. It’s like explaining to someone how to breathe.

When society is no longer able to distinguish what is right and wrong, what is true art and what is ugly, then that society has lost its soul.

At the end of the day, long after Gaga has left the country and the issue has died down, we are still faced with a problem that goes beyond Gaga and her supporters: a society that has turned away from God and its inherited values to embrace moral relativism, while the rest who still call themselves devout Catholics and Christians are, for the larger part, are deep in the slumber of indifference.

Why is there a prevalence of indifference and hostility towards religion and the Church, even from within? There could be a lot of reasons, but let me cite one: the failure of parents and our Catholic schools to pass on the faith to our children.

That, and not Lady Gaga, is the real problem we should address from now on. If we are successful in doing so, a thousand Gagas may come to the country and she will be hard-pressed in selling her tickets to a nation that has truly embraced its Christian baptism and identity.

Kudos to the Biblemode protestors, led by Bishop Benny Abante, who braved not only the rain but heavy criticism that was thrown their way at the height of their protests. They understood the issue and exercised their freedom of expression in order to protest someone who makes a mockery of the very same freedom. They understood that religious symbols should be kept sacred, and respected to say the least.

Kudos to all who have, in one way or another, helped us disseminate information and passed around our blogs and articles. This was a fight that we just can’t sit out; in the words of Pro-Life Philippines President Eric Manalang: “It doesn’t matter if it’s one against a thousand. We will fight, and we fight until the end.”

Now the difficult task of re-educating and evangelizing our society has come. Lady Gaga, like every great tragedy that has befallen mankind, is a reminder that we can become better than what we are now. Let’s not forget to share Christ to our families, to our communities; to those who have become lukewarm in their faith, and to those who live in darkness and have turned away from the light.

Weekly News (Third Week of May 2012)

1. Pope Outlines Power of the Holy Spirit In Prayer

Vatican City, May 16, 2012 / 03:58 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI says Christians should avail themselves to the Holy Spirit in prayer – particularly when they cannot find the words or inspiration to pray. [Read More]

2. How the Gay-Marriage Mob Slimed Manny Pacquiao

Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is guilty -- of being true to his Catholic faith. The gay-marriage mob is guilty -- of the very ugly bigotry it claims to abhor. And left-wing media outlets are guilty -- of stoking false narratives that shamelessly demonize religion in the name of compassion. [Read More]

3. Superficial Idea of Beauty May Be Seen in Natural Born Men’s Desire to Be Beauty Titlists

MANILA, May 14, 2012—While same-sex “marriage” supporters in the United States attempt to put homosexual unions and holy matrimony on equal footing, the issue on Philippine shores recently has been the idea of admitting men – albeit physically altered – into beauty pageants for women in the name of equality. The issue, however, may indicate a lack of respect for women and a superficial understanding of beauty. [Read More]

4. Law Professor Says Flawed View of Sex Threatens Religious Freedom

Washington D.C., May 18, 2012 / 04:09 am (CNA).- A law professor at George Mason University believes that current threats to religious freedom are intrinsically connected to the modern understanding that “sexual freedom is about shaping yourself.” [Read More]

5. Study Proves Banning Abortion Doesn’t Hurt Women’s Health

A new study which demonstrates that abortion restrictions in Chile have improved maternal mortality outcomes has received a lot of attention from pro-life blogs and websites. [Read More]

6. Despite Threat of Fine From Eurocrats, Moscow Government Again Prohibits ‘Gay Pride’ Parade

May 18, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Moscow city government has declined to issue a permit for a “gay pride” parade for the seventh year in a row, defying a European Court of Human Rights ruling against the city in 2010 that resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in fines. [Read More]

7. Lady Gaga Warned to Tone Down Philippine Show

MANILA: Lady Gaga was warned Friday to refrain from nudity, lewd conduct and blasphemy when her Asian tour reaches the Philippines next week, after her controversial act was banned by neighboring Indonesia. [Read More]

8. Finding Balance in Personal and Professional Life

Saturday Book Pick: Off Balance: Getting Beyond the Work-Life Balance Myth to Personal and Professional Satisfaction, by Matthew Kelly [Read More]

9. Would Jesus Approve of Same-Sex 'Marriage'?

It was one thing for President Obama to call for the legalization of same-sex marriage. But it was quite another to say that it's Jesus who causes him to embrace this position. [Read More]

10. Contraceptives and the Environment

What the Pill Is Doing to Our Water Supply

When a new synthetic substance is created, or a naturally occurring substance is generated at greatly increased levels, the effects can be far longer-lasting and wider-reaching than its manufacturers predict or intend. [Read More]

The 1st Catholic Social Media Summit

The 1st Catholic Social Media Summit with the theme "Ministering Grace to this Generation" is the perfect venue for Catholic bloggers, religious and lay people who use the social media and internet as an indispensable tool for the new evangelization. This is in response to the call of the Holy Father who encourages everyone to utilize the power of modern communication to proclaim the faith and Gospel message to the whole world.

