May 22, 2013 / Maria News

Corruption? IRS Offical Refuses to Testify, Invokes the 5th Amendment

FoxNews.com – The director of the IRS division that singled out conservative groups refused to answer questions Wednesday at a House hearing on the program, as a Democratic lawmaker warned there would be “hell to pay” if the agency stonewalls Congress on its investigation.

The IRS official, Lois Lerner, invoked the Fifth Amendment Wednesday as she declared she would not testify or answer questions on the advice of counsel.

“I will not answer any questions or testify about the subject matter of this committee’s meeting,” she said.

However, her statements prompted confusion in the hearing room, as she delivered a brief opening statement in which she claimed she had done nothing wrong. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said that given her other remarks, she may have “effectively waived” her rights.

After further deliberation, she was ultimately dismissed.

It was an unusual start to Congress’ third hearing on the controversial IRS program. Before Lerner spoke, Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch warned that if IRS officials don’t start cooperating more, “it will lead to a special prosecutor” being appointed.

“There will be hell to pay if that’s the route that we (choose) to go down,” he said.

Lynch was mainly referring to testimony from a Tuesday Senate hearing where other IRS officials did not provide the names of those who started the targeting program.

May 22, 2013 / Maria News

Pope Francis: Call to prayer for the Church in China

news.va - Pope Francis has called Christians worldwide to prayer this Friday for our brothers and sisters in China. Speaking at the end of his general audience in Italian, the Holy Father noted that Friday, May 24th, is the day dedicated to the liturgical memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, who is venerated with great devotion at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai.

He said : “I urge all Catholics around the world to join in prayer with our brothers and sisters who are in China, to implore from God the grace to proclaim with humility and joy Christ, who died and rose again; to be faithful to His Church and the Successor of Peter and to live everyday life in service to their country and their fellow citizens in a way that is consistent with the faith they profess.

Making our own a few words of prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan, together with you I would like to invoke Mary : ” Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China, who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love. May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus”.

Read More: http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-call-to-prayer-for-the-church-in-chin

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May 18, 2013 / Maria News

Congress Receives Irrefutable Evidence of IRS Harassment of Pro-Life Organizations

(May 17, 2013 – Chicago) Today, the Thomas More Society offered over 150 pages of analysis and evidence to the House Ways and Means Committee about repeated IRS harassment of pro-life organizations. At the request of Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL), Thomas More Society President Thomas Brejcha, Executive Director Peter Breen, and Special Counsel Sally Wagenmaker, prepared the legal memorandum with solid evidence of IRS harassment of pro-life organizations dating back to 2009.

The memo details the history of IRS misconduct in the cases of three organizations represented by the Thomas More Society. The abuse dates back further than the now publicized 2010 complaints and extends beyond the IRS’s recently exposed Cincinnati office to also include the tax agency’s California operations in the charges of blatant bias.

The IRS office in El Monte, California, began harassing Christian Voices for Life of Fort Bend County, Texas in 2011. In a series of questions penned by Exempt Organization Specialist Tyrone Thomas from the California office, the IRS asked a series of unwarranted questions ordering Christian Voices for Life without any foundation, to explain its content, message, and prayers as if they were engaging in highly offensive or criminal behavior.

Coalition for Life of Iowa found itself in the IRS’s crosshairs when the group applied for tax exempt status in October 2008. Nearly ten months of interrogation about the group’s opposition to Planned Parenthood included a demand by a Ms. Richards from the IRS’ Cincinnati office unlawfully insisted that all board members sign a sworn declaration promising not to picket/protest Planned Parenthood. Further questioning by the IRS requested detailed information about the content of the group’s prayer meetings, educational seminars, and signs their members hold outside Planned Parenthood.

In yet a third matter, an IRS agent in their Chicago office repeatedly harassed Daniel and Angela Michael of Small Victories, a pro-life organization, with an intrusive investigation, calling the leaders every 2-3 weeks over the course of 2011, beginning in January of that year. The IRS officially closed its investigation in January 2012, having found no illegal activities.

