Inside this issue
• California Bishops Commit to Working for Better Futures for California's Women, Children, and Families
• Legislative Women's Caucus Leaders Announce Destructive 'Reproductive Freedom' Bills
• Catholic Schools Week
• Life After Roe?
• Institute Launches National Committee Aiming to Protect Religious Freedom
California Bishops Commit to Working for Better Futures for California's Women, Children, and Families
The approaching 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade comes at a historic moment. The nation stands on the precipice of potentially overturning Roe v. Wade. At the same time, the Governor and state legislators have issued calls to make California a "sanctuary" destination for women seeking abortions from in and out of state.
However, asking to increase the number of abortions in California completely misses a vital, life-affirming point. California is already uniquely situated to respond actively to the needs of women, children, and families. Over the years, the California Catholic Conference has supported the state's dynamic efforts to build programs for our most vulnerable populations, lifting families out of poverty and affirming the inherent dignity of each person.
Furthermore, the Catholic Church is the largest provider of private social services in California. We serve millions of the most at-risk families through our Catholic Charities and diocesan ministries, our Catholic hospitals and healthcare systems, and our Catholic schools and parishes.
With Pope Francis, we believe that abortion attacks the "sacredness of human life" and that "it is not 'progressive' to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life." At this pivotal moment, we, the Bishops of the Dioceses of California, commit to a vision for our state that honors women with life-affirming support and practical resources so that all families can thrive, and so that no woman feels trapped into the devastating decision to end a life by abortion.
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Legislative Women's Caucus Leaders Announce Destructive 'Reproductive Freedom' Bills
With the awareness that the Supreme Court could be poised to roll back Roe v. Wade this summer, the California Legislative Women's Caucus unveiled a "united plan" to introduce a series of bills "in honor of reproductive freedom."
"Given the relentless attack on an individual's reproductive rights across the United States, this upcoming year the Legislative Women's Caucus will put the full weight of our Caucus behind advancing access to sexual and reproductive healthcare within our state, especially for our most marginalized communities," said Caucus Chair Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D - Bell Gardens) in a prepared statement.
The series of destructive bills include expanding taxpayer-funded abortion and providing civil liberty protections to clinicians that provide abortions to patients from states with hostile laws, as well as those who assist people from out-of-state access abortion services in California.
You can view the list of bills the Caucus intends to introduce here. The California Catholic Conference will be monitoring and advocating against these and any other bills that threaten the sanctity of human life and will continue to work to promote life-affirming policies that support and uplift women and families.
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Catholic Schools Week
Catholic Schools Week, the annual celebration of Catholic education in the U.S., will be held from January 30 through February 5. This year's theme is "Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service."
Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses, and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities, and our nation.
You can also visit the CCC's Education page to learn more about pressing education policy issues in California.
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Life After Roe?
The prospect of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturning the Roe decision is exciting to prolife advocates throughout the nation, but what does a post-Roe reality entail? What is likely to happen at the state level? The Angelus News has invited several Catholic pro-life advocates to weigh in on what pro-life advocacy might look like if the Court overturns Roe later this year. Below are excerpts from the pieces. Their essays can be found here.
"A post-Roe America will not mean the end of abortion. It will return the issue to the states to enact their own laws regulating the practice. My hope is that we will come together and seize this opportunity to create a post-Roe America where human life is cherished and cared for, and where the family is recognized as the true foundation of a just and prosperous society." - Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez
"A world without Roe is one in which "pro-choice" organizations will need to put their money where their slogan is." - Helen Alvaré, professor of law at Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University
"In a post-Roe world, violence against women wouldn't be as easily covered up. My mother gravitated toward abortion because of coercion from a male partner." - Christina Bennett is a news correspondent for Live Action and a member of the National Black Pro-Life Coalition
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Institute Launches National Committee Aiming to Protect Religious Freedom
Prominent leaders of the religious freedom movement introduced an organization they say will work to defend religious liberty and support political candidates at all levels of government who back the free practice of religion.
Charging that religious practice is increasingly threatened by legal maneuvering and public actions that seek to limit the First Amendment's guarantee of religious rights, speakers during an online launch of the organization Jan. 18 called on Americans to join the effort.
Tom Farr, president of the Religious Freedom Institute, said the new organization will be known as the National Committee for Religious Freedom. It is being established as a separate nonprofit organization under the institute.
"Religious freedom belongs to everybody. It's a right that every one of us possesses in full measure. This organization is rightly dedicated to vibrant religious freedom for everybody." - New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, chairman of the USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty
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January 21, 2022
Vol. 15 No. 03
California Catholic Conference
En Español
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