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Dear Apostle for Life,

There is just so much I want to share I have trouble keeping the News to 3 double-sided A4 sheets. I don’t want to give you print-fatigue, and Nadir tells me I try to say too much. I’d like to get some feedback on that one. How many read the News front to back? Is the information useful? What would you like to see in the News? Do you share with family and friends? I’d love to hear from you. Maybe you can contribute an article, a letter, or a suggestion.

This issue we give you

• Some background on Courage, and a report on the visit of Father Harvey. We have not dealt with the subject of homosexuality in any detail, but it is surely a most urgent pro-life issue with many lives and souls at risk. Please keep this intention in your prayers.

• News from around the Diocese, and around the World,

• Immunisation as a Pro-Life Issue.

It is just amazing how, in a short time, we have been able to make contacts around the Diocese. Please consider how you can further the cause of Life in YOUR Parish. Start in a small way and keep praying. Any further information you may need on any pro-life issues, just ask. If we don’t know, we’ll do our best the find out. And keep your ear to the ground about a pro-life retreat in the second half of the year.

Don’t forget the DAY OF THE UNBORN CHILD on 25th March. We would love to hear of any special action you have taken, regardless of how small it might seem. Hopefully we will be able to build on this and develop the celebration as a TRADITION.

We are now in LENT, and teetering on the edge of war. Let’s pray, fast and work hard to overcome the war that is already raging in our land, against LIFE, the FAMILY, our FAITH, and the CHURCH. If we won’t fight for victory in that war, we can never expect to have peace in our land and in the world. We are already in a full-blown spiritual battle, which can only be won using spiritual weapons: Holy Mass, the Rosary, the Sacraments, and all the great traditions Holy Mother Church offers us.

Every good wish as we prepare for the great feast of Easter,

Angela Martello

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The Courage Apostolate

Persons with homosexual desires have always been with us; however, up to recent times, there has been little, if any, outreach from the Church in the way of support groups or information. Most were left to work out their path on their own. As a result, they found themselves listening to, and accepting, the secular society's perspective and opting to act on their same-sex desires.

Cardinal Cooke of New York was aware of, and troubled by this situation. He knew that the individual dealing with same-sex attractions truly needed to experience the freedom of living chastely and in that freedom find the desire and growth steps necessary to live fully Christian lives in communion with God and others. He was concerned that many would not find this path and would be constantly trying to get their needs met in ways that ultimately do not satisfy the desires of the heart.

Knowing of Fr. John Harvey's extensive ministry in this field, he invited him to form a spiritual support system that would assist men and women with same-sex attractions in living chaste lives in fellowship, truth and love.

With Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Fr. Harvey began the Courage Apostolate in September 1980. Courage, now has the endorsement of the Holy See, more than 95 Chapters world wide, and hundreds of persons daily receiving assistance from the office and website. <couragerc.org> It has become a mainstream Catholic Apostolate helping thousands of men and women find peace through fellowship, prayer and the Sacraments.

In helping individuals gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the Church's teachings, Courage extends the Church's invitation to experience the freedom of chaste living. In chaste living, one finds greater freedom, peace and grace to grow in Christian maturity.

Later on there was found to be a need for support groups the families of persons dealing with same sex attraction and EnCourage came to be. EnCourage is a ministry within Courage dedicated to the spiritual needs of parents, siblings, children, and other relatives and friends of persons who have same-sex attractions. Standing by the true teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, EnCourage members support one another and their loved ones through discussion, prayer and fellowship.

Father John Harvey comes to Lismore

On 10 -11 February Apostles for Life was privileged to have two meetings with Father John Harvey, the Founder of Courage, at which 18 people attended over 2 days – five of those attending on both days, some coming from as far away as Grafton and Armidale.

Father Harvey addressed us on the scriptural basis for the nuptial meaning of sexuality, and the sinful nature of homosexual acts, consistent throughout the Holy Bible from Genesis, and through to the Gospels and Letters. He emphasized the importance of being able to reason from the point of view of a non-believer ie from the natural order. He explained the difference between the condition, which, though not in itself sinful, is an objective disorder, which predisposes a person to sin, and the practice, which is always sinful.

Father explained the distinction between “gay” and homosexual. The former - part of a political agenda - refers to someone who is either actively homosexual or intends to be, whereas many persons with unwelcome homosexual attractions desire to be free from them and struggle to live chaste lives. He emphasised the importance of not identifying with labels, as there is always much more to a person than one's sexual attractions. Our identification, whatever our sexuality, is as one made in the image of God and for His Glory.

At that meeting back in September 1980, the first Courage group - five men – worked together to formulate the Five Goals of Courage which remain the same to this day:

1.To live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church's teaching on homosexuality.