The event is happening on July 14-15, 2012 at the Renaissance Convention Center, River Banks Center, Marikina City.

Registration Fee: P1,000

For more information, e-mail them at ypopportunities@gmail.com

Contact: 09164831443/09321469436/09228426820

Telefax: (02) 709-6486

Weekly News (Second Week of May 2012)

1. Pope Benedict Speaks About Power of Prayer In His Life

VATICAN, May 9, 2012 (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI says he has been sustained during his seven years as pontiff by the prayers of people around the world. [Read More]

2. RH Bill Not a Priority For Legislators This Year, Says Lawyer

MANILA, May 10, 2012—The Reproductive health bill is no longer the priority issue for lawmakers this year, but the upcoming election is, according to an election lawyer. [Read More]

3. An Open Letter To The Catholics of The Philippines On The Concert of Lady Gaga

A few days from now, pop star Lady Gaga will be coming over for a concert. She is an artist that needs no introduction; but for those who are not aware, she is famous for her catchy tunes and has risen to fame for her even catchier persona, bordering on the scandalous and unconventional, to say the least. [Read More]

4. Cardinal Dolan: Obama's 'Gay Marriage' Support Undermines Society

Washington D.C., May 10, 2012 / 02:06 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan is charging President Barack Obama with undermining the “very cornerstone of society” by supporting “gay marriage.” [Read More]

5. Obama's 'Religious Left' Folly: Using the Bible to Justify Homosexual 'Marriage' [Read More]

6. Video of Mom Rejecting Abortion of Disabled Baby Thrills Facebook

A video of a mom who shares her account of rejecting suggestions that she have an abortion following the prediction from doctors that he unborn child would be born with disabilities is thrilling Facebook. [Read More]

7. Fill Out a Form And Change Your Gender: New Law Passed by Argentinean Congress

May 11, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A bill has been approved by the Argentinean National Congress permitting individuals to change their “gender identity” at will, defining themselves as male or female at their own discretion, regardless of their physiological sex, without the necessity of “sex-reassignment” surgery or hormonal treatment, and without the approval of a judge. [Read More]

8. The Asian Tiger, Japan, Is In Danger of Extinction

May 7, 2012 (HLIWorldWatch.org) - Do you know any Japanese people? If you do, you had better look fast, because they’re an endangered species. [Read More]

9. Put The Mother in Motherhood

“Would Mother Mary put Jesus in day care?” This is the sobering question Dorothy Pilarski, Catholic mother, writer, television personality and speaker, has contemplated in her search for meaning and purpose in the vocation of motherhood in the modern world. [Read More]

10. Seeking The Kingdom

ROME, MAY 11, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Every time we pray the Our Father we say “Thy Kingdom Come,” but how many really understand correctly what this kingdom is, asks Cardinal Donald Wuerl in a recently published book. [Read More]

On Christian Meditation

Thanks to Sis JM who delivered an introductory talk last Sunday on Christian meditation and its importance to our day-to-day living.


Words of wisdom from Fr. John Main, OSB, a proponent of Christian meditation:


“This meditation, this pursuit of wisdom and love, must take place in an entirely ordinary, natural way. Meditation must be built into the ordinary fabric of everyday life. It is by being still, in a very simple child-like way, by paying attention.”

-oOo-

“To be fit for the great task of life, we must learn to be faithful in humble tasks.” Then he went on to speak about the humble task of saying our word, our mantra."

-oOo-

“It’s as though we were rushing through our lives, and in our hearts there is the flame of a candle. Because we are moving at such high speed, this essential interior flame is always on the point of going out. But when we sit down to meditate, when we become still, when we are not thinking in terms of our success or self-importance, of our own will, when we are just in the presence of the One who is, then the flame begins to burn brightly. We begin to understand ourselves and others in terms of light, warmth and love.”

