Oppose Unfair Retroactive Statutes of Limitation

There is an urgent matter in Harrisburg that could impact every Catholic parish, school and ministry in our state. Click here to take immediate action.  

The Catholic Church has learned hard lessons regarding child sexual abuse and has taken responsibility for the abuse that has occurred within its ranks.  The dioceses across Pennsylvania have implemented changes that offer assistance to abuse survivors and affirm that they are not at fault for the crime committed against them.

The Church has also taken great strides to protect children and provide financial assistance for services for survivors and their families, no matter how long ago the crime was committed, and for as long as necessary. Children and adults are trained to recognize and report signs of abuse to ensure that the children in our care are safe and secure. To date, Pennsylvania’s dioceses have spent over $16.6 million to provide compassionate and supportive victim assistance to individuals and families. Learn more about the Catholic Church’s assistance for survivors here.

Despite that, state lawmakers are considering legislation that would retroactively nullify the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse. It would force parishes, dioceses, schools, and charities to defend cases that are 20, 30, or 40 years old, long after the perpetrator and possible witnesses have died or clear evidence is gone. It could lead to the closure of parishes, schools, and ministries of today’s Catholics, who are in no way responsible for abuse that occurred decades ago.

Pennsylvania’s 3 million Catholics cannot afford to defend their parishes and Catholic schools from expensive and unfair lawsuits.

As proposed, a retroactive nullification of the civil statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases would open a floodgate for lawsuits against private and nonprofit organizations, but it would not apply to public schools or government agencies. Public entities would still be able to claim sovereign immunity from lawsuits, even though the vast majority of Pennsylvania students — 83 percent — attend public school. Survivors abused in public schools, juvenile detention facilities, or county foster care programs could not bring suits under the legislation.

Measures that nullified the civil statute of limitations in other states drained billions of dollars from current ministries, parishes, schools and dioceses. Bankruptcy and severe debt was the only option for most dioceses in the states with retroactive windows. One parish in Delaware was hit with a verdict of over $3 million. Very few parishes could afford to go to court; none were able to defend themselves on their own. Financially, they had no choice but to join a group settlement without establishing the facts of individual cases.

Sexual abuse is a serious crime that affects every institution and community in Pennsylvania, public and private. Because of its gravity, it needs to be dealt with comprehensively and fairly.

Any discussion of a legislative remedy must protect all children, not simply penalize some institutions.

Everyone who values our parishes, schools and charitable organizations is urged to ask their state lawmakers to oppose unfair changes to the civil statute of limitations. Click here to contact your elected officials today.

New Lay Ministry Schedule

Click HERE to view the new schedule for June through September 2016

CAMP CABRINI PLANNING MEETING – TONIGHT AT 7PM

 

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 The meeting will take place in the Fr. Laut Conference Room.  Volunteers of all ages are needed to help decorate, act as small group leaders, and coordinate various activities throughout the week.  If you are interested please attend this meeting or contact Miss Alixandra Holden at the Rectory (215) 946 – 1115, or e-mail aholden@saintfrancescabrini.net

POT OF GOLD DRAWING WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY 5/31

POG

Hersheypark is letting men into women’s bathrooms. Tell them your concerns.

Are you Hersheypark Happy with their New Bathroom Policy?

Are you Hersheypark Happy with their new bathroom policy?Hersheypark, Pennsylvania’s well-known family-oriented theme park, has now made it known that men whom self-identify as female are permitted to use their women-only bathrooms. News outlets across the state covered over the weekend a statement made by Hersheypark that allows guests and employees to use the restroom “with which they gender-identify.” 

Their statement did not clarify if the policy covers the waterpark changing areas as well as ZooAmerica or other Hershey Entertainment facilities. We have reached out to Hershey with specific questions and they have graciously informed us that they would answer our questions soon.

We will be sure to update you with their response but in the meantime, would you please contact Hersheypark with concerns over their bathroom policy?

We have made it easy for you to contact – just click here or visit pafamily.org to send Hersheypark officials an email with your concerns.

If they want everyone to be #HersheyparkHappy, they can do so by respecting everyone without eliminating privacy rights of anyone.

Thanks for taking action. Please encourage others to do the same: forward this email to friends and family, share the news on Facebook and Twitter and direct attention to the alert at tinyurl.com/hersheyparksad.

CAMP CABRINI PLANNING MEETING – RESCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1ST

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The Camp Cabrini planning meeting scheduled for tomorrow, May 25th at 7:00 PM has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, June 1st at 7:00 PM.  The meeting will take place in the Fr. Laut Conference Room.  Volunteers of all ages are needed to help decorate, act as small group leaders, and coordinate various activities throughout the week.  If you are interested please attend this meeting or contact Miss Alixandra Holden at the Rectory (215) 946 – 1115, or e-mail aholden@saintfrancescabrini.net

Urge Congress to Protect Conscience Rights

I write to update you on our progress and to renew a call to action as we continue our efforts to urge Congress to enact common-sense protections for pro-life health care workers. The policy of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act is now found in the Conscience Protection Act of 2016. The bill, introduced in the House on March 22, has recently been introduced in the Senate.

Please contact your members of Congress in the House and Senate now to urge them to co-sponsor the Conscience Protection Act of 2016 (H.R.4828/S.2927)Our earlier call to action was only directed to the House, so even if you responded to a prior alert, your help is still needed today.

Tell your members that you expect them to uphold the right of conscientious objection to abortion by enacting this much-needed legislation.

 
On May 16, Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Archbishop William Lori, chairing the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty respectively, wrote to Senate members urging them to support and co-sponsor S. 2927. In a March 31 letter to members of the House asking them to enact H.R. 4828, they explained “When government… mandates involvement in abortion as a condition for being allowed to provide life-affirming health care services,…it not only undermines the widely acknowledged civil rights of health care providers but also limits access to good health care for American women and men.” Most health care providers do not perform abortions and choose to respect vulnerable life at its earliest stages. The government must not force them from the healing profession.

Thank you for taking action and for sharing this alert with others who stand with us in defense of life and liberty.

Together we will be heard!

Amy McInerny
Executive Director

P.S. #StandwithCathy and hear her tell her own story here.

Women’s Prayer Group

This newly formed prayer group is a community of women who desire to come together to share faith and prayer so we can deepen our relationship with God and grow as His disciples.  Through these gatherings we hope to help and support each other as we strive to bring our faith and trust in God to our life situations and experiences.

               The group will meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Parish Center.  The first session will begin June 14.  We will begin the sessions praying the Church’s Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours which will be provided.  Following this time of prayer we will then use the book Rediscover Jesus by Matthew Kelly as a source of our sharing and discussion.  Our session will conclude in the Saint Joseph Chapel with a prayer to the Blessed Mother and a reflective song.

MEN’S PRAYER GROUP WILL MEET THIS SATURDAY 5/21 AT 7:00 AM IN THE PARISH CENTER

MEN’S PRAYER GROUP WILL MEET THIS SATURDAY 5/21 AT 7:00 AM IN THE PARISH CENTER

Organ Donation: A Noble Act of Charity

Organ donation is a beautiful act of charity and solidarity. One family’s generous decision in a time of unimaginable pain results in another family’s reason to hope.The Catholic Church has long viewed organ donation as a gratuitous gift, and many families have been touched by either receiving or donating organs after the passing of a loved one. Pope Francis called organ donation “a testimony of love for our neighbor.”

Organ donation is managed through state and federal law, and legislation is before the General Assembly that would update Pennsylvania law to include further education and regulations to ensure informed consent. The Pennsylvania Catholic Health Association and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference therefore support House Bill 30 and Senate Bill 180 with strengthening amendments.

Please click here to contact your elected officials today in support of these bills with strengthening amendments.

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