This is beautiful!  The critics are right: It does suggest a “pro-life” message.  But that’s fair enough at this time of year, isn’t it?

This is a sign we have given in to the Culture of Death: an adorable babe in the womb creates controversy. St Paul said that the Cross would be a stumbling block, but only in our times is the baby Himself causing trouble.
Come Lord Jesus!

I can’t believe an “ecumenical nonprofit in England” even produced this.  It’s brilliant - bring it to the USA please - we need it over here.
Keep (or put back) Christ in Christmas! 
Merry Christmas everyone!

These hate-mongers of God are always ticklish when they see babies, born or unborn. They should ask God for mercy!!! COME LORD JESUS, COME SOONEST!!!

I just wonder at what point the secular life begins? Beautiful ad!!!!!!

Wait a minute… Jesus is coming again by birth???

I though we were all supposed to go up to meet Jesus in the clouds and then Jesus will hang a U-Turn and head back to heaven with all the people who accepted him into their heart as their personal lord and savior while those who are “Left behind” have to endure a thousand year reign and then a seven year tribulation?

Wasn’t there one who will be grinding at the mill and then the pre-post-mid-tribulation for one half of seven years will happen? Somewhere in there, wasn’t there supposed to be some sort of woman with some kind of crown or some sort of thing on her head and a son who get’s caught up to God and rules with a rod of iron? And a dragon, and the woman’s “Offspring” who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus Christ???

And now there is an ultrasound of Jesus in the womb? Who is the mother? Is she the new Eve or just an incubator for Christ?

I’M SO CONFUSED!!!!

I think I need to call my pastor and ask him about this. He says that baptism really donsn’t do anything and that my vasectomy is OK because it is prayerfully considered so he realy knows what he is talking about.

-Tim-

Tim, blasphemy is a serious offense against God.  If I were in your shoes I don’t think I would write this way about something you don’t understand.  Our actions have consequences, and this one might have consequences that you don’t foresee nor intend.

This is great irony.  If the National Secularist Society was not the group that put the signs on the buses about there “Probably Not Being a God”, it certainly was an ally of the group that did.  So they have no problem with free speech when they are offending Christians, but when Christians offend them? 

Of course, if we follow Mr. Sanderson’s statements to their logical conclusion, pregnant mothers should not be allowed to see Ultra-Sounds either since it is just Pro-Life propaganda.

Beautiful and brilliant!  The reaction of those who don’t like Christianity solidifies the truth of the ad!

Tim, this ad seems to point at Christmas, you know, celebration of when Jesus came the first time. He came as a baby.

The pro-abortion secularist movement is one example how science and facts can be twisted and hidden, how the atheist scientific, objective, benevolent utopia is just a pipe dream for those who want true scientific openness. These people want to promote openness and scientific knowledge but only when it suits their agenda. So images of unborn kids from ultrasound scans are a big no-no lest they remind the aborting woman (and her partner) that the tissue inside her uterus is a new, genetically different, human individual. Gotta keep that hidden to keep the perception that it’s the same as removing a kidney stone.

Oh, yes, lets go back to angels and cribs and lambies and all those things that seculars can cheerfully ignore.

This ultrasound idea is BRILLIANT, and the proof is in the reaction it gets. Let there be an uproar, it shows that the message is hitting home. I grieve at those who backpedal to please the seculars. Come again? The Advent of Christ is not a pro-life message? Really? Then, what is it? Focus on the Life Who brings Life Abundant. Show the truth, be not afraid!

Tim wrote: “I’M SO CONFUSED!!!! “

Yep.

You are confused, son.

Why not get up to speed on actual, you know, *Catholic* beliefs, and then write your reflections?

Or can’t you?

If you can’t, you can’t, I suppose.

But I think you probably can.

Tim,

Christ did come 2000 years ago.  But he also never leaves us.  He is present to us most fully in the Church.  It’s called the Paschal Mystery, and it includes his incarnation (conception), birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.  He is truly present to us in the sacraments of the Church in this way.  So a depiction of Him in the womb is part of the faith for those who believe.  Advent (the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas) is about 3 comings of Christ:  historical coming 2000 years go, His coming into our life (for all generations), until He comes again.  Jesus was not merely present 2000 years ago but is present to us as well.  At Christmas, we will reflect on one of these realities of the Paschal Mystery - the Incarnation.  And throughout the year we as Catholics celebrate the Paschal Mystery in their individual parts as part of our liturgical calendar to allow us to reflect more deeply on each one of them.  Let Him come into your heart, mind and soul, and the other “comings” will become clearer.

In Christ’s love, s.

“The Way, the Truth and the Life” will always cause an uproar for those who cannot countenance living by His Message of God’s Love and Mercy.  Jesus came to teach us how to live as God’s children.  Why does the modern world get so upset when Christians are following and practicing this Holy Life and yet, by their very existence, they proclaim the Truth of the existence and Power of God?  This depiction of the Son of God is brilliant.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of hour death. Amen

I think Tim is pulling our legs.

Beautiful ad!  Let the critics cry….  They have their offensive ads, we have an ultrasound image….

Steve, GREAT reply to Tim.  Fantastic - and charitable- response to a confused soul.  Thank you!

Lets all pray for Tim.

- However much “Tim” may have offended some here, I (like Debbie, above) feel he was being humorous.  I am sorry to say that if we looked, we could probably recognize many people, even in our own congregations, that fall into the description Tim gives us (yes, right down to the Pastor in some cases). 

- I concur with Susan on 11/9 - bring it here. 

Peace!

I think it’s awesome and why shouldn’t it project Pro Life - after all, the first coming of Christ brought us all new life - just as we have to stop abortion that destroys new life.

Just had to chime in and write “What a great ad”!!! I hope the word gets back to our brothers and sisters in the UK!

As for Tim, I can only hope he is being sarcastic. If he’s serious, he is a very angry and confused person who really DOES need our prayers.

Peace and good will toward all!

I think this is a lovely ad, which does draw together the mortal and the divine.  Obviously, Mary would not have had an ultrasound while pregnant.  In trying to think of her situation in more modern terms, an unmarried pregnant teen might very well find herself in an clinic, looking at the ultrasound of her unborn baby.  Most people aren’t going to see the halo, but they do see a gift from God. 

This is also an ad campaign, which is apparently being taken too literally by some individuals.  It is a sonogram, which many mothers have these days.  When the image appears on the screen, the baby now has a face and the reality of an impending birth is apparent.  The waiting has begun.  We are about to enter Advent,so this seems appropriate.  Of course, it seems like fewer and fewer people celebrate Advent and jump straight to Christmas.

I love the ultrasound of Jesus in the womb!  It speaks of His humanity and His God ship.  It reminds us that He, indeed, was human, like each one of us and that He came so that each one of us, that believe, will share in His Kingdom.  What a great message to the world at Christmas time.

I like it. Excellent work. What a glorious reminder. If Mary would have been pregnant today, planned parenthood would try and convince her to murder Jesus while He was in her womb. Yes, back then was stoning of unwed mothers but today the mother’s soul and spirit are murdered when the child is murdered in her womb. Bring this billboard to the entire world!!!!

What a PERFECT ad!

I absolutely LOVE it!  So many guilty people, me thinks.  Also, why is abortion political?  It is about life, not a political party.  We have certainly slid a long way down that “slippery” slope, haven’t we.  Keep praying and working, folks!

Beautiful ad!  What better way to illustrate that God humbled Himself to be fully human, starting the way we all do: vulnerable in the womb.  What a beautiful reminder of the miracle of life! —Incidentally, I find it interesting that the Secular Society can recognize the power of ultrasound images of pre-born babies ... Perhaps for them, it is hard to swallow the reality of a unique, unrepeatable life when seen in a picture.

The COE once again shown swimming in the shallow end of the pool. Be thankful this bunch of sillies will soon be gone away.

>>>Why not get up to speed on actual, you know, *Catholic* beliefs, and then write your reflections?

I was trying to be humorous. I guess tounge-in-cheek doesn’t come across well in text. I am sorry I posted this. Please accept my apologies if I brought anyone to anger or caused anyone to lose their peace. You have all humbled me and I consider that a gift from God.

Regarding Catholic beliefs, see my blog at http://tiimhollingworth.blogspot.com.