To read the entire Thomas More Society memo to Congressman Aaron Schock of the House Ways and Means Committee click here

About the Thomas More Society
Thomas More Society is a national not-for-profit law firm that exists to restore respect in law for life, marriage, and religious liberty. Headquartered in Chicago, the Society fosters support for these causes by providing high quality pro-bono professional legal services from local trial courts all the way to the United States Supreme Court. www.thomasmoresociety.org

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May 18, 2013 / Maria News

Mary Woman of Courage
By Deacon Antonio Sandoval

On November 21 we celebrate the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to tradition her parents, Joachim and Anne, were advanced in age and childless. Like Hannah, the wife of Elkanah (1 Samuel 1: 9 – 28), they prayed for a child and promised God that if their prayers were answered, they would give the child to Him, as Hannah did with her son Samuel. God answered their prayer and Anne gave birth to Mary.

According to tradition, at three years of age Mary was presented in the temple and given to the Lord (Mary of Agreda, The Mystical City of God, Vol. I, #422). There she was reared by temple virgins. There she began her life of prayer and Scripture study. She stayed in the temple until 14 years of age, the time when girls became eligible for marriage.

At the Annunciation when the Angel Gabriel sought Mary’s consent to be the mother of the Messiah, Mary, because of her profound knowledge of Scripture, certainly understood that she was being called to be the mother of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52: 13 – 53:12). She was being called to share in the suffering of her Son. “For her acceptance of the Incarnation was acceptance of death. Her blood she gave Him, only for Him to shed it” (Hugo Rahner, Our Lady and the Church, p. 90). But Mary bravely and courageously accepted her call, saying to the Angel Gabriel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1: 38).

Mary also demonstrated her courage by accepting the beginning of her maternity while betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together (Matthew 1: 18). It took tremendous courage to accept the will of God knowing that people would suspect infidelity to her betrothal, and would not believe that her pregnancy was the work of the Holy Spirit. She knew that in the view of many of her people, the penalty for a maiden in her condition was death by stoning (Deuteronomy 22: 24; John 8: 5).

It took courage for Mary to travel with Joseph from Galilee to Bethlehem for the census when the time for her to give birth to Jesus was so close. After Simeon told her at the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple that a sword (of suffering) would pierce her, it took courage for Mary to live her life peacefully in surrender to the will of God. It also took courage for Mary to flee with Joseph and the baby Jesus to their exile in Egypt to escape the murderous wrath of King Herod.

Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his only son Isaac. God said to him, “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love and go the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you” (Genesis 22: 2). Abraham did as the Lord had requested, but when he took the knife to slaughter Isaac, God’s messenger stopped him and Isaac was spared.

Mary, on the other hand, lived her entire life anticipating the sacrificial death of her Son to which she consented. Her faith and courage were tested beyond that of Abraham because God did not spare His and her only Son. Mary stood at the foot of the cross as a pillar of faith and fortitude enduring intense suffering. As if with nerves of steel, she never wavered in her resolve to accept the will of God. She then had the courage to receive the lifeless Body of her Christ. She held it close to her Immaculate Heart, a heart that endured the most intense pain that a mother has ever felt.

During her life Mary had the courage to resist every temptation so as to remain sinless her entire life. She lived a life of universal mortification continually dying to self without respite so that her human desires would not compromise her commitment to always comply with the will of God.

Mary, valiant woman, help us to be courageous disciples of your Son, Jesus.

