Lower…. no, Lower… that’s right…. Lower– BOOM!

Here it comes at last. From Lifesitenews.com

US Bishops asked to Fire Chief Film Critic over Glowing Reviews for “Brokeback” and “Compass”

“Bishops horrified at what has been done in their name”

By John-Henry Westen

WASHINGTON, DC, December 3, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Bishops of the United States are being asked to fire the chief movie reviewer for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Harry Forbes, the Director of the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting, has reignited scandal by praising the film “The Golden Compass” which is based on an anti-Catholic novel.

Forbes caused similar controversy two years ago when he issued a glowing review in the name of the USCCB for the homosexual propaganda film “Brokeback Mountain”.

Pete Vere, who has a written book on the author of The Golden Compass, spoke with LifeSiteNews.com about the USCCB review. “Several bishops have spoken to me about this review and they are horrified at what has been done in their name,” Vere told LifeSiteNews.com. “Certainly the USCCB has to revisit its rules for issuing movie reviews.” Vere’s book co-authored by Sandra Miesel, Pied Piper of Atheism: Philip Pullman and Children’s Fantasy, is to be released by Ignatius Press before Christmas.

Fr. Tom Euteneuer, the President of Human Life International, has called on the US Bishops to fire Forbes and his subordinate John Mulderig who co-authored the review of The Golden Compass. The HLI leader was incredulous that the USCCB review could recommend the film for children despite the fact that it admits the film has “occult elements” and carries a “spirit of rebellion”.

“The fact that these gentlemen could recommend this movie to children is just abhorrent to me. I really do believe these guys should be fired,” Fr. Eueneuer told LifeSiteNews.com. “Whatever happened to rejecting Satan and all his empty work and empty promises.”

The USCCB review notes the great artistry of the film, but such is no reason to approve of it warned Fr. Euteneuer who has taken part in exorcisms. “St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11 that the devil comes dressed as an angel of light. And this is very clearly what is happening. They have taken an atheistic work and dressed it up as something good for kids.”

Noting Forbes’ former scandalous positive review of Brokeback Mountain, Fr. Euteneuer said, “The fact (the USCCB) didn’t fire him at that time is what leads to this kind of thing. When you don’t rebuke irresponsibility in using an office to spread errors then it leads to more irresponsibility.”In a rare move, the US Catholic League last week publicly slammed the USCCB Golden Compass review in exclusive comments to LifeSiteNews.com (see: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07113001.html ).

Vere told LifeSiteNews.com that as a canon lawyer he has concerns about the USCCB’s positive review of The Golden Compass. “I recognize that the faithful turn to their bishops for guidance on issues affecting Catholic faith and morals. By giving The Golden Compass a positive review, it could appear to most Catholics that the U.S. bishops see nothing to be concerned about in Pullman’s work,” he said.

This certainly is not the case, which is why Sandra Miesel and I have documented several of our concerns in Pied Piper of Atheism (AtheismForChildren.com). Ignatius Press is set to release this short book before Christmas. The book chronicles a number of ways in which Pullman’s work, which is being marketed to children and young people, attacks the Church, undermines faith in God and promotes atheism. How else does one describe a book in which two twelve-year-olds set out to overthrow God before re-enacting the fall of Adam as a good thing?”

As Catholic faithful we must alert our bishop and other good bishops as to what Forbes and Mulderig have written in name of the USCCB,” says Vere in an upcoming column for The Wanderer. “Be respectful, but state our concerns bluntly, ask these bishops to investigate what happened, and why it happened. Demand that the bishops take appropriate corrective action. Demand that future movies are reviewed within the context of the good of souls – which in our canonical and theological tradition is the supreme law – and not merely on their artistic merit.”

Vere suggests that this “should be clearly explained to Forbes, Mulderig, and other USCCB movie reviewers” and “If they choose not to abide by it, then the bishops have a moral duty to provide the faithful with reviewers who will.”

The USCCB review is already causing damage by enticing Catholic audiences to see the movie. Fiction writer and popular blogger Amy Welborn reports that the ad agency for New Line Cinema which has released the film, is using the Forbes’ review to promote the film via full-page ads in diocesan newspapers.

One key line in the ad agency’s pitch to diocesan newspaper editors: “We’ve spoken extensively about this film with Harry Forbes, Director of the USCCB’s Office of Film and Broadcasting.”

To respectfully contact individual US Bishops:http://www.usccb.org/bishops.shtml

The book ‘Pied Piper of Atheism: Philip Pullman and Children’s Fantasy’ by Pete Vere and Sandra Miesel is available here:http://www.atheismforchildren.com/

Lower…. no, Lower… that’s right…. Lower– BOOM!

Here it comes at last. From Lifesitenews.com

US Bishops asked to Fire Chief Film Critic over Glowing Reviews for “Brokeback” and “Compass”

“Bishops horrified at what has been done in their name”

By John-Henry Westen

WASHINGTON, DC, December 3, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Bishops of the United States are being asked to fire the chief movie reviewer for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Harry Forbes, the Director of the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting, has reignited scandal by praising the film “The Golden Compass” which is based on an anti-Catholic novel.

Forbes caused similar controversy two years ago when he issued a glowing review in the name of the USCCB for the homosexual propaganda film “Brokeback Mountain”.

Pete Vere, who has a written book on the author of The Golden Compass, spoke with LifeSiteNews.com about the USCCB review. “Several bishops have spoken to me about this review and they are horrified at what has been done in their name,” Vere told LifeSiteNews.com. “Certainly the USCCB has to revisit its rules for issuing movie reviews.” Vere’s book co-authored by Sandra Miesel, Pied Piper of Atheism: Philip Pullman and Children’s Fantasy, is to be released by Ignatius Press before Christmas.

Fr. Tom Euteneuer, the President of Human Life International, has called on the US Bishops to fire Forbes and his subordinate John Mulderig who co-authored the review of The Golden Compass. The HLI leader was incredulous that the USCCB review could recommend the film for children despite the fact that it admits the film has “occult elements” and carries a “spirit of rebellion”.

“The fact that these gentlemen could recommend this movie to children is just abhorrent to me. I really do believe these guys should be fired,” Fr. Eueneuer told LifeSiteNews.com. “Whatever happened to rejecting Satan and all his empty work and empty promises.”

The USCCB review notes the great artistry of the film, but such is no reason to approve of it warned Fr. Euteneuer who has taken part in exorcisms. “St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11 that the devil comes dressed as an angel of light. And this is very clearly what is happening. They have taken an atheistic work and dressed it up as something good for kids.”

Noting Forbes’ former scandalous positive review of Brokeback Mountain, Fr. Euteneuer said, “The fact (the USCCB) didn’t fire him at that time is what leads to this kind of thing. When you don’t rebuke irresponsibility in using an office to spread errors then it leads to more irresponsibility.”In a rare move, the US Catholic League last week publicly slammed the USCCB Golden Compass review in exclusive comments to LifeSiteNews.com (see: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07113001.html ).

Vere told LifeSiteNews.com that as a canon lawyer he has concerns about the USCCB’s positive review of The Golden Compass. “I recognize that the faithful turn to their bishops for guidance on issues affecting Catholic faith and morals. By giving The Golden Compass a positive review, it could appear to most Catholics that the U.S. bishops see nothing to be concerned about in Pullman’s work,” he said.

This certainly is not the case, which is why Sandra Miesel and I have documented several of our concerns in Pied Piper of Atheism (AtheismForChildren.com). Ignatius Press is set to release this short book before Christmas. The book chronicles a number of ways in which Pullman’s work, which is being marketed to children and young people, attacks the Church, undermines faith in God and promotes atheism. How else does one describe a book in which two twelve-year-olds set out to overthrow God before re-enacting the fall of Adam as a good thing?”

As Catholic faithful we must alert our bishop and other good bishops as to what Forbes and Mulderig have written in name of the USCCB,” says Vere in an upcoming column for The Wanderer. “Be respectful, but state our concerns bluntly, ask these bishops to investigate what happened, and why it happened. Demand that the bishops take appropriate corrective action. Demand that future movies are reviewed within the context of the good of souls – which in our canonical and theological tradition is the supreme law – and not merely on their artistic merit.”

