STATEMENTS FROM DIOCESE OF RENO RESPECT LIFE
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, of Kansas City in Kansas and Chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, celebrated the launch of Respect Life Month with a statement. Archbishop Naumann encouraged Catholics discouraged by attacks on human life to “hold fast to Christ, our Hope.” Archbishop Naumann’s full statement follows:
“Although we must cherish, protect, and defend human life year-round, the Catholic Church in the United States sets aside each October as Respect Life Month. This year’s theme, “Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life,” is particularly suited for our times. While attacks against human life seem to grow ever more numerous and callous, we know that Christ has conquered sin and death. Through our Christian hope in the Resurrection, we are given the grace to persevere in faith. Jesus asks us to be as leaven in the world, to bring His light to the darkness. Our daily activities take each of us to places only we can go, to people only we will meet. May we allow Christ to renew and strengthen us, that He may work through us in each moment of every day. Be assured of my prayers for you and for our common efforts to bring about a world in which every life is cherished. And so, together, may we hold fast to Christ, our hope.” New parish resources have been developed around the theme of “Christ our Hope” and are available at www.respectlife.org. Respect Life Sunday falls on October 6. A Concern for Catholics in Public Life
Recent efforts to perpetuate and expand abortion in state laws have illuminated the deplorable actions of some Catholic public officials and advocates. Their efforts to support and even celebrate such legislation will result in killing many more unborn children, as well as the spiritual and emotional wounding of their mothers and fathers. Advocating for intrinsically evil acts, like abortion, is a serious immoral act – one that involves grave matter, the prerequisite for the commission of a mortal sin. While we can object to the actions of these public officials, we are not able to judge their souls. At the same time, we know there will be a Judgment Day. Conscious and unrepentant mortal sin endangers our eternal souls and places ourselves on a path to Hell. To receive our Eucharistic Lord, while in a state of mortal sin, only further jeopardizes the eternal fate of our souls. Sincere repentance, a conversion of heart, and a genuine effort to make amends for the harm caused by our sin, are essential to be able to receive God’s mercy. In my own role as a bishop, I have a serious responsibility to make certain that those entrusted to my pastoral care are aware of the moral gravity and spiritual consequences of their actions. I also have a serious obligation to protect other members of my flock from being misled by a seeming tolerance of the scandalous behavior of some Catholics in public life. It is critically important that I attempt to enter into dialogue with such Catholic leaders. If even after an extended dialogue a Catholic in public life persists in scandalous actions, I have found it necessary to request that they not present themselves to receive Holy Communion, for their own spiritual welfare and for the protection of many others from moral confusion. I invite all Catholics to pray for spiritual healing for all those involved in or advocating for legalized abortion. When we truly repent, God is always eager to lavish us with His mercy. Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas Chairman U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities Any reprinting must note: “Reprinted with permission from Catholic News Service” Diocesan Pro-Life Directors, State Catholic Conference Directors
USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities February 8, 2019 Catholic Bishops' Pro-Life Chairman Urges Senate Vote and Passage of Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act WASHINGTON–Late yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked Louisiana from implementing a law requiring doctors at abortion facilities to obtain admitting privileges at local hospitals. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals had previously ruled in favor of the Louisiana law. While the petition on the merits of the law has yet to be filed and ruled upon by the Supreme Court, it ruled 5-4 on an application for a stay in the case of June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued the following statement in response: “The fact that abortionists and their facilities cannot or will not meet basic health standards exposes the lie of their clever slogan that abortion is health care. The abortion industry’s objection to such a reasonable law, and this Court’s decision to temporarily prevent it from going into effect, is further evidence of how abortion extremism actively works against the welfare of women. “Regardless of this disappointing ruling, the pro-life movement will continue to work and pray for the day when every legislature and court recognizes the brutal injustice of abortion—to women and their children alike—and our society sees abortion as unthinkable.” HLA - CALL TO ACTION
Your voice is needed to protect babies who are born alive after an abortion. The U.S. Senate could vote as soon as this week on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 311). Please contact your Senators immediately and urge them to co-sponsor and vote for S. 311 and to ask Senate leadership to schedule a floor vote on the bill this week. Today, states are not just expanding abortion but allowing infanticide as well. New York passed a drastic law that eliminated protections for babies who survive an abortion attempt. And the Governor of Virginia has openly talked about denying care to babies born during a late-term abortion. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 311) would require any health care practitioner present when a child is born alive following an abortion to give the same degree of care to preserve the life and health of the child as would be given to any other newborn. And after giving such care, it requires the practitioner to ensure that the child is immediately transported and admitted to a hospital. The Senate needs to be pushed to vote on and pass this bill this week. To see the text of S. 311 and the current list of co-sponsors click here. Archbishop Joseph Naumann, Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, has called on Congress to enact this law. His letter to Senators urging passage of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act can be read here. What you can do:
Dear Friends,
Taxpayer dollars should not pay for abortion. Most Americans (even those who consider themselves “pro-choice”) agree on this. On January 10, 2019, S. 109, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, was introduced in the U.S. Senate. It is possible that the Senate will vote on this bill as soon as THIS WEDNESDAY before the March for Life, when hundreds of thousands are in DC marching for the right to life of unborn children! Please act right now and tell your Senators to co-sponsor and vote for this important bill. And urge your Representative to co-sponsor and work to pass the House version of the bill. The House version of this bill will be introduced this week, but a bill number is not yet available. A vote is not expected in the House given the change in leadership, but your representative should still be asked to co-sponsor and work to pass the bill. Currently, “riders” on government funding bills, like the Hyde Amendment, stop federal tax dollars from being used to provide or promote abortion, with narrow exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. But these “riders” are NOT permanent law. They can go away if Congress decides not to include them in their funding bills each year. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would make the Hyde amendment and other current abortion funding bans a permanent part of law across the federal government. In addition to preventing the flow of taxpayer money to most abortions, it would also require that Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) health insurance plans be transparent and disclose if they provide coverage or payment for abortion. While the Trump Administration has moved to do this with a regulation, this bill would make it permanent law, and more difficult to change under a new President. Attached below, please see Archbishop Naumann’s letter to the U.S. Senate supporting the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. USCCB Pro-Life Secretariat Expresses Deep Disappointment at Senate Failure to Pass No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
January 17, 2019 WASHINGTON- "Taxpayer dollars should not pay for abortion. The majority of Americans, including many who consider themselves pro-choice, agree on this," said Kat Talalas, spokeswoman on abortion for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), responding to the Senate's vote today on the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2019" (S. 109). The Senate voted (48-47) in favor of the bill, but Talalas expressed deep disappointment that it did not receive the 60 votes needed for passage in the Senate. The Senate held its vote on January 17, the day before the annual March for Life in Washington. The bill would codify a permanent, government-wide policy against taxpayer subsidies for abortion and abortion coverage. It would also require health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act to disclose the extent of their coverage for abortion and the amount of any surcharge for that coverage to consumers. Archbishop Joseph Naumann, chair of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities at the USCCB, wrote to Congress prior to the vote, urging support for the legislation. Naumann said that "abortion is a false and violent response to an unplanned pregnancy that turns a woman in crisis and her unborn child against each other," and that the federal government "should not force taxpayers to subsidize this violence." "The USCCB urges the House and Senate to work together to pass legislation that reflects the will of the American people, and prevents tax dollars from funding elective abortion," Talalas said. --- Keywords: USCCB, Catholic, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Roe v. Wade, abortion, anniversary, Pro-Life, Prolife, Archbishop Naumann, 9 Days for Life, People of Life, #9daysforlife, No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2019, H.R. 7, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, Congress, March for Life, funding, Affordable Care Act Judy Keane O: 202-541-3206 |
Nevada Senate Bill 165 (SB 165) to legalize assisted suicide is in play right now! As Catholics we support LIFE from a natural beginning to a natural end.
