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Issue No. 36
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February 2014
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We all are God's children, made in his image and likeness, and that wherever life was threatened - violence, poverty, hunger, discrimination, abortion - God's People defend it.
View a slide show of pictures form the March
View USCCB March for Life 2014 Video
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Greetings,
The March for Life in Washington DC on 1/22/14 was attended by thousands across the county who witnessed to life despite the cold and extreme weather conditions. The Respect Life Office is very thankful to the many students, teachers, parishioners, clergy, and pro-life supporters in our diocese who planned to attend the March and could not due to the weather, to those who made the trip despite the extreme weather and to those who prayerfully continue to defend life.
-"we will speak out on behalf of human life whenever and wherever it is threatened"
Pope John Paul ll
-"Open your hearts to Life"
Pope Francis
Respect Life
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YOUTH AWARDS CELEBRATION
Save the Date
March 27, 2014
Individual parishes, youth groups and Catholic schools have forwarded their entries to the diocesan Respect Life Office for the final round of this year's respect life contest.
Please send the list of participants to the Respect Life office for certificates. Winners will soon be selected for Level I (grades 7-8) and Level II (grades 9-12)
The awards will be presented on
Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 7 PM,
at St. John the Baptist High School Auditorium.
Attendance will be limited to teachers, principals, pastors and respect life leaders that were involved in the contest. Student finalist will receive an invitation by mail. Please confirm and RSVP to the invitation by the first week of March.
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Life Issues Forum: The Death of "Pro-Choice"
Ever since Congress first approved the Hyde amendment in 1976, a nation divided on abortion has generally been able to agree on at least one thing: The government should not force Americans to fund or promote abortion against their will. Such coercion would violate both "life" and "choice," the paramount values on both sides of this dispute. So for 37 years, Congress has approved (and, in many cases, annually reaffirmed) numerous provisions to prevent federal funding of abortion and abortion coverage in all but the rarest circumstances.
Read More
This issue of Life Issues Forum is available in English (Spanish soon to come) and can also be found on usccb.org.
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 Cardinal O'Malley Urges Congress to Support the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act WASHINGTON-Cardinal Seán O'Malley of Boston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), urged support for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7) when it comes before the U.S. House of Representatives. In a January 28 letter to the House, Cardinal O'Malley called the bill "one small step toward a society that promotes life and not death for unborn children and their mothers." "It will write into permanent law a policy on which there has been strong popular and congressional agreement for over 37 years: The federal government should not use its funding power to support and promote elective abortion, and should not force taxpayers to subsidize this violence," Cardinal O'Malley wrote. "Even public officials who take a 'pro-choice' stand, and courts that have insisted on a constitutional 'right' to abortion, have agreed that the government has every right (in the Supreme Court's words) to 'encourage childbirth over abortion.'" Cardinal O'Malley noted that this consensus is reflected in the Hyde amendment and other provisions in appropriations bills, but that such measures have not prevented the Affordable Care Act of 2010 from subsidizing health plans that cover elective abortions. H.R. 7, he wrote, "would end this glaring contradiction in federal law." He added: "The American people, including American women, oppose public funding of abortion and want that opposition reflected in our law once and for all." The full text of Cardinal O'Malley's letter is available online: www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/upload/cardinal-omalley-letter-to-congress-in-support-of-hr-7-jan-28-2014.pdf. On January 9, Richard Doerflinger of the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities testified before the House Judiciary Committee in support of H.R. 7. More information is available online: http://www.usccb.org/news/2014/14-005.cfm. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
A Call to Action
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On January 15, the House Judiciary Committee approved the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7) and the House is preparing to vote.
The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would place in permanent law a consistent policy that the federal government should not use tax dollars to support or promote elective abortion. Since 1976 this principle has been embodied in the Hyde amendment to annual appropriations bills funding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and in numerous similar provisions governing a wide range of domestic and foreign programs. There has long been popular and congressional agreement in favor of this policy.
It is often assumed that the consensus against public funding of abortion is already fully implemented. In recent testimony, Richard Doerflinger, Associate Director of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, stated, "The fact is that Congress's policy has been remarkably consistent for decades, but the implementation of that policy in practice has been piecemeal, confusing and sometimes sadly inadequate." The current patchwork approach to implementation has time and again left loopholes that then needed to be addressed. Most recently, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) "contains at least four different policies on this issue," and developments since enactment reveal ways "it allows expanded federal support for abortion, if not corrected by later legislation." H.R. 7 would address these problems.
Please click on the link below and urge your Representative to support H.R. 7.
http://nchla.org/actiondisplay
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 Catholics at the Capitol
March 19, 2014
Register now for Catholics at the Capitol to be held Wednesday, March 19, at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. Join with the Cardinal Dolan and the Bishops of New York State for a day advocacy on issues of grave importance. Many participants will meet with their legislators. Others will be a visible symbol of Catholic unity in the halls of the state Capitol. Everyone will participate in Mass with the Bishops. Lunch will be provided. There is no registration fee. Issues will include providing alternatives to abortion for women and resisting abortion expansion, saving Catholic schools, providing services for the poor and vulnerable and for the incarcerated, and justice for migrant farm workers.
At a time when Catholic values are coming under attack in New York, you can help make a difference with a show of strength to demonstrate to all of the elected officials in Albany that we Catholics are proud of the issues for which we stand -- and that we are not going away.
We hope to see you in Albany March 19!
