"An applause for the mommies in the square."

 "Today's Gospel - John, Chapter 15 - takes us back to the Upper Room, where we listen to the new commandment of Jesus: 'This is my commandment – he says to the disciples - that you love one another as I have loved you' ( v. 12). And, thinking about the sacrifice of the Cross by then almost imminent, He added: 'No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you' (v. 13-14). These words, spoken at the Last Supper, summarize the whole message of Jesus; indeed, they summarize all that He has done: he gave his life for his friends. Friends who had not understood him, that in the crucial moment abandoned, betrayed and denied him. This says to us that God loves us despite not being worthy of His love. This is how much Jesus loves us....

"today, in many countries, Mother's Day is celebrated. We remember with gratitude and affection all mothers. Now I turn to all the mothers. Are there some of them here, here in the square? Are there? An applause for the mommies in the square. And this applause embraces all the mothers, all our dear mothers, those that live with us physically, but also those that live with us spiritually ... May the Lord bless them all, and may the Mother of God, to whom this month is dedicated, watch over them all" (Pope Francis, 5/10/15).

Also see  Inscribed in Creation: The Conclusion to Pope Francis' Catechesis on Man and Woman and Marriage


As per the Pa Catholic Conference and/or the Archdiocese,

• Support equal education funding: https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/36012/Respond

• Support HB 752: https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/39294/Respond

• Support "Supportive, Comprehensive End of Life Care" [i.e., Oppose "doctor-prescribed suicide"]

• 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.gov
  cmcilhinney@pasen.gov
  bmensch@pasen.gov
  rtomlinson@pasen.gov

• "The Pennsylvania Family Institute publishes a voter guide that touches on many issues that are also important to Catholics.  But the most effective way to research is to contact the candidates themselves.  Some judicial candidates have their own websites or social media sites which proudly list the endorsements they received.  Those up for retention have their resumes on the court system website" (Informing Your Conscience in "Off-Year" Elections, Pa Catholic Conf, 10/15/13).  Click for the Pa Family.Org's 2015 Judicial Primary Voter’s Guide:  http://pafamily.org/2015/05/primary2015guide/

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
  [Update: See the results of the 4/30/15 vote in the House on HJ Res 43 - The "yea" votes were to oppose RHNDA and HRAA.] 

• 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_id
  Support “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

• "Protect Poor Households and Promote Diplomatic Relations with Cuba": http://cqrcengage.com/catholicbishops/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=98833

*In addition to "ALERTS CENTRAL" the USCCB notes that "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment" and "Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition,Justice for Immigrants."