Abortion & Social Justice

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you"  (Jeremiah 1:5) 

This coming Friday, January 22, is another anniversary of the US Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision to legally permit abortion in the US. The Catholic Church has always taught that the destruction of a fetus of any age is gravely wrong. It's part of our consistent teaching on the respect and dignity of the human person and a logical extension of our preferential option for the poor and vulnerable: can anyone be more vulnerable than the human life that is so totally and solely dependent on one other person for his or her very existence?

       Please remember the unborn in your prayers this week; join with others in prayer or action; do something to support those in a crisis pregnancy; and learn more about Church activities in this regard by checking out www.usccb.org/prolife/index.shtml. 
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
  

Health Insurance Reform & Social Justice

(The following is adapted from a September 11, 2009 action alert from Kathy Saile, the Director of Domestic Social Development for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

Now that Congress has returned to Washington and is again working on the health insurance bills, the US bishops need your advocacy more than ever. Please call your Members of Congress at 202-224-3121 and tell them to:

1. Support long-overdue health insurance reform that covers all people and protects the life, dignity, and health of all. Health insurance reform is an important national priority and moral imperative.

2. A fair and just health insurance reform bill must exclude mandated coverage for abortion, and uphold longstanding laws that restrict abortion funding and protect conscience rights. Urge Members to take whatever steps necessary in Committee or on the Floor to oppose abortion funding, abortion mandates, and weakening of conscience protections.

3. Support effective measures to safeguard the health of immigrants, their children and all of society. Maintain an adequate safety net for those who remain uncovered. Eliminate the five-year waiting period banning immigrants lawfully residing in the United States from enrolling in Medicaid. Do not place barriers to obtaining private health insurance coverage for immigrants.

You can find information on your Members of Congress at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.