-oOo-

“None of us”, he says, “would meditate unless it had occurred to us that there is more to life than just being producers or consumers. All of us know that we can’t find any enduring or ultimate meaning in just producing or consuming. So we seek ultimate meaning. And we come to meditation because an unerring instinct tells us that, just as we can’t find any ultimate satisfaction in consuming or producing, so we cannot find ultimate meaning outside of ourselves. We have to begin with ourselves”.

-oOo-

“It is so easy for us to become dehumanised, to become just consumers in a materialistic, commercial society. It is so easy to live our lives in some sort of mechanical way, going through routines each day, but losing the sense of freshness, of creativity, of freedom. As a result, we live our lives in a sort of rush, one routine following the next, distracted perhaps for a bit by entertainment, by pleasure, or deadened by the pressure of work or play. To break out of this cycle, each one of us must learn to stop the rush of activity. We must learn the priority of being. We must learn to be still. That’s what our regular times of meditation are about.”

-oOo-

“It is learning to stand back and to allow God to come into the forefront of your life. So often in our experience, we find that we are the centre of the world. So many of us see reality revolving around us. We think quite naturally of situations and of people primarily in terms of ‘how is this going to affect me?’ Now that’s all right as far as it goes. But if we really imagine that we are at the centre of the world, then we are never going to see any situation, or any person, or ourselves, as we really are. Because of course, we are not at the centre of the world. God is at the centre. Now meditation is trying to take that step away from self-centredness to God-centredness. And the result is that we find our own place in the world. We find where we should be. We find our relationships in the right order – our relationships with one another, our relationship with creation, and our relationship with God. What we discover, and what is very important for each of us to discover, is that we do have an essential place in God’s plan, each of us responding to the unique gift of our own creation.”

-oOo-

The mantra is like the needle of a compass. It heads you always in the true direction you must follow, away from self into God. And whichever way your ego may lead you, the compass is always faithful in the direction it points you. The mantra, if you say it with generosity, with faithfulness and with love, will always point you in the direction of God, and it is only in God that our true destiny can be revealed. In saying our mantra, in the daily return to the discipline, we gradually learn to look beyond ourselves. We learn to see with a vision that focuses itself ahead of us, in God. In that focusing of everything on God, everything in our life becomes aligned on God, and everything falls into its proper place. Our order of values is gradually changed. Instead of the value system being based on the ego, on personal success or self-promotion, self-preservation or similar limiting factors, our values system becomes aligned on God.”

-oOo-

“We cannot vanquish the ego by force. That would itself be egotistical. We cannot use force because force would be a self-directed exercise of the will. The principle to bear in mind is this – we cannot possess ourselves but we can be ourselves. The ego is self-consciousness. To change this introverted image of self, to escape from self-obsession, we have to change the direction of our attention, of our consciousness. In other words, the only way to transcend the ego is to ignore it. No amount of self-analysis, self-pity or self-distraction, will overcome the ego. All of these would be much more likely to compound the egotistical state. Meditation, the recitation of the mantra, is the way of egolessness. It is the path to selfless attention.”

-oOo-

“We must first learn to be, and then we will know what to do. The power to do good, it is said, comes from being good. What we do is only changed deeply and permanently by what we are. This is a way of saying that Christ is simultaneously present in our hearts, in our worship, and in our world.”

-oOo-

“Each of us must understand the power source that is available to us by being in the presence of Jesus. All of us are sinners. All of us are capable of sin and of the desire for sin. All of us have sinned and do sin. But what is of supreme importance for every one of us is that we come into the presence of Jesus, we are strengthened by him, and our egoism is deflated by the sheer beauty of his being. The journey is a journey away from self, away from egoism, away from selfishness, away from isolation. It is a journey into the infinite love of God. With some of us, the end of egoism requires a big struggle. Sometimes, we are carried more or less kicking and screaming into
the kingdom of Heaven”.

