Made for Love (MUR e-news) (USCCB, July 2019)

July 2019 July 2019 Continuing the U.S. Bishops' work of promoting and defending marriage. Visit our Website Male and Female He Created Them On June 10, 2019, the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education released a reflection on human sexuality entitled: " 'Male and Female He Created Them': Towards a Path of Dialogue on the Question of Gender Theory in Education" The document is the fullest exposition of the concept of gender (gender identity, gender fluidity, ‘transgenderism,’ etc.) that has been released from the Vatican to date. It is concerned with the “educational crisis… in the field of affectivity and sexuality” (no. 1) and reiterates Catholic anthropology, rooted in Sacred Scripture and Tradition. “The Christian vision of anthropology sees sexuality as a fundamental component of one’s personhood” (no. 4). The document seeks to combat the dualism that is operative in the idea that “one’s gender ends up being viewed as more important than being of male or female sex. The effect of this move is chiefly to create a cultural and ideological revolution driven by relativism, and secondarily a juridical revolution, since such beliefs claim specific rights for the individual and across society” (no. 20). This is precisely what legislation such as the Equality Act does. Made for Love Podcast Last month's Made for Love explored the family and technology as well as the suffering of miscarriage. Technology and the Family Pope Francis has spoken on numerous occasions, such as the World Meeting of Families in Dublin in 2018, about the impact of technology on family life, and the importance of a family’s “unplugging” in order to be together. Today we’ll talk about how families balance technology, especially social media, and their time together. This episode features Bishop Konderla of the Diocese of Tulsa, Dr. Timothy O’Malley of the University of Notre Dame, Mary Warren of CUA, and Tommy Tighe. Miscarriage Every child is a gift, and the loss of even the smallest life is mourned by Catholic parents. Today we’re talking about one of the heaviest crosses that is borne in Catholic family life: miscarriage and infant loss. This episode includes Leah Libresco, Laura Fanucci, author, with her husband Franco, of Grieving Together: A Couple’s Journey through Miscarriage, and Msgr. Donald Sakano from the Archdiocese of New York.  In July, Made for Love will look at the temperaments in marriage and family vacations! USCCB Action Center All the USCCB's action alerts for legislative priorities are available at one website. There you can contact your representatives and make your voice heard. Check it out! Legal/ Policy Updates Athletes in CT – On June 17th, three high school track athletes in Connecticut brought a Title IX complaint with the Dept. of Education against Connecticut’s policy of allowing male “transgender girls” to compete in girls’ sports. At least one had lost spot in New England Regionals to two men. Chick-fil-A – On June 10th, Texas passed the “Save Chick-fil-A” bill prohibiting discrimination by a government on account of the religious organization to which a business owner belongs or donates, after the restaurant being banned from San Antonio’s airport. Surrogacy – Despite passing in the state senate, a bill to allow commercial surrogacy in New York (one of only four states that disallows it) did not make it out of the state assembly after noted feminists came out against usual Democratic allies to oppose the measure. Ecuador – Ecuador’s high court imposed same-sex marriage in the country on June 12th. Kansas – On June 21st, Kansas agreed in a lawsuit to allow people to change the sex on their birth certificates. It had been one only three remaining states that did not do so. California – On June 24th, the California Assembly passed a resolution to admonish pastors to affirm homosexuality and transgenderism; and the next day the legislature advanced a bill to mandate inmates be placed according to “gender identity.” Made for Love | USCCB | (202) 541-3000 | defenseofmarriage@usccb.org| www.marriageuniqueforareason.org STAY CONNECTED  ‌  ‌  ‌

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