Youth Make Up Largest Contingent in D.C. March for Life

on 30 January 2012. Abortion & Procreation

The snow was gone but the cold rains came as more than 350,000 mostly young people gathered earlier in the week at the Mall in Washington, D.C., to hear speakers and to begin their March for Life. The vast crowds, which included students from hundreds of high schools and colleges, took courage from each other as they commemorated the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions. In San Francisco tens of thousands marched down Market Street during the west coast edition of the Walk for Life. (Read the Catholic San Francisco account.)

In D.C., the March is part of a series of events. One of which is the annual Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life hosted by Georgetown University. The gathering boasted the most attendees ever—including a bishop and a dozen youth from Australia. Keynoting the conference was Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput who spoke passionately about the dignity of human life -- all human life. He lovingly described the lives of Down syndrome children of friends and pointed out that the lives of babies with genetic defects or physical imperfections are more and more at risk in our current culture. Looking at the sea of young faces in the auditorium, he challenged them to the “new evangelization”—where the young evangelize the “old.”

Archbishop Chaput’s complete homily is here. Bishop William Lori of Bridgetown, Connecticut, chair of the USCCB ad hoc committee on Religious Liberty, offered the homily for the Mass for Life at the Conference. His homily is here.

Catholic Leaders React to New Contraception Mandate

on 30 January 2012. Abortion & Procreation

En Español

Responses to the new U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate that all health plans provide no-cost contraception and sterilization services has been swift and incredulous. The regulations, in effect, create a new definition of religious employer – one that is so narrow few will qualify.

“In this case, the government is imposing a narrow, radically individualistic idea of religion – defining religion as only worship and moral teaching,” wrote Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles in a column for a leading Catholic journal. “As many have noted, under this definition, much of what Jesus Christ did would not qualify as a ‘religious ministry.’”

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and other religious leaders have been seeking a religious exemption since the regulations were first proposed last fall. (Read How New HHS Mandate Redefines Religious Employer.) Their suggestion, however, was ignored by HHS which instead included extremely narrow language. Catholic hospitals, universities, and organizations such as the Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services would not qualify because they serve people who are not Catholic. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, instead, “compromised” by offering organizations one year to determine how to comply.

Daughter of Charity Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, voiced disappointment with the decision. Catholic hospitals serve one out of six people who seek hospital care annually.

“This was a missed opportunity to be clear on appropriate conscience protection,” Sister Keehan said.

More background information is available here including a link to a video by Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York and USCCB president. USCCB is formulating a response now. Watch for Action Alerts in the near future.

California Bishops Support Life and Family Initiatives

on 10 January 2012. Abortion & Procreation

Measures Will Require Parental Notification and End the Use of the Death Penalty

(En Español) Due to the convergence of two initiatives whose sponsors are seeking their placement on California’s November 2012 ballot, we Catholic bishops have been presented a unique teaching moment on life and family.

As Catholics, we believe and teach that we bear the image of God. We come to life as the result of humanity’s collaboration in God’s creative work. Ordinarily, each child is the result of the loving union of a man and woman who have formed a family. The family then cradles the newborn, raises up the child and guides the young person’s development to adulthood. As citizens, we believe that government serves best when it supports families in their irreplaceable task of nurturing the next generation.

Where has the “pro-choice” mentality taken us?

on 23 November 2011. Abortion & Procreation

by Carol Hogan, Director of Pastoral Projects and Communication for the California Catholic Conference

In the United States, by the late 1960s, change was everywhere. Many traditional values were questioned by young people—the “baby boomers”—resulting in a rejection of the prevailing culture.

Male-only bastions of higher education went co-ed. The birth control pill was “invented.” Women entered law schools, medical schools and the workforce in unprecedented numbers. Hats and gloves disappeared. Eventually the loosening of so many cultural restrictions led to a change in sexual mores—bringing about the so-called sexual revolution. Easy and responsibility-free intercourse— seemed to be within reach of all.

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