Catholic Hotdish

(Photo by Dave Hrbacek) Kalley Yanta at a blessing of her billboard with Franciscan Brother of Peace Pio King (L) and Fr. Robert Grabner

We mothers love breakfast in bed on our special day. Other things we cherish are: back rubs given by little hands, “Thanks Mom for Life” corsages from church, brunch with our own mothers, and family traditions.

And if Dad barbecues in the evening so that Mommy doesn’t have to make dinner–Bonus!

This year Kalley Yanta, a mother of six children and an advocate for Life, got something unique–not to mention big–for an early Mother’s Day gift: a billboard!

Mama Yanta’s Gift 

In an excited email to friends and family, Kalley wrote about her husband: “Jonathan Richard Yanta actually bought me a billboard for one month this year, which will be up until Mother’s Day.” (It went up earlier this month.)

Kalley, a former news anchor for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis, gave up her 11-year career in broadcast journalism in 1999 in favor of a higher calling — motherhood. “Since I had my first baby I have been inspired to encourage women not to have abortions,” Yanta said. (Hampton News)

She and her family have been doing just that by being lovely witnesses, and this Spring they have continued to encourage women to embrace Life in their own unique way. Her billboard is around the corner from the new, mega Planned Parenthood in St. Paul, and it is a beautiful reminder of how special every life is. It speaks to mothers of pre-born babies by proclaiming: “U R Worth It” and wishing them a Happy Mother’s Day.

Kalley asks that that people pray that there will be at least a few prospective patients of Planned Parenthood who see it, check out the YouTube video titled “URWORTHIT” (which is mentioned on the billboard), and make a serious u-turn AWAY from that horrific abortion center.  Then they can enjoy celebrating Mother’s Day for years and years to come, instead of facing the painful reminder of that child who is no longer with them.

Location, location, location!

Having a billboard in that location is something that the Yantas have wanted. But for the last few months, they were told by Clear Channel that all boards in the area were booked for 2 years. “Then I got a call from the sales representative saying that one had just become available.  I told Jon this bit of news, and he said, ‘How ’bout a billboard for Mother’s Day?’ ” Jon and Kalley designed it together, and then worked on shooting the video.

Kalley said, “Now I’m hoping the billboard right on Vandalia south of University will open. If that happens, I’ll have to do some fundraising… unless it happens near my birthday or Christmas (ha!).”

I asked Mama Yanta if she might get some special treatment on Mother’s Day even though she already received her special “big gift,” and she replied, “Knowing my husband, he’ll probably still give me flowers and one of his funny, hand-made cards.  But if not, he’s TOTALLY off the hook!”

Watch the lovely YouTube video:

In this clip, Kalley Yanta speaks directly to mothers contemplating abortion. She tells them where to find help, and lets them know that support will always be there for them. Hear the story of how the Yanta family befriended a mom who was abortion-minded, and now they babysit the little girl.

Although Chen Guangcheng is blind, he has a great vision–a vision of a China free of the one-child policy. This policy is inhumane, and Mr. Guangcheng has spoken out on its brutal implications.

And for this, he was imprisoned for over four years–where he was tortured over and over again.

He is now in America and needs our prayers. Please view this video by Women’s Rights without Frontiers for some background information:

I sure hope my children would have been among the students who had the guts to get up and leave as soon as a gay-activist speaker started Bible bashing. Heck, I wouldn’t even want them there in the fist place.

Photo by Creative Commons

Can you believe it? My Grandma Mabel is probably rolling in her grave. At a national journalism conference  recently, an anti-bullying “specialist” named Dan Savage told his teenage audience, “We can learn to ignore the bullshit that is in the bible.” And he was just warming up (see video below). A student reported that one of the first things he told them was, “I hope you’re all using birth control.”

There’s a girl who is the first to leave the attack. She is seen painfully rubbing her temples as she is walking away. This student has a disgusted look on her face.

Well, I want that young lady for a daughter-in-law some day! Her parents obviously raised her to be a brave  leader, and about 99 other youngsters ended up following her right out the door and into the hall. What did Savage do about this? He mocked them. He bullied them.  Hey, wait a minute…Wasn’t he supposed to be speaking against bullying?

