St Longinus Recovery Resources, Inc: June 2015

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Cardinal DiNardo's Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Marriage

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston,
Cardinal DiNardo's Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Marriage
June 26, 2015
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Supreme Court's narrow majority decision today is gravely unjust as it attempts to change the nature of marriage. Mandating marriage redefinition across the country is a tragic error harming the common good and the most vulnerable among us. The ruling does not and cannot change what marriage really is. No one and no court can make what is false true.
Marriage is a perennial institution, with deep roots in who we are and in our nation's culture and laws. Marriage is and always will be the union between one man and one woman. This truth is inseparable from the duty to honor the God-given dignity of every human person, to protect the beautiful truth of marriage, which concerns the essential well-being of the nation, especially children. Children have a basic right, wherever possible, to know and be loved by their mother and father together. The law has a duty to support every child in this most basic right.
With renewed purpose, we call upon all people of good will to promote and defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman for life. The redefinition of legal marriage to include any other type of relationship has serious consequences, especially for religious freedom.
Our Church will continue its efforts to support public policy issues, including a version of the marriage and religious freedom act, which would prohibit the government from discriminating against those who act in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is the union between a man and woman.
I encourage the faithful of the Archdiocese to move forward with faith, hope, and love: faith in the unchanging truth about marriage, hope that these truths will once again prevail in our society, and love for all our neighbors. Together, we must increase our efforts to strengthen marriages and families and rebuild a marriage culture. And, we shall continue to reach out with love and support to all people, including those who experience same-sex attraction knowing that all people are loved by God and are called to love Him.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information, visit the website for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on the promotion and defense of marriage.
USCCB Press Release/June 26, 2015: Supreme Court Decision on Marriage "A Tragic Error" Says President of Catholic Bishops' Conference
USCCB Frequently Asked Questions About the Defense of Marriage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

La decisión de la Corte Suprema por una estrecha mayoría hoy es gravemente injusta en su intento de cambiar la naturaleza del matrimonio. La obligatoriedad de redefinición del matrimonio en todo el país es un trágico error que daña el bien común y a los más vulnerables entre nosotros. El fallo no puede y no debe cambiar lo que es el matrimonio en realidad. Nadie, ni ningún tribunal puede hacer de lo que es falso, verdadero.
El matrimonio es una institución perenne, con profundas raíces en quienes somos y en la cultura y las leyes de nuestra nación. El matrimonio es y siempre será la unión entre un hombre y una mujer. Esta verdad es inseparable del deber de honrar la dignidad dada por Dios de cada persona humana, para proteger la hermosa verdad del matrimonio, que se refiere al bienestar esencial de la nación, especialmente los niños. Los niños tienen un derecho básico, siempre que sea posible, a conocer y ser amados por su madre y su padre juntos. La ley tiene el deber de apoyar este derecho más básico de todos los niños.
Con un renovado propósito, hacemos un llamado a todas las personas de buena voluntad a promover y defender el matrimonio como la unión de un hombre y una mujer para toda la vida. La redefinición del matrimonio legal para incluir cualquier otro tipo de relación tiene consecuencias graves, sobre todo para la libertad religiosa.
Nuestra Iglesia continuará sus esfuerzos de apoyar cuestiones de política pública, incluyendo una versión del matrimonio y la Ley de Libertad Religiosa, que prohibiría al gobierno de discriminar contra los que actúan de acuerdo con una creencia religiosa o convicción moral de que el matrimonio es la unión entre un hombre y mujer.
Exorto a los fieles de la Arquidiócesis a seguir adelante con fe, esperanza y amor: fe en la verdad inalterable sobre el matrimonio, la esperanza de que estas verdades volverán a prevalecer en nuestra sociedad, y el amor por todos nuestros hermanos. Juntos, debemos incrementar nuestros esfuerzos para fortalecer los matrimonios y las familias y reconstruir una cultura del matrimonio. Y, debemos continuar para llegar con amor y apoyo a todas las personas, incluyendo a aquellos que experimentan atracción por el mismo sexo sabiendo que todas las personas son amadas por Dios y son llamadas a amarle.

By Cardinal DiNardo
Comments: 0
Tags: Supreme Court, marriage, ruling, SCOTUS

Sunday, June 21, 2015

My Father's Day Trial

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

What an exhausting week and the latest trial is daunting to say the least. My youngest daughter, Michela, had her quarterly MRI. Everything ran late, which didn't help. My wife and daughters arrived in the Medical Center at 10:00, and Michela's MRI at the Women's Pavillion was to begin at 11:30. It didn't get underway until after 12:30. Her oncologist appointment was to be at 1:30 - they didn't get seen until after 3:00. The oncologist spent over an hour with them. He is still concerned about an area surrounding the original surgery site. This area *could* be scar tissue, but it could also be new growth. It does appear to be slightly larger than it did at the last scan. He was going to bump her scans to every 6 months, but this has him concerned enough that he wanted to see her again in 4 months. Since he is going to be out of the country in October, her next MRI is set for November 2. The tumor in her breast has gotten larger. He set an appointment with a surgeon for next Thursday. A biopsy will determine whether or not immediate surgery is needed.

Lastly, due to new research on the extremely rare cancer that Michela had, he has ordered further genetic testing. She had genetic testing done 2 years ago, but this is something very specific that they want to test for. Apparently, there is a specific genetic component that some of the children with this type of cancer have in common. This can lead to other cancers later in life, specifically in nerves throughout the body - the auditory system, nerves in the spine and in the arms and legs. If she tests positive for this particular abnormality, she will need to begin regular full-body scans which requires sedation and being in the machine for 6+ hours.

So, not horrible news, but not the greatest either. Michela is really feeling down. She was hoping to have a normal, hospital-free summer, and instead it looks like we will be spending a lot of time seeing various specialists. We are trying to stay positive and are praying for the best possible outcome.

Thank you all again so much for lifting us up in prayer.

We couldn't get through this without our faith and the support of our family and friends!

Your Brother In Christ’s Passion,

Michael

P.S. - If you FACEBOOK Michela’s story can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/MichelaPrayerMarauders