It just seemed ironic to me that the “ecumenical group” which produced the ad is made up of churches which deny all sorts of objective truths and how, by saying “He is coming again” and showing a baby in the womb, they blow their own end-times theories out of the water.

In all fairness, I don’t know what those particular churches teach about end times but my comments were in reference to Evangelical rapture theories and the humor I saw in. I think the words “Baptist Union” brought to mind the Souther Baptists and as I live in the deep south, my reaction was knee-jerk. 

It is a great advertisement and these can’t be too strong. I still find it ironic that these particularl churches would put out a pro-life advertisement yet all deny the sinful nature of artificial contraception.

Again, I hope you all can forgive me.

-Tim-

Tim,  thanks for the clarification. BUT,,,, I took your post exactly as you described it…tongue in cheek; and as an evangelical convert, I ‘got’ it’, even w/ the rapture connotations; and it made me smile.  I was surprised at the attacks you received by others here.  I am always amazed on Catholic blog comments how vicious people can be.

I’m with you, Tim—I got the “tongue in cheek” points you tried to make.

Now I challenge everyone here:  What if Tim had, in fact, been a rabid anti-Catholic whose only exposure to Catholic teaching had been in a fundamentalist church?  Would he have found welcome and the love of God in his initial conversations with actual, flesh-and-blood Catholics?  Or would he have gone away, even more sure than before that Catholics are shallow and seriously misunderstand the Word of God?  They’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love….

The very meaning of Theotokos!

29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.

31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother, born in the world.

32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

I love this ad! Being due to give birth to our first child on Dec. 27th, I like to think my little girl looks something like that. No halo of course. ;)

It is a wonderful ad that wakes up viewers because it is so different from what we usually see.  It reminds us all that Christ in his humanity began just as we did—in the womb.  The pro-life message is clear, but only because the image of ANY child in the womb is a clear reminder that life begins at conception!  Whether they meant to communicate a pro-life message or not doesn’t matter.  It’s a message written in our very being and nature as humans.  We can’t help but see it when we see the image of an unborn child.

This is BRILLIANT and will be hard to ignore. I would love to see the same effort here in the States. The more objection the more light that is put on the issue. BRAVO.

when I saw the ad, pro-life never came into my mind.  I love it and think we need more of this kind.  Christ needs to be back in our lives.

Brilliant, creative, impactful and filled with meaning. What more could you want, except that we need to bring this here to the US and spread it far and wide.

It is not possible to separate the BABY Jesus from the pro BABY reality.  Pro-life people are pro-life because they think that killing innocent children is wrong.  They killed the innocents trying to get Jesus in Bethlehem 2K years ago… has anything really changed?

What a totally on point message!  Loved it.  It made me look forward to Christmas again like I did when I was a child.

@Tim
I “got” you too, but you are right, “tongue-in-cheek” doesn’t come off well, unless you make a disclaimer, at the end of the same post. That’s because too many of us are used to people saying what you said, and meaning it.

And to those who “knee-jerk” responded, I second the challenge. I love it that you love the Faith, and want to defend it with vigor! We need people like you. However, as a former protestant who now shares the Faith with the confused of all stripes, some of the responses made me squirm with embarrassment. Re-read your own words before you post. Give thought (and prayer!) to who you’re talking to, speak only with love and kindness, and pray again before you hit “submit”. God’s peace to all of you, and have a blessed Advent!

I find it so ironic that now the FDA is placing images of the effects of tobacco (tracheotomies, etc.) on cigarette packages, but public health advocates recoil in horror at the idea of pro lifers showing embryo photos outside abortion clinics.

I think that this is a good idea.  Why try to defend the prolife aspect about it.  The Christmas message is clear.  I think both of the messages are well shown.

I think the ads are great.

It’s amazing that the secularites are afraid of a….. baby!

Also, on another blog piece, I found out that the anti-Catholics are afraid of prayers for aborted babies!

It’s the pure and innocent that drive some to outlandish actions.

@ Ann

You wrote : I find it so ironic that now the FDA is placing images of the effects of tobacco (tracheotomies, etc.) on cigarette packages, but public health advocates recoil in horror at the idea of pro lifers showing embryo photos outside abortion clinics.

So true. The reason is only adults can buy cigarettes.
  Minors can get abortions but can not buy cigarettes . Hows that for irony?

If they let children see those pictures the most common immediate reaction is ” why did they throw away a perfectly good baby” in their innocence child mind. Seeing those pictures in my PEW at Mass in the 1970’s cause me to be a life long Pro Life’er. Seeing those pics are the truth. Heaven forbid if the secular world would want the TRUTH to be told.
God Bless

I don’t think it’s possible to improve on it!

This is beautiful.

Can I get the ultrasound on a bumper sticker!?

Absolutely perfect!  The image may be the exact way that the horrible plague of abortion is finally conquered.

I want Christmas cards with this image.  I love it, it’s brilliant, and the objections just prove how deeply invested society is in abortion on demand.

A similar ad in Eastern Europe, with an aborted foetus with its skull crushed in held in the palm of an attending “nurse” provoked similar outrage from secular osterichs who have problems with reality in far more stark relief than they accuse their christian brethren of having.

Jennifer just stole my thunder. Or I didn’t get my post posted fast enough. I want Christmas Cards with this image also. How would one go about getting them? Who exactly produced this image andhow can they be contacted? Anybody? Please keep us informed via FB.

The St. Joseph telephone message is funny: “Hey, it’s me, Joe ... I’m a dad! Woooo! ... Mama, baby doing well ... Some interesting presents ... Not sure what we’ll do with the frankincense or the myrrh ...” ^_^

The ChurchAds.net website lets you download a JPEG or PDF of the poster to use in cards and other items.

Their answer to the accusation that it’s “pr-life” should be “Yes indeed. What about it?”  After all, they SHOULD have those kind of ads.  They’re Christian organizations are they not?

JMJ, Jennifer, and Elizabeth -

ChurchAds has made the jpeg and pdf available to download for free, here:
http://www.churchads.net/2010/downloads.html

They’re encouraging folks to download the image and use it for:
- posters at their Church
- posters for one’s home or retail store
- for use in worship
- to create a card or invitation
- or for use in other items like mugs, bumper stickers, etc.

BRILLIANT BEAUTIFUL ad! Seriously, how can we get it here? Does Priests for Life know about it? I’d gladly help, as I think many here would.
PS I got it, Tim. I think sometimes we get so smacked around for our faith that we get too thin skinned.

I think the ad is AWESOME.  Keep them coming!!

At last Terry Sanderson gets it! Christmas is pro-life, but it’s also good to know he has nothing against ‘angels and cribs’ ... let’s wheel them out too!

lol…  If merely showing an ultrasound is too suggestive of a pro-life message, then there must be something to the message!

The complainers must realize how weak it looks when a fuzzy image of an unborn child threatens to crush their best arguments in favour of abortion.

This is POWERFUL!!!! I’m thrilled Churchads.net is allowing anyone to download their ad. Whoever thought of this can be content, it is a God idea. God knows how to stir up the darkness. I can hear Him chuckle at all the sensational accusations He’s caused by the Secular folks. Am on God’s side, that’s for sure.

I not only find nothing offensive about this ad but see it as an inspired new form of imagery to put Christ back in Christmas. After all, without Him the season would be meaningless. And of course prior to birth He would have been in the womb as depicted.

Lighten up leftists !!

God bless them….

Of course the Author of Life would be pro-life.

What do I think of the ads ?
I think they are wonderful
and it made me smile.
Joy
Mary still brings us the joy of Christ.
Thanks

I wish this were available as a Christmas Card that our High School Pro-Life Club could sell!!!!

Who CARES what the anti-life people think of it?!?!

“he is the reason for the season”
that is one of the well thought of ads.
i can figure him now asking Peter repeatedly , do you love me?
God Bless you all

Therese—Someone posted this earlier, but it’s worth posting again. The people who created this are offering it as a download for free, and encourage people to make it into cards. You should probably contact them if you’re going to sell the cards though. They should definitely get some of the proceeds. Here’s their website for downloads.
http://www.churchads.net/2010/downloads.html

Therese,
You can download the jpeg or pdf file directly from the ChurchAds.net website and have your own Christmas cards created for the pro-life club to sell.