2. To dedicate my life to Christ through service to others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass, and the frequent reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.

3. To foster a spirit of fellowship in which all may share thoughts and experiences, and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone.

4. To be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships are not only possible but necessary in a chaste Christian life and in doing so provide encouragement to one another in forming and sustaining them.

5. To live lives that may serve as good examples to other homosexual persons.

As much as the desire is morally good, Father makes the point that to bring people out of the condition of homosexuality is not a goal of Courage. For this he recommends professional help, though great care must be taken that the therapist understands and adheres to Catholic Teaching in his practice. It has been found however that, by following the program recommended by Courage – which is based on the 12 steps of AA – some persons have found that their homosexual desires have slowly diminished and heterosexual attractions begin to develop. Courage is often reported as being an “ex-gay” ministry. It is not. According to Father, it would be a great injustice to promise the possibility of heterosexuality. The emphasis is on living chastely, and a change in orientation may just not be possible for every person with SSA.

Father dealt with question of personal responsibility, saying that in his over 40 years experience he had never met a person who chose homosexuality, that no evidence exists for any genetic basis for the homosexual condition, and he believes that the main factors in the development of homosexuality are environmental. Although those who experience same sex attraction often have greater difficulty in remaining chaste, most have sufficient freedom to be responsible for homo-genital acts. The Church teaches that chastity is possible by God’s Grace, and that there is always sufficient Grace to preserve chastity. (Trent Session VI)

At Question time Father attempted to answer a wide variety of concerns, and many preconceptions and misunderstandings were clarified. On both days a variety of books, videos, audiotapes, brochures and articles, were available.

Questions and discussion continued on Tuesday, particularly with emphasis on

• what is possible for the spread of the work of Courage in Lismore Diocese,

• the immediate needs of parents of SSA adult-children,

• the availability of a priest to take on the work,

• the possibility of further informative meetings for those who have been unable to hear Father Harvey’s message of hope, possibly inviting members of Courage to address us.

Apostles for Life will continue to inform wherever possible about the work of Courage, the Teachings of the Catholic Church and Her message of hope for all who suffer through SSA, and we hope that we might be instrumental in the formation of an EnCourage group in Lismore. If you know anyone who might benefit, please ask him or her to contact Angela on 662 12348, or Scott on 66 217347.

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News from around the Diocese…………

Kingscliffe Recently I asked if there is a group of young people, who would be prepared to lead the way with a True Love Waits program. Irene Williams, mother of a large family of teenagers, who knew several other families who were also interested called me. The date was set, invitations sent out, and arrangements were made. About 15 minutes before it was to start, one of the young men, part of a group traveling with 8 others, was violently attacked on the way to the Williams’ home, necessitating police action. Another family with five young people, coming directly off a plane, had car problems at the airport and was unable to make it, and so the day was cancelled. What do you make of that? Since then the video, “What’s a Teenager to Do?” has been doing the rounds of several families and classes in Catholic High Schools. So all is not lost!

Cathedral     In Christmas 2001 News, prayers were asked for Laura Boomsma - daughter of Aaron and Deborah - who was undergoing chemotherapy, and waiting to have a kidney removed. Laura and her parents are keen pro-lifers and her granma is one of our original Apostles for Life, Anne McKendry. Today a most beautiful framed image of the Merciful Heart of Jesus graces our Cathedral, placed there in thanksgiving for the healing of Laura. Thanks be to God – our prayers for Laura were answered. Thank you all for your prayers.

Lismore/Kingscliff Michelle Marychurch and Aimee & Josiah Clift recently attended the first of four sessions for teachers of Natural Family Planning in Sydney. More on this subject next issue…………

Tweed Heads At 145 Wharf Street, where babies are regularly killed at a parent’s request, the staff are becoming more intimidating. At the February vigil a member of staff came out and demanded that the displayed foetal models be removed, threatening to call the police if they weren’t. (The police are always called!) She then proceeded to take photographs of the pray-ers! It would seem that the Helpers are having an effect, no doubt helped by the novena to Blessed Mary McKillop for the conversion of “Dr.” Peter Guy. On the same day there was at least one turn-around. Please pray for the couple and their little baby. Vigil days: Each 2nd Friday - March 14, April 11. Can you be there?

Murwillumbah Members of the Murwillumbah Parish regularly travel to Tweed to pray that mothers will turn back from abortion, and to offer them whatever help they may need.

Macksville-Coffs Harbour-Wauchope The ladies at the Pregnancy Support Services in these towns offer help to women who are pregnant and in difficulty. Like Mary did for Elizabeth, they are there, ready to help with whatever needs a mother might have, working quietly and unobtrusively. For those who do not have easy access to the centres, there is a phone service which operates all over Australia for the cost of a local call: 1300 13 93 13. Cards to leave with your local doctors, pharmacists or noticeboards, will be sent to you on request.

