Support Health Care Reform That Respects Life

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Congress is working on three main health care reform bills—one in the House, two in the Senate.

House: On July 17, the Committees on Education and Labor and on Ways and Means favorably reported the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200), while the Committee on Energy and Commerce continues its markup. During markup these committees rejected amendments to exclude mandated coverage for abortion.

Senate: On July 15, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted out its bill, the Affordable Health Choices Act (not yet numbered). During markup the committee rejected amendments to exclude federal funding or mandated coverage for abortion and to maintain current state laws limiting and regulating abortion. The Senate Finance Committee continues to work on a bill that it hopes will be able to secure bipartisan support.

On July 17, Bishop William Murphy, Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, sent a letter to Congress saying: “The USCCB looks forward to working with you to reform health care successfully in a manner that offers accessible, affordable and quality health care that protects and respects the life and dignity of all people from conception until natural death.” Abortion must not be included as part of a national health care benefit. “No health care reform plan should compel us or others to pay for the destruction of human life, whether through government funding or mandatory coverage of abortion.” Bishop Murphy argued that any legislation should reflect longstanding policies “on abortion funding, mandates and conscience protections because they represent sound morality, wise policy and political reality.” For the full text of Bishop Murphy’s letter, see: nchla.org/datasource/idocuments/071709USCCBhealthcareltr.pdf. For a backgrounder on the legal “status quo” on abortion and conscience rights, see: nchla.org/datasource/idocuments/fedabortionlawbackgrndr.pdf.

Underlining Bishop Murphy’s concern, 19 House Democrats sent a letter on June 25 to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), stating that “we cannot support any health care reform proposal unless it explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan.” See: nchla.org/datasource/idocuments/dem062509healthletter.pdf.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Finance Committee continue to mark up bills. Floor votes could occur before the August recess. Please contact your Representative and Senators!

ACTION: Contact Members through e-mail, phone calls or FAX letters. E-mails can be sent through NCHLA’s Grassroots Action Center—please click here. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at: 202-224-3121, or call the local offices of your Representative and Senators. Full contact info can be found on Members’ web sites at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

MESSAGE: “A fair and just health care reform bill must exclude mandated coverage for abortion, and uphold longstanding laws that restrict abortion funding and protect conscience rights.”

WHEN: Committees are now marking up bills. Votes could occur on House and Senate floor before the August recess. Thanks!

Festival 2009

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Well Festival 2009 has come and gone and it was a great success. Thanks to everyone who worked or who came out and supported the day. The weather cooperated, thanks be to God, and it looked like everyone was having a great time dancing and just enjoying the day.

The Festival is a great time for people to come home and see families and friends and I saw many people that I have not seen since the last Festival. We also saw many new faces this year and one big green one. Thanks to the Boston Red Sox for providing Wally the Green Monster for the day it was great and the kids loved it!

So now we meet on Sunday and start planning next year. But before that we have other events that need to be planned so stay tuned for more news.

Pictures soon.

Rude People Make Me Wanna Puke

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Cross Posted From www.wesomorning.com
Tonight I am writing this from the Press Box at the Worcester Tornadoes game at Fitton Field in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Tornadoes belong to the Canadian American Independent League of baseball and a great team in this great city.

At the start of the game, as they do at most sporting events, they play the National Anthem. The announcer asks everyone to stand, and remove their caps for the playing of the National Anthem. Whilst the Anthem was playing I was scanning the crowd and low and behold, right in front of the Box was this (I wish I could use the word I ant to use) let’s just call him a dope standing there with his hat on, beer in hand, and the other hand in his pocket. I had all I could do to refrain from screaming at this fine American! The kicker of the thing is his son was standing beside him with his hat off and over his heart and actually singing!

This really gets my goat. I cannot explain what this does to me to see disrespect like this. Earlier today I wrote a blog post about Shifty Powers of Band of Brothers fame and how he died in June and no one knew or or for that matter cared about it. Then I come to America’s Game and see this PUTZ (I hope I spelled that right) disrespecting everything that we fought for. Well I guess he fought for the right for this dope to stand there with his hands in his pocket.

The utter disrespect we now see in this country is amazing. Just the fact that the announcer had to tell people to stand up and remove their caps should be enough… I don’t know what to do about but rest assured I will make this my mission in life!

