ALWAYS on the prowl for fresh ways of attracting people to their bizarre and unnatural activities, predatory Catholic bishops have hit on the idea of targeting foetuses.
We know Catholic priests like 'em young, but this is outrageous
According this report a new prayer of blessing has been approved by American Bishops for babies in the womb.
The new prayer, they say, fills a gap in existing prayer books.
The new liturgical service, which is in both English and Spanish, was approved overwhelmingly last week.
Archbishop Joseph E Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, praised the new blessing as:
A tangible way to witness pastorally and sacramentally to the life of the unborn child.
He said it could also serve as an opportunity for parishes to bring together expectant couples for mutual support.
Bishop Arthur J Serratelli of Paterson, NJ, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship, said the blessing, which had been approved both by his committee and by the Committee on Pro-Life Activities
Was prepared to support the parents awaiting the birth of their child, to encourage in the parish prayers for and recognition of the precious gift of the child in the womb, and to foster respect for human life within society.
The Catholic News Service says that the blessing can be used in the context of a Mass or outside a Mass, and for an individual mother, a couple or a group of expectant parents.
The blessing says:
May almighty God, who has created new life, now bless the child in your womb. The Lord has brought you the joy of motherhood: May he bless you with a safe and healthy pregnancy. You thank the Lord today for the gift of your child: May he bring you and your child one day to share in the unending joys of heaven.
Once approved by the Vatican, the blessing will be included in future editions of the Book of Blessings when that liturgical text is revised.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
November 17th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Why not go he whole hog and bless the sperm and the ovum in the moments before fertilisation? Interesting ceremony to be made of that, methinks. Lots of potential DVD sales.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:11 am
I agree. They could do it on the altar in front of the whole congregation while the choir sings.
No… I won’t tell you what the choir would sing. I leave that exercise to the reader.
November 18th, 2008 at 4:22 am
Just an observation here but isn’t that end part of the prayer basically casting the unborn child into death a bit too soon?
“May he bring you and your child one day to share in the unending joys of heaven”
I don’t know, going from unborn to heaven pretty much skips over the being alive and well part.
November 18th, 2008 at 4:38 am
Between these nuts forcing Catholicism on the unborn and Mormons pawning their garbage on the dead (“posthumous baptisms”) it’s really getting out of hand. What’s next, conversion prayers over sleeping people?
November 19th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
It is sad that they are already looking forward to the death of these unborn children. I’m no pro-lifer but I’m not the one praying for the end of life either.
February 18th, 2009 at 2:54 am
I’m curious about why (if you are atheists) the concept of praying for an unborn baby troubles you.
Presumably if you are an atheist, you see no point or power in prayer, so the prayer is just meaningless words.
Buffy’s comment – “Forcing Catholicism on the unborn…” – how? Is Buffy assuming that the prayers are effective?
By the way, I am not a Catholic.