Kempsey. Please continue to keep the Moore Family in your prayers. Here is an edited e-mail message from Jeff: Back in November, Nic and I learned via routine ultrasound that our unborn child had a blockage at the end of the duodenum, preventing the stomach emptying into the intestines. This condition occurs often in children with Down's syndrome, and we were given a 50% chance that our child would be born with Down’s syndrome, and a near 100% chance of Duodenal Atresia, a condition that would have to be corrected to ensure the child's survival. We joyfully want to share with you the details of our child and thank you for your prayers. On 22 January 2003, Gianni Louise was born. She weighed in at 3.28kg and is a redhead with blue eyes. X-rays after the birth confirmed the deformity in her duodenum but apart from this Gianni had a perfect bill of health. Surgeons operated on her duodenum just after she turned one day old, a stressful time for us both, but our darling girl came through the operation with flying colours and is well on the way to recovery. Everyone who has seen Gianni has just fallen in love with her. She is truly an Angel, and has cast a spell on all the intensive care nurses who are caring for her. Gianni was named after Gianna Beretta Molla, a women made blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1996. On hearing this name, and the life story behind the name, Nic and I fell in love with it and felt that our child was to be named after this wonderful woman. Lotsa love from the Moore's P.S. Oh yes, I nearly forgot to mention...Gianni does have Down’s Syndrome.

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And around the world……….

New Uses Found For Unwanted Contraceptives in Philippines Pacific Rim Bureau (CNSNews.com) - Rural health care workers in the Philippines reportedly are using contraceptives in ways never anticipated by donor agencies. The country's health secretary, Manuel Dayrit, was quoted this week as saying that contraceptive pills are being used to fertilize plantations of orchids, while condoms have found a new role as party balloons.

Dayrit attributed the novel uses for the items to the fact that the supply is so abundant, and the pills and condoms aren't needed. But in the mostly Roman Catholic Philippines, birth control acceptance levels are also relatively low. The church opposes artificial birth control methods. According to official figures cited late last year, only 3.7 million Filipinos - or about 1/10 of the sexually-active population - use contraceptives, of which 43% use the pill and under 10% use condoms.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced last October that within 2 years it would end its supply of free contraceptives to the Philippines, having donated some $40 million worth - mostly the pill and condoms - over the past 11 years. (Imagine what real-health uses could be made of $40 Million…ed.)

Last April, an American abortion rights group calling itself Catholics (sic) for a Free Choice ran ads in Filipino newspapers berating the Vatican for its opposition to artificial birth control methods. They accused Catholic bishops of contributing to the deaths of millions of AIDS victims around the world because of the church's anti-contraceptive teaching. Catholic and pro-life groups in the country complained to an ad - standards watchdog, saying the ads broke a code of ethics on a number of counts. They challenged the claim that condoms protect against the spread of AIDS, saying there was evidence disputing this.

Immunisation as a Pro-Life Issue

Recently in a chance conversation I was reminded of something I had learned but put aside to be dealt with later…well that later is NOW!

Prepare to be shocked! Did you know that Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccines scheduled by the Health Dept. have been produced using the cell line RA 27/3? Sounds innocuous enough! Maybe, if you are not informed of how RA 27/3 came to be. Here’s the story:

During the 1964 Rubella epidemic, a 25-year-old mother, exposed to rubella 8 days after her last period, developed rubella16 days later. The little boy was surgically aborted 17 days after her illness, and dissected immediately. Explant cultures were made of his dissected organs. This little boy was no. 27 in a series of babies, aborted for the purpose and suspected of carrying the rubella antibodies. (All the other 26, though suspected, were clear, but alas dead.) Explants from several of his organs were cultured and successful cell growth was achieved from lung, skin, and kidney. No.3, the one from his kidney, was used. It was then grown in human diploid cell (WI-38) culture – named for the Wistar Institute. (In simple layman’s terms one of God’s precious little ones.) This foetus - a little girl - was chosen specifically for this purpose. Both parents are known, were married to each other, and living in Stockholm. The abortion was done because they felt they had too many children.

This new vaccine was tested on orphans in Philadelphia, so there were no living parents to object to the testing and raise concern over children being used as test subjects. This is one of many times in medical history when those who had no voice, or who were not given the right to refuse, were used to further the gains of the drug companies. The Rubella Vaccine was the first vaccine to use aborted babies as a part of the process. Today this strain of Rubella Vaccine is present in shots scheduled by our Commonwealth Department of Health for children at 12 months and again at 4 years. Vaccines for Hepatitis A and chickenpox also are “tainted” by the use of aborted babies.

Source: Children of God for Life http://www.cogforlife.org