The U.S. Bishops are encouraging Catholics throughout the country to offer their Friday acts of sacrifice and penance for the protection of Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty.
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Marriages play a crucial role in society. By publicly joining hands in marriage, husband and wife enter into a unique communion and sharing of their whole lives that not only joins their distinct families into one, but also provides the essential context for welcoming new human life. By being open to children, each marriage is the foundation of a new family, rightly called the "key cell" of society (CCC, no. 2207).
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Catechesis Corner
"[Married] love is an eminently human one since it is directed from one person to another through an affection of the will; it involves the good of the whole person, and therefore can enrich the expressions of body and mind with a unique dignity, ennobling these expressions as special ingredients and signs of the friendship distinctive of marriage. This love God has judged worthy of special gifts, healing, perfecting and exalting gifts of grace and of charity."
- Gaudium et Spes, no. 49
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For news and current events pertaining to marriage, visit the
page on the For Your Marriage website.
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Stay Connected
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Blog Series on MUR Videos
The MUR blog posts on the videos are being compiled into a PDF for your use. We hope they are helpful!
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Supreme Court:
Gloucester Co. School Board v. G.G.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the request of "G.G." (the "transgender" student) to expedite their review of the case; G.G. will graduate this Spring. This is the case that was remanded back to the Fourth Circuit after the Trump Administration rescinded the "Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students."
Federal Courts:
Puerto Rico
In April, an LGBT rights group filed a federal lawsuit in Puerto Rico alleging that the policy that does not allow people to change the sex on their birth certificate violates the right to free speech.
Wisconsin
Two "transgender" employees of the University of Wisconsin System sued in federal court because the system and the state insurance board will no longer cover "gender reassignment" surgery.
West Virginia
The group Americans United, described as a "religious freedom watchdog group," and Fairness West Virginia are suing two West Virginia county clerks who allegedly harassed two women who came in to get a marriage license in 2016. The clerks are being sued both individually and in their capacities as clerks.
California
On April 19th, a federal lawsuit was filed in California against a Catholic hospital system, Dignity Health, by the ACLU on behalf of a woman who was denied a hysterectomy that she requested to "transition" to male.
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State Legislative Updates
California
In California, a bill was introduced in the Senate in March that would require nursing homes and other similar care facilities to allow bathroom access according to one's "gender identity."
North Carolina
North Carolina's legislature repealed H.B. 2 (Public Facilities and Security Act). H.B.2 was the bill that invalidated the city of Charlotte's ordinance that allowed biological males to use women's restrooms and vice versa. The Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, had promised a repeal in his campaign. The new law does, however, ban cities in North Carolina from passing their own "LGBT anti-discrimination" measures until 2020.
Nevada
State Senators in Nevada advanced a bill in April that would mandate foster care facilities and juvenile detention centers to treat minors in accord with their "gender identity."
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Legislation in the 115th Congress
The USCCB supports the First Amendment Defense Act and the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act in Congress.
Take Action Now! by visiting this link and urge your representatives to support and co-sponsor this vital legislation.
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Pope Francis
Pope Francis's
Easter homily can inspire us in our marriages and family lives to be open to surprises and to allow Christ to transform our hearts:
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We, like Peter and the women, cannot discover life by being sad, bereft of hope. Let us not stay imprisoned within ourselves, but let us break open our sealed tombs to the Lord - each of us knows what they are - so that he may enter and grant us life. Let us give him the stones of our rancour and the boulders of our past, those heavy burdens of our weaknesses and falls."
He continues, "How can we strengthen our hope? The liturgy of this night offers some guidance. It teaches us to remember the works of God." The family table is a great place to share the works of God with your children!
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