The God in the Cave

This sketch of the human story began in a cave; the cave which popular science associates with the cave-man and in which practical discovery has really found archaic drawings of animals. The second half of human history, which was like a new creation of the world, also begins in a cave. There is even a shadow of such a fancy in the fact that animals were again present; for it was a cave used as a stable by the mountaineers of the uplands about Bethlehem; who still drive their cattle into such holes and caverns at night. It was here that a homeless couple had crept underground with the cattle when the doors of the crowded caravanserai had been shut in their faces; and it was here beneath the very feet of the passers-by, in a cellar under the very floor of the world, that Jesus Christ was born. But in that second creation there was indeed something symbolical in the roots of the primeval rock or the horns of the prehistoric herd. God also was a Cave-Man, and had also traced strange shapes of creatures, curiously coloured, upon the wall of the world; but the pictures that he made had come to life.

A mass of legend and literature, which increases and will never end, has repeated and rung the changes on that single paradox; that the hands that had made the sun and stars were too small to reach the huge heads of the cattle. ...

people, read more carefully, especially if you intend to rail against someone else’s post. even a cursory glance at tim’s post reveals that he was clearly being sarcastic. not to mention HILARIOUS. all of you who read what you wanted into his post, and especially you who offered him advice on how to be better at being funny, are the ones to blame in this misunderstanding.

@kathy, you are a light for all. thank you for your post, and for reading his post with care.

Ummm… isn’t this pretty much how He looked, before His birthday? Why WOULDN’T this be a good symbol to help us commemorate His coming?

Beautiful Just Beautiful !!!!!!!!!!!!!
A wonderful ad to show what is the truth in the womb ! And to put the Christ child for Christmas,BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!

What a Beautiful wya to keep Christ in Christma.!!!!  I would like to have a big billboard and put it in my yard!!

Nothing wrong with that campaign at all. I like it a lot.

so what if it preaches a pro life message ? what have human beings come to when some have to apolgise for believing in life for the unborn ? My God ~!! What have we become? ..horrible, non feeling, money making, all mod cons believing creatures with no backbones ..thats what !!

Did I get this right?  A Christian organization wants to display an image….just an image (does the word iconoclast come to mind?) of a baby in its mother’s womb.  And people have ALLLLLLLLLL   KIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNDDDSS of comments on this.  Takes me back to the 7th, 8th, 9th centuries when wars were fought and lots of people killed because they disagreed or agreed with showing images of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, saints, etc.  Some things DO NOT CHANGE!

No establishment of a religion…it is already here…in the Constitution, in reaching out to the poor, lonely and forgotten.  Just its celebration!

More images, more Christian, Catholic images…..the Eucharistic image on buses….make a statement that the God who became Man deigns to come again!  Let’s celebrate the coming of our Creator!!!  YEA, YEA, YEA God from St. Louis, MO     Patricia

Maybe it does seem to be pro-life…so what?  Pro-life is not a political stance;  it’s a moral stand.

Keep the comments coming good people.  Life-haters and the so-called modernists need to be reminded seventy times seven every day that Life is Precious, Life is Priceless, Life is Holy, Life is God-given and Must be respected and protected from conception to natural death.  Only God, the Giver of Life has the right to take it away.  Let this message resound in America to Obama and his Planned Parenthood that they have absolutely no right to continue butchering unborn babies wholesale.  That is murder most foul. Print this Poster in Christmas Cards and let us return Christ at the centre of the Season.

Love the ad! To the point and stylistically very simple.

Love the radio airport announcement!

The people behind ChurchAds.net are awesome. Thank you!!

and h/t to Tim Drake for providing this article :)

“ChurchAds.net, a coalition of various Christian churches, denies that the ads were meant as pro-life or political ads.”

Good for them in placing the ads. But bad on them for not being proud of the message. I’m tired of Christians being a bunch of pansy’s about our faith and Christs truth. I am a Christian Soldier and proud of it, I’ll kick you in the teeth if you don’t like it all while I pray for your soul. I wish more would have a backbone. Christ is strength and light, Satan is weakness and chaos. You choose.

The ad makes perfect sense. It is not at all political only perinatal. I really think it’s cool and clever! Very cute, too. Merry Christmas in advance to everyone, including Terry Sanderson. Peace to all of goodwill. Lovely!

Congratulations
          Behind the mask of pregnancy,in total darkness,lies Jesus, our Savior and the Light of the World….

I wish it was here in America, I would like a t-shirt. Bravo I think it’s a GOD send.

Awesome! Christmas cards, T-shirts, bumper stickers, billboards, coffee mugs, everywhere.  One picture paints a thousand words.  Praise Jesus and “Mary Christ Mass” to everyone.

Tim - You made me laugh, I was quite surprised by the uproar that followed.

This ad is beautiful, I hope we’ll see it in the USA.

Where do I buy the t-shirt?  I’ll wear it all Advent!  Heck, I’ll wear it all year!!!!!  Jesus is the reason for . . . EVERYthing!

We are living in an era were all is disclosed and not to much is left to the imagination. Inocence has almost disappeared!... Awakeningt of mind and heart… from children to adult,,, I suport pro life but I ask respect for Jesus and the virtue of purity!..... Would like a more graphic picture.

“The image is too specifically associated with pro-lifers to be seen in a benign context. “

You see how wrong secularists are when being ‘pro-life’ is not a ‘beningn’ thing anymore.

Well if Bobby C. thinks it is humerous ... it wouldnt be the first time people have ridiculed Christ.  Personally, I wouldnt want to add to any of the suffering he STILL does for our irreverence and ingratitude.

I love the picture.

What’s wrong with Pro-Life?  Aren’t we entitled to our opinion and belief’s too!

Thank you all(or most of you!) for your affirming messages.
Delighted to see your responses.
Please do go to our website (www.churchads.net)and use any of the materials as freely as you wish.
If you want to make bumper stickers and Christmas cards…......be our guest.
I would like to re-iterate though, that we genuinely did not want this to become a “political” campaign or divisive among Christians.
We reject the idea that any group can arrogate to itself the ultrasound image of the womb.
We used the image to celebrate the unique combination of Humanity and Divinity, that Jesus’ birth represents.
We have had a tremendous response from around the world and hope that it will continue to build as Christmas approaches.
If any of you wish to contribute financially to our work (all members are unpaid volunteers and professional communicators/admen) then there is a facility on our website.
Pleased to announce too, that this year we have a strong Roman Catholic representation within the group in England.
So we wish you all well with YOUR campaign across the water!
Happy Christmas
Francis Goodwin
Chairman
ChurchAds.net

When I saw the Ad, my heart cried out, “Yes, He Is Coming” and I started to cry at the beauty of it!  This Is Christmas and no one can deny it, and we will not deny it!

Give me a break. Christmas IS about Christ’s birth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What exactly is the real problem?

Love the ad.  Wish there were Christmas cards I could purchase.  God Bless these people.

I agree, the pro-abortion secularist movement may be criticizing this ad and feel threatened by its message because it shows as ultrasounds do, so clearly that a human life that is in a mother’s womb is a life that is like everyone else and should be respected and protected.

Temptation of Jesus
MATTHEW 4:1-11
The New American Bible

Abortion:391-92
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

The Demand for a sign
MATTHEW 12:38-42
The New American Bible

Bigotry:401
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

This is so COOL!!!

It is what it is.  Our Lord in the Womb.  It is a beautiful Pre Christmas message.  The Pro abortion folk do not want to see a baby in the womb.  It is a reminder what is actually done in abortion.  It is their wanting no reminders of what IS really going on in the womb that makes them jump on any perceived threat to their culture of death.

I think the shock value for some is crucial. Jesus, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, both God and Man, did start out as a baby in the womb. What is so horrible about such a tender ad? Here we have bumper stickers which show Baby Jesus in the womb, with the words, Behold, your Son. Very cool.

To be upset about this is to deny the Incarnation.

.Great ad!  Contemporary!  And to the point.  Keep it up

This ad is what Christmas is all about.  Thank you to Churchads for permission to use it however we like.  I will do just that.  When I can I will send a donation.

I have already delared my feelings concerning this; directly to ChurcAids when it first came to light some months ago.
If I wasn’t so aware of women, including nuns, coerced into having their pegnancy aborted and paid for by fathers who are priests, as a mother myself, I wouldnt feel so wounded on their behalf.
The very fact they are the ones proclaiming the birth of Christ is insidious and will add to the torture of thoe who have taken ths wayout to protect the priesthood an prevent scandal.
It undoubtedley is pro-life and for those of us who can appreciate the beauty of the child in-utro through an utrasound and the connection with Christ, in these circumstances it becomes a double edged sword.

