Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Fitchburg betrays the common good

In his Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, Pope John Paul II reminded us that:

"Authentic democracy is possible only in a State ruled by law, and on the basis of a correct conception of the human person. It requires that the necessary conditions be present for the advancement both of the individual through education and formation in true ideals, and of the 'subjectivity' of society through the creation of structures of participation and shared responsibility. Nowadays there is a tendency to claim that agnosticism and sceptical relativism are the philosophy and the basic attitude which correspond to democratic forms of political life. Those who are convinced that they know the truth and firmly adhere to it are considered unreliable from a democratic point of view, since they do not accept that truth is determined by the majority, or that it is subject to variation according to different political trends. It must be observed in this regard that if there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. As history demonstrates, a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism."

JayG is reporting that "The City Solicitor and majority of the City Council were very hostile towards pro-lifers." Is this a matter for the Alliance Defense Fund? or Jay Sekulow and The American Center for Law and Justice?

On the spiritual plane, I wrote the following letter to Father Thien Nguyen and received absolutely no response whatsoever:


February 6, 2010


Rev. Thien X. Nguyen
Immaculate Conception
59 Walnut Street
Fitchburg, Ma 01420


Re: Proposed Planned Parenthood Office In Fitchburg


Dear Fr. Thien,


The purpose of this letter is to inquire as to whether or not you would be interested in leading a prayer-procession across Fitchburg to both the proposed site for a Planned Parenthood Office as well as City Hall. It is my idea that all three mysteries of the Holy Rosary could be prayed and holy water and blessed salt could be used to cast away this evil which threatens the fair city of Fitchburg.

I believe now is the time for robust spiritual action. We Christians need to pray and fast as never before since some demons are cast out only by this means (Mark 9:29). The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, No. 2, states that the Vatican Council “…gazes upon that world which is the theater of man’s history, and carries the marks of his energies, his tragedies, and his triumphs; that world which the Christian sees as created and sustained by its Maker’s love, fallen indeed into the bondage of sin, yet emancipated now by Christ. He was crucified and rose again to break the stranglehold of personified Evil, so that this world might be fashioned anew according to God’s design and reach its fulfillment.”

Planned Parenthood’s arrival in Fitchburg would constitute yet another stranglehold of evil. But our hope is in the Crucified One who shatters such strongholds and liberates us. Now is the time for us to invoke His Holy Name and to pray for deliverance. Sacred Scripture (e.g., Daniel 10) testifies to the truth that evil can infect not only people but cities, countries and entire regions. Fitchburg has been infected by evil. And while pro-life demonstrations and letters to the editor of the local newspaper can be very useful, still, as Jesus taught so clearly, some demons are only driven out through prayer and fasting.

I believe our Catholic community can, and will, triumph over this evil through such means. Fr. Thien, will you lead such a procession and deliverance prayer? Perhaps other area Churches could participate? Please let me know if you are willing and I will do everything I can to coordinate such an endeavor.

I am, Yours in Christ,


Paul Anthony Melanson

And so, the spiritual battle continues.

Related reading here, here and here. Also here and here.

A question arises in my mind: The federal government plans to spend 55.5 million to extend the Fitchburg commuter rail line and build a new station. See here. Is it possible that the Obama administration has used these stimulus monies to influence the City Council in its decision regarding the proposed Planned Parenthood office? Lifenews has reported that Obama has given the Planned Parenthood abortion business unfettered access to the White House. See here. This would certainly explain (if it were true) the City Council's perceived hostility toward pro-lifers. It might also explain other inconsistencies in this whole sordid affair.

10 comments:

Ellen Wironken said...

It sure looks like pro-lifers may have been discriminated against. The ADF should be contacted. And what is up with the local clergy?

ACatholicinClinton said...

I think this whole sad affair was already predetermined, beginning with the mayor saying that she never heard from Planned Parenthood in December. The hostility toward those who are pro-life would seem to bear this out. There are dark forces at work in Fitchburg.

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

Two years ago - almost to the day - Mayor Lisa Wong told Radio Boston that, "The three “R”s in Fitchburg are the Rail, River and the Road – all are part of the infrastructure we need to grow."

Anonymous said...

The City Council meeting was held February 16th. The next day we get the announcement that Fitchburg will receive federal stimulus monies for the new train station and extended rail. Was the Obama administration waiting to see how the Council voted before making any definitive statement about the allocation of these monies?

Anonymous said...

The truth is the Mayor invited Planned Parenthood to the city. One of the two ladies who represented PP is a good friend of Lisa Wong. Wong was caught in a lie when she said PP never contacted her. Wong never showed up to any of the Council meetings relating to PP. Wong knew she would have the support from the Council since the Council president is a liberal and the city solicitor was hired by her. This is a play written by Wong and script was read by the city solicitor and members of the Council.

Coungratulations go out to Reynolds, DiNatale, Starr and Tran for working for the city. Major kudos to Tran for calling out the city solicitor and showing the public that Ciota is bias. Good article in the sentinelandenterprise.com

ACatholicinClinton said...

But to what extent is the White House involved in this fiasco? A question which needs to be answered.

Ted Loiseau said...

While the City Council and Mayor Wong were selling out the common good for thirty pieces of silver, the local clergy only offered token resistance to the Culture of Death.

Fitchburg is prostituting itself for federal stimulus monies. Abandoning Christian moral values and plain old common decency for dollars.

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

The following letter to the editor was just published in the Sentinel & Enterprise:

"This is an open letter to the owners of the 391 Main St. Fitchburg building that is the proposed location for Planned Parenthood.

We are not going away! I am the elected chair of the Fitchburg-Leominster Chapter of Mass. Citizens for Life.

We are the leader of the pro-life people protesting against the proposed Planned Parenthood's "health center" on Fitchburg's Main Street. We are unalterably opposed to an organization like Planned Parenthood that kills 15,000 Massachusetts unborn babies every year.

We will protest and fight this abomination. From experience, we do not believe any promises from Planned Parenthood that no abortions will be done in Fitchburg.

Our position is that there is no negotiated settlement we could accept, that would allow Planned Parenthood onto to any street in our region.

We are praying and protesting daily on Main Street, contacting councilors and landlords daily and will continue and expand. Our pro-life ranks are growing, and there are new and different facets of our battle, but the overriding goal is to stop Planned Parenthood from locating in Fitchburg. Period!"

The letter was written by Christine Hanley, Chairperson of the Fitchburg-Leominster Chapter of Massachusetts Citizens for Life."

Astute Catholics (and this leaves out the advocates of "Catholicism-Lite") will notice the passion in this comment. This is not a lukewarm Christian. Would that more Christians had such zeal - including our local clergy.

JayG said...

As Christians we should expect this, as Jesus said to his Apostles and disciples if they hated Him they'll hate you (Jn15:18) but that does not mean we accept it.

With 40 Days for Life starting Ash Wednesday, I think those fine people standing and praying on Main St. are a true sign, a sign of contradiction just like our savior.

Keep up the good work Paul and keep up the prayers. Know that we on the sidewalk on Pleasant St. in Worcester and with you all on the sidewalks of Main St. in Fitchburg. God bless.

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

It is now Sunday, May 30, 2010 as I write this. And to date, Fr. Thien Nguyen has not responded to my letter.

Am I held in such contempt? Apparently so?

What a shame. Because this isn't about me. Fitchburg is in need of deliverance prayer.

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