"Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him" (2/16/20)

(signed homily)

• Saint Valentine's Day, 2/14/20

• Did your parish mention that February 9 was World Marriage Day or that Februay 7 to 14 is National Marriage Week? Is clericalism subtly impairing esteem for authentic marriage? Click to email Fordham University President Father Joseph McShane, SJ, Father James Martin, SJ, Cardinal Dolan, USCCB President Archbishop Gomez, and Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre....
• February is the Month Dedicated to the Holy Family (National Catholic Register, 2/7/20)
• From a 2/4/20 email from the Marriage and Religion Research Institute (MARRI):

  "Family Structure Influences Suicidal Ideation and Attempts A large South Korean 2014 study (73,238 participants (using the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBWS) of middle and high school students examined the relationship between suicides and the marriage status of parents. Adolescent boys with a remarried parent had a 40% increased risk of suicidal ideation, while adolescent girls had a 51% increased risk.  For suicide attempts adolescent boys had 80% increased risk, and adolescent girls a 90% increased risk.

  Family Structure Influences Adolescent Health and Health Behaviors A 2018 longitudinal study, using the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents, investigated the influence of family structure on general and mental health, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and health risk behavior.  It found that adolescents who lived in always-intact nuclear families at baseline and at follow-up had the best self-rated health, the best scores on HRQoL, and the lowest percentage of regular smokers. Family cohesion (belongingness) explained these family structure effects.

  Family Cohesion and Conflict: Impact on Children’s Health and Well-Being A 2016 meta-analysis from the University of North Carolina, found that family cohesion (belongingness) was most closely associated with child health and well-being, while family conflict was most strongly associated with children’s health problems.  Social competence and quality of life were similarly affected."

• Message of Pope Francis  for the World Day of the Sick (2/11/20)

• PETITION:Puberty is Not a Disease! Ban transgender drugs and surgeries for minors.

International Concerns

• Protect Nigeria's Christians from Persecution.

National Concerns

• URGE Pres. Trump: Enforce EXISTING Obscenity Laws (America Needs Fatima)

• Support the Heartbeat Bill, HR 3985 (cf, LifeSite)

• Senate Fails to Pass Born-Alive Legislation (Human Life Action)
• Born-Alive Legislation Deserves a Vote in the House (Human Life Action; USCCB)
• Sign a Born Alive Discharge petition

• Support the Life at Conception Act

• Support the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

• Support the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act (cf, USCCB)

• Support S. 2590/HR 4934 The Dignity for Aborted Children Act (Human Life Action)

• Support H. Con. Res. 79, that assisted suicide is a “deadly, discriminatory and non-compassionate practice” (USCCB) 

• Oppose the Misnamed Equality Act (Human Life Action)

• Opppose the Misnamed International Violence Against Women Act (cf, C-Fam)

• Oppose the Misnamed Do No Harm Act (cf, American Life League)

• Oppose HJ Res 79, as it is "intended to insert language into the U.S. Constitution that could invalidate any limits whatsoever on abortion, including late abortions, and require government funding of abortion"  (cf, NRLC)

• Oppose the Misleadingly Named Medicare for All Act (cf., Politico)

• Support the Equal Campus Act, HR3243/S1168 (USCCB)

• Support the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (cf., USCCB)

• Urge the President and Congress to Maintain the Refugee Resettlement Program (Pa Catholic Conference) 

• Support S. 874, the Dream Act of 2019 (USCCB Justice for Immigrants) 

• Support S. 2394/HR2529, the New START Nuclear Weapons Treaty (USCCB) 

• NO to "the Shaheen amendment...[in] the Senate’s State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations bill" (Human Life Action).

The Commonwealth of Pa

(Pa Catholic Conference Legislative Review and Voter Voice)

• Support the Telemedicine Bill (SB 857) as passed by the Pa House (Pa Catholic Conf)

• Support the Perinatal Hospice Care Act (Pa Catholic Conference)

• Support the "Buyer Beware Act" (SB 60) to fight human trafficking (Pa Catholic Conference)

• Support the Fetal Remains Bill, HB 1890 (Pa Catholic Conference) 

• Support the "Heartbeat" Bill (Pa Catholic Conference) 

• Support the Down Syndrome Protection Act (Pa Catholic Conference)

• Please ask the governor, Pa Senate and Pa Assembly for a religious exemption for adoptions (Pa Catholic Conference) (See also the Pa Family Council link.)

• Call for Funding Increase for Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) (Pa Catholic Conference)  
• Please ask Governor Wolf to SIGN House Bill 800 on the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) (Pa Catholic Conference)

• Support school choice in the Harrisburg School district (Pa Catholic Conference), and ask for co-sponsorship of Speaker Turzai's bill (Pa Catholic Conference) 

• Oppose SB 614, SB 224, and HB 1404 (Pa Family Institute).

Pennsylvania March for Life [Harrisburg, 5/18/20] 

Pa ProLife Federation petition

The Garden State

• Support the NJ Pain Capable Unborn child Protection Act, A 1686/ S537 (http://protectviablebabies.com/take-action/)

• "Legislation (S2173/A3818) to remove a religious exemption and mandate immunizations for children....this legislation undermines parental rights and should be vigorously opposed" (NJRTL email, 1/10/20).
• Stop Aborted Fetal Cell Lines in Medical Products (Children of God for Life petition)
• Fr. Michael Copenhagen: Immorality of Receiving Vaccines Derived From Abortion (10/16/19) 
• Open Letter from Dr. Theresa Deisher to Legislators Regarding Fetal Cell DNA IN Vaccines (5/27/19)