Rev. Shenan J. Boquet
Father Shenan J. Boquet is the President of Human Life International.
Friday, April 13th, 2012
By Father Shenan J. Boquet
Society is engaged in a battle over its very existence. As nations across the globe move toward greater economic and social unrest, many seem confused about, or want to obscure, the root cause of this cultural meltdown.
In setting aside ethical principles that have sustained us for thousands of years, and which have produced strong and vibrant societies, humanity is navigating down a path not only of moral decay, but of economic unsustainability.
History bears witness to the result of such attempts to reset a society’s moral compass. A society that continually rejects a strong moral foundation rooted in Natural Law undermines its very existence and ultimately causes its own demise.
In his recent statement to the bishops of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, Pope Benedict XVI points to the heart of the cultural and political problem facing society.
It is in fact increasingly evident that a weakened appreciation of the indissolubility of the marriage covenant, and the widespread rejection of a responsible, mature sexual ethic grounded in the practice of chastity, have led to grave societal problems bearing an immense human and economic cost.
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Tags: Blessed Pope John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, George Washington, Pope Benedict XVI
Posted in Culture of Life, Feature Post, Politics and Faith, Rev. Shenan J. Boquet, Truth and Charity Forum | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
By Father Shenan J. Boquet
During his historic visit to Cuba, Pope Benedict XVI, the Vicar of Christ, stood in the face of an entrenched political system that undermines the dignity of the human person, and called for change. Moved by love for God’s people, the Holy Father simply proclaimed what the Church has said for generations: Jesus came that all might have life and have it to its fullest.
As I reflected on his prophetic statements, I thought of Blessed John Paul II in his invitation to the Polish people in June 1979. Both men, with apostolic zeal and unyielding faith, stood among their brothers and sisters and called for a peaceful but radical change in direction in order to obtain true freedom and peace.
We should stop and take notice of the Holy Father’s words as our own beloved nation finds itself in a battle over religious liberty and freedom.
The right to freedom of religion, both in its private and in its public dimension, manifests the unity of the human person, who is at once a citizen and a believer. It also legitimizes the fact that believers have a contribution to make to the building up of society. Strengthening religious freedom consolidates social bonds, nourishes the hope of a better world, creates favorable conditions for peace and harmonious development, while at the same time establishing solid foundations for securing the rights of future generations. (Homily on March 28, 2012)
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Tags: contraception mandate, HHS, ObamaCare, Pope Benedict XVI, President Obama, religious liberty
Posted in Abortifacients, Abortion, Contraception and Sterilization, Feature Post, Politics, Politics and Faith, Rev. Shenan J. Boquet, Truth and Charity Forum | No Comments »
Friday, March 9th, 2012
By Father Shenan J. Boquet
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9)
As I gaze out into our world, I don’t see the culture I experienced as a child – one in which family life, morality, virtue, faith, service to neighbor and community, care for the poor and needy, respect for one’s elders and love of country were naturally part of life. Those who influenced my upbringing instilled in me values for centuries recognized as necessary and foundational for civilization. My family, teachers, pastors and neighbors took interest in me, as they did with each child, and taught me how to participate in what we now call a Culture of Life. Moreover, they helped me recognize that I share in God’s work and am accountable to Him for what I do with my life.
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Tags: Culture of Life, morality, values
Posted in Culture of Life, Feature Post, Marriage, Family & Sexuality, Rev. Shenan J. Boquet, Truth and Charity Forum | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
By Father Shenan J. Boquet
The debate over “social issues” in the United States recently brought many important topics, those typically reserved for the backburner in American politics, to the national stage for the first time in a long time. With the focus of the media shifting towards these issues, however, we have seen vicious attacks from political pundits, and more importantly, from legislators and policy makers who threaten our liberty and way of life.
The sacred institution of marriage, one of those social issues that only right-wingers supposedly care about, is under assault here in the U.S. by radical legislators, judges and a president who view those of us seeking to protect marriage as hateful and bigoted. In the month of February alone, significant battles for the protection of marriage took place in California, Washington, New Jersey and Maryland as proponents of so-called same-sex “marriage” went on the attack.
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Tags: California, Maryland, New Jersey, President Obama, Prime Minister David Cameron, same-sex marriage, United Kingdom, Washington
Posted in Feature Post, Homosexual Unions, Marriage, Family & Sexuality, Politics, Politics and Faith, Rev. Shenan J. Boquet, Truth and Charity Forum | 1 Comment »
Friday, February 24th, 2012
By Father Shenan J. Boquet
Yes, America, you are beautiful indeed, and blessed in so many ways … But your greatest beauty and your richest blessing is found in the human person: in each man, woman and child, in every immigrant, in every native-born son and daughter. For this reason, America, your deepest identity and truest character as a Nation is revealed in the position you take towards the human person. The ultimate test of your greatness is in the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless ones.
Blessed John Paul II spoke these words during his apostolic visit to the United States on September 19, 1987. Nearly twenty-five years later his words offer us opportunity for reflection and observation: Sadly our nation has not heeded the late Holy Father’s words and has moved further away from an authentic Culture of Life. Instead, our leaders have created policies that have only accelerated our descent towards a Culture of Death in the name of sexual freedom without responsibility, that have ultimately led to loss of millions of innocent lives through abortion.
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Tags: Blessed Pope John Paul II, culture of death, President Obama
Posted in Culture of Life, Feature Post, Politics, Politics and Faith, Rev. Shenan J. Boquet, Truth and Charity Forum | No Comments »
Friday, January 13th, 2012
By Father Shenan J. Boquet
Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.” What powerful words for us to consider as we confront the Culture of Death and its poisonous impact upon our world.