Lynne, reading your post, I am left wondering whether you are actually a nun who was a victim or a nun who seduced a Priest and got pregnant.  But remember, in all the 2010 lifetime of the Catholic Church, it has never denied there are many, many sinners among its Children.  Remember with only 12 Apostles, Jesus had a Judas who betrayed Him.  How many more Judases does He have in His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church now that it has more than 1.7 billion children. That is the reason why, on His resurrection, Jesus had to institute the Sacrament of Reconciliation immediately because He knew our human nature and that we would always be falling into sin. Through Peter, he had gaven us the yardstick of forgiveness as seventy times seven daily. God hates the sin but He loves the sinner. That is why Christ - coming as a baby - was coming to die for us sinners - all of us - including his Priests.  God does not scandalize a sinner. NO. He instead, gives the sinner the Grace to acknowledge his/her sins, be truly sorry and repentant, and then present himself/herself to the Tribunal of Mercy, confess his/her sins and is forgiven and the Santifying Grace is restored into his/her soul.  The penitent also receives Graces to withstand temptations in the future.  The Birth of Christ which we are about to celebrate, represents the entire escatological Mystery of God’s Mercy for us all. So,Lynne, you do not have to bemoan the sinners but pray for them to obtain God’s Grace through confession and conversion. Remember Jesus said He came for sinners not for the righteous and adopt that attitude.  Be merciful to sinners as God is merciful to them so that you, too, may obtain Mercy.  That is the Message Jesus, once again, reiterates to us through St. Faustina through the conversations and as recorded in her Diary and when He requested the Feast of Divine Mercy to be instituted in the Universal Catholic Church on the 1st Sunday after Easter along with the Eucharistic Divine Mercy Devotion.  His Mercy is eloquently depicted in His Image of the Divine Mercy and the Prayers of the Chaplet and Novena He dictated to St. Faustina.  Jesus is calling us to repentance and His Mercy is being outpoured for all sinners because He wants to save everyone He created and died for.  This Message of salvation is around the corner as we celebrate Christmas and that Ad is THE AWAKENING CALL FROM BABY JESUS THAT HE IS COMING TO SAVE US ALL BY HIS MERCIFUL FORGIVENESS OF ALL OUR SINS.  LET US ALL COME TO HIM WITH REPENTANT HEARTS AND RECEIVE HIS OVERFLOWING MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. Then, Lynne, the Ad will no longer become a doube edge sword to torment you, by a sign of Liberation as sinners become reconciled with God through His Merciful Forgiveness

Thank you for replying to my comment:
Actually I am neither and you seem to have missed the point.
My concern is that women including religious, who have been coercd into to having abortions to protect the priesthood will be caused so much pain in this beautiful depicture of innocence for those of us who can in reality, bask in the advent of the new life within us can identify with
Seduction rape or sin does’nt come into the equation here, no more than the consolation of forgiveness, so we are not looking at spiritual platitudes.
It is the coercion by priests, to hide their infidelity and selfishness;  their bishops and superiors to protect the priesthood and avoid public scandal causing this silent holocaust that leaves the mother to- have-been with what-could- have-been, and the potential “father-to-have been” with the obvious.
No county, no Diocese, or Religious Order is exempt, as is no woman or religious order.

Stop apologizing to these people.  We bow down to their agendas.  They scream their views in our faces and we apologize instead of standing up for beliefs.  Jesus was a fetus and today, people are killing their babies in the womb.  Maybe this will encourage a mother to keep and protect her baby from the claws that want to kill it.  Horrah for these holy people who are putting humanity back into the womb.  Blessed be God!  NEVER apologize for what is RIGHT!  What you are seeing is the aftershocks of a dead kingdom!!!

Lynn,
It amazes me how often I see sin signs hanging on the ‘Priest with no name’ and the ‘Religious with not name’... referred to as ‘they’ and ‘them’.  This is surely a sign of the demonic, trying to use the Catholic Church as a ‘Poster Child’ for grave sins.  Maybe this happened and maybe it happened once but your generalization makes all seem guilty.  ‘Get behind me Satan, with your lies.  You are the father of all lies and a murderer.’  Let me remind you, ‘Lynn’... The Church is NOT a museum of saints, it is a hospital for sinners.’  Contemplate that from your own perspective and stop evangelizing for the evil one.  Stop attacking the Priesthood because when you do so, you attack Jesus Christ.  May God bless you.
Oh, and before you give another “You missed the point” comment, note that I did not miss the point.  I just don’t share your agenda and your strategy is noted.  Again, I point out ‘these are the aftershocks of a dead kingdom.’  Biting the heels of God’s children!

Lynn,

As you are not a victim, I suggest that you refrain from judging those not in your past. It is too easy to blame others for sins in the Church, which has always been made up of sinners, like myself and others. Only the saints have attained perfection.

Criticism of priests and nuns without praying for them is simply negativity. You need to be concerned about your own soul, as I need to be concerned about mine. A good lesson I tell myself, is that if I am going to criticize a priest, I better pray for him first.

As it is lay people who created the poster, your argument is a red herring anyway.

Thank you for this Holy Moment, lovely beyond words.

I’m personally sick and tired of pro-choice people screaming “FOUL” when we publicize anything pro-life! Their right to their opinion does NOT override mine or that of my faith.  In the US, we are lucky enough to have freedom of religion, and that means that atheism (or any faith) doesn’t “trump” MY CATHOLIC faith!  I’m beyond exhausted seeing people giving in to be “politically correct,” whatever that is and whoever defined it to begin with. This poster shows TRUTH.  I’m glad it makes people nervous!  At least it shows there’s still some sort of conscience left in them.

Christmas IS Christ’s birthday.  And if Mary, an unwed mother of 16 was pro-choice, we would not have our Lord and Savior. Circumstances of conception are not the fault of the unborn, but may be one or both of the parents.  The argument that a woman has a right to do what she wants with her own body is invalid, because she isn’t killing her own body, she’s killing another person’s body! Babies aren’t “parasites.” And changing the words to “cluster of cells,” or “embryo” or “fetus” does not make that little one any less human. And for those who are Catholic, pro-choice is not Catholic!

I agree with those who wish it were on a Christmas card.  I’d buy them myself! Congratulations to ChurchAds.net for creating such an effective message to the world. Please keep up your good work and don’t cave under pressure from those of different opinions.

Thank you all for finding the time to respond to my comment.
As catholic brothers and sisters we are fortunate to be able to bring our family issues to the table whether we like to hear what is said or not.
The important thing is if truth is compromised which it is not and I’m sure there would be more than one who knows more than they are admitting to.
Only those who don’t want to know or better still want to hear,  would respond the way they have.
To me it doesn’t matter either way, maybe somewhere this side of heaven someone may read what I have said and be comforted, they would already know on the other.
When one has dealt with the dying, you realize what a wonderful God given gift empathy really is.

I feel that Steve’s intreprepation was beautiful & “right on” !!!!!!

I feel that the message posted by Steve on Nov.10 8:30 a.m. was BEAUTIFUL !!!

Thank you, MM for reminding Lynne and all Catholics the teachings of our Faith.  Our Lady exhorted us to pray for her Son’s Priests.  Her words were:  “It wounds my Son when one of His Priests is scandalized. Always pray for His Priests and never scandalize them”. We are, therefore, commanded to pray for our Priests because they are Christ’s anointed. But it appears Lynne and those so-called Catholics who think like her, derive perverted pleasure in condemning all Priests but are comfortable to accept fathers, brothers, uncles and other relatives who abuse their girl-children. I have never heard any professed pro-choice condemning fathers who violate their 2-year old babies.  Neither have they condemned violation of boys and girls as young as 6 years in Public Schools, Protestant Churches or in other Orphanage Institutions.  So I ask Lynne,  why the obsession with the less than 1% Priests who sinned 30, 40 or 50 years ago, when you seem to approve ongoing molestations in other Organizations where the percentage of abuse is over and above 17%?  If it is TRUTH you are after, then let us hear your views on abuses from all the other Organization where they are more rampant and widespread.

