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July 2011
| 711-72; Vol 30, No. 5
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MCC Commemorates 150th Anniversary of Civil War
| The 2011 Annual Assembly of the Missouri Catholic Conference will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War by posing the question: how do we unite a divided nation?
Our current divisions are not nearly as profound as those of Abraham Lincoln's time; no civil war looms on the horizon. But there are lessons that can be learned from that era.
The keynote address by Father Michael Witt, a church historian serving at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, will discuss the divided loyalties of Missourians during the Civil War and how it affected the Catholic Church.
Several workshops will address civil war themes. Historian Gary Kremer will discuss the legacy of slavery on African Americans in Missouri. Mark Rehagen, a member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, will offer a workshop titled "A Visit With Mr. Lincoln." MCC Executive Director Mike Hoey will examine the religious motivations behind the abolitionist movement and discuss figures such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass.
In all, there will be 17 workshops on a wide variety of current issues, such as abortion, pornography, payday lending and end-of-life concerns.
Kyle Schott with Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri will discuss how the church responded to the Joplin tornado.
The first 100 households to register will receive a free copy of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James M. McPherson's short biography of Abraham Lincoln.
The Bishops of Missouri will attend the Annual Assembly and will concelebrate a closing mass.
Special activities include a youth track featuring a visit with Mr. Lincoln, a mock legislative session, as well as child care/activities for children ages 5 through 12.
Lunch is provided. In order for the MCC to plan properly, please register for the Annual Assembly online or call 1-800-456-1679. Registration is free. For more information about the Annual Assembly including parking, transportation and directions, go to the MCC's website.
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Free Lincoln Biography Available from MCC
|  The first 100 households who register for this year's Annual Assembly of the Missouri Catholic Conference will receive a free copy of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James M. McPherson's short biography of Abraham Lincoln.
This attractive and slender hardback volume of only 77 pages recounts the life of Lincoln in clear and simple prose. The biography will not be mailed to registrants but made available on the day of the assembly.
"James McPherson's Abraham Lincoln is a gem. This is the best very brief biography of our sixteenth president ever written." - David Herbert Donald, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lincoln |
MCC Annual Assembly Keynote Speaker and Schedule
| The Missouri Catholic Conference will feature Father Michael John Witt as its keynote speaker at the 2011 Annual Assembly. Father
 | | Father Michael Witt |
Michael Witt, associate professor of church history at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, will discuss the divided loyalties of Missourians during the Civil War and how the conflict affected the Catholic Church.
Father Michael Witt was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Saint Louis in 1990. He holds a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University in modern European history and a master's in divinity from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. He has served the archdiocese in many capacities. He is currently the director of the archdiocesan permanent diaconate office and pastor of All Saints Parish in University City, MO.
Schedule
9:30 a.m. Registration 10:00 a.m. Keynote Address, Father Michael Witt, associate professor of church history at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary 11:15 a.m. Morning Workshops 12:15 p.m. Lunch (free) 1:15 p.m. Afternoon Workshops 2:30 p.m. Closing Session 3:15 p.m. Closing Mass, Concelebrated by Missouri Bishops, St. Peter Church |
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Annual Assembly Workshop Line-Up
| Abolitionists and the Slavery Debate
Slavery was the great moral issue of antebellum America. This workshop will examine how different leaders sought to end chattel slavery. Special attention will be given to the differing approaches taken by the abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass and John Brown. The religious underpinnings of the abolitionists will be explored. The strategies of the abolitionists will be contrasted with those of Abraham Lincoln. Are there lessons for our time?
Presenter: Michael Hoey, Executive Director, Missouri Catholic Conference, Jefferson City, MO
African Americans: The Civil War and Its Legacy
As a border state during the Civil War, Missouri had governments representing the Union and the Confederacy, provided soldiers for both armies and endured intrastate warfare between neighbors. This divided loyalty affected all Missourians, including African Americans. This workshop will examine the impact of the Civil War on African Americans in Missouri and the legacy that remains after 150 years.
Presenter: Gary Kremer, Ph.D., Director, State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Can We Still Afford Social Security and Medicare?
A graying population and a growing federal budget deficit has led some political observers and citizens to ask: can we continue social entitlement programs? This workshop will review Congressional Budget Office projections of the growing costs of Social Security and Medicare and review current reform proposals. The perspectives of both senior citizens and their grandchildren will be considered.
Presenter: David Webber, Professor of Political Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Catholic Press: A Tool for the New Evangelization
There are hundreds of Catholic publications in our country that provide valuable information to their readers. This workshop will discuss the mission and responsibility of the Catholic press and how it compares to the secular media in methodology and goals. The presentation will suggest how we can be more savvy consumers of media and ways in which the Catholic press can better realize its power and potential in the church.