"Be still, and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10

Weekly News (First Week of May 2012)

1. Pope Warns Doctors of Relativism Impacting Medicine

Rome, Italy, May 3, 2012 / 12:38 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI used a May 3 address to doctors and medical students to warn that the spread of relativism is resulting in scientific advances having “unpredictable consequences.” [Read More]
 

2. HLI Documentary on PH Makes It to Int'l Pro-Life Film Fest

MANILA, April 29, 2012–A documentary produced by Human Life International (HLI) on the Philippines’ struggle for the preservation of the value of life and the family was selected as part of the roster of films that will be showcased in the second annual Life Fest Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, from May 4 to 6. [Read More]

3. Youth Continue to Debunk Claims of Being Pro RH Bill

MANILA, May 1, 2012—Another member of the youth sector has brushed off the claims of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) that the youth will fiercely campaign against lawmakers who oppose the reproductive health bill currently pending in Congress. [Read More] 

 4. Groupon Now for Playboy?

An anti-pornography organization that has been leading a national boycott of Groupon says it appears the online deals company has doubled down on its support of porn. [Read More]

5. Japan Underpopulation So Bad Families Resort to "Rental Relatives"

Tokyo, Japan (CFAM/LifeNews) — Is family breakdown the cause or the cure for the global crisis of population decline? Two new articles in top foreign policy journals raise the question. [Read More]

6. Pro-Abortion and Pro-Homosexual Youth Lobby at UN Sent Home Empty Handed

 NEW YORK, May 4, 2012 (C-FAM.org) - Youth activists arrived at the UN in droves last week in an attempt to hijack the 45th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) by promoting homosexual rights and abortion. However, countries rejected their demands and produced a fairly balanced outcome document that focuses on more pressing youth concerns like education, employment, health and development. [Read More]

7.  God Is The Bigger Elvis

Mother Dolores Hart made headlines in February when a documentary about her life and vocation was nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary short subject. [Read More]

8. Movie Review:  Marvel's The Avengers

Seemingly destined to haul in wads of cash at the box office, the ensemble adventure "Marvel's The Avengers" (Disney) will not disappoint fans of the comic books on which it's based. But it may prove problematic for the parents of some excited youngsters anxious to ride the juggernaut.  [Read More]

9.  Is It Really Okay To Laugh About Sex? [Read More]

10. Dealing with Death

Australian Bioethicist Reflects on Issues Involved

ROME, MAY 4, 2012 (Zenit.org).- We will all die, and how we respond to illness and suffering says much about who we are, reflects Nicholas Tonti-Filippini in his recent book, “Caring for People Who are Sick or Dying,” (Connor Court Publishing). [Read More]

Miriam Quiambao Stands Up Against the LGBT Community

Well, I applaud Ms. Quiambao's courage to stand up for the truth. I support her conviction on the issue of not allowing transgenders to join a pageant that is meant for "real women". Miriam has nothing to apologize for what she said. The LGBT's reaction to her statement clearly shows who's got a problem.


c/o Anthony Perez, Prolife Philippines


Former Miss Universe runner-up and beauty queen Miriam Quiambao just did the unthinkable by making herself an enemy of the LGBT community.

She has caught the ire of the LGBT sector when she tweeted last  Sunday: “Homosexuality is not a sin but it is a lie from the devil. Do not be deceived. God loves gays and wants them to know the truth.”

This all started when she publicly disagreed with the Miss Universe Organization’s policy of accepting transgenders in the pageant. She fanned the flames further after a guest appearance on Boy Abunda’s talk show “The Bottomline” Saturday night on ABS-CBN in which she was quoted as saying, “Homosexuality is not the one that makes you a sinner. Actually, sexual immorality is what makes you a sinner.”

The backlash against Quiambao has been severe but not altogether surprising. Later that same day, Miriam also initially issued a qualified apology with the tweet, “I’m sorry if the truth offends some people…” before tweeting the more categorical, “I’m sorry LGBT. Perhaps I was too harsh with the words I used. Will do my best to be more sensitive.”

Quiambao is a born-again Christian who constantly uses Twitter in order to spread her faith.

No Apologies Necessary

It seems that some people have become so distorted in their view of the truth. Right has become wrong and wrong has become right. We are living in an upside-down world.

Miriam Quiambao has spoken the truth about homosexuality and that truth has hurt a lot of people. But in order to avoid the truth altogether, they take it on the messenger. There is nothing categorically wrong with what Ms. Quiambao said and therefore no apologies were needed, in my opinion. At the very least, all she did was to voice out what she thought of the homosexual lifestyle. In fact, she hit the nail right on its head as her Tweet contained the “love the sinner, hate the sin” message.

