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I just read that one of my favorite celebrities Katherine Heigl and her hubby, musician Josh Kelly, just adopted a special needs baby girl from Korea.

I am a huge and avid supporter of adoption. One of my mom’s best friends just adopted two girls, ages 9 & 7, that I had the privilege to meet a few weekends ago. And now that I am grown up and out of the house, my mother is considering starting the process to become a foster parent. I hope to become an adoptive parent myself one day….

Some pics of the new Kelly family:

BTW, 40 Days For Life begins next week! Check the website for your local movement.

In Orlando, Florida on Monday a judge ordered a 17-year old Rifqa Bary into emergency custody of the state’s Department of Children and Families. The girl fled her Muslim family in Ohio saying she was afraid her father would hurt or kill her or send her back to their native Sri Lanka because she had converted to Christianity. Yesterday’s Orlando Sentinel reports that the girl sought refuge with Florida pastor Blake Lorenz and his wife Beverly who she met through an online prayer group. According to WBNS-TV News , an attorney representing the girl’s mother said the parents were allowing their daughter to explore her Christianity. The parents say that Rifqa was not afraid of her family until she made contact with Orlando Pastor Blake Lorenz.

Unfortunately, honor killings are not a myth in our country. To my knowledge, Rifqa is not a citizen, but there are some legal loopholes to grant her some sort of asylum.

As an American, I can’t really empathize with religious oppression. Working with and talking to Vietnamese Catholics has given me a little taste of what it is like, but I acknowledge that I have never had the experience of the bible vs. the bullet. I pray that the Holy Spirit continues to guide and protect Rifqa.

Photo: Amina and Sarah Yaser, the two girls murdered in an honor killing in Texas that Rifqa makes reference to in the video.

I’ll be keeping tabs on this story, and if I find a link to a secure source for donations to her legal fund I’ll let you know.

No joke.

I was bored one day and decided to watch the latest episode of MTV’s new series 16 & Pregnant, a reality series about you guessed—teen pregnancy. I’ve been thoroughly annoyed with the series thus far—my cousin pretty much summed up my sentiment with, “Why are they showing 17-year-olds moving in together like life is just going to be peaches and cream?” However, the last episode shocked me to tears.

16-year-old Catelynn and her boyfriend Tyler are in a predicament: keep their unborn baby girl or consider adoption? Despite pressure from their parents, Catelynn and Tyler look into adoption. The episode follows their journey through the adoption process from agency to hospital birthing room signing the legal consent. I was completely amazed by their maturity and discernment process, despite the nasty fights with their parents (who wanted them to keep the baby.)

I know people who are adopted, and I know people who had babies while they were in high school, but never have I seen either process so up close and personal.

You can watch the full Catelynn and Tyler episode here. I highly suggest you have a tissue box ready.

I was at the Thread Show when it happened and was so busy with being unconscious and all I haven’t had the time to mention it…but there’s a couple of things I’d like to say publicly.

I absolutely condemn the murder of George Tiller and I hope the guilty party will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I was angry when I first heard the news, because this murder will have huge consequences for the pro-life movement, whether the killer is connected to the movement or not.

Certain individuals of a certain ideology are convinced that Christians and pro-lifers are secretly glad he’s dead. I’m not glad George Tiller is dead.  I’m certainly not surprised he’s dead, but I’m not glad either. Any person who relishes in this crime needs to reevaluate their respect for the dignity of life. Being pro-life indicates a respect and reverence for ALL human life, not matter how small, how  large, or how “bad.”

And one more thing…I wouldn’t be surprised to see George Tiller in heaven. That’s right, I wouldn’t. Our God is infinitely merciful beyond the human imagination; I don’t believe in putting God’s mercy in a box. 

That’s all folks.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has voted unanimously to rescind a contract with Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties because of the organization’s links to abortion.

“I don’t believe the county should be funding abortion, and I don’t believe the county really should be involved in funding an organization who performs about 35 percent of the abortions in the country,” said Supervisor Chris Norby, the Orange County Register reported.

The 5-0 vote came on Tuesday, March 10, following a lengthy debate and many comments from the public. Supervisors directed county staff to end funding to Planned Parenthood within 30 days under a $7.5 million contract with the Orange County Coalition of Community Clinics. County health officials should find another member of the community clinics coalition that could use Planned Parenthood’s share of the contract money, supervisors decided.

Read the rest here.

I haven’t commented on the octuplet story because I learned in 5th grade that if you don’t have anything nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all.

But check out this article about 22-year-old WNBA star Candace Parker, a married woman who just so happened to make the stupid “mistake” of having a baby with her husband:

Parker probably figured the news would be non-controversial, given that the fresh-faced Los Angeles Sparks forward and Olympic gold medalist is happily married to Sacramento Kings forward Shelden Williams. Both earn more than enough to support a family: Parker alone reaps millions on and off the court as one of the most celebrated women athletes in the world.

But Parker’s pregnancy was not greeted with the same approval and tolerance that many of today’s child-bearing sexagenarians and single mothers by choice enjoy when they form their families. Instead, Parker was blasted by fans and pundits for becoming a mother at age 22. Critics bemoaned her selfishness in putting maternal ambitions ahead of her team’s 2009 season prospects. Others lamented her foolishness for starting a family when she should be living a strings-free existence oriented around her glamorous career.

