Dear Friends,
Hold onto your hat! Let me tell you what Fr. John Corapi told me on a recent program. It boggled my mind.
Fr. Corapi told me that Catholics today are living through the darkest, most extreme, and most pivotal time since Apostolic times.
That's right. We live in the most evil, dark time since the days of pagan Rome when the early Catholics were eaten by lions for the amusement of the pagan crowds in the Coliseum. Will we Catholics face persecution in America's post-Christian society?
Well, Fr. Corapi ominously said, "The persecution has already begun." Consider this:
- A Christian doctor in California was sued for refusing a lesbian couple's request to perform artificial insemination.
- A Christian photographer in New Mexico was sued for refusing to photograph a "gay" civil union ceremony.
- Christian nurses in Wisconsin, California, and elsewhere have been fired or demoted for refusing to participate in abortions.
- Christian pharmacists have been fired for refusing to fill prescriptions that violate moral principles, such as drugs that cause early abortions.
- Public figures have already been vilified, mocked, ridiculed, and marginalized for opposing homosexuality or for saying that traditional marriage is superior to "gay" unions. These public figures include Anita Bryant, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Sarah Palin, and Miss California who was stripped of her crown last year.
- "Hate crime" legislation may be turned against Christians who raise their voices against the sin of sodomy, as has happened in Canada and other countries.
And the persecution will get worse before it ends. America will get even darker before the darkness yields to the light, says Father Corapi.
Have you thought about what this means for you and your loved ones? How will you live through this time of darkness? How will you withstand the moral crisis and the persecution that has already started?
Here are some things that won't help at all:
- Pretending that things aren't so bad
- Imagining that things are getting better
- Denying that there's a moral and spiritual meltdown
Incredibly, most people seem to be in denial or are unaware that there's a problem. And Fr. Corapi says, "The complacency of average citizens contributes to the demise of society." We can't be in denial. We can't live in a fool's paradise. We can't bury our heads in the sand. If we're in touch with reality, we must admit that these are extreme, dark times.
If any proof were needed, Exhibit "A" would be the abortion holocaust. Exhibit "B" would be the militant "gay" agenda. Exhibit "C" would be the pervasive pornography that ruins so many marriages - especially Internet pornography, which has enmeshed millions of American boys and men. Many other "Exhibits" could follow.
Now let me make one thing crystal clear. Fr. Corapi is a realist, but he's also an optimist! He points out that it's always darkest before the dawn and it's actually a blessing to live in dark times! Don't focus on the darkness. Focus rather on the light of Christ.
A saint once said, "I thank God for living in such a dark time because it gives me so many opportunities to do so much good."
The fact is, you were born for a time such as this. There are no coincidences with God, and it's no coincidence that you were born at this time and place in history. God has chosen you for life in this day and time because He wants to use you as His instrument of salvation. St. Louis de Montfort said that the greatest saints would come in the latter days. I believe God intends for you to be one of them!
Let me tell you how my dear departed husband Anthony handled living in a pagan, materialist society. He had words of wisdom, which I encouraged our daughters to pay close attention to. I called these words of wisdom "dadisms."
Here are four of these dadisms: "Keep your eyes on Jesus." "Stay the course." "Guard the perimeter." "Finish strong."
When I mentioned those dadisms to Fr. Corapi, he remarked that Anthony was a wise man. And I'm glad to pass that wisdom on to you. Applying this wisdom can keep you and your loved ones safe during perhaps the darkest time of history. It bears repeating: Keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay the course. Guard the perimeter. Finish strong!
Because of space limitations, I've only scratched the surface of Fr. Corapi's startling message and urgent recommendations. That's why I want you to have the CD and DVD of Fr. Corapi's remarks. You need to hear his message with your own ears.
What about "gay marriage"?
Now, because of the urgency of the moral crisis upon us, I need to talk to you about the so-called "gay marriage" movement. When Pope Benedict XVI was still a cardinal, he made a clarion call to all Catholics to oppose the concept of homosexual "marriage." And he certainly hasn't changed his mind!
Let me tell you about a program I recently did on "gay" marriage. The program featured three outstanding guests: researcher Paul Rondeau, author Mary Jo Anderson, and Human Life International's president Fr. Tom Euteneuer.