I wonder if those condemning the priests guilty of abusing minors would consider using that concern to speak out against NAMBLA, which is open and clear about their pursual of minor boys for their sick pleasures?  It is hypocritical at best to focus on a small minority of priests and miss the major offender who is bold enough to proclaim their evil pursuits.  MM and Mary, your comments bring truth and charity to the whole issue. Our priests are under assault because they are the mediators of the Mercy and Grace of Jesus Christ. We are obliged to pray for them.

I can do no better than to second Susan’s take on this.  Anyone out there in Catholic Media that can bring this about please step forward.  Anyone who knows someone in Catholic Media please pass on Susan’s suggestion: 

“Posted by Susan on Tuesday, Nov 9, 2010 6:47 PM (EDT):I can’t believe an “ecumenical nonprofit in England” even produced this.  It’s brilliant - bring it to the USA please - we need it over here.
Keep (or put back) Christ in Christmas! 
Merry Christmas everyone!”

Everyone who wants it “over here”, go ahead! Download the images at ChurchAds.net, take them to your church group, or just go make posters, greeting cards, bumper stickers, t-shirts, the works, on your own or with whoever! Don’t wait for someone else to do it!

Mary42; if I may say so, you appear to be more concerned with percentages than the very thought of women suffering the spiritual and phyiscal effects of being used for this self gratification by any of our clergy, who have our heirarchy behind them, with the duty to preserve the priesthood and prevent scandal at all costs.
That has nothing to do with our faith or anyone else’s for that matter and is blasphemous.
I had no intention of mentioning the lesser of the two physical evils for a child conceived with clergy and the same expectant mothers-to-be, disoriented and coerced in the same way to relinguish their babies for adoption and for the same reasons.
I cannot see your logic and any fair minded person with any prudence and integrity would feel the same way, Christian or not.
We have a problem and a big one and the vulnerable are he ones suffering for it.
Another thing, you seem to forget this is a Catholic website and as Catholics we deserve to have credibility for ourselves and in the eyes of the world.
At this point in time we do not, on Many fronts and spiritually, we the faithul are the scapegoats.

I would LOVE to have this as my Christmas Card this year!!!  Are there any available for purchase?  Great idea!!!

Lynne, listen to MM again before you lash out and condemn what I have said.

  “The Church is NOT a museum of saints, it is a hospital for sinners.
  Contemplate that from your own perspective and stop evangelizing for the evil one.  Stop attacking the Priesthood because when you do so, you attack Jesus Christ.” 

Digest that and believe you, Lynne, we are very, very staunch Catholics, very very proud of our Faith and ready to defend our Catholic Church always and everywhere we meet Agents of Satan masquerading as defenders of the brutalized women and boys. Of course, Lynne, you cannot see anyone’s logic here because you serve a different Master from us. For us Catholics - and I have been one since I was 20 days old 72 years ago - praying for our Priests is our No.1 Duty because it is through them we obtain Graces through the Sacraments Christ left for our Salvation.  And WE KNOW THEY ARE THE CHIEF TARGETS FOR SATAN’S ATTACKS. AND HE USES EVERY WEAPON HE HAS TO TRY AND DESTROY THEM. It is through these Graces, through Sacraments, that Satan loses hordes of souls he wishes to haul unto Hell.  So the Priest are his mortal enemies. If he can succeed in discrediting the Sacrament of the Holy Orders, the salvation of mankind is in peril and that is why all Pro-Choice Proponents and Agents and Catholic-haters keep on harping about Priests’ failures while condoning and/or ignoring worse horrors and bestialities committed against women an children by persons in other Institutions.  Your Chief interest and Mission in Life is to condemn the Catholic Church, discredit the Clergy wholesale and the entire Church Leadership and the Magisterium. But remember, Christ emphatically declared: “Upon this Rock I shall build my Church and the powers of Hell shall never prevail upon it.  And behold. I shall be with you until the end of time”.  So, Lynne and Company, Christ’s Church has lived through every kind of attacks and persecutions through its 2010 years the same way its Founder ended upon the Cross.  As we speak, She is under intense and sustained persecutions in Afganstan,Pakistan,India,Vietnam and other Islamic States. Again, Christ stated: “If they hated Me, they will hate you even more and persecute you because you do not belong to the world”. Do you hear Christ, Lynne??? But then Satan does not give up even though he was defeated when Christ died on the Cross. It is evident especially in this age, he is lashing out with demonic ferocity at the Church, the Holy Father, and entire Universal Church.  He is working to destroy God’s Divine and Natural Law on the sanctity of Life from conception to natural death, the Sacrament of Matrimony, the Family, the human morality and all that edifies the dignity of man.  But St. Peter’s Boat is under the stewardship of the Holy Spirit and Satan will be crushed yet again the same way he has been defeated the 2010 years of the life of our Mother Church.  Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour or our death. Amen

To much emphasis on satan with a little “s” today I’m afraid.
My comment was in refernce to your “percentages” nothing in paricular to MM.
By the way, I wonder why people don’t use their real names when submitting comments, not that you are required to.
For me it’s a credibility thing.
There is nothing more to say really apart that I do respect where your coming from.
Be strong in the spirit Mary42, continue in the faith and God will bless you.
Pray for a little discernment sometime and for those whose plight I have made mention of, in case by chance the depicted Ulra-sound Jesus comes their way with empty arms.

Tim, I think it is amazing that this was created and sponsored by the exact groups that do disagree on so many points of faith in Holy Scripture.  I do think however that this is a wonderful ad in these days of a crisis of faith and perfect for people to reflect on life and death issues and yes Abortion which is murder.  These times of ours will be remembered especially as absolute evil as so many of our brothers and sisters never got to see the light of day due to sinful deeds.  How much beauty has been lost for this world due to the execution of the innocents in the womb.  Jesus and all of Heaven must be quite pleased that this ad will run giving his creation something to reflect on and just maybe there will be change of hearts due to this ad.  Merry Christmas!

Lynne,believe me I am registered under my full name, Mary Moll Macharia. By the way, you are defending yourself that some of the commentators who have taken objection to your views have never dealt with the dying.  Well, I have a surprise for you, Lynne. Many of us have had personal encounter with death of loved ones severally. I watched my first born infant boy die at 4 months only - I was only 18 years then.  It was the most traumatic experience to a young bride of one year. But I was consoled that a Priest had baptized him when he was 21 days old and I was sure little Bernard was in Heaven. When my husband of 37 and a half years fell sick with cancer of the liver, I sat on a Hospital chair every night with my head on his pillow as he lay groaning with excruciating pain.  When it was decided to take him to a Hospice for his final days, we decided to go home instead.  Lynne, for three days and three nights, my husband was sustained by the daily reception of the Holy Eucharist and he was at peace because the Priest had prepared him well according to our Catholic Faith.  The Priest, being a medical Doctor as well, knew on the 4th evening that death was near. With powers bestowed on him by Christ, he decided we share one Eucharist with my husband - his was the Viaticum - to me, it was the farewell meal we were sharing.  By the Grace of God, no doubt guided by the Holy Spirit, the Priest left his briefcase in our Bedroom with the 2nd Blessed Host which had been blessed for me.  In short, Lynne, through the Sacrifice of the Mass celebrated by the Priest, Jesus personally kept vigil with me as the hour of death for my husband neared. At 5.15 a.m while I was holding my husband in my arms, Jesus took him, and handed him over to Our Heavenly Father and we were left the two of us alone until my adult children returned from fetching a Policeman. (It is the law here for a Policeman to certify and death which takes place at home before the body is taken to the Mortuary).  So Lynne, not only have I experienced the pain of losing my beloved husband and watching him go as I am holding him in my own arms, I also had to face another parting when my son, who had been sick for 14 years, finally went home.  Once again, a Priest was available to ensure he died a well-provided death according to our Catholic Church.  You can now begin to realize just how irritating this wholesale vitriolic attacks on our Priests and our Catholic Church is painful and distasteful to some of us.  It becomes even more hurting when those who claim to be Catholics are the worst tormentors and appear to derive perverted pleasure in screaming about Priests’ sins and condemning the entire Church wholesale at the slightest excuse, yet they know without Priests, Christ’s death would have been in vain. The Holy Father is dealing with the scandals very, very effectively and the least he expects from those who call themselves Catholics is support for his determined and sustained efforts to deal with the problem once and for all. Not daily condemnation from Satan disciples. This incessant public persecution of Christ’s Priests and our Catholic Church MUST BE CONDEMNED BY ALL PEOPLE OF GOODWILL

