Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Planned Parenthood CEO's False Mammogram Claim Exposed




Contact: Amy Kim, 323.454.3304, media@liveaction.org
 
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 30–A series of new undercover phone calls reveals that contrary to the claims of Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards and other supporters of the nation’s largest abortion chain, the organization does not provide mammograms for women.

In the tapes, a Live Action actor calls 30 Planned Parenthood clinics in 27 different states, inquiring about mammograms at Planned Parenthood. Every Planned Parenthood, without exception, tells her she will have to go elsewhere for a mammogram, and many clinics admit that no Planned Parenthood clinics provide this breast cancer screening procedure. “We don’t provide those services whatsoever,” admits a staffer at Planned Parenthood of Arizona. Planned Parenthood’s Comprehensive Health Center clinic in Overland Park, KS explains to the caller, “We actually don’t have a, um, mammogram machine, at our clinics.”

Opponents of defunding Planned Parenthood have argued in Congress and elsewhere that the organization provides many vital health care services other than abortion, such as mammograms. Most prominently, Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards recently appeared on The Joy Behar Show to oppose the Pence Amendment to end Planned Parenthood’s taxpayer subsidies, claiming, “If this bill ever becomes law, millions of women in this country are gonna lose their healthcare access–not to abortion services–to basic family planning, you know, mammograms.”

The calls were recorded by Live Action, the youth-led pro-life group responsible for recent undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood staff, from management on down, willing to aid and abet the sex trafficking of young girls at 7 clinics in 4 different states. Live Action president Lila Rose says the new recordings further confirm Planned Parenthood’s corruption: “Planned Parenthood is first and foremost an abortion business, but Planned Parenthood and its allies will say almost anything to try and cover up that fact and preserve its taxpayer funding. It’s not surprising that an organization found concealing statutory rape and helping child sex traffickers would misrepresent its own services so brazenly, playing on women’s fears in order to protect their tax dollars.”

Former Planned Parenthood Director Abby Johnson notes that the recordings demonstrate Planned Parenthood is not a comprehensive health care provider. “For so long PP has touted that they are a provider of mammogram services. This is just one of the lies that PP uses to draw people into their clinics. PP is not able to provide quality services on their own, so they are forced to lie to the public about services they don’t provide–and mammograms are just one of those services.”

Both Rose and Johnson call on Congress to revoke all taxpayer subsidies from Planned Parenthood. In the last reported year, Planned Parenthood received $363 million in government money.

The new undercover recordings are available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq0kBkUZbvQ

Monday, March 28, 2011

A Parental Perspective on Discernment

Parents: You are such a blessing to your children. Please continue to pray for them, that that would be holy and that they would serve God with their lives.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Life (The Annunciation) vs. Death (Planned Parenthood)

Happy Belated Solemnity of the Annunciation! Just think, nine months from now, we will celebrate the birthday of Jesus on the Feast of Christmas. I am already excited. Well, yesterday we recalled the encounter Mary had with the Archangel Gabriel who told her: "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." Saint Gabriel also announced "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus."  Mary learned from God through the message of one of His angels that she was being called to be a mother - the mother of Jesus, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. Her "fiat" (yes) to God in her own words "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word" are meaningful to us even today. They not only provide a witness  to anyone who would make themselves available to a vocation from God, but particularly they resound in the hearts of women who may find themselves in a similar situation to Mary. 

Unfortunately, a current attitude in the culture of death has been leading many women to "be very afraid" and to decide to not say yes to the vocation of being a mother and not giving their children an opportunity to live. With the current "legal" option for "abortion," so many women know in their heart of hearts that they became mothers the moment they found out they were pregnant. Please pray for all women that they would heed the words of Saint Gabriel the Archangel - "Do not be afraid." Fear and being afraid is what drives so many people to turn to the culture of death and organizations like Planned Parenthood (PP) to take the "easy" way out of their situation. It is a very sad situation. It reminds me of the 9th Station of the Cross that we meditate on with Jesus' Meeting the Women of Jerusalem. His response to them resonates to so many women today: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed." (Luke 23: 28-29).

Thankfully, more and more people are taking a stand against organizations like PP with opportunities for prayer the Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. and the 40 Days for Life! The current campaign runs from March 9 - April 17, 2011. I am also pleased with initiatives like "Live Action" and Lila Rose who are working tirelessly to uncover the lies and atrocities that are going on all the time not too far from our homes, especially at PP locations.

seminarians and others praying the Rosary at PP
Hopefully, one day, the holocaust of abortion will end in our country and in our world. Since 1973, abortion on demand in America has been a legal option. In our country, millions of innocent lives have been lost because of the legal "choice" of abortion. We must not stop praying, speaking on behalf of the unborn and never lose hope! 

Here are some pictures from yesterday on the Solemnity of the Annunciation at the Indianapolis PP with 40 Days for Life participants praying for life. The place definitely is dismal, dreary and unwelcoming. I wonder what goes on in the minds of people who drive onto the property of PP. Again, this is all so very sad!

very sad... very cold (not just the temperature)




not very welcoming... "No Trespassing"





Tuesday, March 22, 2011

More from Archbishop Timothy Dolan (60 Minutes)

What can I say, I think this guy is a blessing! I wanted to share with you a segment of the episode that CBS provided. Here it is:

Monday, March 21, 2011

Saints, Saints and Even More Saints...