Who is this savage man anyway?

Dan Savage has been writing Savage Love since 1991 for The Stranger, an alternative weekly paper in Seattle, that syndicates his articles to more than 50 other newspapers. You might remember him as the guy who was so obsessed with physically harming Gary Bauer’s 2000 campaign. He writes about this “Germ Warfare” in The Stranger:

“Naked, feverish, and higher than a kite on codeine aspirin, I call the Bauer campaign and volunteer. My plan? Get close enough to Bauer to give him the flu, which, if I am successful, will lay him flat just before the New Hampshire primary. I’ll go to Bauer’s campaign office and cough on everything. Phones and pens. Staplers and staffers. I even hatch a plan to infect the candidate himself; I’ll keep a pen in my mouth until Bauer drops by his offices to rally the troops. And when he does, I’ll approach him and ask for his autograph, handing him the pen from my flu-virus-incubating mouth.”

Do you remember this?

“When Sen. Rick Santorum suggested that the arguments being made in the Lawrence v. Texas case on gay sex might lead to the idea that all consensual sexual activity, from bestiality to adultery to polygamy, etc., should be legal, Savage got so mad that he asked his readers to come up with a disgusting definition for which the word “Santorum” would be used.” (quote taken from a Get Religion article)

I’ve read somewhere that Savage and his “husband” have a child. I sure hope he watches his language when he’s with Junior, unlike he does when he’s speaking to other people’s children.

Dan Savage has followers…But why?

Savage has managed to syndicate his column internationally and build a readership of millions.

He has garnered widespread acclaim for his “It Gets Better” campaign–the talk that the 100 kids walked out of. this is an effort to prevent suicide among gay youth by having LGBT adults convey the message that the lives of these teens will eventually improve if they embrace their sexuality. The effort has been supported by dozens of influential politicians (Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton), celebrities (Justin Bieber, Tom Hanks) and corporations (Google, Apple). The message is a worthy one—no young person should be bullied, much less be driven to suicidal angst over it—but the inescapable fact is that for those who follow Savage’s advice, heterosexual or homosexual, it won’t “get better.” (according to First Things by Joe Carter)

It amazes me that people even care to hear what this promoter of hedonism has to say, since he is a self-proclaimed liar. Savage once admitted to lying about his residency in order to fraudulently vote in the Iowa primary. He was charged with a felony but pled guilty to a misdemeanor, making Savage a convicted liar and fraud.

Watch the video

You can see in the video that not all of the students agreed with Dan Savage during his recent “It Gets Better” discussion. If you are a Christian parent, and see your kid on this You Tube clip exiting the abuse…Well, give that kid of yours a big, giant kiss! That’s what I’d do! Maybe even buy him or her a Chipotle burrito!

It’s good to know that even some gay rights supporters are mad about how Savage attacked Christians. Todd Starnes of Fox News wrote that the executive director of GOProud,  Jimmy LaSalvia, called Savage’s behavior “outrageous” and demanded an apology.

“Dan Savage should apologize for his comments and should apologize to the high school students in attendance whom he called ‘pansy-asses,’” continued LaSalvia. “It is ironic that someone whose claim to fame is fighting bullying would resort to bullying tactics in attacking high school students who were offended by his outrageous remarks.”

A response

How do we respond to Dan Savage on homosexuality and the Bible? A blogger for National Catholic Register, Jimmy Akin, posted the video below:

(Thanks to Paula Linnen and Vince and Lysa Flynn for sending articles on this subject my way!)

Photo from Creative Commons

Good Friday, a time for solemn reflection, was a glorious day this year in more ways than one!

On this day, in front of the new 46,000 square foot Planned Parenthood facility, a whopping 3,200 people assembled praying to end the scourge of abortion. Instead of the typical “Good Friday Storm,” God showered them with the gift of sunshine. And He also bestowed a more important present–the gift of the Spirit moving on behalf of life.

