Author Archives: rocklandrtl

‘America, God Shed His Grace on Thee’

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Margie Michael

Margie Fitton, co-founder of the Rockland Right to Life Committee, and her son, Michael, were among the worshippers at the morning of prayer for Life and America.

Starting the July 4th Independence Day holiday with a morning of prayer for our nation has become a tradition at the Mary Help of Christians Chapel at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point. With plenty of time left in the day for barbecues and fireworks, hundreds first come here to ask God for his blessing and healing for America, its leaders and its people, and to pray  for a restoration of respect for the gift of Life.

The morning included mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and recitation of the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet. The concelebrants were three priests who are known for their prolife efforts in Rockland: Fr. Nicholas Callahan, formerly of St. Catherine’s in Blauvelt and now studying canon law in Rome, Fr. Brendan Gormley of St.Anthony’s in Yonkers, and Fr. John Wilson of St. Gregory’s in Garnerville.

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Fr. Brendan Gormley and Fr. Nicholas Callahan

Wilson Eileen

Newly-ordained priest Fr. John Wilson gives Eileen Peterson his “first blessing.”

The main celebrant and homilist was Fr. Nicholas who spoke about why the prolife movement has reason for hope, even in the face of  recent Supreme Court rulings against us. Drawing a comparison between the impact of death and horror on the battlefield and the response to the slaughter of millions by abortion,  he said that there eventually comes a point of great “discouragement and exhaustion” against the familiarity of “blood, futility, suffering, and death.” That happens, he said,  because we are made to love life, and it’s “what the human soul wants to have.” There will be a turning point where the cause for life will prevail.

And also, he noted, from a theological point of view, the battle against evil has already been  won on the Cross, where we find in Christ the “grace to repair every heart and heal every wound.”

At the end of mass, the crowd lined up in the vestibule to receive the “first blessing” from Fr. John Wilson, who was  recently ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York.

This annual morning of prayer, sponsored by the Rockland County Catholic Coalition and the Helpers of Gods’ Precious Infants, has  become an occasion where many who have spent decades in the prolife movement get the chance to see each other again. Margie Fitton, co-founder of Rockland Right to Life and past president,  was among the worshippers. Eileen Peterson was organist and led the choir.

 

Local Writer Publishes Prolife Book

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Cover imageSean Miller, a guest blogger for this website, recently published his first book, Full of Life, a collection of prolife writings. It became available on Amazon last week.

The book is meant to celebrate the Gift of Life and to provide inspiration and encouragement for all of us to stand up for life and support those in need – both the unborn baby and the mothers and fathers of the child.

Many of you know Sean, who’s been active in the prolife movement since 1994. He’s from “over the border” in Bergen County, but frequently works closely with prolife groups here in Rockland.

His 21 essays originally appeared on this website, but Full of Life presents them in one source. The essays are not intended to be biographical, but if you read them all you’ll find insights into the heart of a man who journeyed from mixed feelings about abortion as a college student to the front lines of the struggle – the sidewalk outside the abortion clinic where he strives – with never-failing love, compassion, and gentleness – to be a “last lifeline of hope” for a desperate pregnant woman about to enter its doors.

Legislative Session Ends in Albany: No Assisted Suicide

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NY SealThe legislative session in Albany came to an end on Friday, June 17, without a floor vote on the assisted suicide bill. That means there will be no further consideration of this legislation until the NYS Assembly and Senate reconvene next year.

However, this by no means suggests that we can let down our guard. The supporters of physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill know that it may take several years to get this bill through and are geared up for the battle. We have to be ready to oppose them for as long as it takes.

The deceptively titled “Medical Aid in Dying Act,”(A.10059) was taken up by the NYS Assembly Health Committee in May. There it passed by vote of 14-11 to move on to the next step, the Codes Committee. But the session ended with no further action being taken.

Ellen Jaffee of the 97th AD in Rockland, a member of the Assembly Health Committee, voted for this bill.

Thank you to everyone who was part of the effort to stop this dangerous legislation — visiting our legislators in Albany, contacting them by phone and email, and sending postcards.

Please continue to keep yourself informed, as this issue will no doubt be back next year. Here are some sources for information:

New York Alliance Against Assisted Suicide
Not Dead Yet
New York State Catholic Conference

Legislative Session Ends in Albany: Two Abortion Bills Fail to Become Law

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NY SealAbout three weeks before the current legislative session ended in Albany on June 17, two pro-abortion bills passed in the NYS Assembly. However, they were never taken up for a vote in the Senate, and, therefore, did not become law.

These were the “Boss Bill” (A.1142), a bill restricting the religious liberty of faith-based employers and A.6221, a bill related to abortion expansion.

The “Boss Bill” was sponsored by Ellen Jaffee, of the 97th AD, and co-sponsored by two other Rockland representatives, Ken Zebrowski ( 96 AD) and James Skoufis (99 AD). The bill passed in a 114-33 vote.

Karl Brabanec (98 AD) voted against this bill, which got nine fewer votes that it received last year when the Assembly also approved it.  But similar to last year, there was no vote on the matter in in the Senate.

A.6221, which would permit unlimited late-term abortion in New York state was also co-sponsored by Jaffee, Zebrowski and Skoufis. Brabanec opposed it. It passed the Assembly 95-51 in May, was referred to the Senate Health Committee in June, and did not emerge from there.

Assembly Passes Conscience-Crushing Boss Bill (New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom) 

A.6221 Glick / S.4432 Stewart-Cousins: In relation to abortion expansion (NY Catholic Conference)

Death Lobby Rushing Toward Assisted Suicide in New York

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nys RTLAlthough assisting suicide is only legal for a small fraction of the world’s population, advocates are focused on promoting this dangerous legislation in New York. The NY Assembly Health Committee voted to move forward with the legislation yesterday.

A.10059 and the companion bill S.7579 have gotten traction under the false notion that assisted suicide will be providing terminally ill people with merely one more “option.” However, this is far from the truth. This deceptively titled “Medical Aid in Dying Act” is riddled with dangerous problems that seek to destroy existing protections for the vulnerable.

Most legislators have never considered legislation like this, and they need to know that New York does not want to destroy existing protection for those facing a difficult diagnosis.

It is urgent that you make contact with your Assemblymember now and urge them to oppose assisted suicide bills A10059/S7579.

AD 96 — Kenneth Zebrowski  518-455-5735, ZebrowskiK@assembly.state.ny.us
(Clarkstown & Haverstraw, part of Ramapo)

AD 97 — Ellen Jaffee  518-455-5118, JaffeeE@assembly.state.ny.us
(Orangetown, part of Ramapo)

AD 98 — Karl Brabenec  518-455-5991, brabeneck@assembly.state.ny.us
(Ramapo)

AD 99 — James Skoufis 518-455-5441, SkoufisJ@assembly.state.ny.us
(Stony Point)

The assisted suicide legislation’s language purports to establish “safeguards” around assisted suicide and restrict it to the terminally ill and the competent. However, these kinds of assisted suicide proposals are opposed by medical groups (including the Medical Society of the State of New York and the American Medical Association) and many in the disability rights community. Safeguards simply do not work:

  • There is no protection for those seeking assisted suicide because they suffer from treatable depression or any other mental health issue
  • Predictions that someone will die in six months are often wrong
  • Abuse of elders and people with disabilities is a growing but often undetected problem
  • If assisted suicide is legalized, it will quickly become the cheapest alternative to medical treatment
  • There is no residency requirement: New York is already home to the abortion capital of the nation, it need not become a suicide destination as well

 

NY Assembly Committee Votes to Advance Assisted Suicide

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Albany, NY – With very little notice and few specific details, the Assembly Health Committee scheduled a vote on a bill to legalize doctor-prescribed suicide for the terminally ill today and approved the measure by a 14-11 vote. Now the bill moves on to the Codes Committee.

Assemblyperson Ellen Jaffee of Rockland, a member of the Health Committee, voted to approve the measure (A-10059).

The New York Alliance Against Assisted Suicide noted that the measure passed by only three votes.

“Thankfully, many members of the Health Committee have demonstrated their grave concern for vulnerable New Yorkers who may be harmed by this dangerous public policy, or worse yet, whose autonomy will be compromised and who will feel as though the healthcare system gives them no choice but to kill themselves,” said JJ Hanson, president of the Patients’ Rights Action Fund.

Read “Aid in dying bill passes Assembly Health Committee” (Times Union).

 

 

NY Laws Banning Assisted Suicide Ruled Constitutional

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From Ed Mechman, Esq., Director of Public Policy for the Archdiocese of New York:

Yesterday, there was an important victory in the courts. The Appellate Division in Manhattan (our intermediate appeals court) ruled that New York’s laws against assisted suicide did not violate the NYS Constitution, and were thus valid and enforceable.

The court found that despite the advocates’ attempt to change terminology to such things as “aid in dying”, the reality is that suicide is suicide, and the law makes that perfectly plain. The court also ruled that it was perfectly reasonable for the law to distinguish between suicide and declining medical treatments.

This is a major decision. Although the suicide advocates may appeal it to our Court of Appeals, it will strengthen our arguments to legislators that this debate is all about suicide, and nothing else.

Thanks be to God for a wise court!

Daily News: Court ruling doesn’t allow doctor-assisted suicides in New York State

What Would Happen If Abortion Were Illegal?

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In the wake of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s comments about “punishing” women who had an abortion should abortion ever become illegal, there has been much discussion about who actually would be held responsible in such cases.

As Trump and his campaign quickly released statements to correct his remarks, prolife leaders spoke out to make it clear that during the years abortion was banned prior to Roe v. Wade, women were NEVER prosecuted. Abortionists, who performed the procedures, were the exclusive target of the laws. Women and their unborn children were both considered victims.

For a comprehensive discussion, please read this: When Abortion Was Illegal, Women Were NOT Jailed for Having Abortions. Here’s Why.