How beautiful Mary,; and what a consolation you have in particular, having our beautiul Catholic faith to sustain you.
The loss of a baby at any age is traumatic but at eighteen, that it so young. I see you also had the tragedy of losing your husband.
Your sir name indicates there is maybe Italian or Spanish heritge, from my expeience, the grieving process takes on a little different custom which once shared, an everlasing impression remains with you.
Now touching on what was my initial contribution to this site;
My grief was/is for the many women who never had the opportunity to grieve openly or ligitimately, for the babies who’s lives they were coerced into forfeiting, in paticular through abortion conceived by priest.
The non-catholic laity would never comprehend the significance of this because our priest are just men to them.
We know differently and been brought up to believe this unless a convert and that is different.
It is known not only has the process been entered into the but also insisted on the womans confession to himself.
This is clearly insidious.
I don’t feel it necessary for any further dialougue into these issues.
My intention was to draw awareness to these vulnerable women who have suffered through such abominable deeds and this I have done, this Ultra-sound Jesus bringing home.
As a mother who has suffered albeit under different circumstances, you may like to remember them in your payers as previosly menioned not shutting them out because of your high acclaim of your own parish priest/priests and what we expet from them as Catholics.
As far as satan with a little “s” is concerned tell “him” to go hell and then he will no longer be part of your vocabulary.
Thank you for sharing your story.

“Another commenter asked, ‘I wonder why people don’t use their real names when submitting comments . . . For me it’s a credibility thing.”

Females, especially those living in major metropolitan regions, are generally advised by personal safety and security consultants *never* to post their full real names on the internet, except when necessary, i.e.,  in resumes, corporate advertising, etc., and even then to be very circumspect about the information provided and where and how it is posted. 

Most people ignore this, however. Which is their choice. I tend to take security recommendations very seriously, and implement them.

Credibility can be an issue in anonymous comments, however, even persons who give (what appear to be) their full real names may post things that betray them to be simpering idiots. I have switched over to investing credibility not in the name given, but in *writing* which indicates that the poster knows how to (1) think carefully and well, (2) how to weigh the facts, (3) how to consider the various sides of the question fairly, and (4) how to refer all things to the teachings of Jesus Christ that comes to us through the Church.

P.S. In no way intending to imply that any posters here at NCR write like “simpering idiots.” I was speaking of elsewhere, of course!

Lynne, the Canon Law forbids the woman from confessing to the Priest who is the party to the sin. For the benefit of the unfortunate victims of Priests’ molestations, I would advise them to immediately go to confession to another Priest.  Again, the Cannon Law requires the Cardinal Sin of Abortion be confessed to the penitent’s Ordinary. This is because abortion is a very serious sin of murder and it results in the woman having ex-communicated herself from the Church.  That is why she is required to obtain Absolution from the Ordinary (the Bishop) or a Priest who has been given the Power to Absolve sins of Abortion by their Bishop.  Of course, Lynne, we pray daily for any woman who, for whatever reason, decides to procure an abortion. And no doubt the Confessor advises the woman to go for counseling because the emotional scars of abortion are grave and lifelong and women need all the help they can to reconcile with themselves and, most importantly, forgive themselves for inner healing to take place.

P.S I am tickled that you think my Surname indicates I may be of Italian or Spanish heritage!!!! But, hey!! I am none of the above and as Marion says, we are very conscious of security issues and our real names are not displayed on the Internet.

To Lynne’s point, in addition to women who (allegedly) have been forced to have an abortion by a bishop, there are women who are coerced into having abortions by their parents, by their boyfriends, by their boyfriend’s parents; women who have lost babies due to spontaneous miscarriage, who have lost babies due to etopic pregnancy, women who are infertile, all of whom might . . . . *might* feel emotionally devastated by this poster, as well as by posters featuring the Gerber baby, or infants wearing Huggies(TM).

Persons who have survived shark attack *might* be devastated by posters illustrating people swimming at the beach. Veterans recovering from PTSD *might* be re-traumatized by seeing little boys running around playing with toy machine guns. Persons who have suffered permanent disfigurement may melt down whenever they see an advertisement for the brand of pick-up truck that hit them.

Alcoholics may undergo terrible struggles when they see Seagrams’ or Absolut posters or ads.

What else?

Lord! Most anyone might be devastated by most anything, when it comes to that.

It’s very sad. But there it is. The poster is obviously not *intended* to inflict emotional harm on anyone, but to remind us all of a fact. An important fact.

Good image.

Marvelous portrait.  Christ came to us as an infant in the first tabernacle, Mary’s womb.  What more do we need to know to respect ALL human life of which we are made in God’s image?

Thanks be to God for those who will stand up for Him and for ALL life.

Thank you Mael, I’m aware there was no harm meant by ChurchAds and I do agree with all of you of the beauty therein.
I don’t usually research for others when questions arise on the validity on what I have said, obviously because they are not in the public domain.
With my own time constrainst, two of are as follows bearing in mind the involvement of other clergy and the roll they play:
Fr Keven Cox manipulated a young girl for six years until she conceived his child and then paid for her to have the pregnancy terminated.
That has actually just been be posted, she was’nt a religious and the artcle can be found on; Sex-abuse priest even Cox Sydney Brokenrites and can be verfied for those that take the time.
Another is; Jesuit Priest seeks bail, October 19 2010. this relates to a sister who had to leave religious life because she had the audacity to report it to the police due to the church taking no action against the father who was blackmailing her.
Her pregnancy was an emotionally forced termination and paid for by the priest.
Note; she had to leave her religious community not because she had an abortion, but that it became public..
Canon Law is for the benefit of the Church, as in not for the laity unless it is for annulments not always given, the clergy don’t always count either and it has never held up in a court of law.
With that I will conclude my participation with this subject and wish you and yours good tidings for the coming Christmas festivities and New Avent.

I love it.  Where can I get copies for our pro-life group?

so if there is such a problem with there being a pro-life add, Christ was also crucified. So I ask you if we put the baby in the womb on a cross or just a cross in the picture wouldn’t that cover both pro-life and abortionists?

d blanton what a deeply spiritual comment with huge huge dimensions.
It fits the whole concept perfectly, especially from where I’m coming from.
Inspirational.

It’s jo to see this action and it’s about time.

What a wonderful poster!  I was feeling so happy seeing it and reading all the comments, until the arguments started about victims of clergy abuse. I found both sides of the argument most distressing.  This is not the right place to discuss these issues.  This poster is about the “bigger picture” and we should all be supporting it.  The Church does have a problem with the behaviour of some of its priests and sweeping it under the carpet and being defensive/agressive towards victims is not the answer.  I really don’t think victims are working for satan.  I think the priests who betray everything they are supposed to stand for and abuse those they should be caring for bring scandal on themselves and on the Church.  I have every sympathy for your position, Lynn, I just don’t think this is the right time or place to make an issue of it.  This is about bringing Christ back into Christmas and to the world.  Sometimes we have to swallow individual pain for the sake of the greater good. Peace.

I’m thinking this is exactly what His ultrasound looked like!!

Hooray for CHRISTmas!!

Quite the contrary fatoum, my position is this depiction has a spiritual
content and the women I have brought to mind I make no apology for.
If one person remembers them in their prayers apart from myself I am spiritually appeased and they will be blessed.
God won’t forget either.

Lynn, I am glad to hear you make no apology for these women.  Nor do I. I am fully aware of what these women go through and how it affects them.  My prayers are with them and also for the Church and its priests, as are the prayers of many others within the Church.  Of course God will not forget.  He sees and knows all things including who genuinely repents and who does not, and why some people’s faith has been shattered at the hands of those who should have been caring for them.  The issues you are concerned with are genuine issues but I feel that there are right times and places and ways of addressing these issues. I do not feel that this is one of them. From your previous posts it appears that you are speaking on behalf of victims, are you sure victims want this issue raised here? Peace.

Muslims:131
United States Catholic catechism for Adults

GENESIS 3:1-6
The New American Bible

Sin:528
United States Catholic Catechism for adults

DANIEL 12:1-13
The New American Bible

Chris, your comment is just what the church would be and aways will be counting on, thats why these women have had to live and suffer in silence.
I’m afraid my protest-ant upbringing and now Catholic faith doesn’t allow these insidious acts never to be considered publicly without fear or favour, on my part anyway. 
A life is a life and the importance of it as such, hence the impact on what the Utrasound Jesus depicts.
What is worse for the mother in these situations, is the concept of old, the child conceived the result of a sacreligious union and evil.
These days it is to preserve the priesthood and prevent scandal and maybe a little of both.
I’m sure the opportunity would never have arisen with such an emphasise, I’m grateful for it and taken full advantage of it.
The fact it was a non-Catholic initiative obviously there would be many who would have preferred I hadn’t.
Now; Rejoice in the Advent of what the Ultrasound Jesus depicts who survived the womb, who at conception, if the Holy Spirit had be misinterpretated and was a Catholic priest, could also have been classed as the result of a sacreligious union, evil and as in the case of the “other Mary’s”, Mary’s vulnerability exploited.
If Catholics want to do something constuctive instead of responding further to my comments, ask your Parish Priest or Bishop to offer a public mass for these faceless women left with this aftermath.
Someone will be listening.

Lynne, your fixation with the exploited, abused women is understandable, though it is being discussed within the wrong subject of this Post.  Now I want to bring another angle into this Priests’ Scandal and I advise you to read the Pope’s response in his new Book when he was asked about these scandals.  He has explained how and what was the cause of this phenomenon… in short, failure to properly vet those who presented themselves for admission in Seminaries and went ahead to become Priests.  Had the stringent measures he instituted when he was Head of this Department as Cardinal Ratzinger been there in the first place, these scandals would never have occurred because persons with these disordered and pervert tendencies would have been detected and not admitted into Seminaries.

I also would like to hear - because I have not come across anyone commenting on that - if anyone has ever considered the mental torture the abusing Priests have been undergoing.  They knew they had fallen, and fallen badly, offended God grieviously for breaking their Vows of Celibacy and had to live with this guilt of having committed this Sacrilegious sin.  Let’s be honest here.  We are all sinners and those who strive to live their Catholic Faith know very well the pain they undergo when they have fallen into mortal sin. The realization that one has offended a Loving, Compassionate and caring God so seriously, brings a soul into so much agony which will only be healed when one has presented oneself before God’s Tribunal of Mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, confessed their sins and, through the Merits gained for us by Jesus dying on the Cross, one is forgiven.  So, as we mourn and persistently harp on the wounded women and children, let us spare a thought, and pray very fervertly for the fallen Priests.  They, too, are children of God.  Even though their sins are horrendous, they are, in fact, in most need of forgiveness and reconciliation with the Body of Christ, the Church which, by their sins, they have wounded. I am not tired of reminding all Catholics that we are called upon to pray for our Priests because they are in mortal danger from the Evil One who targets them specifically and torments them continuously throughout their lives.  They need all the prayers we can offer for them so that the Holy Spirit can strengthen them to overcome temptations and honour the Vow of Celibacy which they offered to God in order to serve Christ’s Sheep.  Once again, I feel compelled to state that, without Priests, the Faithful would have no channels to obtain God’s Graces because it is through the Sacraments, celebrated by the Priests, that God is able to bless us, sustain us, heal and strengthen us in our Spiritual Journey.  Certainly, the Evil One must attack that source of Grace so that He can have more souls to haul into Hell.

You really hit the nail on the head Mary42. I, like every other decent minded person am disappointed about the scandals and what seems to be the Church’s response, but God loves the Priests just as much as He loves the victims. Since Jesus told us to love our enemies, both the perpetrator and the victim need our prayers.

Mark, when you read the Pope’s Book, you will be surprised to discover just how much the Church has been doing to bring these tribulations to an end.  Take note that all the scandals which have rocked the Church happened 40 - 50 - 60 years ago. That immediately tells you that, in its own way, the Church has taken very stringent and effective steps to ensure proper vetting of those who apply to join Seminaries to lock out the perverts from becoming Priests since no new cases have cropped up.  I am not aware any new cases have been reported from the Seventies and Eighties.  We, of course, bemoan how slow the Catholic Church is in responding to any issues, especially those that hurt Her reputation.  But remember, the Church is at all times out-shouted by the secular media and Catholic-haters.  As the Pope stated in this new Book, he cannot be expected to be commenting and fighting every wild accusation that is thrown at the Catholic Church almost on a daily basis.  The Magisterium of the Church does not work like the racy, sensational secular media which in most cases is pursuing an ulterior Agenda against the Catholic Church.  But the Catholic Church’s stand and Doctrine on Faith and Morals is never in doubt.  Why???? Because it has never, it is not, and it shall never change.  Christ is the same Yesterday, To-day and For Ever.  I wish more faithful and committed Catholics would step out and defend Our Holy Mother Church.  We know our role the the Laity who are called “The Church Militant”.  We are fully aware of what is expected of us when our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is under attack from the agents of the Evil One.  TO DEFEND IT WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE BECAUSE SHE IS HOLY AS HER BRIDEGROOM AND FOUNDER IS HOLY.  I really get saddened when I read some comments from persons who call themselves Catholics and yet, they are failing Her because they have lost all sense of sin and keep on harping that the Church MUST CHANGE to conform with the changing times.  And they demand the Church ordains women, accepts homosexuality and same-sex unions as marriage, applaud the genocide of unborn babies and hedonistic lifestyles and other bestialities and horrors being committed by the fallen humanity who have lost every vestige of the dignity of being created in the Image and Likeness of God. To them I say, the Church of Christ does not move with the secular world.  This Church is under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit who is the Captain of St. Peter’s Boat. It will, therefore, never conform to the evil ways of the secular world but will proclaim and defend the Truth for which Christ established by dying the Cross until the End of Times.

These coerced abortions have a life long effect psychologically on the clergy of course, how terrible for them to hold newborns for Baptisms, praying over them if they are sick or dying and conducting funerals.
I presume you’ve heard of transference?
The need for intimacy have led many down this road, the physical evidence of being unable to maintain their vows would be overhelming.
Coercd full term adoption the same sacrifice for the mother and the world is full of them too.
The Confessional and the requirement of resolving not to sin again sounds and looks good on paper.
These men are human and the priesthood is to be preserved at all cost to the detriment of these women until the voice of Rome in it’s wisdom changes these man made laws and make celibacy optional.
These issues within the church would never see the light of day not because they were better hidden, but because they wouldn’t exist.
Whose feet does the true fault lay?
Aren’t our non-Catholic brothers and sisters receiving an education?
Thanks Mary42, I believe it is only courtesy that I respond to a comment addressed to me;
Lynn with two ee’s Lynne.

Sorry Mary; Lynn with an e Lynne.

Lynne,I am sorry for misspelling your name.  Forgive me.  Now I believe it is time this fallacy that Priests sin because of the Vow of Celibacy MUST BE EXPOSED FOR WHAT IT IS….A BLATANT LIE. Why do I say this?. In the statement made by the gentleman who was interviewing the Holy Father for his new Book, he states that 99.997% of abuses of children and women take place in other Christian Denominations, Public Schools, Children’s Homes and Orphanages run by other Organizations.  The Pope’s reply to this observation is self-explanatory. No one is ever forced to become a Priest.  When one applies to join the Seminary he knows the Vow of Celibacy is one of the three Vows which are mandatory for Priesthood.  But Mother Church, in her compassionate love for Her children does grant dispensation to those Priests who discover later on they are unable to remain faithful to this vow and ask to be dispensed.  This is done, and they remain faithful Catholics.  However, those who have committed the Sacrilegious Sins which have scandalized the Church have disordered homosexual or phaedophilia orientations.  To say that these sins would disappear if Priests were allowed to marry is a deliberate refusal to accept the truth.  Why do I say so? Because those who commit these crimes quoted above, are married.  How come we have cases of fathers who abuse their girl-children as young as 6 months or fathers and brothers who sodomize their 6 year-old sons/brothers?  How come many wives have had to divorce their husbands on discovering they were homosexuals all along? The Catholic Church teaches and upholds the Truth of God as revealed by Christ Himself. In our Prayer - “Act of Faith” we pray:  “O my God I firmly believe that You are One God in Three Divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  I believe that your Divine Son became Man and died for our sins and that He will come again to judge the living and the dead.  I believe these and all the Truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because You have revealed them,You who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen”. To be a true Catholic is to obey God’s Law and Will as taught by His Church. Though we have free will, God expects us to obey Him fully. We cannot pick and choose what to believe and what to reject.  We all need to remember soon each one of us will stand before Him to account for how one lived one’s life - striving to fulfill His Will or rejecting Him. As for your views regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it is sad you disbelieve Christ’s own words when He first appeared to his Apostles after His Resurrection: ” He breathed onto them…...receive the Holy Spirit, the sins you forgive are forgiven, the sins you retain are retained.” Christ tells us He forgives seventy times seven.  When I go for Confession, it is to Christ Himself that I confess my sins and through the words of the Priest, He forgives me my sins and absolves me, giving me, or strengthening the Sanctifying Grace in my soul. The mandatory State a soul must protect and remain in at all times, because we do not know the day or the time the Lord will come to claim one’s Soul.