Let me explain…

The Culture of Life v. The Culture of Death

At the old Planned Parenthood located in Highland Park, 4,000 babies were aborted each year. But those running it were not content with that number, so they built a bigger and grander facility, which opened last December. On Good Friday, pro-lifers marched quietly on the street in front of the new abortuary, where an area was cordoned off for the prayer vigil–those praying included religious leaders, families and children. The only sign they carried was a life-sized cross. On the other side of the fence, was a group supporting Planned Parenthood–including an elderly lady holding up a sign that read: “Don’t have sex with pro-lifers!” There was another woman over there who walked around with her pregnant belly exposed, and on the baby bump she had written: “My choice.” They jeered at the praying marchers.

And somewhere in the middle of these two groups, hesitating on the sidewalk near the entrance, was a mother contemplating abortion.

Father Larry Hubbard, a retired priest, was among the marchers, and he told me, “These mothers who have an appointment at Planned Parenthood on Good Friday are between the Lord on one side and the Devil on the other. The big question is: Who is going to win out?”

In the Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae) #50, Blessed John Paul II wrote:

“In the early afternoon of Good Friday, ‘there was darkness over the whole land…while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two’ (Lk 23:44, 45). This is the symbol of a great cosmic disturbance and a massive conflict between the forces of good and evil, between life and death. Today we too find ourselves in the midst of a dramatic conflict between the ‘culture of death’ and the ‘culture of life.’ But the glory of the Cross is not overcome by this darkness; rather, it shines forth ever more radiantly and brightly, and is revealed as the center, meaning and goal of all history and of every human life.”

The glory of the Cross

Good Friday is a day of hope. But the woman who was hesitating on the sidewalk was no doubt feeling conflicted and quite hopeless. And even though the day was bright and sunny, this mother was probably experiencing a sense of darkness.

That is, until she met Father Larry Hubbard and the counselors with Pro-Life Action Ministries.

Brian Gibson, director of Pro-Life Action Ministries, told me that one of his staff members and a sidewalk counselor had approached the woman and laid the groundwork. They had given her literature and told her that help was available. This is when Fr. Hubbard came to the mother’s side and shone forth brightly.

“I sensed this mother was at the point of going in to abort her baby. She was such a fine lady, and she told me she didn’t want to have the abortion,” recalled Fr. Hubbard, who is also known as ‘Padre Lorenzo’ in his ministry with the Spanish speaking Catholics. “She was with a man, but he was already inside Planned Parenthood waiting for her. I think he was the one who wanted her to have the abortion, and she was just torn apart.”

Father spent about 10-15 minutes talking with the woman, and eventually encouraged her to bring the man out so that Father could speak with him, too.

The good priest said, “I walked with the vigil-goers for an hour and a half, and prayed for this couple…but she didn’t come back.” Then Father, who was there that day to fill in for another priest, went home with a heavy heart–thinking she had gone forward with the abortion.

But little did he know…

The mother chose life!

About four minutes after Father Hubbard left Planned Parenthood, the mother came out with the man. Charlie Ramsey, a staff member at Pro-Life Action Ministries, said that the couple was very receptive to obtaining help for the unborn child, and was directed toward it.

Brian Gibson said, “Father Hubbard is a gentle soul and he played a vital role is saving this baby. His intervention was by divine appointment!”

How did Father Hubbard discover the big news?

“I called him and left a message saying that the woman he had been speaking to at the Good Friday vigil left the facility. And then I told him that he had saved a baby that day,” Brian Gibson told me.

‘Padre Lorenzo’ got choked up when he talked to me about it. “I never dreamed I’d be able to change someone’s mind. That was my first one-on-one encounter.” Father, who has prayed often in front of abortion facilities, definitely gave that mother something important to ponder on Good Friday–just like Jesus did to the women He passed as He carried the cross: “Daughters, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children” (Lk 23-28). And this is just what this mother did. Father Hubbard said that the presence of the people at the prayer vigil, some carrying the cross, is really beautiful support which encourages mothers to choose to keep their babies. Then he added, “Thanks be to God that mother stuck to her guns and came out of Planned Parenthood–with her baby!”

And thanks be to God Father Larry Hubbard was at the vigil that day. That pre-born child was the eighth baby saved from abortion since that facility opened its doors in December. Brian Gibson and his staff are very excited that another mother was talked out of an abortion this past week, bringing the total to nine.

