Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop Lori Urge Support For The Health Care Conscience Rights Act

From USCCB

WASHINGTON—Congress should reaffirm the principle that government “should not force anyone to stop offering or covering much-needed legitimate health care” because of a conscientious objection to abortion or other procedures, said Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley of Boston and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore. In a February 13 letter to the House of Representatives, the bishops, who chair the Committee on Pro-Life Activities and the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), urged legislators to support and co-sponsor the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940).

“It is increasingly obvious that Congress needs to act to protect conscientious objection to the taking of innocent human life,” wrote Cardinal O’Malley and Archbishop Lori. “Recently California’s Department of Managed Health Care began demanding that all health plans under its jurisdiction include elective abortions, including late-term abortions. This mandate has no exemption for religious or moral objections, and is being enforced against religious universities, schools and even churches. Similar proposals have emerged in Washington and other states.”

The bishops noted that the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA) section of the bill would give firmer legal basis to the Weldon amendment, part of every Labor/HHS appropriations bill since 2004, which forbids governmental bodies receiving federal funds to discriminate against those who decline to take part in abortion or abortion coverage. They noted that President Obama has expressed support for the Weldon amendment.

In addition, the bishops said that H.R. 940 would incorporate respect for rights of conscience into the Affordable Care Act, allowing those who purchase, provide and sponsor health coverage under the Act to opt out of abortion or other specific items that violate their moral and religious convictions. Finally the bill would recognize a private right of action for victims of discrimination under either provision, so they can go to court to defend their rights.

“We strongly urge you to support and co-sponsor the Health Care Conscience Rights Act,” the bishops concluded.

The full text of the letter is available online using this link.


To send your own message to Congress, use this link and follow the prompts.

Nine Days for Life - January 17 - 25, 2015

 

From USCCB


On January 22 our nation will mark the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal throughout the U.S.


Since that tragic decision, more than 56 million children's lives have been lost to abortion, and many suffer that loss -- often in silence.


Join thousands of Catholics across the country coming together in prayer for a "culture of life" from Saturday, January 17 - Sunday, January 25!

Promotional and planning resources are available for leaders using this link.

USCCB Chairmen Respond To New Department Of Labor Regulations

From the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops

WASHINGTON—On December 3, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule to implement President Obama’s July 21 Executive Order prohibiting federal government contractors from what the Administration deems “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” discrimination. In response, four chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a statement. Those chairmen are Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage; Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty; and Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, New York, chairman of the Committee of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth.

The full statement follows:

The regulations published on December 3 by the U.S. Department of Labor implement the objectionable Executive Order that President Obama issued in July to address what the Administration has described as “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” discrimination in employment by federal contractors. We will study the regulations carefully, but we note the following initially. Our Church teaches that “[e]very sign of unjust discrimination” against those who experience same-sex attraction “should be avoided” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 2358)—but it appears on an initial reading that these regulations would prohibit far more than that “unjust discrimination.” In particular, they appear also to prohibit employers’ religious and moral disapproval of same-sex sexual conduct, which creates a serious threat to freedom of conscience and religious liberty, because “[u]nder no circumstances” may Catholics approve of such conduct (CCC 2357). Very many other people over a broad spectrum of different religious faiths hold this same conviction. Additionally, the regulations advance the false ideology of “gender identity,” which ignores biological reality and harms the privacy and associational rights of both contractors and their employees. In justice, the Administration should not exclude contractors from federal contracting simply because they have religious or moral convictions about human sexuality and sexual conduct that differ from the views of the current governmental authorities.
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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Subcommittee on the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty; and Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, Committee of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, federal contracting, same sex, religious liberty, gender identity, Obama administration, executive order
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Norma Montenegro Flynn

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NATIONAL NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING AWARENESS WEEK

Natural Family Planning Awareness Week is a national educational campaign. The Natural Family Planning Program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops develops a poster each year with basic supportive materials. It is the individual dioceses however, that offer a variety of educational formats in the local church to focus attention on Natural Family Planning methods and Church teachings which support their use in marriage.

The dates of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week highlight the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25) which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Mother. For further information, contact nfp@usccb.org.

Love at First Sight

By Anne McGuire

A week ago I saw what must be the sweetest face I’ve ever seen. It was the face of my first nephew, who is due to be born in a few months – the first of his generation in my immediate family. A couple of weeks ago, my sister sent a generic video clip about Baby’s development, and the thumbnail image gave me pause. It showed the face of a sleeping unborn child. I must have seen hundreds of images like this already, but given the context, it affected me differently. As obvious as it may sound, it suddenly hit me that my nephew has a face. A week later we learned that Baby is “he,” and I was able to see the ultrasound of his face, which already has adorably discernible features.

I studied a bit of human embryology in college, and I’ve known many pregnant women.  Even so, I continue to find myself in wonder as I see pictures of the newest members of my friends’ families on Facebook or meet them face to face. Can it be that these… whole, complete, entirely new people were just there, hidden inside their mothers? Now you see them, now you don’t (or vice versa, that is). Of course the answer is “yes,” and yet I find myself trying to wrap my mind around this incredible reality when faced with it in my own life.   

 continue reading at http://www.usccb.org

 Anne McGuire is Special Projects Coordinator for the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. For more information on the bishops' pro-life activities, please visit www.usccb.org/prolife.

 

Call to Prayer for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty

Intention

We pray that we can continue to educate students

 in the fullness of our Catholic faith

 The U.S. Catholic Bishops invite the faithful to pray and fast for the renewal of a culture of life and marriage, and for the protection of religious liberty.

Reflection

In his proclamation, Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis praises the efforts of Catholic schools and charities that promote peace, social harmony, and the protection of human and civil rights. He states, "Yet, we find it difficult to make people see that when we raise other questions less palatable to public opinion, we are doing so out of fidelity to precisely the same convictions about human dignity and the common good." The role of Catholic schools, the Holy Father emphasizes, is to remain in dialogue with the formative teachings of the Church. In this way, all the sciences are embedded with Catholic theology, and these disciplines become instruments "for enlightening and renewing the world." In his address to trustees of the University of Notre Dame on Thursday, Pope Francis explained, "Essential...is the uncompromising witness of Catholic universities to the Church's moral teaching, and the defense of her freedom, precisely in and through her institutions, to uphold that teaching as authoritatively proclaimed by the magisterium of her pastors."

In light of Catholic Schools Week, let us remember the role of Catholic schools in striving to proclaim the Gospel message in all areas of study through first knowing and loving Christ.  

 

 

 

	Five Ways to Participate

1.  Fast and abstain from meat on Fridays
2.  Pray a daily rosary
3.  Prayrs for the Faithful at Mass
4.  Monthly Holy Hour
5.  Fortnight for Freedom

Did you know?

Catholic Schools Week is being observed in dioceses around the country from January 26 through February 1. This year's theme, "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service," focuses on the principles of a Catholic education.   

We pray that we can continue to educate students in the fullness of our Catholic faith.

Day 9 of the 9 Days for Life Novena: For Repentance, Healing & Peace in Every Heart & Nation

Intercession:   

For repentance, healing and peace in every heart and every nation

Prayer:

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be  

 

Reflection:     

In today's Gospel Jesus preaches, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." And after calling the first apostles, he went around all of Galilee, "proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people" (Mt 4:23). Repentance is necessary for healing, but the Lord doesn't want us to remain stuck in misery over our sins. With healing comes peace and the joy of knowing we are loved and forgiven by God. The message of the Gospel of Life is one of great joy! Our call to live this Gospel is not marked with sadness and despair, but with hope, expectation and exuberant joy. "It is up to you, young followers of Christ, to show the world that faith brings happiness and a joy which is true, full and enduring...The Gospel is the "good news" that God loves us and that each of us is important to him. Show the world that this is true!" (Pope Benedict XVI, Message for the 27th World Youth Day, March 15, 2012) 

Acts of Reparation (choose one)

• Spend quality time with a family member or friend; ask them if they would like to help out at a local charity with you.
  
  
• Say three Hail Marys for your parish priest. Without our priests, we could not have the sacraments.
  
  
• Make a "quiet hour" today, turning off all electronic devices (cell phone, iPod, computer, television, radio, video game system) and retreat to your room. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Day 8 of the 9 Day Novena for Life: May Those Who Produce Contraceptive Drugs Work to Benefit Life

Intercession:   

For scientists and pharmaceutical employees who help create and manufacture contraceptive and abortifacient drugs: that the Lord will open their eyes to the moral danger and health risks these drugs pose for women and prompt them to work only on medications that benefit human life.

Prayer:

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be  

 

Reflection:    

Today's reading from Acts tells the story of St. Paul's conversion. Before, he was "breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord." After encountering Christ, Paul became a "chosen instrument," filled with the Holy Spirit, and ready to suffer for Jesus' name. There is absolutely nothing and no one outside of the power of God's loving embrace. Today we remember the children, the mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and all those who have been involved in or affected by abortion. We entrust them to the unfathomable healing mercy of God, recalling the words of Jesus to St. Faustina: "The greater the misery of a soul, the greater its right to My mercy" (Diary, 1182). 

Acts of Reparation (choose one)

• Read about a Church teaching you don't understand in the Catechism.
  
  
• Make an honest assessment of your "giving finances" -are you giving too little? Make a resolution to give a set weekly or monthly donation to your parish or favorite local charity.
  
  
• Do you love your cup of tea or coffee in the morning? Fast from caffeine today or try your coffee black.

Day Seven of the Nine Days for Life Novena: For Elected Leaders Who Support Abortion

Intercession:   

For elected leaders who oppose any restriction on the abortion license: may God allow them to grasp the brutal violence of abortion and the reality of post-abortion suffering experienced by countless women and men.

Prayer:

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be  

 

Reflection:   

On this feast of St. Francis de Sales, let us consider these words of the great saint: "All that we do must be motivated by love and not force. We must love to obey rather than fear to disobey." St. Francis reminds us that all of our actions must be borne of a spirit of love, and that we find our freedom in living the truth. As we defend the dignity of human life, let us ask St. Francis de Sales to pray for us so that everything we say and do for unborn children and their grieving parents is imbued with both compassion and truth. 

Acts of Reparation (choose one)

• Go to Confession-today, if possible-or during this week.
  
  
• Fast from snacking today. Eat three meals only.
  
  
• Today, go visit an adoration chapel and spend an hour with Jesus. 

Day 6 of the Nine Day Novena for Life: For Those Who Promote Abortion & Contraception

Intercession:  

For those whose work involves promoting abortion and contraceptive use: may God help them understand that the casual sex they foster undermines the capacity for the self-giving, faithful

and enduring love that is the longing of every heart.

Prayer:

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be  

Reflection: 

Today marks the feast day of the newly canonized American saint, Mother Marianne Cope, OSF (1838-1918). St. Marianne Cope emigrated with her family from Germany as an infant and grew up in Utica, NY. She joined the Sisters of St. Francis at the age of twenty-four and later helped to found and operate two regional hospitals in upstate New  York. In 1883, she answered the plea of Hawaii’s king to operate hospitals and care for the victims of leprosy, traveling to Hawaii with six Franciscan sisters. During the last thirty years of her life, she chose to be exiled on the island of Molokai where she cared for women and children with leprosy. She was a life-long witness to the equal dignity and value of every human being. She brought beauty and order to the lives of these outcasts, and provided them with educational and religious instruction as well as teaching them music and the decorative arts. St. Marianne, help us to see the beauty and value in every human life.

Acts of Reparation (choose one)

• Learn how to pray the Angelus prayer and get into the habit of saying it every day—at noon or 6 p.m. or on awakening (or all three times).
• Today ignore your sweet tooth. Make healthy eating choices.
• Clean a room in your house without being asked or without telling anyone. Pray for your family members while you clean “and your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (Matthew 6:6)