Please Support Belmont Abbey College

My daughter graduated from Belmont Abbey College this past spring. I would appreciate all support that you can give to help them in this matter. Please see contact info at bottom of this article from LifeSiteNews.com.

Feds Accuse Catholic Belmont Abbey College of Sexual Discrimination for Not Covering Contraception

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By Kathleen Gilbert

BELMONT, North Carolina, August 10, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has accused Belmont Abbey College of discriminating against its female employees by not covering contraceptives in its health insurance plan.

The EEOC stepped in after eight teachers filed a complaint over what they considered a discriminatory health insurance policy, and what Belmont Abbey says is simply faithfulness to basic Church teaching.

In December 2007 Belmont Abbey, a conservative Catholic campus in North Carolina, stopped offering abortion, contraception, and sterilization coverage that had been accidentally included as part of its employee health insurance packages.

"As a Roman Catholic institution, Belmont Abbey College is not able to and will not offer nor subsidize medical services that contradict the clear teaching of the Catholic Church," said Belmont Abbey President William Thierfelder. "There was no other course of action possible if we were to operate in fidelity to our mission and to our identity as a Catholic college."

After faculty members filed complaints with the EEOC and the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Belmont Abbey says the EEOC told the school in March 2009 that it would close the file on the discrimination charge, as it had not found the school's decision in violation of its statutes. But the agency later reversed itself, and issued a determination letter to the school on August 5 affirming that the ban amounted to gender discrimination, because it pertains only to women.

"By denying prescription contraception drugs, Respondent (the college) is discriminating based on gender because only females take oral prescription contraceptives," wrote Reuben Daniels Jr., the EEOC Charlotte District Office Director in the determination. "By denying coverage, men are not affected, only women."

Belmont Abbey College has been directed by the EEOC to reach an agreeable resolution with faculty. If this does not happen, Daniels will advise the parties of available enforceable court alternatives.

BAC president Dr. William K. Thierfelder said he was surprised at hte EEOC's reversal, and called their decision "disappointing."

"We are disappointed that this matter has taken this very unusual twist, but we remain committed to ensuring that all of the College's policies and practices follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, which includes valuing all life and treating individuals with dignity and respect, and providing equal opportunities for all," said Thierfelder in a statement on behalf of the school.

"The College is confident that its actions ultimately will be found to be in compliance with all federal and state laws and with the U.S. Constitution," said the statement. "Accordingly, the College will be asking the EEOC to reconsider each of the current determinations it has made in connection with the charges filed against the College."

The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS), who has included Belmont Abbey in its list of top conservative Catholic campuses in the U.S., told EEOC acting chairman Stuart Ishimaru in a letter today that "It is ironic that the federal agency responsible for protecting against discrimination has so blatantly engaged in an inexcusable violation of religious liberty in its Belmont Abbey ruling,"

CNS also is sending a letter to all Catholic bishops in the United States, informing them of the EEOC action against Belmont Abbey College, and highlighting the dangerous precedent this ruling sets to force Catholic employers to include contraceptive coverage in employee health plans.

"No Catholic college or other institution should be required by government to violate the Catholic Church's clear moral teachings," said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society. "The apparently increasing insensitivity to religious beliefs should frighten all employers and employees. We urge religious leaders to stand in defense of Belmont Abbey College."

To respectfully express concerns:

Reuben Daniels, Jr.,
EEOC Charlotte District Office Director
129 West Trade Street
Suite 400
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
phone: 1-800-669-4000
fax: 704-344-6734

Stuart Ishimaru,
Chairman, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
131 M Street, NE
Washington, DC 20507
Phone: (202) 663-4900
TTY: (202) 663-4494
info@eeoc.gov

FOUND * MIssing Texas Teen * FOUND

Deo Gratis. Luke has been found.

Please pray for the safe return of Luke Diller. Please see Colleen's blog for further info.

Killing of Abortionist

Firstly, I believe this act was wrong and unjust. This man and all those who participate in providing abortions must be converted. This is justice. This will also be a huge setback for the prolife movement and cause much backlash.
I also call your attention to the St. Michael Icon that has been in the sidebar to the right for quite sometime. Please consider joining this noble apostolate.

HLI Achieves Milestone: 2 Million St. Michael Prayer Cards Distributed
We are very pleased to announce the extraordinary response to the St. Michael the Archangel Prayer Campaign so far: 2 million prayer cards have been printed and distributed to date.

It is heartening to see that so many people are ordering prayer cards from HLI and pledging to pray for the conversion of abortionists through this powerful prayer. Respect life coordinators in US dioceses and parishes have distributed many of the cards. While most of the demand for St. Michael prayer cards has come from the United States, many are asking for them from abroad, especially in Latin America.

HLI requests people to sign a pledge of support for the campaign and pray the St. Michael prayer daily, especially after each Mass, and send copies of the pledge to parishes to be inserted in the weekly bulletins. Click here to sign petition.

