Made for Love (MUR e-news) October 2018

October 2018 Continuing the U.S. Bishops' work of promoting and defending marriage. Visit our Website Unprecedented Times The Church is going through a time of intense challenge these days. Here is the latest press release from the USCCB, from September 19, outlining a four-part response. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Administrative Committee Statement on Sex Abuse Scandals; Committee Releases Actions to be Taken Within Its Authority The four parts are: 1. Establishing a third-party reporting system for accusations of sexual abuse or misconduct by a bishop, with complaints forwarded to the appropriate authorities. 2. Asking the USCCB Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance to develop proposals for policies addressing restrictions on bishops who were removed or resigned for sexual misconduct. 3. Starting to develop a Code of Conduct for bishops regarding the sexual abuse or misconduct, or cover-up of same. 4. Supporting a full investigation into the situation surrounding Archbishop McCarrick. Made for Love Podcast In September, "Made for Love" featured an episode about families of persons with Down Syndrome, and included Archbishop Kurtz, J.D. and Kate Flynn, Zoe Romanowsky, and Randall Wright, the producer of the documentary Summer in the Forest. The next September episode was called "Lots of Kinds of Love" and featured two diocesan family life directors, professor Adrian Walker from Catholic University, and Anna Carter of the Eden Invitation. Anna Carter started Eden Invitation for Millennials who, like her, experience same-sex attraction and want to know how to become holy, living full lives according to Church teaching. Anna says, "So often when we talk about same-sex attraction, 'LGBT' issues in the Church, we are apologetic about it... so people know what this excludes... but what does it actually include? It's one thing to know what you're not supposed to do; what choices are there? What ways AM I being called to give my gift?" Hear more! If you listen through iTunes (USCCB Clips), it would help a lot if you would leave a review! And we are on Soundcloud and podbean 50th Anniversary of Humanae Vitae We continue to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Encyclical Humanae Vitae (On Human Life) in 2018 The USCCB has published a 50th Anniversary edition of the encyclical by soon-to-be-Saint Pope Paul VI. And the Natural Family Planning Office has a website dedicated to the anniversary and the various celebrations and conferences surrounding it. Click here for a two-part podcast on the anniversary as well. In addition, bishops in the U.S. are preaching on the anniversary and/or sharing little snippets about them at our #HV50 YouTube page. Videos on the MUR Website The MUR website has a bunch of videos that can help you think about current problems. There are the main videos that MUR produced, but there are also videos from bishops or others about relevant topics. Check it out! Legal/Academic Updates California A mixed bag as the Golden State wrapped up its legislative session – On August 31, Assemblyman Evan Low withdrew his bill that would have banned “conversion therapy” for adults seeking help for their same-sex attraction. The bill had been passed at other stages but the author wanted more time to understand faith communities’ concerns that it was overbroad. On September 14th, however, Governor Brown signed a law declaring that “transgender” foster children have a right to foster parents and medical care that promote their perceived gender, potentially placing Christian foster parents’ service at risk. Michigan On September 14th, a federal court rejected the state’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit against its cooperating (not exclusively) with faith-based adoption agencies who decline to work with same-sex couples. The case, Dumont v. Lyon, puts Michigan’s version of the “Inclusion Act,” protecting faith-based adoption and foster care agencies, at risk – and demonstrates the importance of protecting these child welfare providers.   American Academy of Pediatrics The American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement on September 17th, encouraging hormone and surgical procedures to affirm “transgender” children’s perceived genders.