Read More: http://marianews.com/wordpress/category/deacon-antonio/

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]]> http://marianews.com/wordpress/11071/mary-woman-of-courage-by-deacon-antonio-sandoval/feed/ 0 http://marianews.com/wordpress/11064/natural-and-spiritual-life-by-deacon-antonio-sandoval/ http://marianews.com/wordpress/11064/natural-and-spiritual-life-by-deacon-antonio-sandoval/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 21:10:51 +0000 admin http://marianews.com/wordpress/?p=11064

May 14, 2013 / Maria News

Natural and Spiritual Life

By Deacon Antonio Sandoval

All living creatures “desire” to continue living and resist or flee from anything or anyone that threatens their life.  Humans are no exception to this general rule.  But in addition, humans also know that physical death cannot be avoided.  There are numerous enemies of human life:  abortion, war, accidents, euthanasia, and a host of diseases.  Even if we don’t fall prey to these enemies, with aging, all bodily organs and their vital functions necessary to sustain life decline.  Ultimately, this decline crosses a point of no return where all vital activity ceases.  We die!

Throughout history men have searched for the fountain of perpetual youth.  Some have proposed special diets, regimens of exercise, and exotic dietary supplements, all to no avail.  A universal elixir of natural life doesn’t exist.  By birth we are condemned to die.  It is as if life itself is a terminal illness that ultimately claims all of us as its victims.

To avoid depression and despair we need to be reminded that we are unique amongst all creatures.  We have two forms of life, natural and supernatural, also called spiritual life.

Let us compare.  Natural life begins with conception, and then continuously and irreversibly progresses towards its conclusion, death and decay.  Spiritual life, by Baptism, emerges from the death caused by sin (both original and personal).  It is a life that never ends that even offers the possibility of eternal happiness.

Natural age is the measure of our temporal separation from the source and our beginning of our natural life, namely, conception and birth.  Since time cannot go backwards, we can only grow older.  Spiritual age, on the other hand, is the measure of our separation from the source of our spiritual life, namely, God.  Prior to beginning our spiritual life we are separated from God, but in God’s plan of salvation we are offered spiritual birth and throughout our lives given the opportunity to choose to grow closer to God.  The closer we are to God, the younger we are spiritually.  In perfect union with God we can be forever spiritually young.

The human family had its origin from the unity of one couple, Adam and Eve.  But because of sin, the multitude of individuals that came forth from this couple inherited disunity and enmity towards God and towards one another, beginning with the discord between Cain and Abel.  There was no peace in the world.

Then in the fullness of time the Eternal Word, the only begotten Son of God, became the New Adam by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the New Eve.  Thus began the new creation.  Note that in the old creation Eve was formed from the body of Old Adam.  Now in the new creation the New Adam comes forth from the body of the New Eve.

The mission of the New Adam and the New Eve is to gather all the errant children of the Old Adam and unite them in love into one Mystical Body, the Church, of which the New Adam is the Head and the Holy Spirit is the soul.  The New Eve, by analogy, is said to be the neck of the Mystical Body through whom all the graces from the Sacred Head are distributed to the members of the Body.  Therefore, she is Mediatrix of all graces.

In order to enliven and nourish the members of his Mystical Body, the New Adam gave his Body seven fountains of Life.  These fountains are the seven Sacraments.  If we faithfully avail ourselves of these fountains of Life, we will live forever eternally young.  We will be the recipients of the triumph that the New Adam won over sin and death.

Read More from Deacon Antonio here.

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May 14, 2013 / Maria News

May 2nd Message from Medjugorje

MedjugorjeToday.tv - ”Dear children! Anew, I am calling you to love and not to judge. My Son, according to the will of the Heavenly Father, was among you to show you the way of salvation, to save you and not to judge you. If you desire to follow my Son, you will not judge but love like your Heavenly Father loves you. And when it is the most difficult for you, when you are falling under the weight of the cross do not despair, do not judge, instead remember that you are loved and praise the Heavenly Father because of His love. My children, do not deviate from the way on which I am leading you. Do not recklessly walk into perdition. May prayer and fasting strengthen you so that you can live as the Heavenly Father would desire; that you may be my apostles of faith and love; that your life may bless those whom you meet; that you may be one with the Heavenly Father and my Son. My children, that is the only truth, the truth that leads to your conversion, and then to the conversion of all those whom you meet – those who have not come to know my Son – all those who do not know what it means to love. My children, my Son gave you a gift of the shepherds. Take good care of them. Pray for them. Thank you.”

Related: Are you ready for The Triumph?

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May 14, 2013 / Maria News

Solar cataclysm! Sun threatens Earth with possible geomagnetic storm

By Catholic Online

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) – Between Sunday and Monday, and within a 24 hour period, the sun has let lose three major flares, all in the X range. Solar flares are rated on a scale with X flares being among the largest possible. The latest flare erupted Monday night and registered as an X3.2, which is so far the most powerful solar flare of the year.

The flares are emanating from a dark region on the sun known popularly as a “sunspot.” This sunspot region has been dubbed AR1748. Sunspots are dark because they are cooler than the surrounding region, however they remain amazingly hot. They are formed when magnetic field lines get twisted together. When those magnetic lines twist too much, they break, and often result in a solar flare.

Of the past three major flares, two have produced coronal mass ejections, which means some of the sun’s material was flung far out into space, away from the sun at millions of miles per hour.

So far, these supercharged streams of solar material have missed the Earth because the active region on the sun (AR1748) isn’t pointing in our direction. This will change within the next few days as the sun rotates.

By the end of this week, AR1748 will face Earth and any coronal mass ejections will probably impact the planet. Such impacts cause geomagnetic storms, which are responsible for displays of the northern and southern lights, also known as auroras.

While auroras are beautiful to watch, the solar events that cause them can be dangerous both in space and on Earth. Spacecraft and high-flying airliners can be exposed to increased radiation. Satellites and power grids on Earth are also susceptible to damage as electrical charges build up upon them. Satellites can be lost and power can be knocked out on Earth.

All this can be fixed however, and the only humans that are in real danger are those in orbit. Those flying are exposed to little more radiation than they receive during x-ray exams. Fortunately, the impact of a coronal mass ejection can be predicted and astronauts can take precautions while the rest of us on Earth are protected by the planet’s magnetic field.

For most people, a geomagnetic storm simply means the rare treat of the northern or southern lights at middle latitudes.

The current spate of activity is normal for the sun as it reaches the climax of its 11-year cycle of activity. Every 11 years, the sun experiences increased activity as its magnetic field reverses. Then, the activity subsides and the sun remains quiet for the better part of the next decade.

What is most unusual about the current uptick in activity is that the sun has been abnormally quiet for the past two years, well at the lower range of average activity.

Scientists cannot predict if the sun will send a coronal mass ejection towards Earth within the next several days, but they do believe there will be more activity from the AR1748. If a major geomagnetic storm appears likely, we will provide additional coverage.

© 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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May 15, 2014, 2013 / Maria News

Attorney General to investigate IRS targeting of conservative groups

By Catholic Online

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) – The IRS has since admitted that the staff of its Cincinnati office engaged in such activity. Documents suggest at least three other IRS offices did the same.

IRS officials in both Washington and California IRS officials contacted conservative groups to demand more information before approving the groups’ requests for tax-exempt status.

A legal group representing numerous conservative organizations called American Center for Law and Justice provided CNN with four such letters: one each from IRS offices in Washington; Cincinnati; El Monte, California, and Laguna Niguel, California. The words “patriots” or “tea party” figured in the names of each group that received the letter.

Lois Lerner, director of tax exempt organizations for the IRS, said last week that the IRS had targeted some groups for further review as they had those words in their names. Lerner said the activity took place at the IRS office in Cincinnati that handles most applications for 501(c)(4) status.

In addition, a draft report from the inspector general for the IRS says that agents were on the lookout to give special scrutiny to groups with “tea party” and “patriots” in their names. Groups criticizing “how the country is being run” were also being targeted by the IRS.

In January 2012, the criteria was revised as “political action-type organizations involved in limiting/expanding government, educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, social economic reform/movement.” According to the report, IRS officials knew about the targeting of conservative groups in June 2011 — and that the practice began as early as March 2010.

White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Tuesday that he’s “confident” no one at the White House was involved in the practice. Carney said he is “sure some people knew about the stories. But we were not aware of any activity or any review by the inspector general.”

Obama called the IRS’ alleged actions “outrageous” and said personnel involved “have to be held accountable.” Some Republicans criticized the president for not speaking out on the issue immediately. He said he learned about it through news reports late last week.

© 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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May 13, 2013 / Maria News

Gosnell Convicted of Murder on Fatima Day! Coincidence?

Maria News- Each year on May 13, Catholics from around the world venerate Our Lady of Fatima.  On May 13, 1917 three children – Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco began witnessing apparitions of the Virgin Mary.  The apparitions took place on the thirteenth day for 6 consecutive months, followed by numerous documented miracles.

On Sunday, May 13, 1917, towards noon, a flash of lightning drew the attention of the children, and they saw a brilliant figure appearing over the trees of the Cova da Iria. The “Lady” asked them to pray for the conversion of sinners and an end to World War One, and to come back every month, on the 13th.

On July 13, Mary promised that “in the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”

The triumph of Mary will come when evil is destroyed forever. When this happens Christ will have judged the living and dead.

Those who have special devotions to Our Lady believe that she has been given a special grace from God to appear on earth in order to bring souls into closer union with her son, Jesus Christ.  She comes for the conversion of sinners. Because of Mary many will find (or have already found) Christ.

The world is clearly upside down. Vice is praised as virtue. Authentic virtue is discarded as being politically incorrect or worse – radical. We destroy in the womb the least among us. Our culture assaults the family, motherhood, fatherhood, brotherhood and sisterhood. Our culture is attempting to re-define the meaning of manhood and womanhood. Our world values the material with very little public acknowledgment of eternity.

Before God’s Kingdom comes there will be a battle for souls, but good will ultimetly prevail over evil. Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart will triumph. Christ will come to judge the living and the dead and the Kingdom of God will reign forever.

This brings us to Kermit Gosnell. The abortionist who delivered babies only to cut their spinal cords with scissors. Today, on May 13 a Jury in Pennsylvania has convicted Gosnell of murdering three of four babies in his capital murder trial. He is also guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 abortion death of Karnamaya Mongar, a 41 year-old who died when Gosnell’s untrained staff administered an overdose of sedatives.(1)

The connection?

The mainstream media in the US has largely ignored the Gosnell trial.  Rows of seats in the courtroom reserved for the press were empty until the day that the Defense for Gosnell gave its testimony.

Likewise, we have a sitting President in the US that supports the very same practices that Gosnell provided (i.e. partial birth and late term abortion).  Obama has never mentioned the deaths of the babies killed by Gosnell, but he did attend the annual Planned Parenthood Gala and gave them praise for their work. “You’ve … got a president who is going to be right there with you, fighting every step of the way,” the president told some 1,000 attendees at a meeting of the Planned Parenthood Federation in Washington.”

Today however the pro-life movement and all those who value the sanctity of human life can breath a little easier. Gosnell has been convicted of murder. In my opinion this is a small taste of the triumph of good over evil.  No doubt Gosnells defense lawyer will appeal the verdict. But for now the media and pro-abortion politicians alike should take note that life matters. For us Catholics with Marian devotions, we believe that the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady will triumph over evil. Today is a taste of that Triumph. Perhaps a sign to all of us that justice will prevail.

Let us all pray for the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima for the conversion of sinners. Let us pray for the conversion of hearts for all those who support abortion, who administer abortion and who have been harmed by abortion. Finally we pray for the peace of those innocent babies who have died from abortion. In Christ’s name we pray.

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for the least of your brothers, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

Related: The Triumph Film

(1) http://www.lifesitenews.com/breaking-kermit-gosnell-convicted-on-3-of-4-counts-of-murdering-babies.html

*Featured Image from: http://www.discerninghearts.com/?page_id=4653
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May 13, 2013 / Maria News

Pope receives Colombian President

news.va – This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father received in audience His excellency Mr. Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, president of the Republic of Colombia. President Santos then met with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.