HLI has now produced St. Michael prayer cards in six languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Arabic.

Saint Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, Pray for us!

SSPX Ordinations in France

Pictures from the SSPX's ordination at the
Church of the Benedictine Monastery of
Our Lady of Bellaigue in France can be found
here. They are absolutely beautiful!

Prayer Request

Please remember to keep this young man, Phillip, in your prayers.

I had many medical appointments over the past two days, and the doctors wish to begin radiation and chemotherapy within the next few weeks. Radiation treatments will be 5 times a week for 6-8 weeks, and my hair will fall out around the third week. Chemotherapy is taken in the form of a pill five times a month, and will last for 1-2 years.

Because the treatments are starting so soon, I have decided to take a trip from February 4 - February 16 to visit Lourdes, Nevers, and Rome. Lourdes is the site of the Marian Apparition to Saint Bernadette, and Nevers is the location of Saint Bernadette's convent where her uncorrupt body rests behind glass. Fr. Price's heart is also buried near her body in Nevers.

In Rome, I hope to present the Holy Father with a prayer card to Fr. Thomas Price for my healing after the Pope's General Audience on February 11th. Providentially, this will be the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Please keep me in your prayers as I make this pilgrimage!

St. Andrew Novena begins today!

The St. Andrew Novena begins today. It is piously believed that whoever recites this prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (30th November) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.

"Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen."

Imprimatur
+MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York
New York, February 6, 1897

Fasting on Election Day

From an acquaintance . . .

Esther 4:12-17

12 When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.

Fasting was the "God-given' strategy when Esther recognized the urgency of the hour to speak up and save the lives of her people. The United States is in an "Esther moment" as Americans vote for their leaders on November 4th.

Nine-Day Rosary Novena Prior to the US Election

Please remember that the 9-day Rosary novena starts tomorrow. For more info see Catholic Family News

Catholic Family News urges you to join us in a

Nine-Day Rosary Novena
Prior to the US Election

From October 27 to November. 4.

Please forward this email to as many as possible…

Whether you plan to vote for John McCain, Chuck Baldwin, Ron Paul or no one at all.
Join us in the Rosary Novena and in the daily recitation of
a special approved prayer against “revolutionary men”.

PLEASE ALSO RECITE ON EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA
THIS PRAYER APPROVED BY THE CHURCH
Prayer given by Our Lord to Sister Marie de Sainte Pierre (1816-1848 – Apostle
of the Holy Face of Jesus), to divide and conquer revolutionary men.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and all the instruments of His Holy Passion that Thou mayest put division in the camp of Thine enemies, for as Thy beloved Son hath said, "a kingdom divided against itself shall fail".

A Special Gift from God

Don't mess with this child's guardian angel! God obviously has major plans for this beautiful soul along with the obvious one of his birth. Hopefully, every woman who is making a decision whether to abort her child because of "possible" health problems will read this and make the right decision - LIFE. Leave things in God's hands He always know best. He never gives you more than you can handle! Please say a prayer of thanksgiving for this miracle. Deo Gratias!

FSSP Ordinations

I was going to put together some thoughts and reflections on the FSSP ordinations, but due to lack of time, I refer you to Fr. Z's blog (Card. Castrillon Hoyos ordains priests for the FSSP in Lincoln, NE - Extraordinary Rite) for an in depth look.

Please remember to pray not only for these priests, but all the Catholic priests throughout the world!

Of Note - FSSP Ordinations on EWTN

Please remember in your prayers the following men who will be ordained to the holy Priesthood on May 30.

PRAYERS FOR HOLY PRIESTS

My Dear Jesus, Thou desirest that we pray the Lord of the harvest that He send zealous laborers into His harvest. Deign to raise up in Thy Church, and especially in this diocese, numerous and holy priests who, taking Thy Divine Heart as their Model, will, in the exercise of their holy priesthood, promote the glory of Thy heavenly Father and the salvation of those souls whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood. Give us truly holy priests who, inflamed with the fire of Thy divine love, seek nothing but Thy greater glory and the salvation of souls.

O Mary, Queen of the clergy, pray for us; obtain for us a number of holy priests.

Press release (borrowed from Fr. Demet's site)

Vatican Cardinal to Visit Nebraska

DENTON, Nebraska – May 21, 2008 –

On Friday, May 30th, 2008, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, the following four men will be ordained priests for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter by Darío Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos, the President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

Rev. Mr. Jared McCambridge, FSSP, from Arlington Heights, Illinois
Rev. Mr. Dennis Gordon, FSSP, from Nogales, Arizona
Rev. Mr. Justin Nolan, FSSP, from Guthrie, Oklahoma
Rev. Mr. Jonathan Romanoski, FSSP, from New Cumberland , Pennsylvania

To be televised live on EWTN at 11:00AM (EST), the ordinations will take place at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, in the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska.

About the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter