The CatholiCity Message

Volume V, Number 19 – October 4, 2001

Dear CatholiCity Citizen,

We've got a lot of important stuff today, but we will try to keep each item short and sweet. Because so many prayer initiatives are involved, today's CatholiCity Message is one to forward to everyone you know. Pay special attention to the quote from the Holy Father below. Let's do it.

1. THE TAXMAN COMETH
Our fourth annual CatholiCity "Tax Drive," a simple yet crucial once-a-year opportunity for you to voluntarily support our website financially, will take place in the third week of October. No "city" can provide essential services without taxpayers, after all. Given the nature of current events, your support will be more critical than ever. This is one "tax" most people don't mind "paying," and in fact, was originally suggested by our Citizens and has saved CatholiCity from going under.

2. SOBER ANALYSIS OF ISLAM
We promised you a cogent perspective on Islam. Paul Johnson, practicing Catholic and eminent historian, does a wonderful job of putting Islam into historical context, and you can read his "The Only Way to Respond" on our Recommended Reading links page here:

(LINK NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

http://www.catholicity.com/news/

3. EVEN MORE PRAYER
For our newer Citizens, you'll be happy to know that we sponsor five powerful 54 Day Rosary Novenas every year. Our favorite happens to start on the last day of the International Week of Prayer and Fasting, October 16th, and ends on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th. Clueless about 54 Day novenas? Go here:

http://www.catholicity.com/support/praywithus.html

3. O CANADA!
For October 8th, on behalf of all our staff here, we extend our warmest Happy Thanksgiving to all our CatholiCity Citizens in Canada.

4. PROLIFE MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR U.S.A.
On September 13th, just two days after the 911 attacks, our Holy Father received newly-installed U.S. Ambassador James Nicholson at the Vatican, and told him this:

"In order to survive and prosper, democracy and its accompanying economic and political structures must be directed by a vision whose core is the God-given dignity and inalienable rights of every human being, from the moment of conception until natural death. When some lives, including those of the unborn, are subjected to the personal choices of others, no other value or right will long be guaranteed..."

5. SUNSHINE CHRISTIANS
Wow. Even given the traditionally gentle nature of diplomatic language, the pope nailed it. We've actually received messages from a few people recently who made the case that legalized abortion and other scourges are a "price we pay for our freedoms." On the contrary, as the Holy Father warns, legalized abortion is a gruesome down payment on the loss of our beloved freedoms–a sure path to losing our liberty. In a time of war, we should all remember that Americans enjoyed freedom before abortion was ever made legal. Did you know that Planned Parenthood offered free abortions in NYC in the days after the attacks as part of the "relief effort"? Now is not the time for sunshine Christians and summertime Prolifers.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"Times of heroism are generally times of terror."
Emerson

"The terrible thing about terrorism is that it ultimately destroys those who practice it."
Terry Waite, terrorist hostage, survivor

"May these United States flourish in pure and undefiled religion, in morality, peace, union, liberty and the enjoyment of their excellent Constitution, as long as respect, honor, and veneration shall gather around the name of Washington."
Archbishop Carroll, Eulogy of George Washington (1799)

"The story of the universe is another Person's, and we are part of the story, its characterization, not its author."
M.C. D'Arcy

"Legalized abortion is a down payment on tyranny."
G.K. MacBrien

6. ALL GENERATIONS SHALL CALL HER BLESSED
Let all 70,000+ of us pray together now, in Catholic solidarity, simply, with one beautiful Hail Mary, for President George W. Bush, that he may receive the grace he needs during this difficult time:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen!"

Thanks for hanging in there with us. We believe in your goodness, and e take great hope in your faith, the fruit of which is love. We remain yours...

With Christ,

Your Friends at CatholiCity