Not long ago, a 22-year-old woman was considered plenty old enough to marry and bear children. But in today’s era of prolonged adolescence and commitment phobia, high-achieving women like Parker often face ridicule and scorn for defying the feminist conventional wisdom that marriage and motherhood are second-rate pursuits best delayed until middle age. Young mothers frequently are accused of forfeiting a hard-won feminist privilege: the right to spend their 20s single-mindedly pursuing sexual license, success and self-fulfillment without the hassles of a husband and children. (Source)

I wish nothing but blessings on Parker and her new family….just wish the public would do the same.

Though I haven’t written about it here, I have been following this story about the “Italian Terro Schiavo” quite closely:

Eluana Englaro has died, three days after she began to be deprived of nourishment.

Last week, the comatose 37-year-old Italian woman was taken by her father Beppino from a hospital in Lecco, Italy, where Eluana was receiving care from Sisters of Mercy. She had been in a coma since 1992 as a result of injuries she sustained in a car accident.

Her father acted without legal authorization, in order to place Eluana in a medical clinic in Udine that was willing to kill her by depriving her of the food and hydration she required through a feeding tube in order to stay alive.

After her father moved her, Italy’s right-of-center government led by Italian Prime Minister Sylvio Berlusconi introduced a bill to prohibit the withdrawal of food and water from comatose patients. But Eluana died today before the legislation could be voted on in the Italian Senate, Associated Press reported. Source

As you already know, I attended the Walk For Life WC last weekend with a group from CU.

High points:

- Taking those first few steps in such a large mass group of people. It felt reminiscent of World Youth Day.

- My girlfriend Rosario and I had signs from 40 Days For Life, one of which had a picture of a baby in utero. A number of mothers came up to us to show their children what they looked like before they were born. It was really precious.

- Meeting Rev. Hoye, who despite his circumstance struck me as a strong man of faith.

- Meeting Fr. Frank Mary, from EWTN’s “Life on the Rock”

- Watching counter-protesters attempt to flirt with my friend Rosario, lol. 

- Going to the most awkward Catholic party evah afterward.

Low Points:

- Seeing the pain and anguish in the faces of the counter-protesters.

- Almost dying on the ride back!

The counter-protestors were pretty much the lowest point in the day. I wasn’t upset that they were there, just troubled by some of the things that they were saying. There was one girl, probably in her mid-20s, who I don’t think I’ll ever forget. She followed one of my friends and I for a while and kept yelling, “Pro-Slut! Pro-Choice!” All I could think was, “Why on earth are you calling yourself that?”

One of my girlfriends said something I thought was incredibly poignant—if “their side” is right, if their viewpoint is truly the good, where is their joy? Why are they so angry? It was borderline painful to look at some of these people who I could just tell have wounded and troubled souls lash out in false defiance. FYI, there were only about 100 counter-protestors, probably less than that. I was expecting thousands, but really it was just a small group of people in weird costumes who cursed and yelled the whole time.

After the walk we went to lunch, mass, and then to an “after-party.” It was basically a Catholic singles meat-market. It got fun after a while, but the first two hours were brutal. Rap music, too much wine, men circling around like sharks old enough to be my father…it was just brutal in every way possible. But I digress.

We took a bus from LA to SF, with the idea that we would leave SUPER early in the morning (4 am to be exact) and sleep on the bus. The bus company got the driver a hotel room, so the plan was that he would drop us off, sleep during the day, pick us up and drive us back. That was the plan. However…the bus driver did not go to sleep! Apparently another bus had hit our bus, and the driver spent most of the day dealing with the insurance and whathaveyou.

We left SF at around 9 pm. I was exhausted and fell asleep, but then woke up a few hours later to people screaming. Our bus driver was swerving on the foggy highway! We pulled over to talk to him, but the problem was that he was a Chinese immigrant and only spoke a few words of English. Ironically enough he spoke some broken Spanish, so one of the girls was able to convince him to go to sleep for an hour on the bus.

Naturally, people were royally pissed off and two people ended up getting off the bus and getting a hotel room. I was too deliriously tired to care, but obviously we made it home safe and everything was fine. I plan on making the Walk a yearly trip, but I am soooo flying on a plane next year! I will put more pictures up later today in a separate post.

BTW, sorry this took forever and a week to put up! Pax Christi, Rebecca.

Is Obama backtracking on reversing the Mexico City Policy?

In a move to downplay his pro-abortion agenda, President Barack Obama has decided to wait a little longer to reverse a Bush policy preventing taxpayer funding of abortions overseas. The Mexico City Policy prevents sending public funds to groups that perform or promote abortions in other countries.

The new president could either issue an order tomorrow or in the near future to reverse the policy or allow Congress to do it.

Obama was expected to overturn the pro-life policy on his first or second full days in office and to possibly do so today, on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.

However, a CBN News report indicates Obama will not overturn the policy on a day that pro-life advocates mourn the Supreme Court allowing virtually unlimited abortions. Source

In other news, Mike Pence is allegedly introducing a bill to slash federal funding of Planned Parenthood. About time! This is some pretty sweet news all around on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

On this day 36 years ago, our country was changed forever. We legalized murder; we legalized the genocide of millions of boys and girls.

For those who may not know, on January 22, 1973 the court case Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in the United States of America. Years later, “Jane Roe” realized what she had done, and has since dedicated her life to pro-life activism:

This morning, our new president Barack Obama signed an executive order to federally fund international “family planning” services that will perform abortions. I think he needs to see this:

I’m really looking forward to the Walk For Life this weekend. Tomorrow’s posts will be dedicated to fashion, but next week I will be reflecting on what I will experience this Saturday.

Good news!

I will be attending the Walk For Life West Coast on Jan. 24th in San Francisco with some friends from Catholic Underground. And of course, after confirming that I was going the first thing I thought was, “Hmm…what am I going to wear?” Lol.

I just bought this V-neck from Abort73…I’ll probably wear it to the walk:

There are some really cute and fashionable pro-life tees for sale on the web. Abort73 has a wide selection, as does the American Life League.

Love Sick Clothing also has some message tees, including this one in a variety of colors for $35:

I’ll be on the look out for more pro-life apparel…feel free to drop me a tip as well.

I’m officially home in San Diego for the holidays. I was planning on blogging regularly this week, but I’ve caught an anti-Christmas cold and am trying to get healthy again before Thursday.

But before I leave the blogosphere for a few days, I want to point you to a cool website. Never Silence Life is a site run by sisters of Barlow Girl, one of my favorite Christian bands. The girls will be walking in the March for Life come this January and are blogging about their 40 days of fasting and prayer leading up to the event.

Coincidentally, I just recently purchased Barlow Girl’s latest album “Home For Christmas” which has some really beautiful Christmas hymns sung in that harmony the girls are famous for.

As an aside, over the weekend I learned that the city of Los Angeles will have an active chapter during the next round of 40 Days For Life, which starts on Ash Wednesday of next year. There was a chance there would be no event this spring, and I was very happy to hear that my prayers were answered and we will continue to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Have a beautiful and blessed Christmas ladies. I’ll be back on the 26th. 

~Rebecca.

The second video from the Mona Lisa Project has been released.

More commentary coming soon…

I went out to FPA on Saturday morning, as I hadn’t been to vigil since the end of 40 Days For Life.

A woman was walking by the clinic with her two children, and stopped next to our group for a minute to pray. Someone had given her a piece of our literature, which had detailed pictorial accounts of abortions and abortion procedures. The woman’s daughter who was probably about 9 or 10-years-old stole a peek at one of the pictures and asked, “If that’s what happens, what do they do with the dead baby after they’re done?”

The mom looked a little exasperated, and when she didn’t answer the question, her daughter looked at me as if she wanted me to answer her. I sort of froze and then looked at her mother who was also staring at me. We shared sort of an awkward parenting moment I guess you could call it, and I felt sympathetic because eventually she was going to have to explain to her daughter what was going on.

There are times like these when I’m sort of glad I don’t have any children. How do you answer a question like that? Interestingly enough, Feminists for Life has just released a new series of videos, one of which seems to be quite applicable:

I’ve volunteered my services and will be making some videos for 40 Days For Life within the next few months. I don’t know exactly what I want to do yet, but in talking to the Coordinator, we both agreed that we definitely want to make something a bit more positive. Eduardo and his posse have been handing out Dura Realidad, but we’re thinking I should make something about embracing motherhood and the joy of children.

As an aside…

Since people have been asking me, yes I did get into a car accident on Saturday right after I left FPA. I’m fine, as was the other woman involved, though my poor car is not. My left sider mirror is hanging and the driver’s side is dented, scratched, and otherwise maimed. Since it’s a holiday week I’m going to drive my car home as is, and then I’ll take it to my insurance’s autobody shop next Monday.

Pax Christi, Rebecca.

Because what would my week be without someone calling me crazy?

I received this message in my inbox today from some guy named Alex Hammock (Content Warning):

You people are all fucking crazy. I think that you are entitled to your opinions but why don’t you leave other people and their options alone. I am not for abortion but i am for people to have the right to choose. Every one makes pro choice opinions out to sound like they get knocked up gust so they can have an abortion. That is ludicrous. If you are talking legal matters you need to leave your religious views the fuck out of it. Think like a rational human and find another argument that is legit. And who the hell are you to tell others what to do. If we take away peoples right to choose on this matter why don’t we take away all of the other rights that i am sure you enjoy. Like i said before you are entitled to your opinion, but its yours so keep it to yourself.

My response:

Alex:

First of all, if you want to talk to me fine, but there really is no need to hurl insults or use profanity.

I don’t even really know what you’re addressing. Are you mad because I’m the admin of a pro-life group?

~Rebecca

Only children and ignorant people have to throw tantrums to get their point across.

Wait. I take that back. I know some pretty well-mannered children.

Pax Christi, Rebecca.

As an aside, you’d think PP workers would be smarter with the questions they answer.