- "a central challenge in designing the post-2015 development agenda will be to improve the quality of life of the present generation, which hinges, inter alia, on ensuring equitable access to resources, the eradication of poverty, the adoption of sustainable patterns of consumption and better stewardship of the environment. My delegation is concerned however, with the emphasis given to population growth as an obstacle to development. This has led to inordinate attention on issues that find no universal agreement and to decreased focus on crucial, consensus-driven solutions that can more adequately address the challenges and opportunities we face" (Holy See Statement at UN Commission on Population and Development, 4/16/15).
Pope Francis' Ongoing Catechesis on Man and Woman and on Marriage
- "Today’s catechesis is dedicated to a central aspect of the subject of
the family: that of the great gift that God made to humanity with the
creation of man and woman and with the Sacrament of Marriage. This
catechesis and the next are concerned with the difference and
complementarity between man and woman, who are at the summit of the
divine creation; the two following ones will be on Marriage....
I wonder...if the so-called gender theory is not also an expression of a frustration and of a resignation, which aims to cancel the sexual difference....The removal of the difference, in fact, is the problem, not the solution...The matrimonial and family bond is something serious, and it is for everyone, not only for believers. I would like to exhort the intellectuals not to abandon this topic, as if it had become secondary for the commitment in favor of a freer and more just society" (Pope Francis, 4/15/15).
- "In the previous catechesis on the family, I reflected on the first
passage of the creation of the human being, in the first chapter of
Genesis, where it is written: 'God created man in his own image, in the
image of God he created him; male and female he created them'....
The social devaluation of the stable and generative alliance of man and woman is certainly a loss for all....And the Bible says a beautiful thing: man finds woman, they find one another, and man must leave something to find her fully. And for this, man will leave his father and his mother to go with her. It is beautiful! This means to begin a journey. Man is all for woman and woman is all for man. The care of this alliance of man and woman -- also if they are sinners and are wounded, confused or humiliated, mistrustful and uncertain -- is therefore for us believers a demanding and exciting vocation, in the present condition" (Pope Francis, 4/22/15).
Other Recent Words from Pope Francis
- "I welcome you, members of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and participants of this plenary session dedicated to human trafficking....I am very grateful for what this Academy realizes to deepen the knowledge of the new forms of slavery and to eradicate the trafficking of human beings, in the sole purpose of serving mankind, especially people who are marginalized and excluded. As Christians, you feel challenged by the Sermon on the Mount of the Lord Jesus and by the 'protocol' with which we will be judged at the end of our life, according to chapter 25 of the Gospel of Matthew ....His children who will see Him are those who worry about the last ones and who love the least of their brothers....And today, among the neediest of these brothers there are those who suffer the tragedy of modern forms of slavery, of forced labor, of slave labor, of prostitution, of organ trafficking, of drugs....in a global economic system dominated by profit, new forms of slavery have developed that in a certain way are worse and more inhumane than those of the past. Even more today, therefore, following the message of redemption of the Lord, we are called to denounce and fight it. First of all, we must be more aware of this new evil that, in a global world, wants to hide it because it is scandalous and 'politically incorrect'....All of society is called to grow in this awareness, especially with regard to national and international legislation, in order to ensure traffickers face justice and repurpose their unjust gains for the rehabilitation of the victims. The most suitable ways of penalizing those complicit in this inhumane market should be looked for. We are called to improve the way of rescue and social inclusion of the victims, even updating the regulations on asylum. Civil authorities should increase their awareness about the seriousness of such a tragedy, that constitutes a regression of humanity. And many times, many times these new forms of slavery are protected by the very institutions who should defend the population from these crimes" (Pope Francis, 4/20/15).
- "With great distress and sadness I learn of the further shocking violence perpetrated against innocent Christians in Lybia....I reach out to you in heartfelt spiritual solidarity to assure you of my closeness in prayer at the continuing martyrdom being so cruelly inflicted on Christians in Africa, the Middle East and some parts of Asia....The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out to be heard by everyone who can still distinguish between good and evil. All the more this cry must be heard by those who have the destiny of peoples in their hands....we know that the life we live in God’s merciful love is stronger than the pain all Christians feel, a pain shared by men and women of good will in all religious traditions" (Pope Francis, 4/21/15).
As per the USCCB*, the Pa Catholic Conference, and/or the Archdiocese,
- End Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, as the law of the land: https://www.votervoice.net/NCHLA/Campaigns/37904/Respond
- Rescind RHNDA and HRAA: http://cqrcengage.com/catholicbishops/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=87013
- Support the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (S 946): http://cqrcengage.com/catholicbishops/app/write-a-letter?1&engagementId=42752
- Support the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (HR 940): https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/37647/Respond
- Support the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act: https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/37647/Respond
- Support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36): https://www.votervoice.net/NCHLA/Campaigns/38155/Respond
- Support the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2015 (HR 1299/S 667; The Family Research Council has an action link: https://www.votervoice.net/FRCA/campaigns/39176/respond)
- Support "just and compassionate immigration reform":
http://www.capwiz.com/justiceforimmigrants/issues/alert/?alertid=14503781&type=CO
(Oppose use of family detention: http://capwiz.com/justiceforimmigrants/issues/alert/?alertid=63454631&queueid=%5bcapwiz:queue_idSupport “a path to citizenship and to oppose repealing or undoing laws that protect vulnerable children, families and refugees”: http://www.votervoice.net/groups/pacc/Advocacy/?SiteID=-1&IssueID=33031).
- Support the State Marriage Defense Act of 2015 (HR 824, S 435): http://cqrcengage.com/catholicbishops/app/make-a-call?2&engagementId=81348
As per the Pa Catholic Conference and/or the Archdiocese,
- Oppose the death penalty (Thank the governor for the death penalty moratorium.): http://www.votervoice.net/groups/pacc/Advocacy/?SiteID=-1&IssueID=29560
- Oppose HB 300 / SB 300 (As the Pa Catholic Conference explains, “In other states, this law has shuttered Catholic adoption agencies and trampled religious liberty….Simply put, this legislation is intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith."): https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/33451/Respond
- Oppose the nomination of Pedro Cortes: "Please call and email your state
Senators with this message, 'I urge you to vote against the appointment
of Pedro Cortes to serve as Pennsylvania Secretary of State. He failed to
stop abortionist Kermit Gosnell by failing to shut down his dangerous
abortion operation.'"
sgreenleaf@pasen.govcmcilhinney@pasen.govbmensch@pasen.govrtomlinson@pasen.gov
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