Cardinal Sean O'Malley denounces Massachusetts' new law restricting the activities of pro-life sidewalk counselors

Cardinal Sean O'Malley issued a statement late last week denouncing Massachusetts' new law restricting the activities of pro-life sidewalk counselors as “unjust” and “a misguided use of civil law.” In a statement posted Friday on the Archdiocese of Boston's website – and later on the Cardinal's own blog – Cardinal O'Malley said “the Massachusetts legislature acted with unseemly haste to establish what amounts to a new buffer zone of 25 feet.” “The effect again is to make it very difficult for citizens seeking to offer alternatives to women contemplating an abortion,” he wrote. The new regulations, signed into law by Democratic Governor Deval Patrick last Thursday, replace a 2007 law that barred anyone uttering pro-life speech from 35 feet of any abortion facility's entrance. The Supreme Court unanimously struck down the law earlier this summer. “The Supreme Court seldom is unanimous in our day,” the cardinal noted on his blog... Continue reading HERE.

Video of Apparition to Mirjana on August 2, 2014 at Medjugorje

August 2, 2014 Message to Mirjana

Blessed Mother appeared to Medjugorje visionary Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo and delivered the following message:

"Dear children, the reason that I am with you, my mission, is to help you for ‘good’ to win, even though this does not seem possible to you now. I know that you do not understand many things as I also did not understand everything, everything that my Son explained to me while He was growing up alongside me – but I believed Him and followed Him. I ask this of you also, to believe me and to follow me. However, my children, to follow me means to love my Son above everything, to love Him in every person without making differences. For you to be able to do this, I call you anew to renunciation, prayer and fasting. I am calling you for the Eucharist to be the life of your soul. I am calling you to be my apostles of light who will spread love and mercy through the world. My children, your life is only a blink in contrast to eternal life. And when you come before my Son, in your hearts He will see how much love you had. In order to spread love in the right way, I am asking my Son, through love, to grant you unity through Him, unity among you, unity between you and your shepherds. Through them my Son always gives Himself to you anew and renews your soul. Do not forget this. Thank you.”

Pope Francis Outlines Ten Tips for a happy life

1. "Live and let live."

2. "Be giving of yourself to others...If you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric...And stagnant water becomes putrid."

3. "Proceed calmly [in life]."

4. "A healthy sense of leisure...Consumerism has brought us anxiety, [causing us to lose a] healthy culture of leisure." [At this point, the pope also urged families to turn off the TV when they're eating together.]

5. "Sunday is for family."

6. "We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities, they will get into drugs."

7. "[Environmental degradation] is one of the biggest challenges we have. I think a question that we're not asking ourselves is: 'Isn't humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?"

8. "Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, 'I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down.' Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy."

9. "We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes: 'I am talking to you in order to persuade you.' No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytizing."

10. "We are living in a time of many wars, [and] the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive."