Catholic Social Action - July Newsletter 💚

Summer is here!

Greetings folks.

With the Feasts of St. John the Baptist and Sts. Peter & Paul, we've rung in the summer.

Thanks to several factors (including human activity), summer has brought along intense heat as well as increased fires and smoke. We want to pray for all those who have been affected by these difficult realities, and we affirm our commitment to caring for all of God's earth, both the living creatures and the environments in which they live.

WE'RE HIRING - DAYTON REGIONAL DIRECTOR

This fulltime position will work with the greater Dayton Catholic community and the northern deaneries of our archdiocese to honor the life and dignity of all people. You can find more information here: https://tinyurl.com/CSA-Regional-Director. Please contact Andrew with any questions.

Our annual Northern (now St. Augustine Deaneries) Farm Mass is on Thursday, July 20, at 7:00pm with Archbishop Schnurr presiding. Come join us to celebrate and give thanksgiving for faith, farm, and family!

Held on the Buck & Fran Siefring Farm, 3598 State Route 705, New Weston, Ohio
Catholic families who have farmed and nurtured the same land for 100 years or more will be recognized with the Catholic Century Farm Awards.
Stay after Mass for refreshments, music, and square dancing! All are welcome.

The Social Action Summer Institute, a three-day conference for Catholic social justice leaders, is happening in July. Please pray for Andrew as he travels to Atlanta for the gathering, focused this year on human trafficking.

We continue to pray for all of you and your families of parishes, hopeful that the Beacons of Light process is going as well as possible. We've heard from many of you that there have been significant challenges, and for that we are deeply sorry. Please know that we stand ready to support you, walking in solidarity on this journey as your families discern how you will commit to Love in Action. Let us know how we can help!

On that note, we've begun sending out a Love in Action newsletter. If you're helping (or will be helping) with Love in Action in your family of parishes and didn't receive the newsletter, please let Tammie know so she can add you to the mailing list.

We humbly ask that you continue to pray for us. There's a lot going on this year, and while we're excited to get (or keep) things moving, your prayers -and engagement! - will make our success all the more likely. God help us!

As we mentioned before, if there's anything that we can do to support the work happening in your community, please let us know. We're trying to be more present to families of parishes, especially during the Beacons of Light process, and we'd love to (re)connect with you and work to build up God's kingdom of peace, justice, and kinship in your corner of the kingdom.

We will continue to send out Regional Updates with time-sensitive reminders and Action Alerts encouraging everyone to bring their voice and power to bear on important issues.

We wish you a wonderful summer, and - as always - we look forward to seeing you soon as we continue to stand up for justice, solidarity, and equity.

Peace and all good,

Tammie, Sr. Christine, Glen, & Andrew

***CHANGE IN NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION***

If everything goes to plan, we'll be moving our newsletter distribution platform from Constant Contact to Active Campaign. Our email lists will transfer over so you won't need to do anything, but it will mean that the emails will look different starting in August (postponed one month). We just wanted to let you know so you weren't surprised or suspicious of spam.

A Commitment to the Sanctity of All Life

Meet With Your Lawmakers to End the Death Penalty

Attend our lobbying training session in July to learn more and sign up to meet with your lawmaker at the end of July. At this training you will learn key talking points for ending the death penalty, how to lobby and meet with your legislators, and gain confidence to lead these important conversations. We’ll be there to answer all your questions.

Lobbying Training to End the Death Penalty

Tuesday, July 18

6:00 - 7:00 PM

Virtual - Zoom

Are you invested in ending the death penalty and want to let your legislator know about it? Are you interested in learning more about how to talk to lawmakers and advocate for repeal? Sign up to attend an in-district lobbying meeting with your lawmaker. We will be working with advocates like you to schedule and coordinate the meetings.

Anti-Death Penalty Lobby Week

July 24 - 28

Deadline to register: July 19

RSVP Here

If you want to act now, please click the button below and ask your Ohio Senator to abolish the death penalty.