Vere suggests that this “should be clearly explained to Forbes, Mulderig, and other USCCB movie reviewers” and “If they choose not to abide by it, then the bishops have a moral duty to provide the faithful with reviewers who will.”

The USCCB review is already causing damage by enticing Catholic audiences to see the movie. Fiction writer and popular blogger Amy Welborn reports that the ad agency for New Line Cinema which has released the film, is using the Forbes’ review to promote the film via full-page ads in diocesan newspapers.

One key line in the ad agency’s pitch to diocesan newspaper editors: “We’ve spoken extensively about this film with Harry Forbes, Director of the USCCB’s Office of Film and Broadcasting.”

To respectfully contact individual US Bishops:http://www.usccb.org/bishops.shtml

The book ‘Pied Piper of Atheism: Philip Pullman and Children’s Fantasy’ by Pete Vere and Sandra Miesel is available here:http://www.atheismforchildren.com/

Doctor Loses License After Illegal Late-Term Abortion

From LifeNews:

Florida Abortion Practitioner Loses License for Illegal Late-Term Abortion

by Steven Ertelt
December 3, 2007

Orlando, FL (LifeNews.com) — Florida abortion practitioner James Pendergraft has been fined $10,000 and will lose his medical license for one year over an illegal late-term abortion he did in 2005. That’s the decision of the Florida Board of Medicine, which handed down the decision about the notorious abortion practitioner on Friday.

The board also will place Pendergraft’s license on a three year probationary period following the suspension, but he plans to appeal the decision.

Pendergraft runs five abortion facilities and his abortion centers in Ocala, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale were shut down for a brief time during an investigation into alleged illegal activities.

The state Agency for Health Care Administration prohibited abortions at those and his two Orlando abortion businesses because Pendergraft was alleged to have done two illegal abortions.
The illegal abortions supposedly occurred at the Orlando centers in 2004 and 2005, but the Florida Board of Medicine threw out the charges related to the 2004 abortion.

However, the board said Pendergraft failed to follow state laws on an abortion he did on a woman’s baby who was about 27 to 28 weeks into the pregnancy.

Florida only allows such late-term abortions to be done in a hospital and only with the certification from two physicians asserting that the woman’s life is in danger from the pregnancy.

However, Pendergraft did not get a second doctor to sign off on the abortion and he did it at his Orlando Women’s Center, which is a private abortion business and doesn’t have the same ability as a hospital to treat women who are victimized by botched abortions.

According to state records, the baby involved in the 2005 abortion allegedly had severe physical and mental problems.

Pendergraft spokeswoman Marti Mackenzie previously told the Sun-Sentinel newspaper that the woman’s life was in danger in that case and that she was sent to Pendergraft for the abortion by two doctors who had previously examined her.

She indicated the woman was told by an unnamed hospital that she couldn’t have the abortion there.”People sought him out because of his expertise so she could have this necessary termination as quickly as possible,” Mackenzie told the newspaper. “I strongly maintain that not only is [Pendergraft] not a danger to women, he is their only salvation in these cases.”

Florida officials also took actions against Pendergraft over a 2004 abortion in which he said a woman was 22 weeks pregnant. He gave her a drug to take at home to initiative contractions and begin the abortion.

The woman ended up having the abortion at home before she could go back to the abortion center and a hospital later estimated the age of the baby at 25 to 27 weeks, according to the newspaper.

The state said Pendergraft “endangered two female patients by performing third-trimester abortions outside a hospital setting and without concurring certification from a second physician.”

Mackenzie said Pendergraft disputes the findings on the age of the baby.

Meanwhile, Pendergraft was convicted in 2001 over a lawsuit he and an associate filed against Marion County.

The suit claimed the abortion business wasn’t given proper protection from threats of violence but county officials told the court the lawsuit was part of an extortion plot in which the county would have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to Pendergraft.

Pendergraft received a sentence of three years and 10 months in prison but was released after just seven months when the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the conviction.

He admitted in federal court that he obstructed justice by supporting a business associate he knew was lying and hoped to get money from local officials by claiming pro-life advocates were threatening him and his business.

