On Tuesday, during a press conference and with his signature, Governor Newsom invested in a massive $200 million expansion of abortion services in California to ‘ensure all women in our state are paid their due and treated equally in all spheres of life.’ 

The following statement is from California Catholic Conference Executive Director Kathleen Domingo in response to Governor Newsom’s claims of prioritizing women with his historic expansion of abortion in the state: 

“The abortion bills signed by Gov. Newsom include new abortion infrastructure, allowing nurse practitioners to perform abortions without physician oversight, forcing employers to pay for abortions outside of insurance coverage, and expediting board certification for abortion workers. The funding also includes $20 million from AB 1918 to pay for the scholarships and loan repayments of doctors who study abortion and $20 million from SB 1142 to pay for the travel, lodging, gas money, and doula support of women from out of state seeking an abortion. 

“Yet, the governor vetoed doula support and comprehensive perinatal support for California’s mothers through Medi-Cal and investment in the rapidly dwindling mental health workforce -citing the cost (AB 2199, AB 1930, AB 2222). Earlier this year, the legislature removed copays and deductibles for abortions (SB 245). Yet, the most economically vulnerable women and children on Medi-Cal must still pay subscriber fees for prenatal and postpartum care and pediatric visits.

“The governor and this legislature have clearly prioritized abortion over the health and wellbeing of California mothers and children. This is not reproductive equity. Improving women’s health and reproductive care would see investment in maternity care deserts, preventive care, and prioritizing the needs of all women in California. 

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Each October, the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is observed as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. During October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life.

This year, Respect Life Month is even more amplified in the wake of the fall of Roe v. Wade and the fight against Prop. 1 in California – the attempt to enshrine on-demand abortion into the state constitution. 

• The California Catholic Conference has prepared a variety of resources to assist with Respect Life activities and work against Prop. 1 throughout October, including bulletin announcements, homily helps, and catechetical resources. 

• There are age-appropriate catechetical materials for Respect Life Sunday on October 2, for all of our Catholic children in K-12 faith formation, in both English and Spanish. 

• The CCC is also in its second day of a novena to defeat Prop. 1, which will continue through    Oct. 7.  Sign Up Here

• The USCCB also has a variety of resources to assist with your Respect Life Month celebrations here. 

Archbishop Cordileone urges a "No" Vote on Proposition One

ACT NOW 

The new U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) proposal implementing Section 1557 would:

1. Contraceptive Mandate—Requires religious organizations to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives
    
2. Section 1557—Forces doctors to perform gender transition procedures, including surgeries, and mandates insurance coverage of them
    
3. Title IX—Enshrines gender identity and sexual orientation ideology in education
    
4. HHS Grants Rule—Discriminates against religious beliefs in social services
    
5. Religious Liberty & Free Inquiry Rule—Suppresses faith-based student groups at college campuses
    
6. Conscience Rule—Removes protections for health care professionals' conscience rights
    
7. Equal Treatment for Faith-Based Organizations—Secularizes faith-based charities

Defend religious freedom and join the USCCB in fighting these changes. Your comments must be received by Oct. 3. 

Click here for more information. 

“It is unconscionable that these ads distort Scripture to support abortion, specifically in states that have already dramatically limited abortion in favor of supporting life.” - Kathleen Domingo, executive director of the California Catholic Conference

When Gov. Gavin Newsom of California unveiled his plan for a billboard advertising campaign inviting women to travel to his state to have abortions, he was swiftly condemned by Catholics, who called the ads “unconscionable” and “blasphemy.”

Why the strong reaction? The abortion-selling ads include a passage from Scripture:

“Need an abortion? California is ready to help,” reads the message to be displayed along Indiana and Oklahoma highways.

In smaller lettering, the ads cite Jesus Christ’s words in the Gospel of Mark: “Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these. -Mark 12:31”

Continue Reading at CatholicNewsAgency.com

October is also Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Month. Often, our parishes are a place where survivors feel safe and might be where someone opens up or seeks help. And we know that the isolation of the pandemic increased the incidence of domestic violence in our communities, so your parishes may already have heard from people in need.

• Catholic Charities DC has an entire pastoral resource packet for ministering to families and resources to offer help.

• Catholics for Family Peace has printable resources parishes can tape on the back of bathroom stalls or the bulletin board in your parish.

• The Family Life offices of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Stockton all have great resources available. 

In the midst of the national conversation on the humane treatment of migrants and refugees, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone released the following statement on the importance of protecting the rights of refugees and migrants, highlighting the important legal and humanitarian work of Catholic Charities within the Archdiocese.

As communities committed to providing sanctuary to migrants, San Francisco and California are duty-bound to welcome immigrants and find opportunities for them to thrive here, no matter how they arrive at our doorstep. Let us not forget that Christian charity makes no distinctions regarding legal status when it comes to providing humanitarian aid to those in need.

As the U.S. and Mexican bishops stated in their 2003 joint pastoral letter, “Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope,” the United States needs comprehensive immigration reform. The principles outlined in the letter include the right of a nation to secure its borders and for people to stay and thrive in their homelands, but also that asylum seekers have a right to seek haven.
 

Continue Reading at SFArchDiocese.org

Join us TODAY in opposing this extreme measure

You can get involved in the fight against Prop 1 by following No On Prop 1 on social media and sharing posts with your friends and social circles. You can also visit the No On Prop 1 website for recent news, resources explaining Proposition 1 and what it entails, and to get in contact with the campaign.

Follow California Together, No On Prop 1
 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoOnProp1CA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NOonProp1CA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noonprop1ca/

Sign Up for our campaign emails for updates, latest news, and events around the state of California at  https://www.noproposition1.com.

Support the No On Proposition 1 campaign through donating to the campaign

Donate Here

Together, we can ensure that California doesn’t become a “sanctuary state” where abortion is paid for by taxpayers for any reason - at any time.

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“Prayer is an indispensable aid for spiritual discernment, especially when it involves the affections, enabling us to address God with simplicity and familiarity, as one would speak to a friend.” - Pope Francis