Presenter: Most Reverend Robert W. Finn, Bishop, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Facing the End of Life With Dignity: Catholic Health Care for the Elderly, Terminally Ill and Infirm
Catholic teaching upholds the value and dignity of human life from conception to natural death. This workshop panel will discuss how to address end-of-life issues with family members and friends. Emphasis will be on how to provide ethical medical care to those facing terminal illnesses and other disabling conditions.
Presenters: Dr. Paul Tatum, M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, and Nancy Valko, RN, author and consultant on medical ethics, St. Louis, MO
The Joplin Tornado: Responding to a Natural Disaster
Some 155+ people died in the Joplin tornado on May 22. Many more were injured. Photos and TV images fail to convey the awful devastation wrought. But the humanitarian response was nothing short of miraculous. Come get a firsthand view of how Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri and many others responded to this historic natural disaster.
Presenters: Kyle Schott, Regional Director of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri and the Most Reverend James V. Johnston, Bishop, Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Justice by the Numbers
More than 200,000 felonies are committed each year in Missouri. How do we best hold the offenders accountable in our tight economic environment? This workshop will examine the work of the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission in promoting a system of sentencing in our state that is fair, protects the public and uses corrections' resources wisely.
Presenter: Michael Wolff, Former Missouri Supreme Court Judge and former Chair of the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission, St. Louis, MO
Predatory Lending in Missouri: How the Faith Community Can Stop It
Payday loans, title loans-usury is alive and well in Missouri, but the Catholic Church can play a pivotal role in ending it. Come learn how predatory lending drags families into deep debt and discuss how new laws can protect consumers and encourage more responsible lending.
Presenter: Molly Fleming-Pierre, Policy and Development Organizer, Communities Creating Opportunity (CCO), Kansas City, MO
Protecting Our Children: Human Trafficking in the U.S.
Domestic child trafficking is an overwhelming, yet hidden problem in our country. This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of how and why trafficking is occurring, as well as learning the red flags to watch for in these young victims. Participants will learn how they can be part of the solution to alleviate this plague in our society.
Presenter: Deidre Lhamon, Founder and President of The Covering House, St. Louis, MO
The Power of "We": Working Together in Credit Unions to Offer Ministry
The entire credit union movement in North America began out of one small Catholic parish credit union. When members of the credit union have a spiritual connection and commitment, such as the bond of Catholic faith, the financial cooperative can be even more powerful. This workshop will describe how a Catholic parish credit union works and how it can be instrumental in fighting predatory payday lending and other financial inequities in a community.
Presenter: Carole Wight, President, Holy Rosary Credit Union, Kansas City, MO
Rural Sustainability Through Growing Successful Businesses
The rural entrepreneur often dies in isolation. The Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation (NWMEF) is a nonprofit organization that provides free and confidential business coaching in six counties in Missouri. Come learn how the NWMEF model can strengthen other rural communities in our state by captivating the passion and commitment of the local rural entrepreneur.
Presenters: Annette Weeks, Enterprise Facilitator and Sr. Christine Martin, NWMEF Secretary/grant writer, Savannah, MO
Separation of Church and State: Fact or Fiction?
Does religion have a place in the public square, or does the Constitution prohibit public expression of our faith? We'll review from a Catholic perspective the origins of religious liberty in America and the often-cited expression that the First Amendment was intended to create a "wall of separation between church and state."
Presenter: Tyler McClay, General Counsel, Missouri Catholic Conference, Jefferson City, MO
The Truth About the Abortion Industry: Reflections of a Post-Abortive Woman and Life Advocate
The abortion industry promotes itself as being concerned for the physical and mental health of women. But what really happens inside the walls of an abortion center, and do these facilities really have the best interests of women in mind? Come hear a personal account of the abortion experience.
Presenter: Maria Thompson, post-abortive woman and life advocate, St. Louis, MO
Views of Missouri Voters on Catholic Schools, Vouchers and Other Educational Issues
In June of this year, the Missouri State University Poll Research Center conducted a statewide experiment to obtain voters' views on a variety of educational issues, especially proposals to advance parental choices in education. Come learn the results of this poll and discuss public policy responses.
Presenter: Brian Robert Calfano, Ph.D., Director of the Missouri State University Poll Research Center, Department of Political Science, Springfield, MO
A Visit With Mr. Lincoln
Go back in time in our nation's history to 1861-1865. The Civil War was raging, and Abraham Lincoln was in the White House. How could this tragedy have taken place on his watch, and what was his reaction? Meet the Rail Splitter himself and find out how his faith guided his actions and how he pined for the time that he could "bind up the nation's wounds." Ample time will be given for questions.