The first full week of Lent normally includes three wonderful saints. For me personally and for members of my family, last week was kind of a tough one this year in 2011. My mother Laurie Janko of happy memory passed away on March 18th, 2001. This was the 10th year of her passing. I cannot believe how quickly 10 years have flown by. 

But, last week was very special to me. During the final days of my mother's life in March of 2001, I witnessed an outpouring of love from so many amazing people. My mother's friends came from as far as Baltimore, MD to share with her their love and concern. Additionally, her siblings (she has five) were either on their way to Indiana to see her or were calling just about everyday. I was so delighted to be reminded of just how much my mom had impacted so many lives in her 59 years of life. It was truly amazing to me. I am also thankful for the priestly support mom received prior to her passing. She must have received the Anointing of the Sick 2-3 times while she was at Saint Vincent's Hospice in Indianapolis. She had multiple priests visit her and even more seminarians from my seminary, the Pontifical College Josephinum (Columbus, OH),who came to visit my mother Laurie Janko. 

The date of her going home to the Lord was no coincidence. Mom's final day on this earth was couched between March 17th, the Feast of Saint Patrick (Apostle of Ireland) and March 19th, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph (Patron Saint of a Happy Death). March 18th happened to also be another saint day - Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (Bishop and Doctor of the Church). My mother and all of us who loved her felt such strong support from members of our family, friends, priests, religious and seminarians. But, we also felt strong support and encouragement from many of the members of our family in Heaven: God our Heavenly Father, Jesus the Son and our Savior, Holy Spirit who guides our every step, Mary the Mother of our Lord and our Spiritual Mother, Saint Joseph, Saint Patrick and Saint Cyril of Jerusalem. Thank you everyone who prayed for my mom and thank you family in heaven who continue to pray for me! 

Saint Patrick!
Thursday March 17th brought to our attention you,the Apostle of Ireland, who worked tirelessly as a bishop for many years assisting the native peoples and winning many converts to the Catholic Faith. The connection you have with our family is awesome. Great-Grandpa Moran and his wife were Irish through and through. I am honored to have as my middle name "Moran." Your prayer, the Breast-Plate (Lorica),has always been a favorite of mine. I am so thankful that Jesus is with me in my life. Please keep praying for me Saint Patrick!

Saint Joseph!
Saturday March 19th was your day, a day for such a special man who was called by God to be the Foster Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What a honor it must have been to hold him in your arms when He was just a baby, to teach Him the carpenter's trade and to take your final breaths in His presence and in the presence of Mary your wife. You are such a wonderful model for me in my life. Thank you also for praying for my mom Laurie in her final hour. She truly had a peaceful death surrounded by her family and friends. I am always encouraged when I read the 1900 year old prayer with you in mind.

Well, that is all for now. I just had to get some thoughts out after last week. It was a beautiful week with so many Lenten blessings, wonderful saints to be encouraged by and of course the memories of my mom Laurie Janko. Mom, I love you forever! I will see you in the Eucharist tomorrow at 11:00AM at Saint Joan of Arc in Kokomo, IN. 


Father Joshua (Josh)



Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Prayers and Praying in the Desert of Lent

Today is Tuesday of the 1st Week of Lent. There is so much going on in our world. We are of course praying for and concerned for our brothers and sisters in Japan. It is incredible to know that so many people are already reaching out to help with prayers, financial assistance and even personal visits to extend a helping hand. This is another reminder of the goodness of God that resides inside every person on this planet. There is so much visible hope when disaster in our world strikes. I am also thankful to share that a friend of mine from college who is from Japan named Aki and her family are safe and sound. I pray for people who have loved ones in Japan who are still missing and all the victims.

There is also the Season of Lent, a time of renewal and going deeper into our hearts, in order for us to be able to battle the temptations and evil in our lives. This is one of the points that I shared this past weekend in my homily for the First Sunday of Lent. The point I tried to make was that Jesus was led out into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, but according to Saint Matthew's Gospel account (4:1-11), it seems that Jesus wasn't tempted UNTIL AFTER He had His experience in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. I shared the thought that Jesus' time in the desert prepared Him for the impending temptations because He had the time to pray, to look more deeply into Himself, to grow in His relationship with the Father and to grow in His dependence on the Father for everything. Of course, this connection we have with Jesus is helpful to us as we are also striving to grow during the Season of Lent, especially in our relationship with God the Father. 


This Season of Lent has also been a blessing for me as a priest. The schedule is getting to be more busy, but I am making sure that I do not allow this reality to distract me from allowing myself the time for more prayer. I recently met with a couple other priests. We were able to support each other as brothers by sharing with each other how we were each REALLY doing. The format we had for the meeting gave us ample time to share our struggles as well as our successes. It will also help us in the future to be able to regularly share with each other good ideas that we have found helpful in our work as priests. I am thankful to God for my brother priests who know exactly what I am going through in the vocation God has called me to. 

Well, I will leave you with a great prayer that I was recently re-introduced to when I was invited to a family's home for dinner. They were so gracious to have me over and we started our evening out with some prayers, including a great prayer by St. Therese of Lisieux. Please pray for priests in our world who are struggling and for priests who have made terrible mistakes, but also for priests who are faithful and priests who are bringing so many souls to God through their ministry as doctors of souls.


Prayer for Priests by St. Therese of Lisieux


O Jesus, eternal Priest,
keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Your Sacred Body.

Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with your Precious Blood.

Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.

Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world's contagion.

Bless their labors with abundant fruit and
may the souls to whom they minister
be their joy and consolation
here and in heaven their beautiful and
everlasting crown.

Amen.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Ash Wednesday (Two More Takes...)



Just above is a great little explanation of Ash Wednesday by Archbishop Dolan of New York. These bishops are doing a great job with using the media to help us to learn and to grow. Please pray for them!

Also, Pope Benedict XVI had a good message for Ash Wednesday during his Wednesday Audience in Rome. I love our Holy Father! Here are his words for you to take to heart as you begin Lent:

Ash Wednesday
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday, the beginning of her Lenten journey towards Easter. The Christian life is itself a constant journey of conversion and renewal in the company of the Lord, as we follow him along the path that leads through the Cross to the joy of the Resurrection. The primary way by which we follow Christ is by the liturgy, in which his person and his saving power become present and effective in our lives. In the Lenten liturgy, as we accompany the catechumens preparing for Baptism, we open our hearts anew to the grace of our rebirth in Christ. This spiritual journey is traditionally marked by the practice of fasting, almsgiving and prayer. The Fathers of the Church teach that these three pious exercises are closely related: indeed, Saint Augustine calls fasting and almsgiving the “wings of prayer”, since they prepare our hearts to take flight and seek the things of heaven, where Christ has prepared a place for us. As this Lent begins, let us accept Christ’s invitation to follow him more closely, renew our commitment to conversion and prayer, and look forward to celebrating the Resurrection in joy and newness of life.
* * *
I welcome all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, especially those from Ireland, Japan, South Korea and the United States. My special greeting goes to the priests and seminarians of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. With prayerful good wishes for a spiritually fruitful Lent, I cordially invoke upon you and your families God’s blessings of joy and peace!

Source: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20110309_en.html 

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Ash Wednesday and the 40 Days of Lent and the 40 Days for Life!

Are you ready? Ash Wednesday is tomorrow March 9th and begins the Penitential Season of Lent. This is one of my favorite times of year. We come to Mass to begin Lent by hearing God's Word, by receiving the Holy Eucharist, the very Body and Blood of Jesus and we leave wearing that outward symbol of ashes on our foreheads to remember that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Hopefully, this is not a time of the year that we dread or despair of because in Lent we join Jesus in remembering the trials He faced, especially when He went into the desert for 40 days. I came across a little video on Facebook via the Busted Halo Show that gives a great two minute explanation of Ash Wednesday . Here you go:



Providentially, during Lent this year, there is the opportunity to also participate in the next 40 Days for Life Campaign. That begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday. You can learn more about our local campaign here in Indianapolis by visiting http://www.40daysforlife.com/indianapolis/ which details the location, times and other pertinent information that will help you to get involved. If you are not familiar with 40 Days for Life, I will also include a video trailer to give you a good overview. 



The 40 Days for Life in Indianapolis takes place at the Planned Parenthood which is located 8590 Georgetown Road in Indianapolis, IN.  I hope to see you there during the Season of Lent and the 40 Days for Life.

Monday, March 7, 2011

New Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis - Bishop Coyne

I was thankful to attend the ordination of Bishop Christopher Coyne on Wednesday March 2nd. I have attended a number of bishop ordinations in the past, including the ordination of our own Bishop Timothy Doherty last July. Each time I am present, I am encouraged in my own vocation and remember my own ordination to the Holy Priesthood. The sacred rites and seeing so many people present to support the candidate all add to the enjoyment of such a wonderful event. In particular, a bishop's ordination usually will bring more bishops to the event, so it was great to see our own Bishop Timothy Doherty and our own Bishop Emeritus William Higi in attendance. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Cardinal Sean O'Malley, of the Archdiocese of Boston, along with the other Indiana bishops. It was also great to see Bishop Paul Etienne, bishop of Cheyenne, because I had the privilege of attending his ordination in Cheyenne not too long ago. Archbishop Buechlein did a wonderful job presiding at the ordination and he definitely has a great new bishop to assist him with his duties as archbishop. I was also pleasantly surprised, along with some other priests from our own diocese, to sit in the very front row for the ordination. That was not planned by the way, but maybe a little reminder from God that I always need to be mindful of the gift He has given me in my vocation in the Church and to always pray for our bishops. Below is a website link which includes other links to stories, pictures, a video and link to Bishop Christopher Coyne's blog. Enjoy!

http://www.archindy.org/auxiliary/