We need to rally behind Ms. Quiambao in order to tell her that she is not alone in her belief. To be truly pro-life we need to “put to rout all that is not life”, as Thoreau puts it. The homosexual lifestyle is a direct manifestation of the culture of death and is in direct conflict with God’s plan for humanity.

Double Standard

RH Activist Carlos Celdran has some of the most scathing tweets for Quiambao:  “When did you become a freakshow? Dahell? Didn’t see this one coming. Wow. You need help, woman.”

Celdran and the LGBT community are quick to cry ‘foul’ when it comes to ‘discrimination’ against homosexuals. Almost automatically, they unleash their verbal counter-attack, calling anyone who goes against their lifestyle ‘homophobic’ or ‘bigot’ or ‘hater’.

Herein lies the double standard.

They cry for equality and freedom of speech and expression when they go about their homosexual activities, but when it is our turn to express our disagreement over their lifestyle, we are then called bigots and haters. What they are saying is that we have to tolerate them and the homosexual culture that has already crept its way into the media and entertainment industry, but they cannot tolerate us when we disapprove of their actions.

The LGBT were free to express themselves. But Miriam cannot. Such is the double standard these LGBT communities shove down our throats.

Weren’t Celdran et al the same guys who cried “freedom of expression” at the Kulo exhibit at the CCP?

Weekly News (Fourth Week of April 2012)

1. Christians Must Harmonize Work and Prayer, Pope Teaches

Vatican City, Apr 25, 2012 / 10:52 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On April 25, Pope Benedict XVI told over 20,000 pilgrims that they must commit themselves to works of charity, without neglecting prayer as a source of spiritual life. [Read More]

2. Retired Bishop Tags RH Bill as Foreign Intervention

MANILA, April 26, 2012–Retired Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz tagged the Reproductive Health (RH) bill as a form of foreign intervention in reaction to reports of foreign agencies’ push for the proposed legislative measure. [Read More]

3. HLI Documentary on PH Makes It to Int’l Pro-Life Film Fest

MANILA, April 27, 2012–A documentary produced by Human Life International (HLI) on the Philippines’ struggle for the preservation of the value of life and the familywas selected as part of the roster of films thatwill be showcased in the second annual Life Fest Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, from May 4 to 6. [Read More]

4. Spanish Bishop Publishes Ex-Gay Testimonies on Diocesan After Attacks from Homosexual Groups

April 25, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Juan Antonio Reig Plà, the Catholic bishop of the Spanish diocese of Alcalá De Henares, has responded to recent attacks by homosexual groups by posting testimonies on his website of individuals who rejoice in their abandonment of the homosexual lifestyle. [Read More]

5. Teen Born With No Arms, Legs Addresses UN on Disabilities

A teenager from Ireland is one of several people with the rare medical condition known as Total Amelia syndrome, which caused her to be born without arms and legs. That hasn’t stopped 16-year-old Joanne O’Riordan from making the most out of life. [Read More]

6. When You Want to Be Celibate, But Can't [Read More]

7. Two Manly Men – Mike Heath and Paul Madore – Battle ‘Sodomy-Based Marriage’ in Maine

Folks, how did we get to the point in our society where opposition to homosexuality became more “controversial” than homosexuality itself? [Read More]

8. Glee Celebrates Gender Rejection [Read More]

9. Gambian President: We Would ‘Rather Eat Grass’ Than Accept Homosexual Behavior

“If you want us to be ungodly for you to give us aid, take your aid away, we will survive,” said Jammeh, in comments that were reported by the Daily Observer. “We will rather eat grass than accept this ungodly evil attitude that is anti-God, anti-human and anti-creation.” [Read More]

10. The New Pangenderism:

Transgenders, Polysexuals and Sex Reassignment Surgery

WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 25, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a response to questions on bioethics regarding issues related to sex and gender, answered by the fellows of the Culture of Life Foundation. [Read More]