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 Life Matters: Respect Life Program 2013 - 2014
Forgiveness And Healing
After Abortion
These are but a few of the many thousands of messages sent to the website of Project Rachel Ministry ( www.HopeAfterAbortion.org), the post-abortion ministry of the Catholic Church. They speak for many who struggle with forgiveness after abortion. A priest active in Project Rachel Ministry once spoke of the spiritual desolation experienced by post-abortive women: "Many feel they have committed 'the unforgivable sin' and are destined for hell,or that they deserve to be on death row. Most suffer this spiritual desolation in silence, too ashamed and feeling unworthy to seek reconciliation from God."
That a deeply remorseful woman does not trust in God's desire-his eagerness-to forgive her, or that after receiving absolution in the Sacrament of Reconciliation she cannot accept that she has been forgiven or remains unable to forgive herself-these obstacles to healing and peace tell us nothing about who God is or how efficacious the Sacrament is. What they tell us is that such women are devastated by the loss of their children, aware of the seriousness of their sin, and that they have never encountered such merciful love in their relationships with others-love that might have allowed them to hope in God's infinitely greater merciful love. Read more in English or Español
If you or someone you know is in need of healing following an abortion, please contact www.HopeAfterAbortion.org or 888-456-HOPE (4673).
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The 2013 -2014
"Open Your Hearts To Life"
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The 2013 - 2014 Respect Life Program features seven new articles on the challenges faced and foundations needed to build a culture of life, this year's title, "Open your hearts to life!," has been a favorite theme of Pope Francis.
His witness as a faithful advocate of the Gospel of Life is a beautiful gift to the Church, and is of particular importance today in the growing shadow of the culture of death.
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Spiritual Adoption
Program
The Purpose of the Spiritual Adoption Program is threefold:
- Encourage parishes, schools and other communities to pray for babies in danger of abortion.
- Educate adults and children about the development of the pre-born child.
- Provide mothers in need with assistance at a 'baby shower' of donated baby gifts, or simply celebrate with a 'birthday party' at the conclusion of the program. In some schools a crib was bought with monetary gifts and the children filled a crib with gifts for expectant Mothers.
This is done by encouraging people to "spiritually adopt" an unborn baby, and to follow their baby along the path to being born. (Read More)
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Post Abortion Ministry
Workshops and Retreats
Many don't realize that post-traumatic stress is the untold story of abortion. There are literally millions of women and men who, too often silently and alone, suffer some of the most serious psychological and spiritual consequences of contemporary society's disregard for the sanctity of human life and the sacredness of human sexuality.
Those who join this caravan of faith find hope and confidence in the fact that regardless of how long their healing takes, regardless of the battles fought, won or lost, they have a community of people to whom they can turn in time of need.
Entering Canaan consists of:
* Beginning the Journey: Monthly Days of Prayer and Healing
* Fighting the Battles: Monthly Gatherings
* The Land of Milk and Honey: Hope and Healing Weekend Retreats
* Celebration: Special Gatherings
For more information contact:
Sisters of Life Hope & Healing After Abortion
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What You Didn't Know About Breast Cancer and
Hormonal Contraception:
A look at the biology, scientific
evidence and plain old common sense.
Presented by: Lisa Honkanen, M.D.
Saturday, February 22, 2014 9:30 AM
Christ the King Roman Catholic Church
Pastoral Center - Good Samaritan Room
Come and learn from Dr. Honkanen.
Bring your questions and concerns.
This talk is for the young and old.
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Friday, March 28, 2014
7 - 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
$20 per person
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Our Lady of the Assumption Church
545 Stratfield Road, Fairfield, CT
To Register go to:
For more information contact
Angela Mantero,
Director of Marriage and Family
203-416-1627 or amantero@diobpt.org
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The Paschal Mystery in Liturgy
Dates: March 8, 22, Apr. 5, 26 and May 3, 2014
Instructor: Msgr. Andrzej Zglejszewski
Seminary of the Immaculate Conception
Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
For more information and courses visit:
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Respect Life Youth Awards
March 27, 2014
More information to follow.
Family Life Conference
March 29, 2014
10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
For more information visit
www.FLRL.org
or call (212) 371-1011 (Ext. 3195)
View or Download Flyer
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Life Matters - All Year Long
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DEUS CARITAS EST ... GOD IS LOVE
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Allison O'Brien, Director
S. Elizabeth A. Geraghty, CSJ Project Rachel Ministry Coordinator
Diana Tellis, Ministry/Dept. Assistant
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Ashley Foster, Part Time Assistant
Haylee Greenwood, Respect Life Office Volunteer
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OUR OFFICE
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RESPECT LIFE OFFICE
50 North Park Ave.
F: (516) 536-3473
Rockville Ctr., NY 11570
P: (516) 678-5800
Exts.626 & 381
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The Joy of the Gospel
(Evangelii Gaudium)
The teaching of Pope Francis on the proclamation of the Gospel.
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FAMILY LIFE CONFERENCE
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SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
10:00AM - 3:30PM
St. Joseph Seminary
201 Seminary Avenue Yonkers,
NY 10704
ADMISSION FEE $30
(includes lunch)
Free admission for priests, deacons, religious, and students
(please provide your own lunch).
A bus will be available for those traveling from New York City.
Registration is required.
Please visit www.FLRL.org
or call (212) 371-1011 (Ext. 3195).
View or Download flyer
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The Catholic Medical Association is a national organization of pro-life, Catholic doctors committed to following the teachings of the Catholic Church. Meetings are on the second Sunday of each month at St. Catherine of Siena in Manhattan and is a great opportunity for fellowship, ethics support and education for Catholic Healthcare Providers. Students, nurses, and residents welcome.
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Download or view flyer
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 | | Project Rachel |
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Respect Life Awards 2012
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2013 March for Life
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Follow Us
Just another way for you to connect with us and get more information
on Respect Life issues.
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