Presenter: Mark Rehagen, member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters (ALP) and regular attendee of the ALP annual conferences, Jefferson City, MO
What You Need to Know About Pornography
Pornography has many victims. Indeed one might suggest it is victimizing an entire generation. This workshop will present how pornography damages marriages and families, with special attention to the harm done to children and adolescents. Solutions to this epidemic will be discussed.
Presenter: Robert Furey, Ph.D.; Professional Counselor, Private Practice, St. Louis, MO
Where is God When Life Hurts?
Natural disasters, unexpected death, serious illnesses, major economic setbacks ... Life is full of tragedy and misfortune. How are we to cope? This workshop will help participants find meaning in crisis moments, when bad things happen to good people and when you face your own suffering and loss.
Presenter: Jim Wirth, Ph.D., Human Development Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Springfield, MO
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Youth Schedule (Sixth Grade and Up)
| 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Meet Mr. Lincoln What would it be like to go back in time and meet Abraham Lincoln? Now is your chance to hear from Honest Abe himself, and find out what it was like to grow up in the 1800s. Learn how growing up in the wilderness without the benefit of a formal education propelled Honest Abe to become the sixteenth president of the United States. Bring your questions about his life and times!
Presenter: Mark Rehagen, member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, Jefferson City, MO
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Legislative Scavenger Hunt The State Capitol contains a wealth of history about Missouri and the legislative process. What a perfect place for a scavenger hunt! Don't miss this opportunity to have fun while learning about our state government. Prizes will be awarded.
12:15 p.m. Lunch (free) 1:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Mock Legislature Join other youth from around Missouri in debating controversial bills that have been discussed in the Missouri General Assembly. Youth are asked to follow all rules and procedures that Missouri Representatives and Senators follow day-to-day in the Missouri General Assembly.
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Gov. Nixon Approves Legislation as Deadline Looms
| In his final weeks to accept or veto legislation approved by the General Assembly, Gov. Nixon signed several bills the Missouri Catholic Conference lobbied for during the 2011 session. However, similar to last year, he let pro-life legislation become law without his signature.
Gov. Nixon announced this week that he would allow the bills banning late-term abortions to become law rather than issuing a veto and facing a possible override.
Citing bipartisan legislative support for the bills, Nixon stated that he would allow the bills to become law by allowing the time for him to issue a veto to expire. The identical bills will go into effect Aug. 28, 2011.
The bills will prevent abortions from being performed on viable babies after 20 weeks gestation, unless carrying the baby to term would put the physical health of the mother at risk. Present law allows women to abort their children after 20 weeks for mental as well as physical health reasons.
The bills represent a major pro-life victory, making it clear that Missouri will not condone the barbaric practice of late-term abortion.
On July 12, Gov. Nixon signed into law a bill strengthening Missouri's human trafficking laws. The bill, which received overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly, will hopefully make it easier for state prosecutors to bring to justice those engaged in trafficking women for the sex trade and those trafficking men and women for labor.
The bill makes the penalties for trafficking equal to or greater than those imposed under federal law. In addition, it requires law enforcement agencies to refer suspected trafficking victims for services to help them recover from the trauma of their ordeal. Trafficking victims can also sue those convicted of the crime for civil damages.
On July 8, Gov. Nixon signed the cord blood bill, which requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to post on its website information about cord blood banking. Cord blood is harvested from umbilical cords following the birth of babies and has been used in recent years to treat more than 70 diseases.
St. Louis has one of the nation's largest cord blood banks, receiving its 100,000th cord blood donation this past year. The St. Louis Cord Blood Bank has been in existence for the last 15 years and receives donations of cord blood at no cost to the donor. There are also private cord blood banks that charge expectant mothers a fee for banking cord blood for later use either by the same child or a sibling.
At a hearing prior to passage of the bill this past session, a Texas woman testified about how her first child, born with sickle-cell anemia, was successfully treated and completely cured with cord blood harvested from her second child. Doctors involved in the transfusion of the stem cells derived from the cord blood of the patient's brother called the cure nothing short of a miracle.
Adult adoptees will have an easier time accessing information about their biological parents now that Gov. Nixon signed SB 351 into law. The bill relaxes rules governing the release of the identity of the biological parents for adult adoptees wanting to discover the information.
The biggest change to the law will allow adult adoptees to obtain information concerning their biological parents, if the biological parents are deceased. Presently, identifying information such as this is unavailable, even if the biological parents are deceased, unless the biological parents had given their consent.
Other changes will allow intermediaries to contact biological parents by mail and will allow descendants of adoptees to obtain information in the event the adoptee is deceased.
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