News Archives » Members
De Mazenod Conference – January 22-24, 2016, San Antonio, TX January 21st, 2016
Cardinal Timothy Dolan on 43rd Anniversary of Roe v. Wade January 21st, 2016
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York issued a statement for the 43rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision asking us to recommit ourselves to a vision of life and love and to unite in prayer and action for the protection of life at every state and in every circumstance. He opens his statement by recognizing the tragic irony that every year in December we celebrate “the birth of the baby Jesus, fruit of Mary’s humble ‘yes’ to God’s gift of new life…and then we turn, as we must each year, to recall a legal decision that said ‘no’ to new life and has deprived a whole class of people – pre-born babies – of their right to life.”
Cardinal Dolan invites us to ask where we are 43 years after Roe v. Wade and where we need to go – how best to present our pro-life vision to others. He notes that many Americans “who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as ‘pro-life’. [Therefore] let us never be distracted by the false charge that this life-affirming cause is merely a political or partisan issue. It is an essential moral vision that lifts up every human person…May God bless our efforts to uphold human life!”
How to get involved:
1) Read the full text of Cardinal Dolan’s message.
2) Prayer. A 14 – hour prayer vigil begins Thursday at 5:30. A full schedule of Washington events can be found here. For those who are unable to attend in-person, join us by praying in your own communities.
3) Action. Many cities around the country will be holding pro-life rallies on Friday. Attend one close to you and encourage others to do the same.
The Roman Missal designates January 22nd as a particular day of prayer and penance. Consider using these resources in your local parishes.
43rd Annual March for Life Scheduled for January 22 — Washington, DC January 20th, 2016
The 43rd Annual March for Life will take place in Washington, DC on Friday, January 22, 2016 at 12 noon on the National Mall. U.S. Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bishops will open the rally with prayer at 12 noon. The rally will be followed immediately by the march to Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court.
More information is available at www.marchforlife.org. . . or by calling 202-234-3300.
The Winter 2016 JPIC Report is Now Available On-Line! January 15th, 2016
The Winter 2016 issue of the JPIC Report is now available online. It will soon be available in print form. Download the Winter 2016 JPIC Report here.
Please contact Meghan Gieske at mgieske@omiusa.org in the JPIC Office if you want to be added to the mailing list.
You can download past issues of the JPIC Report in the Resources section of the website.
Urge Senators to Protect Deserving, Carefully Vetted Syrian and Iraqi Refugee Families January 15th, 2016
Background:
Last November, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4038, The American Security against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act, which would effectively halt all resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the United States for a protracted time.
On Wednesday, January 20, 2016 the legislation will be voted on in the U.S. Senate.
Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, issued a statement that said, “they are extremely vulnerable families, women, and children who are fleeing for their lives. We cannot and should not blame them for the actions of a terrorist organization.”
Your U.S. Senators need to hear from you and fellow parishioners that you oppose H.R. 4038 and other bills that would stop or halt the resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees.
Take Action:
Call your Senators at this phone number -1-866-940-2439- TODAY & EVERY DAY leading up to the January 20 vote: Urge them to vote NO to H.R. 4038 and any legislation that would stop, pause or defund the resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees.
Sample Script:
“I’m a constituent from [State] and I support the resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees. I am opposed to any bill that would stop or pause the resettlement of refugees of any nationality or religion. I urge the Senator to vote NO to H.R. 4038, The American SAFE Act.”