We need your help right now - we need EVERYONE to oppose this by submitting an "against" SB165 vote on the legislative web site ASAP! Please share and spread this far and wide! The legislators DO indeed look at this! SB 165 - "against" - tell everyone you know that is against assisted to suicide to submit a vote here NOW!!!! Just follow this link: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/80th2019/ Share Your Opinion with your Legislators WASHINGTON - February 4, 2019
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, KS and Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities has issued the following statement in response to several states moving forward with legislation that would permit a baby to be aborted at nine months. Archbishop Naumann's full statement follows: "Abortion has always been built on a lie. Today, the lie is switching from 'abortion is a choice' to 'abortion is healthcare.' A law recently passed in New York not only legalizes abortion essentially for any reason through all nine months of pregnancy but removes any protection for children born alive after abortion. A similar bill was proposed in Virginia along with several other states, all in the name of women's health. This legislation is evil, pure and simple. And it shocks the conscience to see such evil legislation greeted with raucous cheers and standing ovations. Most grieving to our Lord of Life is that those who advocate for abortion put their eternal souls in jeopardy. It is sickeningly dishonest to claim that women's lives or health depend on intentionally killing their children. This is especially true for late-term abortion, which always involves the purposeful destruction of a child which could have been born alive, with much less risk to the mother, had they both received real healthcare. Now is the time for all Catholics-bishops, priests, and laity-to fight for the unborn with renewed vigor. We must educate family, friends, legislators, and fellow citizens about how it is never necessary to intentionally kill unborn children in order to save their mothers. Local action is especially important. Though ending Roe v. Wade is a central goal of the pro-life movement, if the decision were overturned, only eleven states would immediately ban abortion; the other thirty-nine states would still allow it. I urge Catholics, and thoughtful Americans of all religions or none at all to advocate for local change. Sign up for your State Catholic Conference or diocesan pro-life advocacy network, which can help you communicate to elected officials. Or seek out state and local pro-life groups, including parish respect life groups, that are making a difference at the state level. Though we live in very dark days, we know that the Lord has already triumphed over death. But we must use this time on earth to be His hands and feet. This means each of us rededicating ourselves to prayer, and fighting for the most vulnerable among us, especially unborn children and their mothers." Greetings in Christ!
On his return flight Sunday from Panama after World Youth Day, Pope Francis made the following remarks in response to a question about the suffering of women after abortion: Reporter Lena Klimkeit: Holy Father, during the Way of the Cross, on Friday, a young man said some very strong words about abortion; I want to repeat them for a moment: "There is a tomb that cries out to heaven and denounces the terrible cruelty of humanity, it is the tomb that opens in the wombs of mothers from whom an innocent life is torn. May God allow us to truly humanize ourselves, to firmly defend life and ensure that the laws that kill innocent life are erased forever". This is a very radical position, in my opinion. I wonder, and I would like to ask you, if this position also respects the suffering of women in this situation and if it corresponds to your message of mercy. Pope Francis: The message of mercy is for everyone, even for the developing human person. It is for everyone. After this failure, there is mercy as well, but a difficult mercy, because the problem is not in giving forgiveness, the problem is in accompanying a woman who has come to the realization she has had an abortion. These are terrible tragedies. Once I heard a doctor talking about a theory according to which - I don't remember well... a cell of the newly conceived fetus goes to the marrow of the mother and there is also a physical memory there. This is a theory, but it means: a woman when she thinks about what she did.... I tell you the truth: you have to be in the confessional, and you have to give comfort there, not punish anything. That is why, out of mercy, I have granted the faculty to absolve [from the sin of] abortion, because many times - indeed always - they have to meet with their child. And many times, when they cry and have this anguish, I counsel them: "Your child is in heaven, talk to him, sing him the lullaby that you did not sing, that you could not sing to him". And there is found a way of reconciliation for the mother with her child. With God it's already there: it's God's forgiveness. God always forgives. But mercy also means that she [the woman] should work this through. The tragedy of abortion. To understand it well, one must be in a confessional. It is terrible. The official Vatican translations of the full interview were just released and links are provided below. English translation: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2019/january/documents/papa-francesco_20190127_panama-volo-ritorno.html Original Italian: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/speeches/2019/january/documents/papa-francesco_20190127_panama-volo-ritorno.html You might get questions about the Holy Father's comments. We offer a few suggestions to keep in mind:
The USCCB Pro-Life Secretariat provided the following homilies from Masses in Washington, D.C., to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade:
· January 17th - Pro-Life Leadership Mass: available here · January 17th - Opening Mass homily by Archbishop Joseph Naumann · January 18th - Closing Mass homily by Bishop Barry Knestout |