Well, what about "gay marriage"? The militant homosexuals are claiming they have a "right" to marry. Do they?
Abraham Lincoln, known for his homespun wisdom, used to ask, "If you call a tail a leg, how many legs would a dog have?" Most people would reply "five." Lincoln answered, "Wrong! The correct answer is four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it one."
By the same token, calling a homosexual relationship a "marriage" can never make it one, even if the government passes a law that says so. Truth is truth. It's knowable and objective. But the "dictatorship of relativism" would try to convince us of something different. The institution of marriage will always be between one man and one woman, and that's the truth. You can't make a tail a leg even if you call it that.
The concept of homosexual "marriage" defies logic and natural law, and it will lead to all kinds of other perverse relationships, just as surely as abortion has led to all kinds of abuses against the human person.
The next time you hear someone advocating homosexual "marriage" or legal recognition of "civil unions" for same-sex couples, you could ask, "What about two brothers who want to get married?" Or, "What about a bisexual who wants to marry two people?" The fact is, sexual unions of all kinds, including incest, polyandry, and pederasty, could become commonplace if we let the "gay marriage" movement win.
The shocking truth about "gay" relationships
Homosexual couples present themselves to the public as sincere individuals who just want to have a monogamous, lifelong relationship with their partner. Is that true? It's time for a "FACT CHECK." It turns out that practically all "gay" couples have "open" relationships. In other words, they don't even expect or require each other to be faithful.
Let me give you an example. In Holland there was a survey of homosexual couples one year after their "marriages." Only one couple out of 20 had been "faithful" to each other. And homosexual couples in America are no different.
Let me point out that there has never been any discrimination against homosexuals who want to marry. If a homosexual proposes marriage to a woman, and she says yes, they can get a marriage license to get married.
You see, the homosexuals care nothing about the so-called "right" to get married - a right they've always had. Rather, what they really want is to radically redefine marriage to include an objectively sinful and therefore destructive relationship. No Catholic can support in any way a redefinition of marriage that's other than "the covenanted union between one man and one woman."
Homosexual couples demand the full benefits of marriage, including all of the tax benefits that the government gives to married couples. Moral reasons aside, it's a convoluted proposal. Here's why.
Marriage, an institution between one man and one woman, predates the state. Therefore, the state doesn't provide for marriage. Rather, marriage provides for the state, which permits it to exist in harmony, it is hoped, with a well-ordered society of citizens that are generally responsible and self-disciplined. Citizens who, by the way, come about as a result of marriage!
Without marriage between a man and a woman, there wouldn't even be a state, because humanity would cease to reproduce itself. In the end, only marriage between a man and a woman perpetuates the state.
I'm sure you agree with me that homosexual unions can't be equated with marriage - logically, morally, or reproductively.
How parents can prevent children from turning "gay"
You may have heard that there's a "gay" gene that causes people to be "born" homosexual. If that were the case, then being "gay" would be like being Black or Asian. no "gay" gene has been discovered. It's only a myth - propaganda, really.
In fact, the militant homosexual movement is directly attacking the sacred institution of marriage. Marriage is the bedrock of our society. When marriages break apart, the children suffer, and society is also harmed. If we don't defend marriage here and now, our whole society could fall apart! That's why I want you to have the CD and DVD of my program exposing the unholy push for "gay marriage" and what we Catholics must do to defend traditional marriage.
When you hear this program, you'll get the details of the infamous 1989 "war council" of homosexual activists that crafted a brilliant marketing plan to sell their agenda to the public.
You'll also hear Mary Jo Anderson's brilliant remarks about what really causes homosexuality and how parents can prevent their children from turning "gay."
The culture war rages all around us, and we must do what we can to make sure our children don't inherit a wasteland and a bleak future…
… a future marked by abortion, atheism, promiscuity, homosexuality, political correctness, big government, and a loss of freedom. Failure is not an option, period.
Why the anti-life movement MUST be stopped!
Another reason for my deep concern about the direction of our country is that America is rapidly heading toward a socialist state that could destroy the freedoms we hold dear.
