Thursday, February 20, 2020

Dear Friend,

Your action is needed to help save children!

Your U.S. senators are expected to vote next week on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S. 3275). While we support the effort to abolish all abortion and fight to undo Roe v. Wade, we also fight to pass legislation that will save as many unborn babies as we possibly can.

Send an email now urging your senators to vote to ban abortions once an unborn child can feel pain.

Although research indicates unborn babies can feel pain in the womb at 20 weeks, as many as 22 states allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. In his 2020 State of the Union address, President Trump spoke out against this moral atrocity and issued a call to ban late-term abortions.

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is a step in that direction, and it has bi-partisan support in Congress.

Contact your senators now! Email your senators and urge them to vote FOR the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

If our mission resonates with you, please consider supporting our work financially with a tax-deductible donation. The easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure.

Sincerely,

Tim Wildmon, President
American Family Association

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was passed by Congress in 1972, with the stated purpose of enshrining equality between the sexes in our Constitution. However, it failed to be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38) within the 7-year time limit established by Congress. Now, abortion activists in Congress, among others, are trying to revive it by passing a resolution (H.J. Res. 79) to eliminate the deadline for ratification by the states. The House plans to vote this Thursday and needs to hear from you now!

Catholic social teaching, and recent popes, speak very clearly and strongly about the equality of men and women based upon their equal dignity as children of God. And the Church recognizes the need to do more to address unjust inequities between women and men. However, the ERA in its current form poses very serious consequences, including likely requiring federal funding for abortions, and overturning pro-life and conscience protection laws. More information about the ERA and its consequences is presented in this fact sheet.

Because of these serious consequences, the Bishops are urging members to oppose the ERA in its current form, and to vote “no” on H.J. Res. 79. Please join the bishops and contact your member today!

ALOHA! On Saturday, February 8th from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM we will host our 6th Annual Luau dinner dance and it is always a lot of fun!
Dinner, dancing, beer, wine, beverages and desserts, all for only $25 per person. For more information, please contact JoAnn Holden at the Rectory, 215-946-4040.

We are pleased to announce that the new Lay Ministry Schedule for the period February through May 2020 is now available.  Please access your Ministry Scheduler Pro account to see your scheduled assignments:

MINISTRY SCHEDULER PRO ACCOUNT

If you have any questions, please contact Audrey Wilson at the rectory.  Thank you for your ministry to our Parish Community.

Today, on this 47th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we mourn the many children’s lives ended by abortion and remember in prayer those who suffer the aftermath. The Church comes together today to pray for the protection of all unborn children and to make reparation for abortion, trusting that the Lord hears our prayers.

In the Catholic Church in the United States, January 22nd is designated as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” As Catholics, we are called to observe this day through the penitential practices of prayer, fasting, and/or giving alms.

President Donald Trump has also proclaimed this day to be National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2020: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-national-sanctity-human-life-day-2020/

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, announced today that he has appointed Most Reverend Nelson J. Perez as the 10th Archbishop (14th Bishop) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Archbishop Chaput formally introduced Archbishop-elect Perez at a news conference held at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center this morning. Video of the full press event is available for viewing here https://vimeo.com/catholicphilly/review/386626429/0d8a5f8a2e.

Archbishop Chaput also released a column today, which is an adaptation of his news conference remarks. In the column, Archbishop Chaput said, “This is a moment of great satisfaction and joy for the clergy and people of the Archdiocese, and for me personally. When I first spoke with the nuncio about my retirement and this transition last May, I asked for a successor who would care for and guide our people, speak the truth with conviction, and live a faithful witness to Jesus Christ.  Archbishop Perez is a man who already knows and loves the Church in Philadelphia, and is already known and loved by our priests and people.”

You can read the full text of the column by opening the attached version or visiting www.CatholicPhilly.com.

Please join in prayerfully welcoming Archbishop-elect Perez home as he prepares to assume his new role in service to our local Church.

Dear Friend,

President Donald J. Trump continues to uphold his promise to protect religious liberty. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced it would put an end to an Obama-era attack on faith-based adoption and foster care agencies.

Under President Obama, HHS put in place a rule that required faith-based adoption and foster care groups receiving federal funding to place children in same-sex households and to accept an individual’s professed gender identity.

Although the Trump administration has put an end to this violation of religious liberty, HHS reissued this rule to bring it into compliance with existing law and protect religious liberty, and now the new rule is subject to a public comment period ending December 19.

Contact HHS Secretary Alex Azar urging him to protect religious liberty and protect faith-based adoption and foster care agencies.

People of faith need to act now and contact HHS during this open comment period. Be assured that anti-religious liberty activists will be flooding HHS with comments opposing the regulatory change. Now is not the time to remain silent in anticipation that others will take action in your place.

Don’t sit this one out. Let HHS Secretary Azar know you support the protection of religious liberty for faith-based adoption and foster care agencies.

If our mission resonates with you, please consider supporting our work financially with a tax-deductible donation. The easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure.

Sincerely,

Tim Wildmon, President
American Family Association