in Pennsylvania's First Congressional District
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania's_1st_congressional_district http://archphila.org/pastplan/MAPS/Arch.pdf
and the Central Garden State

Saturday, March 31, 2018

"He is not here… He is raised! And He awaits you in Galilee. He invites you to go back to the time and place of your first love and He says to you: Do not be afraid, follow Me."

  • A Good Friday report card on the defense of human life, marriage/family, and conscience for Pa’s Delegation in DC (3/30/18 improved link)

    • Teaching Theology at the College of the Holy Cross (3/29/18)

    On the right side of the home page is a link to send an email to the White House and the Pa Congressional Delegation on selected federal matters (3/24/18 update).  

     On the right side of the home page is a link to send an email to the White House and the NJ Congressional Delegation on selected federal matters (3/24/18 update).

      On the right side of the home page is a link to email Bucks County's Delegation in Harrisburg on selected state of Pennsylvania matters (3/24/18 update).  

    On the right side of the home page is a link to email Mercer, Monnmouth, Ocean, and Burlington's members of the assembly and senate in Trenton on selected state of NJ matters (3/24/18 update). 

     Please remove Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (National Center on Sexual Exploitation).

    Petition to Recognize Pornography as a Public Health Crisis (National Center on Sexual Exploitation)

    http://www.virtualtoursantosepolcro.org/index_en.htm

    www.usccb.org/pray

    Fw: Made for Love (MUR e-news) (USCCB, 3/31/18)

    April 2018
    April 2018
    Continuing the U.S. Bishops' work of promoting and defending marriage.
    Made for Love Podcast
    The March episodes of "Made for Love" were on the topics of Adoption and Anxiety/Depression.

    There are extra features to the show notes on the blog, including clips from MUR videos and interviews.

    In April, we'll talk about Infertility and Male-Female Complementarity. Tune in and share!

    If you listen through iTunes (USCCB Clips), it would help a lot if you would leave a review!
    Marriage Unique For A Reason
    The Conversation Continues
    Here at the USCCB, we seek to provide resources to help Catholics understand and explain the Church's teaching and we keep track of court cases that affect our society's understanding of marriage and human sexuality.

    The conversation about marriage is not over because of the decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, any more than the conversation about the dignity of unborn human life ended with Roe v. Wade.

    How can you be part of the conversation? Will you share something from MUR on your social media pages? Will you make sure that your kids understand what true marriage is?
    Legal Updates
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
    On March 7, 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects “transgender” persons from employment discrimination. This case involves a man whose employment at a funeral home was terminated when he informed his employers that he was going to being dressing as a woman and “transitioning.”

    Idaho
    On March 5, 2018, a federal judge in Idaho ruled that the state law barring individuals from changing the gender on their birth certificates is unconstitutional.

    Montana
    On March 12, 2018, a federal court in Montana ruled against a polygamous trio, who had argued that the state could not refuse to issue another marriage license for the second marriage in 2015, in view of the changing definition of marriage.  

    Maryland
    On March 13, 2018, a federal court in Maryland ruled that a student’s right to use the bathroom and locker room in accordance with her “gender identity” is protected by Title IX as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. 

    Name | Company | Phone | Fax | Email | Website
    STAY CONNECTED


    Easter Sunday - The Resurrection of the Lord - The Mass of Easter Day

    Reading 1 Acts 10:34a, 37-43

    Peter proceeded to speak and said:
    "You know what has happened all over Judea,
    beginning in Galilee after the baptism
    that John preached,
    how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
    with the Holy Spirit and power.
    He went about doing good
    and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
    for God was with him.
    We are witnesses of all that he did
    both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.
    They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.
    This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible,
    not to all the people, but to us,
    the witnesses chosen by God in advance,
    who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
    He commissioned us to preach to the people
    and testify that he is the one appointed by God
    as judge of the living and the dead.
    To him all the prophets bear witness,
    that everyone who believes in him
    will receive forgiveness of sins through his name."

    Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23.

    R. (24) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
    or:
    R. Alleluia.
    Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
    for his mercy endures forever.
    Let the house of Israel say,
    "His mercy endures forever."
    R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
    or:
    R. Alleluia.
    "The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;
    the right hand of the LORD is exalted.
    I shall not die, but live,
    and declare the works of the LORD."
    R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
    or:
    R. Alleluia.
    The stone which the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.
    By the LORD has this been done;
    it is wonderful in our eyes.
    R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
    or:
    R. Alleluia.

    Reading 2 Col 3:1-4

    Brothers and sisters:
    If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
    where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
    Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
    For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
    When Christ your life appears,
    then you too will appear with him in glory.

    Or

    I Cor 5:6b-8

    Brothers and sisters:
    Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?
    Clear out the old yeast,
    so that you may become a fresh batch of dough,
    inasmuch as you are unleavened.
    For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.
    Therefore, let us celebrate the feast,
    not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness,
    but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

    Sequence Victimae paschali laudes

    Christians, to the Paschal Victim
    Offer your thankful praises!
    A Lamb the sheep redeems;
    Christ, who only is sinless,
    Reconciles sinners to the Father.
    Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
    The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
    Speak, Mary, declaring
    What you saw, wayfaring.
    "The tomb of Christ, who is living,
    The glory of Jesus' resurrection;
    bright angels attesting,
    The shroud and napkin resting.
    Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
    to Galilee he goes before you."
    Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
    Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
    Amen. Alleluia.

    Alleluia Cf. 1 Cor 5:7b-8a

    R. Alleluia, alleluia.
    Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed;
    let us then feast with joy in the Lord.
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.

    Gospel Jn 20:1-9 [links added]

    On the first day of the week,
    Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
    while it was still dark,
    and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
    So she ran and went to Simon Peter
    and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
    "They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
    and we don't know where they put Him."
    So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
    They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
    and arrived at the tomb first;
    he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
    When Simon Peter arrived after him,
    he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
    and the cloth that had covered His head,
    not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
    Then the other disciple also went in,
    the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
    and he saw and believed.
    For they did not yet understand the Scripture
    that He had to rise from the dead.

    Or

    Gospel Mk 16:1-7 [links added]


    When the sabbath was over,
    Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome
    bought spices so that they might go and anoint him.
    Very early when the sun had risen,
    on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb.
    They were saying to one another,
    "Who will roll back the stone for us
    from the entrance to the tomb?"
    When they looked up,
    they saw that the stone had been rolled back;
    it was very large.
    On entering the tomb they saw a young man
    sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe,
    and they were utterly amazed.
    He said to them, "Do not be amazed!
    You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified.
    He has been raised; he is not here.
    Behold the place where they laid him.
    But go and tell his disciples and Peter,
    'He is going before you to Galilee;
    there you will see him, as he told you.'"

    Or

    Gospel Lk 24:13-35


    That very day, the first day of the week,
    two of Jesus' disciples were going
    to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,
    and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.
    And it happened that while they were conversing and debating,
    Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
    but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
    He asked them,
    "What are you discussing as you walk along?"
    They stopped, looking downcast.
    One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply,
    "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem
    who does not know of the things
    that have taken place there in these days?"
    And he replied to them, "What sort of things?"
    They said to him,
    "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene,
    who was a prophet mighty in deed and word
    before God and all the people,
    how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over
    to a sentence of death and crucified him.
    But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel;
    and besides all this,
    it is now the third day since this took place.
    Some women from our group, however, have astounded us:
    they were at the tomb early in the morning
    and did not find his body;
    they came back and reported
    that they had indeed seen a vision of angels
    who announced that he was alive.
    Then some of those with us went to the tomb
    and found things just as the women had described,
    but him they did not see."
    And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are!
    How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
    Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things
    and enter into his glory?"
    Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
    he interpreted to them what referred to him
    in all the Scriptures.
    As they approached the village to which they were going,
    he gave the impression that he was going on farther.
    But they urged him, "Stay with us,
    for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over."
    So he went in to stay with them.
    And it happened that, while he was with them at table,
    he took bread, said the blessing,
    broke it, and gave it to them.
    With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him,
    but he vanished from their sight.
    Then they said to each other,
    "Were not our hearts burning within us
    while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"
    So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem
    where they found gathered together
    the eleven and those with them who were saying,
    "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!"
    Then the two recounted
    what had taken place on the way
    and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

    Friday, March 30, 2018

    "To Him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins through His name."

    • Teaching Theology at the College of the Holy Cross (3/29/18)

    On the right side of the home page is a link to send an email to the White House and the Pa Congressional Delegation on selected federal matters (3/24/18 update).  

     On the right side of the home page is a link to send an email to the White House and the NJ Congressional Delegation on selected federal matters (3/24/18 update).

      On the right side of the home page is a link to email Bucks County's Delegation in Harrisburg on selected state of Pennsylvania matters (3/24/18 update).  

    On the right side of the home page is a link to email Mercer, Monnmouth, Ocean, and Burlington's members of the assembly and senate in Trenton on selected state of NJ matters (3/24/18 update). 

     Please remove Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (National Center on Sexual Exploitation).

    Petition to Recognize Pornography as a Public Health Crisis (National Center on Sexual Exploitation)

    http://www.virtualtoursantosepolcro.org/index_en.htm

    www.usccb.org/pray

    Thursday, March 29, 2018

    Teaching Theology at the College of the Holy Cross

    Holy Cross senior Elinor Reilly has written an article about the teachings of a Holy Cross endowed chair in religious studies, which is not for the faint of heart (New Ways in Theology at Holy Cross, The Fenwick Review, 3/26/18).

    Click to Email Holy Cross President Rev Philip Boroughs, SJ, and Bishop Robert  McManus of the Diocese of Worcester, expressing your concern (If the link does not work from the email, please go directly to the online post.).

    Tuesday, March 27, 2018


    On the right side of the home page is a link to send an email to the White House and the Pa Congressional Delegation on selected federal matters (3/24/18 update).  

     On the right side of the home page is a link to send an email to the White House and the NJ Congressional Delegation on selected federal matters (3/24/18 update).

      On the right side of the home page is a link to email Bucks County's Delegation in Harrisburg on selected state of Pennsylvania matters (3/24/18 update).  

    On the right side of the home page is a link to email Mercer, Monnmouth, Ocean, and Burlington's members of the assembly and senate in Trenton on selected state of NJ matters (3/24/18 update). 

     Please remove Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (National Center on Sexual Exploitation).

    Petition to Recognize Pornography as a Public Health Crisis (National Center on Sexual Exploitation)

    The site of the Apostle Paul's martyrdom

    Church of the Martyrdom of St. Paul at the Three Fountains














    Free to Serve (USCCB, 3/27/18)

    http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1100920568270&ca=b43714c9-2f50-43b8-a39e-957cc0c567df

    re: ‘Paul, Apostle of Christ’ coming to theaters (OSV Newsweekly, 2/28/18)

    Great film!

    https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/National/Article/TabId/717/ArtMID/13622/ArticleID/24302/'Paul-Apostle-of-Christ'-coming-to-theaters.aspx

    Cardinal Burke to head speakers on marriage at Cathedral (CatholicPhilly.com, 3/26/18)

    http://catholicphilly.com/2018/03/news/local-news/cardinal-burke-to-head-speakers-on-marriage-at-cathedral/

    Sunday, March 25, 2018

    It is NOT OK to ignore Conscience Protection, fund Planned Parenthood, and give a green light to DC's Assisted Suicide Act!

    The Omnibus which passed the House and Senate and was signed by the president failed to incorporate the Conscience Protection Act, funds Planned Parenthood, and failed to repeal DC's assisted suicide act (cf., USCCB, LifeSiteNews).  Yet National Right to Life (of which NJ Right to Life and Pa Pro Life are part) will likely NOT count this vote, when they give out pro life voting scores!  Let us not be so naive!
    • Pa Representatives Brady, Evans, Thompson, Costello, Meehan, Fitzpatrick, Shuster, Marino, Barletta, Doyle, Dent and Cartwright shamefully voted FOR the Omnibus.  Kudos to Representatives Rothfus, Smucker, Kelly, and Perry for voting no (Though seemingly not pro life, Rep Boyle also voted no.).
    • Pa Senators Casey shamefully voted FOR the Omnibus, while  Toomey did not vote (Why???)
    • NJ Representatives LoBiondo, MacArthur, Smith (Sadly, you read that correctly), Gottheimer, Lance, Sires, Pascrell, Payne, and Frelinghuysen shamefully voted for Omnibus.  While not pro life, Representatives Norcross, Pallone, and Watson Coleman voted against Omnibus.
    • NJ Senators Menendez shamefully voted FOR the Omnibus, while Booker (though not pro life) voted no.

    On the right side of the home page is a link to send an updated email the White House and the Pa Congressional Delegation, on selected federal matters (3/24/18 update).  

     On the right side of the home page is a link to send an updated email the White House and the NJ Congressional Delegation, on selected federal matters (3/24/18 update).

      On the right side of the home page is a link to email Bucks County's Delegation in Harrisburg on selected state of Pennsylvania matters (3/24/18 update).  

    On the right side of the home page is a link to email Mercer, Monnmouth, Ocean, and Burlington's members of the assembly and senate in Trenton on selected state of NJ matters (3/24/18 update). 

     Please remove Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (National Center on Sexual Exploitation).

    Petition to Recognize Pornography as a Public Health Crisis (National Center on Sexual Exploitation)

    Saturday, March 24, 2018

    State of NJ issues, 3/24/18 update

    New Jersey Catholic Conference

    • Contact your legislators to oppose assisted suicide

    New Jersey Right to Life


    New Jersey Family Policy Council

    State of Pa issues, 3/24/18 update

    Pa Catholic Conference

    Pa Family.org Citizen Action Center  

    Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania

    Federal Issues, 3/24/18 update

    The USCCB bemoaned that the Omnibus (subsequently signed into law by the president) failed to incorporate the Conscience Protection Act, while LifeSiteNews went on to tell us that it also funds Planned Parenthood and fails to repeal DC's assisted suicide act.  Isn't it appalling that National Right to Life (of which NJ Right to Life and Pa Pro Life are part) will likely NOT count this vote, when they give out pro life voting scores?  Let us not be so naive!

    • Pa Representatives Brady, Evans, Thompson, Costello, Meehan, Fitzpatrick, Shuster, Marino, Barletta, Doyle, Dent and Cartwright shamefully voted FOR the Omnibus.  Kudos to Representatives Rothfus, Smucker, Kelly, and Perry for voting no (Though seemingly not pro life, Rep Boyle also voted no.).
    • Pa Senators Casey shamefully voted FOR the Omnibus, while  Toomey did not vote (Why???)
    • NJ Representatives LoBiondo, MacArthur, Smith (Sadly, you read that correctly), Gottheimer, Lance, Sires, Pascrell, Payne, and Frelinghuysen shamefully voted for Omnibus.  While not pro life, Representatives Norcross, Pallone, and Watson Coleman voted against Omnibus.
    • NJ Senators Menendez shamefully voted FOR the Omnibus, while Booker (though not pro life) voted no.

    U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference Chairmen Urge Support for the ‘First Amendment Defense Act’ (USCCB, 3/14/18)

    USCCB's Action Center

    USCCB's and CRS' Catholics Confront Global Poverty / Action Center 

    USCCB's Justice for Immigrants' Action Alerts

      [We can ensure safety for impoverished people and refugees, as well as their host communities.  As our noble efforts at assistance must not be hijacked, this blogger believes that our communications MUST specifically state that contraceptives/abortifacients MUST be excluded from "assistance."]

    USCCB's Marriage Unique for a Reason

    Pa Catholic Conference's Current Alerts
    (one federal)

    NJ Catholic Conference
    (two federal)

    National Center on Sexual Exploitation

    • "Within 48 hours of the U.S. Senate’s passage of legislation combating online sex trafficking, several websites have shuttered their prostitution ads. The historic legislation passed the Senate in a landslide 97-2 vote on Wednesday. H.R. 1865 was a legislative package that combined the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), sponsored by Rep. Ann Wagner, with an amendment incorporating reforms contained in S. 1693 the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), sponsored by Senators Portman and Blumenthal. The legislative duo takes direct aim at websites that facilitate and profit from prostitution and sex trafficking by amending both the Communications Decency Act and Mann Act....'Now, even before the bill has been signed into law, we can see that the era of tolerance and immunity for online sexual exploitation and sex trafficking coming to a close. This is as great a moment in the fight to free our country from sexual exploitation, as the Emancipation Proclamation was in ending the scourge of slavery'” (NCOSE, 3/23/18).

     Human Life Action Action Alerts

      Current Action Alerts

      Previous Action Alerts....

    HR 490, the Heartbeat Bill

    The Pa & NJ votes on Omnibus

    The USCCB is bemoaning that the Omnibus (which wound up being signed into law by the president) fails to incorporate the Conscience Protection Act, while LifeSiteNews goes on to tell us that the Omnibus also continues to fund Planned Parenthood and fails to repeal DC's assisted suicide act!  It is appalling that National Right to Life (of which NJ Right to Life and Pa Pro Life are part) will likely NOT count this vote, when they give out pro life voting scores.  Let us not be so naive!

    Shameful support from the NJ delegation for Omnibus

    The USCCB is bemoaning that the Omnibus (which wound up being signed into law, today) fails to incorporate the Conscience Protection Act, while LifeSiteNews goes on to tell us that the Omnibus also continues to fund Planned Parenthood and fails to repeal DC's assisted suicide act! 

    It is appalling that National Right to Life (of which NJ Right to Life is part) will likely NOT count this vote, when they give out pro life voting scores.  Let us not be so naive!
     

    Friday, March 23, 2018

    Omnibus funds Planned Parenthood, while it fails to incorporate the Conscience Protection Act or to repeal DC's assisted suicide act!

    • Chairman of U.S. Bishops’ Pro-Life Committee Issues Statement Supporting Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers as Important Free Speech Case Begins (USCCB, 3/20/18



    On the right side of the home page is a link to email the White House and the Pa Congressional Delegation, on selected federal matters (3/20/18 update).  

     On the right side of the home page is a link to email the White House and the NJ Congressional Delegation, on selected federal matters (3/20/18 update).

      On the right side of the home page is a link to email Bucks County's Delegation in Harrisburg on selected state of Pennsylvania matters (3/6/18 update).  

    On the right side of the home page is a link to email Mercer, Monnmouth, Ocean, and Burlington's members of the assembly and senate in Trenton on selected state of NJ matters (2/24/18 update). 

     Please remove Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (National Center on Sexual Exploitation).

    Petition to Recognize Pornography as a Public Health Crisis (National Center on Sexual Exploitation)

    Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2018 (H.R. 5199) (Heritage Action)

    www.usccb.org/pray

    home page links

    The 10 Commandments

    The Beatitudes (from "Jesus of Nazareth")