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!  I agree with the ads.  I am thrilled.

This is GREAT!!! So happy there is a group standing up - we need you all and those to come! Especially Our Lord! Thank you and God bless!

I think that this is a great post as well as an ad that a lot of people can connect with. I do believe that this ad has a pro-life message behind it, as well as a message to keep Christ in our minds during this time of year. I believe that some people, may forget the true reasons and meanings behind the Christmas holiday and this ad reminds us of the true reasons we celebrate. As for the pro-life message, I do not see a problem with this. When I first looked at the picture and did not read into the actual text of the message, I instantly had the thought that this ad was saying that, any child has the potential to be something great and important, and life should be something that is carried out. I saw this picture as a way to show people that a child at birth has unlimited possibilities in front of them.

Thank you, Adrian. We need many, many more of us to come out and defend our Mother Church and our Catholic Faith. And thank you,Greg. We started to celebrate this very fitting Ad as Advent was just around the corner to prepare us for Christmas.  But sadly we were side-tracked by the introduction of irrelevant subject and sterile arguments.  No doubt the reminder of the sanctity of life pricked the conscience of the Pro-choice proponents and the agents of death for unborn babies.  Why?  Because deep down in their hearts, they know what they viciously campaign for is murder most foul and the ultimate insult to God the Creator and Author of Life.  As Greg states, this Ad reminds us that each life created by God has the potential of becoming someone great.  The reminder that God creates life to be protected from conception to natural death goes against the campaign and Agenda of the Pro-choice brigade and these merchants of death, hence their violent reaction and attack of this very beautiful Ad.  Now that the Advent Season has arrived could these life-haters respect the Purpose and Spirit of Christmas and permit us to prepare suitably with Prayers and good works for the arrival of the Saviour of mankind and stop introducing their irrelevant side-shows which have no place in this Post. God bless us all.

Dear Mr. Drake,

May God continue to bless you to the MAX! for all you do to further the Kingdom of God.

Mrs. Happy Jackie

Merry Christmas Folks!  I want this ad to put on the back of my car!  It’s perfect.  Also, let’s all sigh and chuckle at our humanity.  Somehow I found this picture and read the comments.  I saw TIM’S post, the posts of the first to chide Tim, the chiders of Tim’s chiders, and now I shall chide the chiders, umm, yeah, and probably someone will chide me.  I suggest a pause in the thinking and advising and talking - and getting a thrill up the leg because the real Savior of the world agreed to take the job 2000 years ago!!  He’s the only one who has ever or will ever get it right down here, and thank God He’s willing to drag us along with Him to wherever He’s going.  (FYI-I am a product of the most old-timey, rosary- laden, novena-saying cradle of Catholicism you’ll ever find: and I LOVE it!  It ain’t perfect but neither are the options.

I did state earlier that we MUST STOP the incessant attack on Catholic Priests’ scandals on the wrong Post but for the sake of those who have refused to accept the fact that the REAL SEX ABUSE OF CHILDREN LIES ELSEWHERE, I copy herebelow to-day’s Article on the problem in Public Schools which the shrill secular media and Catholic-haters always swept under the carpet, concentrating on dragging the Catholic Church and its Priests though the mud for hidden Agendas.  So, after this, I hope to hear the last of castigating my Church and demoralizing the entire Priesthood for the sins of a very minute minority who have fall into Satan’s attacks over 50 years ago and need our prayers from now onwards. Let all note that there has not been any new cases of Priests’ abuse for the last 30 years because the Catholic Church tightened the vetting process to lock our the sexual perverts and phaedophilies from joining our Seminaries!!!!!!

Child Sex Abuse in Public Schools Dwarfs Problem in Catholic Institutions
November 29, 2010 12:46 pm SBrinkmann Breaking News

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

An editorial page editor for Colorado’s Gazette says the media’s focus on sex abuse within the Catholic Church has left little space for reporting about institutions where the problem is far worse - such as public schools.

In an editorial appearing in today’s Gazette, Wayne Laugesen says that according to statistics, more children have been sexually abused this year in public schools in Colorado than have been abused in Catholic institutions in all 50 states combined.

For instance, data from the Rape and Incest National Network shows that one in 14 girls in grades five to eight, and one in nine high school girls, are sexually abused in public schools every year. Boys are molested at about half the rate of girls.

However, in spite of these alarming numbers, most cases of school employees having sex with children go unreported, even though sexual misconduct is the largest single cause of teacher discipline by the Colorado Department of Education, Laugesen explains.

“Sherryll Kraizer, executive director of the Denver-based Safe Child Program and a professional witness in sex abuse trials, has informed The Gazette about a phenomenon in public schools known as ‘passing the trash’ — a practice in which known abusers are quietly passed along to other schools with glowing referrals or silence,” he reports.

Kraizer said principals and school teachers mostly ignore laws that require them to report sexual abuse of students, even though any serious examination of evidence shows that the sex abuse scandal in public schools dwarfs anything that ever occurred in Catholic institutions, Laugesen says.

“Today, based on a study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, the number of reported sexual abuse cases in Catholic institutions nationwide is fewer than 10. That means more children have been sexually abused this year in public schools on the Front Range of Colorado than have been abused in Catholic institutions in all 50 states combined.”

However, the public is being left in the dark about the true scope of the crisis of child sexual abuse in the U.S. by a media that seems fixated on only those cases that involve the Catholic Church while giving every other institution a pass.

For instance, when the Hare Krishnas in California settled the largest child sex abuse lawsuit in history in 2001, it generated 44 stories in California over a six-month period. During the same period, Californians were treated to 17,310 stories about sex abuse in California Catholic institutions. That’s 39,341 percent more coverage than was generated by the most serious sex abuse case in history, Laugesen reports.

In another example, two simultaneous lawsuits in Dallas — one against the Episcopal diocese and one against the Catholic Diocese — resulted in 1,232 percent more coverage of the Catholic lawsuit.

“A surplus of alarming evidence and data . . . pointing to a sex abuse crisis in public schools has been met with a shortage of comprehensive coverage in the press and public outrage that underwhelms,” Laugesen writes. “It’s almost as if nobody cares.”

He goes on to applaud the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for establishing a child protection agency in Washington and enforcing strict guidelines in every diocese in the country for protecting children that includes screening and fingerprinting of all adults who work with children in church institutions.

“Today, sexual abuse of children is clearly out of control in public schools and is even more prevalent in homes. Society needs to stop acting as if it’s a problem caused by priests and look to the Catholic Church in the United States for answers. Due in part to public outrage regarding its mistakes and misdeeds of the past, the church appears to have emerged as the one organization with a formula for nearly eradicating sexual threats to children.”

A civilized society should be outraged by any incident of an adult sexually exploiting a child, he says, and clergy should be held to the highest standard - but so should teachers.

© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®  http://www.womenofgrace.com

From St. Louis, MO: Christianity is the only religion, the only one, that was tasked by its leader, Jesus Christ, to go out into all the world and proclaim His Word….well…these are my words, but do you disagree with my words?  This Jesus with the Halo is IT!

Pornography, child abuse in public schools, judges who think same-sex marriage is ‘just another OK thing’.  Deny Jesus and you deny yourself, your future, your family, and your nation….

Patricia in St. Louis, MO

Oh wooooooWWWWW!!!!!This is brilliant!!! Bring it here in the Philippines and for sure it will be posted everywhere… maybe it will be a beautiful backdrop for our advent wreath..And I wonder what those above discussions were…

This is brilliant!  Thanks for sharing!

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