Ave Maria!

This is a special AIRMARIA report on the status of religious liberty in America, relative to the ongoing push on the part of the homosexual lobby for full same-sex marriage in Connecticut. Last year same-sex civil unions were legalized by the state assembly with an amendment defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman.

In Connecticut, same-sex couples already have all the rights and benefits of married people, just not the name “marriage.” This year they are back for what they call “equality,” but in reality the legalization of same-sex marriage in Connecticut will only codify the defense of traditional marriage as a form of discrimination.

Witness the erosion of your religious liberty! This assault will not stop at the state line. The same-sex marriage lobby wishes to challenge the federal Defense of Marriage Act. This affects you, no matter where you live in America.

On March 26, Brian Brown, Executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, testified before the judiciary committee of the state legislature in regard to raised House Bill 7395: An Act Concerning Marriage Equality. He was grilled on the question of commitment to civil rights and his religious convictions. Brian defended both traditional marriage and religious liberty in an eloquent and courageous way. He continues to be attacked on the FIC blog. In this video Brian also tells us what we can do to protect religious liberty.

Don’t underestimate this attack on religious liberty. This has implications for us all. Bill Donohue of the Catholic League has picked up on the threat and is bringing it to national attention. This video is a good synthesis of what happened last Monday.

Ave Maria!

The post Video – News #1 – Religious Liberty Under Fire first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

“In order to push same-sex marriage, you have to deny that children do best in a home with both a mother & a father.” On this episode, Corinn talks with Peter Wolfgang, Director of Public Policy for the Family Institute of Connecticut, on this mission of the FIC and their current battle against same-sex marriage. Mentioned in the discussion is how the same-sex marriage agenda is fueling attacks on religious liberties in Boston, Minnesota, England, Canada, & Sweden, & how it’s effecting what are children are being taught in school. “Children are not mere creatures of the state,” was the decision passed down in a famous 1920s Supreme Court case (Pierce vs. Society of Sisters), & yet Peter explains how in the Boston school system today, the Constitution & parental rights are being subverted in the name of teaching our children sexual immorality. Such is always the case when “the State” deifies itself & vilifies Christ & His followers.

Ave Maria!

The post Video – Face of Pro-Life #7: The Fight Against Same-Sex Marriage first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

The FI news team covered the pro Marriage Rally held at the Connecticut State Capital yesterday Morning which was organized by the Family Institute of CT. Over 300 people took time off work to give support for keeping the traditional definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman. This is in spite of the fact that the bill to redefine marriage had already been defeated! The pro gay marriage group also had a gathering at the same time and only turned out about 16 people! This rally of families on a gloriously beautiful spring day was a great celebration of the defeat of this bill, and sent a powerful pro family message to the CT legislature and to National and State legislatures across the US. But prayers are still needed.

Ave Maria!

The post Video – F.I. News #18: Pro-family, Rally CT State House, 23rd May 2007 first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

At the recent CMN Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, Teresa Tomeo of nationally syndicated Catholic Connection (www.teresatomeo.com) speaks out about the new hate crimes bill in the House and Senate in DC and how it is in an effort to silence pastors on the moral issues, including biblical teachings on marriage. She gives several links where we can stay informed on these issues and find out what can be done.

Links:
American Family Association www.afa.net
Dr. Dobson Focus on the Family at www.family.org

Ave Maria!

The post Video – Roving Reporter #5: Teresa Tomeo – Hate Crimes Legislation first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

Our 500th Post!! Deo Gratias!

Peter Wolfgang, Executive Director of the Family Institute of Connecticut gives us an interview at the pro-family rally they sponsored at the CT State Capitol to send a message to the Ct Supreme Court to not suppress existing legislation in the court case Kerrigan et al v. the state Department of Public Health. If the supreme court decides in favor of the plaintiffs then all the recent legislative victories won in recent years to keep marriage defined as a union between a man and a woman will be negated. Listen to this interview from the front lines of the state level national battle to protect marriage and religious freedom.

Ave Maria!

The post Video – Roving Reporter #13: State Capitol Rally for Family first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #080523 ( 10min) Play – Fr Angelo, reflecting on the Gospel, highlights the permanency of marriage based on its lofty dignity established by God from the beginning. Listen as Father covers the basis for the high moral standard in marriage as asked for by Our Lady of America in 1956. Holy Mary pray for us.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
+++

The post May 23 – Homily – Fr Angelo: Dignity of Marriage first appeared on AirMaria.com.

The transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator. It has always been a source of great joy to them, even though it sometimes entails many difficulties and hardships.

The fulfillment of this duty has always posed problems to the conscience of married people, but the recent course of human society and the concomitant changes have provoked new questions. The Church cannot ignore these questions, for they concern matters intimately connected with the life and happiness of human beings.

Faithfulness to God’s Design

13. Men rightly observe that a conjugal act imposed on one’s partner without regard to his or her condition or personal and reasonable wishes in the matter, is no true act of love, and therefore offends the moral order in its particular application to the intimate relationship of husband and wife. If they further reflect, they must also recognize that an act of mutual love which impairs the capacity to transmit life which God the Creator, through specific laws, has built into it, frustrates His design which constitutes the norm of marriage, and contradicts the will of the Author of life. Hence to use this divine gift while depriving it, even if only partially, of its meaning and purpose, is equally repugnant to the nature of man and of woman, and is consequently in opposition to the plan of God and His holy will. But to experience the gift of married love while respecting the laws of conception is to acknowledge that one is not the master of the sources of life but rather the minister of the design established by the Creator. Just as man does not have unlimited dominion over his body in general, so also, and with more particular reason, he has no such dominion over his specifically sexual faculties, for these are concerned by their very nature with the generation of life, of which God is the source. “Human life is sacred?all men must recognize that fact,” Our predecessor Pope John XXIII recalled. “From its very inception it reveals the creating hand of God.”

Consequences of Artificial Methods

17. Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control. Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings?and especially the young, who are so exposed to temptation?need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law. Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection.

Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone. It could well happen, therefore, that when people, either individually or in family or social life, experience the inherent difficulties of the divine law and are determined to avoid them, they may give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife.

The post July 25th: The Anniversary of a Prophetic Encyclical first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Face of Pro-Life #38 – Defense of Marriage & Family ( 60min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Peter Wolfgang, Dr Roy Kerlin and Corinn Dahm discuss marriage and family life in todays cultural and political environment and the challenges to overcome socially and politically.

Family Institute of Connecticut: ctfamily.org

Ave Maria!

The post Video – Face of Pro-Life #38: Defense of Marriage & Family first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Roving Reporter #49 – Peter Wolfgang of the Family Institute of CT at the State Capitol, Hartford ( 9min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

The Roving Reporter caught up with Peter Wolfgang, president of the Family Institute of Connecticut, at the Rally for Marriage on Sunday Sept 28, at the Connecticut State Capitol building in Hartford. Listen as he describes this most successful event with over 3,000 attendees in a true grass roots movement pitted against numerous, well-moneyed special interest groups, and how they sent a clear message to the State Legislature and Supreme Court to uphold traditional marriage.

Ave Maria!

The post Video – Roving Reporter #49: Rally for Marriage at CT Capitol first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #10 ( 02min) Play – Fr. Pablo talks on how radically different the two presidential candidates are on the issue of marriage. +++

The post Video – Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #10: The Future of Civilization first appeared on AirMaria.com.