World Marriage Day (2/12/17) & World Day of the Sick (2/11/17)

2/12/17, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
"World Marriage Day, now in its 35th consecutive year, 
received the Apostolic Blessing of Pope St. John Paul II in 1993" 
(Archbishop Chaput, 1/5/17)

(We are once again blessed with an amazing collection of first readings.)

• "God created man in His image; in the Divine image He created him; male and female He created them.  God blessed them, saying: 'Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.'" (from the first reading for Tuesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, 2/7/17)
• "the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being" (from the first reading for Wednesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, 2/8/17)
• "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body." (from the 1st reading for Thursday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, 2/9/17)
• "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.'" (from the 1st reading for the Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin, 2/10/17)
• "I heard You in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself." (from the 1st reading for Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, 2/11/17)
• "If you choose, you can keep the commandments; loyalty is doing the will of God. Set before you are fire and water; to whatever you choose, stretch out your hand. Before everyone are life and death, whichever they choose will be given them. Immense is the wisdom of the LORD; mighty in power, He sees all things. The eyes of God behold His works, and He understands every human deed. He never commands anyone to sin, nor shows leniency toward deceivers." (first reading for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2/12/17)
• "I have produced a man with the help of the LORD." (from the 1st reading for Monday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time, 2/13/17)
• "a male and a female.  Thus you will keep their issue alive over all the earth." (from the first reading, 2/14/17)

• Battling pornography: strategies for home and classroom (MercatorNet, 2/7/17)
• Say, Hasn't the Church Already Said a Few Things about Marriage/Family/Sexuality? (10/8/15)
• Statement Calling for Constitutional Resistance to Obergefell v. Hodges (American Principles Project, 10/8/15)
• "Marriage is the most beautiful thing God has created" (Pope Francis, 10/1/16) 
• Study Guide to St. Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" (5/26/14)
• NaPro-TECHNOLOGY, New Hope in Infertility

 

• "Together with the lights, however, there are some shadows that risk aggravating the experience of our sick brothers and sisters. If there is a sector in which the disposable culture makes one see with evidence its painful consequences it is precisely that of health" (Pope Francis, Address to Charity and Health Commission of Italian Episcopal Conference, 2/10/16),

• On the right side of the home page is a link to email USCCB President Cardinal DiNardo, USCCB Pro Life Chair Cardinal Dolan, USCCB Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth Chair Archbishop Chaput, and National Catholic Bioethics Center President John Haas, PhD, STL

 Contact our elected officials

• (Urge President Trump to Sign Executive Order Respecting Religious Freedom, USCCB, 2/3/17; also see Human Life Action's Call to Action.)

• Click to Email Pa's congressional delegation, regarding federal positions backed by our bishops (cf., Pa Catholic Conference, USCCB, USCCB's Justice for Immigrants,
  Human Life Action, Human Life Action's 12/16/16 email.)

• "The resolution to stop the Washington D.C. Assisted Suicide Act is coming up for a crucial vote. H.J. Res 27 is scheduled to be marked up in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Monday, Feb 13, at 5:30 pm EST. There are only three days left for you to make a difference.Please call your members of Congress and urge them to vote for H.J. Res 27!" (Catholic Canada, Crucial vote in the US Congress on Assisted Suicide soon, 2/9/17)


• Letter to US Senators in Support of the Conscience Protection Act (Archbishop Lori and Cardinal Dolan, 2/8/17)

• "Please call and email U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey and let them know you want them to support Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. We recommend you call the Washington office and at least one of the local offices. If you get a recording, please leave a message. If the voice mailbox is full, try again later and make sure you send a written message through the link at the bottom of the phone list.
  
  "Here are the numbers to call for Senator Casey:
  (202) 224-6324--Washington office
  (610) 782-9470--Allentown office
  (814) 357-0314--Bellefonte office
  
  

  (814) 874-5080--Erie office
  (717) 231-7540--Harrisburg office 

  (215) 405-9660--Philadelphia office
  (412) 803-7370--Pittsburgh office
  (570) 941-0930--Scranton office
  
  "To send a written message to Senator Casey, go to his contact form here.  
  
  "Here are the numbers to call for Senator Toomey:
  (202) 224-4254--Washington office
  (610) 434-1444--Allentown office
  (814) 453-3010--Erie office
  (717) 782-3951--Harrisburg office
  
  

  (814) 266-5970--Johnstown office
  (215) 241-1090--Philadelphia office  

  (412) 803-3501--Pittsburgh office
  (570) 941-3540--Scranton office
  
  "To send a written message to Senator Toomey, go to his contact form here" (Pa Pro Life Federation, 2/1/17)

• Click to Email all of Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg, asking for support of issues/legislation backed by the Pa Catholic Conference and/or the Pa Pro Life Federation.

• Act now to stop assisted suicide (Diocese of Trenton, 11/4/16)

• Boycott Target and boycotts/actions from America Needs Fatima and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation