Thank you to all who made this Saturday’s Designer Bag Bingo a great success!  Visit our photo gallery to view pictures from the night!

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE PRE-ORDER FORM

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE PRE-ORDER FORM

As you may have seen in news reports, acts of vandalism were perpetrated at the Mount Carmel Jewish Cemetery in Philadelphia’s Wissinoming section over the past weekend.

Archbishop Chaput has released a statement to the media regarding this matter. The full text is being shared with you below.

STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP CHARLES J. CHAPUT, O.F.M. CAP. 

REGARDING VANDALISM AT MOUNT CARMEL CEMETERY

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the senseless acts of mass vandalism perpetrated at Mount Carmel Jewish Cemetery in our city’s Wissinoming section this past weekend.

I call on the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to join in prayerful solidarity with the families of those whose final resting places have been disturbed. Violence and hate against anyone, simply because of who they are, is inexcusable.

For Catholics, anti-Semitism is more than a human rights concern. It’s viewed as a form of sacrilege and blasphemy against God’s chosen people. In recent weeks, our country has seen a new wave of anti-Semitism on the rise. It’s wrong and it should deeply concern not only Jews and Catholics, but all people.

As a community, we must speak out to condemn inflammatory messages and actions that serve only to divide, stigmatize, and incite prejudice. We must continually and loudly reject attempts to alienate and persecute the members of any religious tradition. Rather, as members of diverse faith and ethnic communities throughout the region, we must stand up for one another and improve the quality of life for everyone by building bridges of trust and understanding.”

Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. 

Archbishop of Philadelphia

Good afternoon Friend,

I wanted to make sure you saw the news about President Donald Trump rescinding the transgender mandate letter sent to school districts by the Obama administration and restoring confidence in maintaining biologically-distinct restrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities along with policies for sports teams and overnight trips.

Randall Wenger, our Chief Counsel, just gave an interview with FOX43 to air in their 4pm & 5pm news hours about this recent action.

Randall has worked with parents and school districts in the wake of that letter that has caused some school districts to unfortunately change their policies. Now with this letter being rescinded, there is even more reason why schools should continue to protect all students by distinguishing their bathrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex.

I’ve included our press release below for more insights. If you would like to know how you can influence your school district and protect student safety and privacy rights, reply to this email or contact us at 717-545-0600. You may also reach out directly to our Independence Law Center at 717-657-4990.

Thanks for your partnership with us that allows us to be your voice for pro-family values in Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,

Michael Geer, President

Pennsylvania Family Institute

President Trump Is Right to Remove Unconstitutional Federal Mandate Regulating Public School Bathrooms, Locker Rooms and Sports Teams

Obama administration’s “Dear Colleague” Letter was dangerous to Pennsylvania schools and families.

Harrisburg – A previous order by the Obama administration that violated students’ privacy rights and safety has now been rescinded by President Donald Trump.
“The federal government has absolutely no business regulating local school district bathroom and locker room policies here in Pennsylvania or anywhere,” saidMichael Geer, President of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.

All schools should be confident that they can maintain common-sense distinctions based on biological sex in bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities during this school year. Schools should be encouraged to provide a safe environment for all students and respect everyone without taking privacy rights away from anyone.

“Biological sex is the only valid reason to have separate showers and restrooms in the first place; otherwise, we’d have one locker room,” says Randall Wenger, Chief Counsel of the Pennsylvania Family Institute. “Maintaining separate restrooms for any reason other than biological sex is arbitrary and irrational.”

The “Dear Colleague” letter from the Obama administration went so far as to require schools to allow biological boys to stay with girls, and vice versa, on any overnight trips.

Emma, a 17-year-old high-school student from Pennsylvania, had this to say: “When I participate in my county wide orchestra and we have to change into our concert attire, I should not have to undress in front of a member of the opposite biological sex. On a school trip, such as the trip to Philadelphia we took this fall, I should not have to share sleeping areas with a boy. That’s just common sense.”

Pennsylvania Family Institute applauds the Trump Administration for rescinding this mandate and putting students and privacy rights above any political agenda.

All Pennsylvania school districts that had changed their policy because of the Obama administration’s order should restore their original policy in order to protect all students. Every student should have full access to facilities according to their biological sex. Reasonable accommodations, such as single-user facilities, should be made for students who object to using facilities with other students of the same biological sex or for any other reason.

Pennsylvania Family Institute is the largest pro-life, pro-family statewide organization. Visit pafamily.org for more information. 

Pennsylvania Family Institute

23 N Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101

717-545-0600 | pafamily.org

SAVE THE DATES!

Mother – Son Dance
Sunday March 12th, 6 PM – 8:30 PM

Thank you to all who made the 2017 Winter LUAU a success! Pictures from the night have been posted to our photo gallery.  You can view them HERE !

CLICK HERE to view Monsignor McCormac’s Pastor’s Desk regarding the installation of the crucifixion stained glass window.

We have an opportunity to encourage the Senate to restore the states’ ability to stop some of the federal funding to Planned Parenthood. As you may know, a river of federal money currently runs to Planned Parenthood. Contact your senators and urge them to restore the states’ ability to stop one stream of our taxpayer dollars flowing to the nation’s largest abortion provider through the Department of Health and Human Services, (HHS) and Title X funds.

On February 16, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J. Res. 43 to nullify a ruling by former President Obama which prevented states from excluding providers such as Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds through Title X. Our attention now turns to the Senate. Please contact your senators today and urge them to vote in favor of S.J. Res. 13.

Thanks for continuing to stand with us and for raising your voice in defense of life. Together we will be heard!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER!

Join us for Designer Bag Bingo, this Saturday, February 25th at 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM)  Tickets are only 25$ and are available for purchase at the Rectory, or at the Door!

Here is the sample of the bags to be won during bingo, and baskets that will be raffled off!