Father had this to say about the work of Pro-Life Action Ministries: “Brian Gibson is so persevering and his staff and volunteers are just beautiful–they want to save babies!” When I told Father that I thought the mother whose baby he helped to save should name her child ‘Larry’ or ‘Lorenza’ he gave a joyful chuckle.

 (View photos from the good Friday prayer vigil)

For years, my aunt–Mary Benton–has been a counselor for Total Life Care Center. She has saved the lives of many babies.

Photo from Creative Commons

Today I received an email from her that stated:

There were a group of people who thought that the “40 Days of Prayer,” that was initiated by the Pro-Life Movement, was such a good idea that they decided to adopt it for themselves…they just “tweaked” it a little…the group is Planned Parenthood….here is their pamphlet…

GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER VIGIL (Organized by Pro-Life Action Ministries)

Photo courtesy of the Pro-Life Action Ministries website

 April 6, 2012

 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 New Planned Parenthood Mega-Abortion Facility (near University Ave. & Vandalia St., Saint Paul, MN)

On Good Friday join us in prayer next to Minnesota’s highest volume abortuary at it’s new location. Fifteen area pastors will lead in scripture and prayer each half hour throughout the day. A life-sized cross will be our sign as we carry the cross of abortion. An area will be cordoned off for a family-safe day of prayer. More than 2,000 Christians joined in prayer throughout the day at each of the last three Good Friday Vigils at the old location. Help us double those numbers on April 6!

We are encouraging groups to arrange a bus of their own. All buses must be registered with our office to find out the logistics of the day. We have another off-site parking lot for these group buses. For more information or to register a bus, contact Stephanie at 651-771-1500 or stephanie@plam.org.

Basic Things to Know:

• Remember, more than any other event we organize, the Good Friday Vigil is a day of prayer. Pro-Life Action Ministries will only bring one sign, a life-sized cross. And the only signs you need to bring are yourselves!
• We will have portable restrooms at the Vigil site. The street where we will be is closed to all traffic and our area will be surrounded by the police “bicycle” barricades. This will be as safe as ever for families.
• Bring sun screen and all you need for your children, including water, etc.
• Come ready to pray and be deeply moved by God.

Parking Information: (READ!)

• There will be no parking available anywhere near the Mega-Planned Parenthood on Good Friday. Please do not even drive into the area.
• We have arranged for parking at the University of St. Thomas at the St. Paul Seminary parking lots. You enter from Cretin Ave. at Grand Ave. Please follow the signs or the directions by our volunteers.
• Buses will shuttle everyone to and from the Good Friday Prayer Vigil site. These buses will run the entire day from 8:00 am until our closing at 4:00 pm. There will be room for light strollers and everyone attending. If you are planning on being on site for the Opening Prayer, try to arrive as close to 8:00 am as possible. Also remember that the Vigil lasts all day and coming later in the Vigil has great advantages with parking and shuttles.
• For a map to parking and more information: http://www.plam.org/brochures/GFVIGIL2012.pdf

Schedule:

• Opening Prayer–Most Reverend John Nienstedt, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
• 9:30–Reverend Roger Barcus, Pastor of St. Paul Apostolic Temple, St. Paul
• 10:00–Most Reverend Lee Pichè, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
• 10:30–Reverend Kenneth Krause, Outreach Pastor of Bethany Church, Bloomington
• 11:00–Reverend Robert Grabner, Associate Pastor of St. Augustine/Holy Trinity, South Saint Paul
• 11:30–Reverend David Johnson, Pastor of Elk River Evangelical Free Church, Elk River
• 12:00–Reverend Michael Becker, Rector of St. John Vianney Seminary, St. Paul
• 12:30–Reverend Randal Kasel, Pastor of the Churches of St. Paul and St. Michael, Zumbrota and Pine Island
• 1:00–Reverand Larry Trawick, Associate Pastor Evangelist Crusaders Church, Minneapolis
• 1:30–Reverend Humberto Palimino, Pastor Church of Saint Mark, St. Paul
• 2:00–Reverend Leo Reck, Pastor of Word of Grace Baptist Church, Minneapolis
• 2:30–Reverend Billy Russell, Pastor of Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Minneapolis
• 3:00–Reverend Scott Carl, Associate Professor of Theology at Saint Paul Seminary, Saint Paul
• 3:30–Reverend Fred Thoni, Pastor of Elmwood Evangelical Free Church, St. Anthony Village
• 3:45–Reverend Brian Lother, Pastor of Hope Community Church, Corcoran

The president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, asked women to speak out about access to the new women’s birth control benefit. Former news anchor, Kalley King Yanta, answers Ms. Richards’ invitation by letting her voice be heard via You Tube–and boy, does Kalley speak the Truth!

In the video, she explains that the pill does not allow a female to embrace life because of the side effects it has on the lining of the uterus (see second video below). Kalley is very honest about what birth control did to her during what she calls her “Prodigal Daughter Years”–a time when she made unhealthy choices. She bravely states, “It enabled and prolonged my promiscuous lifestyle…until I finally woke up and learned the truth about how the pill works.”

I agree with the comment made by sulu80:

“BRAVO!!! Thank you for your candor and your courage to stand up against the most evil “health care” institution in the world! Thank you for finding your voice and shooting straight from the hip. We need to also pray for the women Cecile Richards exploits. God bless you!”

Another viewer has a good point:

“She is trying to alert women to a medical fact: the pill causes intrauterine death of the conceived child. Most women do not realize this. It is not a religious belief, it is a scientific medical fact that you don’t want to deal with.”

Unfortunately, not all of the comments are positive, however (and the ones I list below were the “clean” ones):

“Kalley smells like a shitty diaper.” (By jongalbreath) and, “Stay out of my lady parts.” (Unknown)

Which brings me to the following reply with which I must agree:

“Man, it saddens me to see the vile comments made here, presumably by those who wave the flag of tolerance continuously. Whatever happened to civility?”

And lastly, ignatius814 stated:

“This is fantastic! Cecile, I’m still waiting for you to post your reply here.”

Watch the video!

View this educational video about the pill and learn how it is an abortifacient:

(Please read my other blog about Kalley Yanta’s video series on marriage between one man and on woman by clicking here.)

Please participate in this nationwide effort to help defeat the HHS Mandate. Hear religious leaders and other public figures speak about why this mandate is un-American and does not embrace life. Let’s make our voices peacefully heard in opposition to the requirement that all employers’ health plans provide free contraceptives, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs.

According to Mary Jane O’Brien on behalf of the Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC):

On Friday, March 23, thousands of faithful citizens will gather in public witness and prayer across the United States to oppose the HHS mandate. Minnesotans are coming together to stand in solidarity with Americans throughout the country.

Please join us!

• What: Twin Cities Rally for Religious Freedom
• When: Friday, March 23 from noon-1:00p.m.
• Site: Warren E. Burger Federal Building and United States Courthouse
• Address: 316 North Robert Street, 100 Federal Building, St. Paul, Mn. 55101
• Map: Click here

Ideas for signs:

• “Stand Up for Religious Freedom”
• “Stop the HHS Mandate”
• “I Have a Say, Too!”

Other Information:

• To find national locations and learn more about the growing campaign to stop the HHS mandate, click here.
• For more information on this endeavor and the Minnesota Catholic Conference, click here.
• You can also visit Pro-Life Action Ministries.
• Spread the word!

Little Jamie Ogg and his twin sister were born prematurely last year in Australia. Jamie weighed a mere two pounds and was not breathing. When doctors told his parents that their son didn’t make it, the mom, Kate, cuddled with his lifeless body for two hours, skin-to-skin, which is referred to as “Kangaroo Care”; a practice used in many hospitals today even for healthy newborns.

After receiving two hours of his mother’s love and warmth, Jamie Ogg embraced life by taking a breath and reaching out for his mommy’s finger.

A miracle!

Enjoy this happy video:

Photo by Richard Bailey

When Irish photographer, Richard Bailey, had a daughter born with Down syndrome, he started to research. He discovered that the images available to people were misleading and negative. He wanted to show the lovely side of family life for those with Downs. He states, “They can do all sorts of things if they have the proper support.”

His goal was to create hope and showcase the individual—not the condition. And he did this through his traveling exhibition. Get a taste of his work by viewing this video: