Catholic & pro-life resources
Posted by Rebecca Teti
in News
on Monday, November 17, 2008 3:00 PM
One positive and nearly universal response I’ve seen to the election results is a Catholic commitment to get serious about re-evangelization and pro-life education.
Here are some exciting new projects I’ve stumbled across recently that might interest you for their nimble, “hip” (for lack of a better term) and non-threatening approach.
1. Catholics Come Home. Perhaps like me you saw some of the powerful videos at Catholics Come Home when the site first launched.
Even more impressive are the results. It brought 3000 non-practicing Catholics in Phoenix, AZ back to the faith during a three-week campaign. This story from back in April is worth reading for further details of the campaign and its big plans for the future.
Over the weekend I chatted by email with Susan Gerdvil, Director of Communications for Catholics Come Home. She informs me that they are still raising money for a national campaign (eventually they hope to be an international apostolate), but in the meanwhile, they are in active planning with 15 dioceses for local campaigns --similar to the successful kick-off in Phoenix-- in the coming year. She’s a good Communications Director, so you won’t be surprised she didn’t miss the opportunity to ask for donations. All advertising runs on donations large and small. At the very least bookmark their site --and share it with your unchurched friends. Who knows what might happen?
2. Abort73.com. If there’s anything November 4, 2008 tells us, it’s that there’s still a load of pro-life education to be done. For that purpose, I can’t imagine a better tool than this wonderful website. Click on the home page and you’re met immediately with a smart introductory video and a sidebar listing every possible angle of discussion --biological, political, philosophical-- with links to more information to meet any objection. The site is also a clearinghouse of links for help in crisis pregnancy, and you can also get widgets and banners to place on your own website. Or connect with them through myspace and other social networking pages. Great for us to know about --and be sure to tell your teens.
3. Abortion Changes You. Non-partisan, non-political and non-threatening, here’s a site that allows people who have been wounded by abortion --but never permitted to talk about it-- to begin to heal. This might be as important a dimension of abortion education as there is: simply allowing us to speak about it honestly.
I highly recommend you visit all three of these sites to see for yourselves what they have to offer.
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Filed under catholics come home, converts, education, evangelization, outreach, pro-life
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Comments
1. Posted by Laura on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 4:45 PM (EST):
Thanks, Rebecca! I was just talking to a friend about trying to find pro-life resources that appeal to more general audiences. I’ll take a look at these.
One concern I have about the Abort73 site though, is that it says that the moral framework of our country is being systematically destroyed by the “theology of evolution.” That sounds pretty extreme, and for me, calls into question the reliability of the source.
2. Posted by charlotte on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 4:49 PM (EST):
Can anyone recommend a book to someone that was baptized Catholic, but hasn’t been to Church in years. She’s interested in finding out more about the Catholic faith, but not sure where to start. I recommended Surprised by Truth and Rome Sweet Home...any others?
She lives in San Fran and has been finding her “spirituality” through yoga...yikes! Let me know if you also know of a good parish.
3. Posted by Rebecca Teti on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 5:19 PM (EST):
Thanks for the heads-up about that Laura. I didn’t see that, but I didn’t go to absolutely each page. Everything I did see was quite impressive.
Without knowing firsthand what you’re referring to, I’m guessing the key is the word “theology.” Probably they mean to say they aren’t arguing with science, only with those who say that because they believe in evolution, they don’t believe in God or the soul. But of course anyone should have a look first and see if the resource fits the need.
4. Posted by Ginny
[website] on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 6:41 PM (EST):
Hi Charlotte,
If your friend lives in SF, tell her to check out St. Dominic’s, at Bush and Steiner in the Fillmore. It’s 1) a gorgeous Gothic building, but, more importantly, 2) it has a fantastic adult faith formation program. It is a great place to ask questions in a nonjudgmental atmosphere. My hubby is on staff there (full disclosure), but even if he weren’t, I’d recommend it to anyone who is not sure about Catholicism and wants to learn more.
5. Posted by Gretchen
[website] on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 7:50 PM (EST):
3 good basic books are : Catholicism for Dummies, Did Jesus Have a Last Name and Did Adam and Eve Have Belly-Buttons. Very easy to read and understand more about the faith and easy to read in short bits if that’s all you have time for!
6. Posted by Petroni
[website] on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 9:19 PM (EST):
I saw the “Epic” video from the Catholics Come Home site at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, and I was totally wowed. I watch it every once in a while now just because it’s so terrific. It makes me feel so grateful to be a Catholic!
7. Posted by Laura on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 10:06 PM (EST):
Here’s the page that references Abort73’s views on evolution:
http://abort73.com/HTML/VII-A-believe.html
Once there, you can click on “Those who believe evolution in principle, cannot live with it in practice” to see a 3 page explanation of how they believe that the dehumanizing principles of evolution are most threatening to respect for life in today’s society.
I find this extreme position unfortunate since I agree that the rest of their website (with respect to abortion) is quite well done. As a biologist, thought, I have a hard time with groups that are on an anti-evolution crusade. I’ve never found the evidence for evolution to be at odds with belief in a Creator, and it’s my understanding that the Catholic Church does not find them in conflict either.
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