HearYe

New HHS Ruling "literally unconscionable"

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:58:00 GMT

"Literally unconscionable" is how the US Catholic Bishops described a recent ruling from the department of Health and Human Services regarding an aspect of the healthcare reform legislation. It requires that all Americans, as of August 1st 2012, purchase government approved health insurance that provides for sterilizations and FDA approved contraceptives, including those that cause abortions.

As such, employers must provide insurance plans that cover those services. Therefore, as a Catholic, you will be required by law to either purchase or supply a product that includes provisions for things we believe as violating moral law.

Read more about this new ruling and how our Catholic Bishops are responding. Get those pens warmed up to write or find the email addresses of your rep to let them know how you feel (links to finding your rep are on our home page).

CNSNews.com detailed article

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops coverage

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops video message

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Christmas is almost upon us ....

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:31:00 GMT

It's hard to believe we are just days away from Christmas and also the start of a new year. There have been many holiday themed tv shows and Christmas movies on tv. A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott and White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye have been played several times over each. There's one movie quote though, I wanted to share with you. It's not from a movie usually associated with Christmas, but it takes place during the Christmas season. It's titled "The Bishop's Wife". If you've never seen it, you'll have to. It is black and white, but the cast is fantastic - David Niven, Cary Grant and Loretta Young. Anyway, not to spoil the movie, but at the end, David Niven's character, Bishop Brougham, gives a sermon on Christmas eve.

"Tonight, I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking. Once upon a midnight clear there was a child's cry. A blazing star hung over a stable, and Wise Men came with birthday gifts.

We haven't forgotten that night down through the ages. We celebrate it with a star hung on a Christmas tree, and a cry of bells, and gifts; especially with gifts. We bind them and wrap them, and we put them under the tree. You give me a tie, I give you a book, Aunt Martha always wanted an orange squeezer, Uncle Harry could use a new pipe; oh, we haven't forgotten anyone, adult or child. All the stockings are filled, all that is, except one, and we have forgotten even to hang it up! The stocking for the child born in a manger. It's His birthday we are celebrating, you know. Don't let us ever forget that. Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most, and then let each of us put in his share - loving kindness, warm hearts, and an out-stretched hand - all the shining gifts that make peace on earth.".

A Blessed Christmas to you all.

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Veterans Day - November 11th

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:03:00 GMT

November 11, 2010 is Veterans Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, an armistice (a temporay cessation of hostilities) was signed between the Allied Forces and Germany, ending 'the war to end all wars', World War I. Seven months later, on June 28th 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed. In November of 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11th as the first commeration of Armistice Day, later to become a legal holiday on May 13th, 1938. Finally, on June 1, 1954, November 11th was approved via legislation to become "Veterans Day" in order to honor all American veterans from all wars.

We realize that all of our freedoms and liberties have been and are protected for us by the devotion of such dedicated men and women who are and have worn the uniform of the United States of America. It is with our deepest gratitude that we extend our thanks to all of our veterans for their service. We ask for God's blessings on all who served our country and for his healing to those who have been wounded in body, mind and soul. May their devotion and service be an example to all.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has a great website with some fantastic material regarding Veterans Day. Please click here to visit their site. You can also click on the image above for a larger version. God Bless America!

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D-Day June 6th, 1944

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:09:00 GMT

June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded -- but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler. - US army.mil

Today marks the 67th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Ordinary men made extraordinary by their bravery and desire to defeat evil wherever it lurked, regardless of the sacrifice. May God rest their souls.

Check out the awesome retrospective at www.army.mil/d-day/

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Coats for Kids

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:02:00 GMT

With the spring season under way and folks focusing on the warmth to come, the freezing cold of this past winter is a fading memory. One thing that won't be forgotten is that over 16,000 children received brand new warm coats free through the Knights of Columbus "Coats for Kids" drive. The money saved by these needy families can be put back into their household budget for other necessities like food, shoes and clothing. For more information on this successful and worthwhile campaign, please visit www.kofc.org/coats. On that page, you will also find links to other great community giving programs run by the Knights of Columbus, where we are "Neighbors Helping Neighbors".

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Check out the Catholic Information Service

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:48:00 GMT

Did you know about this? The Knights of Columbus have an online version of their Catholic Information Service at www.kofc.org/cis. It is an easy to use feature righ service for people who what to liear more about the Catholic Faith. Right now, there are 2 new courses exploring Catholicism and its underlying beliefs in a personal, easy-to-understand format. The courses are presented as on-line, pdf, or podcast versions. Of special interest is an online "Catechism of the Catholic Church", which offers the ability to browse the Catechism through a table of contents and also to search the text by topic or keyword. There are many devotional items as well. Check out www.kofc.org/cis for all the content, or http://www.kofc.org/un/en/cis/about.html for information about the service.

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March in January

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:58:00 GMT

No, not like 'Christmas in July'. But a real march, like a demonstration - all for the unborn. That's right, the annual March for Life was just this weekend past. Lot's of folks braved the weather and crowds to show their support for changing the abortion laws, overturning Roe vs Wade and giving those not yet born, rights of their own. A larger turnout was present, perhaps in hopes that the change in the house majority might pave the way to victory for the Pro-Life movement and the millions of unborn babies they are fighting for. The Knights of Columbus have a staunch record of supporting right-to-life causes. Abortion has come more front-and-center lately with arguments over the funding of abortion via federal tax dollars via the new health care laws, and the tragedies found in places like Planned Parenthood and Mr. Gosnell of Philadelphia (aka The Philadelphia Horror). Here are some great links of the coverage from the demonstration in Washington, including a blog detailing some interesting conversations between the blogger and pro-choice supporters.

There's a few good articles at the Catholic News Service
More from the National Catholic Register
Still more at CatholicVote.org

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Tags: Right-To-Life,pro-life

"Here you have" - Computer Virus Making The Rounds

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:08:00 GMT

In case you haven't become aware, there's a computer virus making the rounds. Technically called a worm, it is initially propagated via a simple email message with the subject line of "Here you have" or "Just for you". Inside the poorly worded email is a link to a seemingly harmless pdf document. The body reads "This is the document I told you about". However, the link actually causes the computer to download the virus (w32.insolk.B@mm). The virus infects the machine by trying to delete your security software and also tries to send the same email back out using your email address book. It also tries to spread using network connections (corporate and home networks), flash drives and such. This has already hit many major companies in the USA.

To help prevent becoming infected with any computer virus , please keep in mind the following:

1) do not open email from anyone you don't know

2) do not open email from anyone you do know, but don't understand the subject, it doesn't make sense, or you are not expecting such a communication.

3) when you do open any email, if the wording is very generic, uses poor grammar, or in any other way strikes you as odd, delete the email or send it to your spam folder

4) never click on a link in an email that looks suspicious (see above). The link can be disguised to look like it's going one place when it actually will take you somewhere else.

5) always make sure you are using up-to-date virus protection software. There are some very good subscription based ones such as Symantec and McAfee, as well as free ones.

6) always use a firewall on your computer whether it's part of a security product suite, or free such as the firewall that comes with Windows.

For more information on this virus threat, check out these links:

http://www.symantec.com/norton/theme.jsp?themeid=here-you-have-email-virus#details - will take you to the antivirus website of Symantec (Norton)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20100910/tc_pcworld/hereyouhavevirustriestodeleteyoursecuritysoftware - this is a news item from yahoo

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Tags: computer news