We gaze out and see religious freedom under attack throughout the world while promoters of the Gospel are vilified. Instead of encouraging citizens to live their lives acknowledging the rule of law under God, many governments inaugurate legislation to the contrary. Government officials choose to threaten citizens for striving to live under God. Although he was a secular leader, I believe Ronald Reagan understood the risk of losing “true freedom.” He understood the cost, consequence and ultimate outcome, as well as the difficulty of reclaiming it. I also believe he understood the possibilities of greatness for a nation whose citizens choose lives of authentic religious virtue.
Last Sunday I invited a gathering of pro-life supporters and leaders in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to consider the consequences of following the agenda of the Culture of Death and its root cause: the rejection of God’s dominion over creation. In Saint John’s Gospel we read, “I am the vine and you are the branches. Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15). Guided by the Holy Spirit, Saint John shared the message of our Savior with every generation who would listen: a soul alienated from God leads to a path of destruction. Life is only found in God.
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Tags: Africa, Hungary, marriage, Ronald Reagan
Posted in Feature Post, Politics, Politics and Faith, Rev. Shenan J. Boquet, Truth and Charity Forum | 1 Comment »
Friday, December 2nd, 2011
By Father Shenan J. Boquet
On Monday, October 31st headlines across the globe announced the birth of a little girl from the city of Manila in the Philippines. Danica Camacho, one of a number of children chosen to be the world’s symbolic seven billionth baby, became the symbol of a world in dire need of controlling its population, read the headlines. Population control advocates used the moment to once again promote their agenda of aggressive birth control, forced sterilization, abortifacient contraceptives and abortion. Doctor Eric Tayag of the Philippines’ Department of Health summarized the heart of the population control issue:
Seven billion is a number we should think about deeply. We should really focus on the question of whether there will be food, clean water, shelter, education and a decent life for every child. If the answer is ‘no,’ it would be better for people to look at easing this population explosion.
Maybe without knowing, Doctor Tayag actually shed light on the core agenda of reproductive health advocates. They would have us believe that there are not enough resources to accommodate the world’s population. They point to less developed nations’ “overpopulation” as not being sustainable, and as such, placing a burden upon more developed nations. They speak of concern for the poor and their plight but do nothing to alleviate their burden. They rarely speak of corrupt governments who exploit their citizens and fail to provide a basic infrastructure to facilitate the needs of their people; and the few times they do, it is always done so as a means of covering for commensurate population control measures. Mainstream media, which tend to uncritically repeat the “overpopulation” narrative, often focus their reporting on densely populated cities like Manila, Sao Paulo, Tokyo and Hong Kong with throngs of people gathered in city centers.
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Tags: Kazakhstan, NSSM-200, Philippines, Pope Benedict XVI, Texas
Posted in Population Control, Rev. Shenan J. Boquet, Truth and Charity Forum | No Comments »
Friday, November 4th, 2011
By Father Shenan J. Boquet
According to many population experts, humanity reached a milestone this week as the world’s population reached seven billion people. Every life is a blessing and a miracle to be celebrated, but as we saw in many of the news reports of baby seven billion, this miracle and milestone is being used by some to push even harder for the depopulation of the world, and the further devaluing of life.
In what I think could fairly be described as a questionable PR strategy, the “Day of 7 Billion” fell on Halloween, yielding tales of fright of “overpopulation” for many anti-life activists. But like most of the stories we hear around Halloween, the overpopulation bogeyman is a myth designed to scare us.
Many major news sources focused on Danica May Camacho, a 5.5 pound baby girl born in the Philippines, as the symbolic birth of the world’s seven billionth person. It is not certain who the actual seven billionth person is, but United Nations officials were on hand at Danica’s birth to present her and her family gifts to mark the occasion. Of course, for those who are familiar with the UN’s programs designed to reduce the number of children in the developing world, the specter of UN officials on hand to “welcome” a young Filipina really is enough to send shivers up your spine.
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Tags: Caritas in Veritate, overpopulation, Philippines, UNFPA
Posted in Culture of Life, Feature Post, Population Control, Rev. Shenan J. Boquet, Truth and Charity Forum | No Comments »
Friday, September 9th, 2011
By Father Shenan J. Boquet
Dear HLI Family,
The grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
I begin this week’s reflection speaking of peace because I am concerned about a serious issue confronting our beloved nation, as emphasized by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in an August 31 press release. This strong statement sheds light on new guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), that force private insurance plans to cover contraception-including abortifacients-and sterilization.
In its press release, the general counsel of the bishops called on the HHS to rescind its mandate, calling it “unprecedented in federal law and more radical than any state contraceptive mandate.” The comments also criticize the narrow “religious employer” exception to the mandate, explaining that it provides “no protection at all for individuals or insurers with a moral or religious objection to contraceptives or sterilization,” instead covering only “a very small subset of religious employers.”
The reality of this mandate and its radical shift in policy demands our attentiveness and courageous response. Article 1907 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
In the name of the common good, public authorities are bound to respect the fundamental and inalienable rights of the human person. Society should permit each of its members to fulfill his vocation. In particular, the common good resides in the conditions for the exercise of the natural freedoms indispensable for the development of the human vocation, such as, ‘The right to act according to a sound norm of conscience and to safeguard…privacy, and rightful freedom also in matters of religion.’
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Tags: Health and Human Services
Posted in Abortion, Contraception and Sterilization, Rev. Shenan J. Boquet, Truth and Charity Forum | No Comments »
