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Hello Everyone! I am in Birmingham, Alabama this week for the annual Global Catholic Radio Conference. Today we went to "Radio Mountain," the site of the shortwave radio network that provides Catholic programming to the world and to the US via 200+ AM/FM radio stations and also through Sirius Satellite (Station 160). As a program provider since its inception, I was once again awestruck by the opportunities available by means of electronic communications. Zeal filled my heart and desire filled my soul. I am hoping to offer you some pictures from our visit today and to keep you informed of the event in general. Off to the Shrine in Hanceville tomorrow for a retreat. Wing a prayer for me and for all of those attending and presenting. Blessings in Jesus and Mary, Johnnette

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist Now that the Senate Finance Committee version of health care reform has passed, the real work of trying to craft a bill will begin.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist A school district in Scranton, Pennsylvania has been sued by the parents of a middle school student who was ordered to remove a t-shirt bearing the message, “Abortion is not Healthcare” on the day of President Obama’s address to students.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says U.S. Catholic bishops are wrong in their belief that abortion funded is included in health care reform, once again making the misleading claim that an existing amendment prohibiting federal funding of abortion, known as the Hyde amendment, would prevent this from happening.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist The University of Notre Dame is under fire once again for giving financial assistance to five students to participate in the Nov. 11 National Equality March in Washington, DC, which was organized in part to advocate homosexual “marriage.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist A 17 year-old Utah teen who paid a man to beat her in the hopes of terminating her pregnancy has been released following a judge’s ruling that her actions were legal according to the state’s abortion laws.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist Katie Holmes, wife of actor Tom Cruise and the daughter of devout Catholics, is said to have convinced her husband to raise their daughter Suri as a Catholic rather than in their adopted Scientology.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist Some of the nation's largest multiracial, multiethnic, and multigenerational faith-based and policy organizations, representing more than 30 million people, went on record to voice opposition to any healthcare bill that funds abortion, violates conscience, rations care, or limits freedom.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist An article appearing in the semi-official Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, calls the decision to award President Obama with a Nobel Peace Prize “premature” and questions the award because of his stance on abortion. According to the Catholic News Agency, the article notes that “the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama has taken everyone somewhat by surprise, first and foremost the U.S. president himself.”   It also points out that during the last 90 years the prize has never been awarded to a sitting U.S. president. When former Pres. Jimmy Carter received the award in 2002 he had been out of office for some time, but was still involved in politics and able to influence the process for world peace. However, Obama’s case is much different, which is why “Analysts have almost unanimously interpreted his selection as a way of pressuring Obama to make pacifist choices as his administration continues forward,” the paper surmised. The article also noted the administration’s waffling and indecisiveness regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which makes the president’s global reputation questionable. The paper called this fence straddling into question, as well as his back-and-forth on bioethical issues such as abortion and health care provider conscience issues. The Vatican newspaper brought up the subject of Mother Teresa’s Peace Prize. “Obama ought to recall that in 1979 he was preceded by Mother Teresa, who had the courage to state in her acceptance speech that the harshest war with the greatest number of ‘fallen’ is the practice of abortion, legalized and facilitated as well by the international structures.”    The article also pointed out that Pope John Paul II was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize for years but was never chosen for the award in spite of the fact that he is largely credited for the fall of the Berlin Wall.   “Pope Wojtyla was considered by the members of the committee as too ‘conservative’ in other areas, and they feared that awarding it to him would be seen as favoring the Catholic Church over other religions. Their fears were evidently overcome in the much more controversial case of the selection of Obama,” the paper said, noting that the selection process has become mired in political correctness.   However, the article concluded, “at the same time, as the director of the Holy See’s Press Office has stated, we cannot help but rejoice at the recognition of President Obama’s efforts at nuclear disarmament and his personal disposition towards a policy that seeks peace more than the affirmation of U.S. power in the world.” © All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®  http://www.womenofgrace.com

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Back in the early 1990's, I had the privilege of serving as associate producer for a four-hour television documentary that encompassed the evangelization of Europe and the efforts to bring Christianity to the New World.  Called River of  Light, it was produced by British film maker, John Bird, and was part of a series of films he produced about Our Blessed Lady.  Part of my assignment was to join the crew for eight days in Spain where they were producing some key segments for the documentary. It was a blessed experience in many ways and on many levels. One of the most significant moments for me came when we visited the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe, located in the Estremadura in the village of Guadalupe. What I didn't realize but came to know was that Our Lady of Guadalupe played a significant role in the life of Christopher Columbus and in the founding of the New World.

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