Healing after Abortion in Dallas, Texas has offered the Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat for women and men now for over 20 years.  The men attending their Rachel Retreats received abundant healing.  Some of these male participants suggested also offering a men’s only group where men could go deeper into their story, and discover additional healing and strength for their faith journey.  Project Joseph© was initiated in 2014 and is based on the Prodigal Son. It is a Day of Healing for…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW Those Catholic leaders and laity of the Roman Catholic Church that justify voting for pro-abortion candidates, are enablers of the Democratic Party’s out of control addiction to abortion. Let’s look at how addiction experts define enabling: Anything that you do…that protects the alcoholic or addict from the consequences of his or her actions, could be enabling him to delay a decision to get help for their problem. It’s in their best interest if you stop whatever…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW Joe Biden in his town hall on October 15th was not asked about the NY Post expose on the shady business dealings of his son Hunter and his role in that unfolding scandal.    Biden did however answer a carefully orchestrated propaganda softball tossed from a mother of an eight year old daughter she describes as “transgender.”  This mother predictably attacks the Trump administration’s modest actions and executive orders to step back from the radical transgender…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW In her groundbreaking book Forbidden Grief, Rachel’s Vineyard founder Theresa Burke, Ph.D. shares how abortion can impact relationships.  She draws from her clinical experience as a counselor and group facilitator with thousands of women and men with past abortions.  While some women feel forced to have abortions to escape entanglement with an abusive partner, others are drawn to abusive relationships in the aftermath of the procedure.  Dr. Burke writes about her client Casey: In many cases…an…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW and Theresa Burke, Ph.D In a recent blog article we looked at the division between social justice and prolife Christians.  Let’s explore how we can heal those divisions and become natural allies in sharing the love of God with families facing social and economic challenges.  Social justice Christians may be surprised to learn the dynamic connection that exists between abortion and the challenges faced by those suffering poverty and oppression. There are two populations served in abortion…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW October 5th is a day Catholics celebrate the life of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, the great Saint of Divine Mercy.    In her Diary of a Soul, St. Faustina shares of her intimate encounters with the Lord Jesus, and the power of His mercy.  But take a special note of what Jesus says about trust: All grace flows from mercy…even if a person’s sins were as dark as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery….

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By Kevin Burke, LSW Franciscan Father David B. Couturier is the Executive Director of the Franciscan Institute. In his response to the dynamic prolife speech made at the Republican National Convention by Sr. Deirdre Byrne, POSC, Fr. Couturier said the following: First, I am pro-life. I am pro-life across all its dimensions: unborn, mothers’ health, health care, children’s rights, immigrant rights, against the death penalty, etc. I think [Sr. Byrne] is absolutely wrong on her conclusion that Trump is pro-life…Trump…

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[Ashley Slavik, a blessed wife and mother of two daughters, will soon complete her Masters degree in Catechetics and Evangelization at Franciscan University of Steubenville.  Ashley responded to an invitation from the Holy Spirit to apply what she has learned in her graduate training in a creative way with those who may be struggling with their faith, and would benefit from some emotional and spiritual support.  I asked Ashley to share some information on her new outreach, Letters of Light…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ is a brutally realistic depiction of the torture and death of Jesus, and the great sacrifice he offered for our salvation.  Franco Zeffirlli’s Jesus of Nazareth was a star-studded epic Hollywood production, featuring a distant and more ethereal Messiah.  Beautifully done and well worth a look. But there is something unique about The Chosen that makes it my favorite all time presentation of stories found in the Gospels. The…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW The polarization in our national politics is also found among Christians of all denominations.  This is powerfully expressed in the division between pro-life and social justice believers.  Public Religion Research Institute’s American Values Survey revealed the difference between those who identify as social justice Catholics and believers who see themselves as right to life Catholics: “Right to life Catholics” believe the Catholic Church should focus more on abortion and the right to life in its statements about public…

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