And in 2005, a woman filed a lawsuit against one of Pendergraft’s abortion facilities saying it refused to call emergency personnel to help her or her baby, born on the second day of a two-day abortion procedure.

They charged Harry Perper, the abortion practitioner who began the abortion process, and Pendergraft with violating state law.

Attorneys for the law firm Liberty Counsel, who represented the woman, said a doctor should have been present during the second day of the abortion procedure. They say abortion business staff failed to provide adequate care and they cite unsanitary conditions at the facility.

Doctor Loses License After Illegal Late-Term Abortion

From LifeNews:

Florida Abortion Practitioner Loses License for Illegal Late-Term Abortion

by Steven Ertelt
December 3, 2007

Orlando, FL (LifeNews.com) — Florida abortion practitioner James Pendergraft has been fined $10,000 and will lose his medical license for one year over an illegal late-term abortion he did in 2005. That’s the decision of the Florida Board of Medicine, which handed down the decision about the notorious abortion practitioner on Friday.

The board also will place Pendergraft’s license on a three year probationary period following the suspension, but he plans to appeal the decision.

Pendergraft runs five abortion facilities and his abortion centers in Ocala, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale were shut down for a brief time during an investigation into alleged illegal activities.

The state Agency for Health Care Administration prohibited abortions at those and his two Orlando abortion businesses because Pendergraft was alleged to have done two illegal abortions.
The illegal abortions supposedly occurred at the Orlando centers in 2004 and 2005, but the Florida Board of Medicine threw out the charges related to the 2004 abortion.

However, the board said Pendergraft failed to follow state laws on an abortion he did on a woman’s baby who was about 27 to 28 weeks into the pregnancy.

Florida only allows such late-term abortions to be done in a hospital and only with the certification from two physicians asserting that the woman’s life is in danger from the pregnancy.

However, Pendergraft did not get a second doctor to sign off on the abortion and he did it at his Orlando Women’s Center, which is a private abortion business and doesn’t have the same ability as a hospital to treat women who are victimized by botched abortions.

According to state records, the baby involved in the 2005 abortion allegedly had severe physical and mental problems.

Pendergraft spokeswoman Marti Mackenzie previously told the Sun-Sentinel newspaper that the woman’s life was in danger in that case and that she was sent to Pendergraft for the abortion by two doctors who had previously examined her.

She indicated the woman was told by an unnamed hospital that she couldn’t have the abortion there.”People sought him out because of his expertise so she could have this necessary termination as quickly as possible,” Mackenzie told the newspaper. “I strongly maintain that not only is [Pendergraft] not a danger to women, he is their only salvation in these cases.”

Florida officials also took actions against Pendergraft over a 2004 abortion in which he said a woman was 22 weeks pregnant. He gave her a drug to take at home to initiative contractions and begin the abortion.

The woman ended up having the abortion at home before she could go back to the abortion center and a hospital later estimated the age of the baby at 25 to 27 weeks, according to the newspaper.

The state said Pendergraft “endangered two female patients by performing third-trimester abortions outside a hospital setting and without concurring certification from a second physician.”

Mackenzie said Pendergraft disputes the findings on the age of the baby.

Meanwhile, Pendergraft was convicted in 2001 over a lawsuit he and an associate filed against Marion County.

The suit claimed the abortion business wasn’t given proper protection from threats of violence but county officials told the court the lawsuit was part of an extortion plot in which the county would have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to Pendergraft.

Pendergraft received a sentence of three years and 10 months in prison but was released after just seven months when the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the conviction.

He admitted in federal court that he obstructed justice by supporting a business associate he knew was lying and hoped to get money from local officials by claiming pro-life advocates were threatening him and his business.

And in 2005, a woman filed a lawsuit against one of Pendergraft’s abortion facilities saying it refused to call emergency personnel to help her or her baby, born on the second day of a two-day abortion procedure.

They charged Harry Perper, the abortion practitioner who began the abortion process, and Pendergraft with violating state law.

Attorneys for the law firm Liberty Counsel, who represented the woman, said a doctor should have been present during the second day of the abortion procedure. They say abortion business staff failed to provide adequate care and they cite unsanitary conditions at the facility.