Band of Brothers

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I have watched the HBO mini series Band of Brothers several times, in fact I just watched it over the 4th of July weekend. Today I got an email saying that Staff Sargent Darrell “Shifty” Powers died in June. With all of the hype surrounding the Michael Jackson death and other celebrities why is it that the death of a real hero can pass and no one remembers. Nothing on CNN nothing on FoxNews nothing anywhere. So I looked him up and here is the info on him from wikipedia.

Thanks “Shifty” for serving your country. Thanks to all of the men and women who are serving in our Armed Forced or Merchant Marine. They serve the country honorably and do a difficult job!

Darrell “Shifty” Powers (March 13, 1923–June 17, 2009) was a former U.S. Army NCO during World War II who served with the famed E Co/2/506 of the 101st Airborne Division (the Band of Brothers). Shifty was an original member of Easy Company, training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. Shifty’s hometown was Clinchco, Virginia, in Dickenson County.

Before the War
Powers was born in Clinchco, Dickenson County, Virginia and volunteered for the paratroopers with his good friend, “Popeye” Wynn. Shifty spent a great deal of time in the outdoors hunting game prior to joining the service. This would later prove useful as many of the skills he obtained helped him as a soldier.

World War II
Powers jumped into Normandy on D-Day, missing his drop zone. He eventually came in contact with Floyd Talbert and the two made their way to Easy Company. He participated in the assault of Carentan and every major battle Easy Company was involved with until the end of the war. He was considered by many to be the best shot in the company.

After the War
Because many men serving in the 101st lacked the minimum points required to return home, a lottery was put in place. Shifty Powers won this lottery after the rest of the company rigged it in his favor by removing their own names, and was set to return stateside. During the trip to the airfield, the vehicle Shifty was in was involved in an accident and Shifty was badly injured. He spent many months recuperating in hospitals overseas while his comrades in arms arrived home long before he did.

Honorably discharged from the Army in the postwar demobilization, he became a machinist for the Clinchfield Coal Corporation.

Darrell “Shifty” Powers was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Peter Youngblood Hills and appears in all 10 episodes.

He is listed as one of 20 men from Easy Company who contributed to the 2009 book We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from the Band of Brothers, published by Penguin/Berkley-Caliber.

“Shifty” Powers died June 17, 2009, of natural causes in Dickenson County, Virginia.

North Stonington Fair

Posted on by Fr. Peter
If you have nothing else to do today come on down to the North Stonington Fair in Connecticut. The New England Lawnmower Racing Association will be hosting the first race of the season. (The last one was just practice) The racing will begin about 1pm and last until 4pm so come on down.

I will be racing maybe in two classes this time around so come on down and cheer us on!

Lifestyle Change Update

Posted on by Fr. Peter
A few weeks ago I decided that I needed to make some changes in my life regarding finances as well as weight. So I am following Dave Ramsey’s plan to get my money right and I decided to get some weight off.

By all accounts I am several pounds overweight. I began listening to and reading Cliff Ravenscraft’s podcast and blog Pursuing a Balanced Life and began this journey. By a simple modification of what I eat and exercise I have to date lost about 10 pounds and dropped 2 inches off my waist.

The biggest part of this is setting goals. Of course weight loss and financial freedom should be enough but I wanted to set a good goal. So I wish to run a 5k in the fall. Not sure where yet that will come latter on but for now just know that I am going to run.

So today was day two of my running workout. I found this workout called from Couch Potato to 5k in six weeks. Start off slow, and build is the name of the game. This week I workout three days a week. Start with a 5 minute brisk walk to warm up and the alternate between running for one minute and walking for a minute and a half do this for 20 minutes. That’s it for this week. In the following weeks it will ramp up a little at a time.

Watch these pages for continued updates as well as the date for the big run! Prayer are welcome.

5 Years Ago

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Five years ago today I was in Chicago preparing to be ordained to the Holy priesthood. What a weekend of events. I was ordained a deacon on Friday morning and then on Sunday to the priesthood. It was the weekend of the Congress of our Archdiocese and all of the priests were in attendance as well as some of the faithful from around the Archdiocese. My parents were also there and it was a beautiful liturgy, well I think it was I was so nervous that I am unsure how it was. But the rest of the day was wonderful.

I began my ministry at St. Michael’s on July 5th and it has been quite a ride since then. Good and bad moments, some laughs, some tears. I have welcomed people into the Orthodox Church, baptized children, and buried the dead. To all the parishioners at St. Michael’s it has been a pleasure being your pastor these last five years. I look forward to many more years.

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