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The question arises: Where do we go from here? Do we stop at 3.5 million Rosaries or can we aim higher? How many more babies will we have to erect crosses for? Do we all understand the impact one family had on helping change the course of a nation? What if 10 families strove to accomplish a tenth of what was reached? what if 20, what if 30, what if 100, what if 1000? It is possible! But only if we, like the Whittakers, say 'Yes' to God.
In our commentary today, we conclude our exclusive multi-part story on the causes and effects that have begun to turn our nation, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, around and back on the path towards reinvigorating the Culture of Life. It can only be done through prayer, and only through prayer can we move mountains. Some of those mountains are revered ones within Holy Mother Church. They are our bishops who have taken a solidarity in tone in doing all to eradicate the culture of death. But to this point, on the part of many bishops, it has been all talk. Only until they take action and begin backing those words with clout and threaten to excommunicate any Catholic politician who votes or legislates abortion...only then will many Catholics truly realize the severity of the sin of abortion. It's time to get tough; because with God's Mercy also comes His Justice. The bishops have the responsibility to defend the Faith and Life through action, and we, in obedience to Christ and His Holy Church, have the responsibility to urge them on. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the grass-roots campaign begun by the Whittaker family were only the beginning of a tremendous groundswell of prayers and action to restore the Sanctity of Life? For our editorial They have laid the groundwork, now it's time for the groundswell!, see CATHOLIC PewPOINT
Just How Secure Are We?
How many more innocent victims will it take to be sacrificed before we are aware we are destroying our own society?
Today, Dr. Frank Joseph puts a different spin on the low jobless rate. It isn't because our economy is soaring, but rather because there are less and less people to populate positions. He hits at the very reason: Abortion. Yes, abortion has taken away millions from the job market and that has caused a domino effect that shows an increase in crime and a growing debt in our Social Security system that will surely backfire unless we right the wrongs immediately by doing all in our power to eradicate the Holocaust of the Womb in America. For Dr. Frank's column today What will it take? see PRO LIFE PRESCRIPTIONS
  
Red hats to Reign in Rome
Clerics and Faithful flocking to Rome for the beginning today of the Pope's Eighth Consistory
This morning in St. Peter's Square His Holiness Pope John Paul II will open his Eighth Consistory that will conclude tomorrow on the Feast of the Chair of Peter. Today, during the Liturgy of the Word in which each cardinal-designate receives the prestigious scarlett biretta or red hat, 42 will be added to the Sacred Conclave with two revealed who had been in pectore or "close to the heart" and concealed for their own protection, in this case two cardinals who had been in communist countries. Led by Cardinal-designate Re they will pledge their undying loyalty to the Pontiff and the Holy See and later, after Mass, receive relatives and friends in a congratulatory and celebratory tone in various areas within the Vatican with the Pope attending the various events as well. With the addition of 42 more, it will bring the voting College of Cardinals to an all-time high of 135. For more, see News from ROME
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"Hands across the border"
Secretary of Mexican Bishops' Conference expresses great hope in aftermath of Bush-Fox first summit in Mexico
Hopes are high throughout Mexico after Mexico's President Vicente Fox hosted President George W. Bush last week. The General Secretary of the Mexican Bishops' Conference Bishop Abelardo Alvarado Alcantara expressed great hope in a phone interview to CNS. He cited the agreements reached by the two leaders on curbing the drug war and migration as particularly hopeful in the areas of human rights and the dignity of the person. Both presidents jointly agreed in a proclamation that, "migration is a tie that binds us, not divides us." For more, see USA News
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Nigerian Catholic women speak out strongly: "Abortion should not be legalized."
While many think abortion is a major problem only in developed countries, it is widespread including Africa. Because the Nigerian government might try to legalize abortion, many Christian groups are banding together to defend life. In a one page petition they reiterated the importance of upholding rights of the unborn and the 5th Commandment. For more, see Pro Life News
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Don't blame Canada. They're trying to get it right! Bill introduced into Canadian Parliament intended to protect family values and the institution of marriage from eroding values and illicit laws
In an effort to reinstill family values and offset the dangerous runaway locomotive of loco thinking such as the gay initiatives and demands for no accountability for sexual activity or proclivity, a bill has been introduced into the Canadian Parliament that, if passed, will head these aberrations off at the pass and reinstate the family as a sacred institution between a man and a woman only under contract. This Pro-Family bill would also protect the institution if challenged or tampered by the courts. For more, see Universal News
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For more Daily News, we recommend sources we rely on. For these news agencies, see News Sources
Weekday and Feast of Saint Peter Damian
Today is Weekday in Ordinary Time and the Feast of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Peter. For these liturgies, see Daily LITURGY
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Green or White vestments
WEDNESDAY February 21:
Weekday in Ordinary Time and
Feast of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
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First Reading: Sirach 4: 11-19
Psalms: Psalm 119: 165, 168, 171-2, 174-5
Gospel Reading: Mark 9: 38-40
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"For he who is not against you is for you. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you are Christ's, amen, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." Mark 9: 39-40
 
Death of Two Popes 217 years apart
On this date two Sovereign Pontiffs passed on to their Heavenly reward. The first was Pope Julius II 488 years ago in 1513 as the Protestant Reformation was looming. This 216th in the line of Peter is best remembered during his ten year pontificate for completing construction of St. Peter's Basilica and during that time his love-hate relationship with the master painter Michelangelo Buonoratti made famous in the novel, and then the film "Agony and Ecstasy". He also called the 18th Ecumenical Council. The second, 271 years ago in 1730, was Pope Benedict XIII, the 245th successor of Peter whose six year pontificate was highlighted by the 17th Jubilee in 1725. He concentrated mostly on his spiritual mission, strengthening the Church during this time. For other Time Capsule events that happened Today in Church history, see Daily TIME CAPSULES in Church History
We must open the eyes of our soul to see!
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".
"Every scientist is a kind of proofreader. He is not the author of the law he enunciates. Few indeed are the great scientists who ever think so, even by confusing the carbon copy with the original. They know the difference between discovery and invention...But such thoughts are not given to those who do not think, and search for reason. The window lets in the light, but not to the blind."
Monthly Medjugorje Message for January 2001
For Our Lady's January 25th message for 2001 and more on Medjugorje, see MEDJUGORJE AND MORE
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February 21, 2001 volume 12, no. 52
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