America's heritage of freedom calls for limited government, balance of powers, a public conscience based on morality and virtue, and a respect for the dignity of the human person who is endowed with inalienable rights among which is the right to life.
Pull any one of these suppositions out, and the enterprise could collapse. Pull out more than one and the enterprise begins to crumble.
By my estimation, two of these have been pulled out already. And the other two are teetering.
Consider this: we already know that the human rights of nearly 4,000 citizens a day are violated by death through abortion. And other lives are in danger of euthanasia. Two states have already passed assisted suicide laws, and other states could follow. And death certificates record "death by natural causes" rather than "death by lethal injection". This is the same kind of "redefinition" I told you about earlier regarding "gay" marriage.
I discuss this danger and the other dangers in my program "Socialism: Threat to Freedom." My guest on this program was the brilliant author Samuel Gregg, and I want to send you a CD and DVD of this remarkable program. Believe me; you'll want to share this with family and friends. It is absolutely riveting.
But know this. You can make a difference. You can stem the tide. And that's why God has given you life at this moment in the history of man!
I want to help you do just that.
How to get my "bonanza bonus package," which includes
the new CD and DVD of Fr. Corapi's mind-boggling message
I'm eager to send you my new CD "The Defense of Traditional Marriage" for your tax-deductible gift of $35 or more. This CD will shock you, inform you, and inspire you to defend traditional marriage, which is the bedrock of Church and society. Could you consider sending a gift of $35 or more?
If you can sacrifice a tax-deductible gift of $60 or more, I'll gladly rush you "The Defense of Traditional Marriage" in DVD format plus my new DVD "Socialism: Threat to Freedom." Considering the direction our country is heading, this DVD couldn't be more relevant to you and your loved ones and the freedom you cherish. Could you consider sending a gift of $60 or more?
For your sacrifice of $100 or more, I'll send you my "bonanza bonus package." This package includes three new programs in both CD and DVD format (6 discs in all): "Defense of Traditional Marriage," "Socialism: Threat to Freedom," and Fr. Corapi's "Eyes to See and Ears to Hear: Reading and Heeding the Signs of the Times."
Fr. Corapi really nails the grave situation we face while pointing to a shining light of hope. I guarantee these gifts will touch your heart and bring you closer to the Lord. They could even bring a friend or loved one back to the Church. And they could well help to save our country. Could you consider sending a gift of $100 or more?
I'm praying that you'll be generous. Could you consider sacrificing more than the suggested minimum amounts - considering the financial difficulties caused by the recession?
Our funding was down in the last quarter of 2009. Would it be possible for you to sacrifice $250, $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 or even more?
Why am I asking you to consider making a large gift like that? Well, it's going to take a lot of money to keep our outreaches going. These outreaches are seen and heard throughout the world via EWTN. They have literally changed peoples' lives. If the Lord has blessed you financially, I'm praying that you'll consider making a heroic sacrifice. Would that be possible?
I'm depending on your generosity. Please join me in praying that the Lord will inspire His followers to provide for our needs - for His glory. You see, I need the immediate help of people like you to continue bringing life-changing programming to you and your loved ones. I have no one else to turn to. The need is urgent.
I'll gratefully accept your sacrifice of any amount - however large, however small. Please send your sacrifice, whether it's a major gift, a Widow's Mite, or anything in between. And please pray for our Apostolate. Your gift will help me produce our life-changing TV and radio programs and keep our other projects going as well.
May the abundant life of Jesus Christ be yours.
In His service,
Johnnette Benkovic
P.S. I'm eager to send you the stellar premiums I mentioned in this letter. Click here and make an on-line Christmas gift donation. If you do not want to donate online, you can also call in your gift to 1-800-558-5452 or mail it to us at Living His Life Abundantly, PO Box 239, Oldsmar FL 34677-3019. I guarantee these special gifts will touch your heart.
P.P.S. URGENT UPDATE. The world was stunned by the terrible earthquake in Haiti. As a Catholic apostolate, we want to help the victims of this devastation. Because of the extraordinary disaster, I'll send 10 percent of your gift to this cause, even though we urgently need funds for Living His Life Abundantly. Please be especially generous so that together we can bring the love of Jesus Christ to those who need it most.
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