Isang Taon ng Eukaristiya, Isang Taon ng Tagumpay

Bro. RM's testimony for 2011

Masasabi ko ako ay tunay na pinagpala sa kadahilanang ako ay laging inaanyayahan ng ating Panginoong Hesus sa kanyang Banal na Misa.  Despite my sinfulness, unworthiness, imperfections and weaknesses, God continuously invites me everyday to receive Him through the Sacrament of Holy Communion.  Jesus has already arranged for victory, and it might be just around the corner.  To give us confidence, He reveals Himself at every Mass when the bread and wine become literally his Body and Blood.  Since he can do that, he can surely transform my tragedies into triumphs.  The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist serves as my strength, a source of inspiration and a place of healing for all my spiritual wounds.  Hindi ko kaya at hindi makukumpleto ang aking buong araw na hindi nasisilayan at higit sa lahat di natatanggap si Hesus.  Subalit hindi naging madali ang pagsunod sa kanya sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Misa.  Nasubok ang aking pananampalataya dahil naramdaman ko na hindi ako karapat-dapat tanggapin Siya, pero bigla kong naisip ang isang verse sa Bible na “You don’t choose me, it is I who chose you.”  Muli nabuhay ang aking desire para sundan si Hesus.  Nagging kaagapay ko rin ang Banal na Kumpisal.  Ito ang nagturo sa akin na magpakababa at humingi ng tawad sa ating Panginoon para sa lahat ng aking kasalanan.  As the Proverbs 24:16 says for a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.  The occasional disappointments and failures of life are inevitable.  When we encounter the inevitable difficulties and stress of life here on earth, God stands ready to protect us.  Our responsibility of course is to ask him for protection.  When we call upon Him in heartfelt prayer, He will answer – in His own time and according to His own plan – and He will heal us.  What is required on this battle and journey is perseverance and not perfection.

Aaminin ko napapagod na ako at nagsasawa sa laban na ito.  Minsan may mga araw na gusto ko na sumuko pero sa bawat pagkakataon nararanasan ko ito mas lalo ako pinatatatag ni Hesus na muling bumangon at lumaban.  Aaminin ko rin sa digmaan na ito, ay nasusugatan ako ng kalooban at nadadapa pero sa bawat sugat at pagod na aking nararamdaman ay mas lalo ako pinatatapang na muling lumaban at tumayong matatag upang tapusin ang laban.  Just like in the scene of Kung Fu Panda movie it says “We should have inner peace, to heal our wounds and even our scars.  You got to let go of that stuff from the past because it just doesn’t matter.  The only thing that matters is what you choose to be now”.  I can also relate to this line in the movie of the life of St. Francis and St. Claire, it says “Don’t look back Francis, and move”.  These movie lines, inspire me and accept the fact that I will never be perfect if there is no grace from God.  Learn from your fall and start moving forward.  I believe these are the secrets of becoming a saint.  While in the midst of trials, it’s difficult to feel the closeness of God and see his plan of action and understand why He is allowing us to suffer.  We miss seeing the truth because we’re focused on who is causing the problem and what is happening in this visible world.  We need to put our focus back on Jesus.  Since he loved us so much that He sacrificed his life for us.  We have proof that his love is strong it will always embrace us.  Jesus will always take good care of us, doing what is best for us, as well as for all those who are involved in the same situation.  I believe that Christ’s perfect love for me is the reason why I am always staying on His side.  Whatever is causing us to feel anguish or distress, whatever we’re worried about, thanks to our relationship with God, it’s really never bad as it seems.  Evil can never succeed.

No troubles can come between us and our Lord.  God’s love won’t fail to intervene and protect us and guide us to best solutions.  Even while it seems to take too long he is helping us.  Saint Paul assures us that in reality, it’s not the problems that are overwhelming. It’s our victory over the problems.  We conquer overwhelmingly through Jesus who loved us.  Hindi ko masasabing tagumpay at nagsilbing lakas at inspirasyon.  Mga taong nagdasal at hindi ako kailanman iniwan at isinuko.  Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos dahil ibinigay nya sa akin ang mga taong naging instrumento: ang Regina Coeli Healing Community, Pink Sisters, Lectors’ Guild, Charismatic group, Courage family at higit sa lahat ang pagmamahal at suporta ng aking pamilya.  Nagpapasalamat ako sa ating Mahal na Inang Birheng Maria na patuloy na nagpapaalala na hindi ako nag-iisa kaya naman bawat taon ako ay inspirado sa kanyang mga salita.  Mahal na Ina, muli ninyo po akong tulutan gamitin ito at bilang pangwakas at kabuuan ng aking paglalakbay sa taon na eto nais ko magsilbing kanta na aking buhay: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior.  For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness, behold from now on will all ages to come call me blessed.  The mighty one has done great things for me and holy is his name.  his mercy is from age to age to those who fear him”.