Featured Respect Life Program Article
Life Matters: Forgiveness and Healing After Abortion
"How can we be catalysts to the healing of women who've had abortions, to help all others believe in God's merciful love so that they may find healing from any grave sin? Let us heed the advice of Pope Francis:
'...Even if we are sinners, we are what is closest to [God's] heart. ... let us be enveloped in the mercy of God; let us trust in his patience, which always gives us more time. Let us find the courage to ... [allow] ourselves [to] be loved by him and to encounter his mercy in the sacraments. We will feel his wonderful tenderness, we will feel his embrace, and we too will become more capable of mercy, patience, forgiveness and love.'"
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U.S. Bishops File Brief Asking U.S. Supreme Court to Protect Religious Freedom of Family Businesses
"Catholics believe that the right to religious freedom proceeds from the inherent dignity of each and every human person, and that includes people who run businesses. They should not be specially excluded from the freedom to practice their faith in daily life."
Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore
Chairman of the USCCB's Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty
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On January 28, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of two family-owned businesses.
These plaintiffs are challenging the legality of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulation that forces virtually all employers to include in their employee health plans coverage of sterilization, contraceptives, and drugs and devices that may cause abortions, as well as related education and counseling.
See the news release to learn more and to read the full brief.
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Cardinal O'Malley Encourages Us to "Be the Merciful Face of God"
Cardinal Se�n O'Malley of Boston, O.F.M., Cap., archbishop of Boston and chair of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, was the principal celebrant and homilist at the Opening Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life, concelebrated by fellow cardinals and many bishops and priests.
In his homily, Cardinal O'Malley stated, "The Good News is that God never gives up on us. He never tires of loving us. He never tires of forgiving us, never tires of giving us another chance. The Pro-Life Movement needs to be the merciful face of God..."
Read the rest of Cardinal O'Malley's homily!
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