Proposed Abortion Amendment to Ohio's Constitution

The dignity of life in its earliest stages is threatened by a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution to expand and enshrine abortion at the expense of existing protections for preborn children and women. As Catholics, we cannot remain on the sidelines when confronted with such a clear threat to human life.

The Catholic Conference of Ohio has created a page on our website dedicated to resources to help Catholics unite in prayer and learn more about the proposed amendment and help defeat it. Visit www.ohiocathconf.org/protect to download a flyer and prayer card and learn more about how to take action.

Urge Congress to Protect Children Online

Online child exploitation threatens the safety and well-being of our young people and destroys families and communities. In recent years, these abuses have increased exponentially, in large part due to the Internet and mobile technology.

Catholics are sadly familiar with the grave consequences of a culture that fails to give adequate attention to the problem of child sexual abuse and exploitation, and we have a responsibility to act to ensure children and the vulnerable are safe.

Thankfully, members of both parties in Congress are putting forward various pieces of legislation that would address and help prevent the destructive effects of online child exploitation. Your voice is needed to urge Congress to use their authority to protect children and vulnerable people online.

Join USCCB in asking your member of Congress to protect children online today!

To learn more, read the USCCB’s letter outlining three moral principles Congress can use to protect children online.

Messages in your own words can be more effective. Please consider customizing the message to Congress with your own story.

Urge Congress to Reauthorize the Farm Bill

Help communities around the world overcome hunger

Communities worldwide are experiencing life-threatening levels of hunger and malnutrition on an unprecedented scale.

Right now, more than 100 CRS partners are meeting with their members of Congress on Capitol Hill to advocate for timely passage of the Farm Bill, including hunger-reducing international programs authorized by this legislation.

Email your Congress members now to amplify their message and ensure the continuation of these lifesaving programs!

As families struggle to meet their food and nutrition needs due to the compound effects of conflict, climate change, COVID-19 and rising food costs, you can use your voice to help.

Urge Congress to prioritize timely passage of the 2023 Farm Bill and to reauthorize existing international programs that address immediate hunger needs and support long-term solutions, including:

McGovern-Dole Food for Education, which provides free, nutritious school lunches for millions of children who might not otherwise have a daily meal.
Food for Peace, which has provided emergency and developmental support to more than 4 billion people around the world since 1954.
Farmer-to-Farmer, which enables U.S. volunteers to help train and support farmers in other countries so they can adapt to climate change and improve their harvests.

Every person has the right to sufficient, nutritious food to lead a healthy and dignified life. Act now to help communities overcome devastating hunger and have sustainable access to nutritious food.

Lift your voice alongside people who are advocating on Capitol Hill for hunger-reducing international programs in the Farm Bill.

2023 Rural Farm Mass - St. Mary Deanery

The 2023 Southeastern Rural Farm Mass will be held on Fri., September 8, at the home of Gary and Shirley Moran, located at 5565 Moran Rd, Ripley, OH 45167

It's happening rain or shine at 7:00 pm. Please bring a chair and a dish to share .

September 8 is a blessing as Shirley has a special devotion to Mary and has a couple of Mary gardens. It is a beautiful 250 acre beef cattle farm with a civil war era house.

Save the Date!!

Greater Cincinnati's 6th Annual

Festival of Faiths

celebrating our community's religious diversity

Sunday, August 27, 2023

12:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Xavier University's Cintas Center

Online programming will continue Monday through Wednesday, and the festival will end with an in-person Peace Walk at Ault Park on Thursday, Aug. 31, from 7-9pm.

Presented by EquaSion.

Join Us!

Click here for flyer.

Our LSAP conference on March 4 at UD was an amazing success. Almost 200 people joined us for a day of prayer, reflection, learning, connecting, and mobilizing. Everyone left with a renewed spirit and commitment to caring for all of God's creation.

We're looking now for folks to join this invigorated effort. If you, your family, your family of parishes, or your community are interested in partnering with us, please let us know. There are so many great resources available and great people eager to welcome you.

You can learn more about our work here or contact Andrew Musgrave with any questions.

Love in Action

If you're wondering how your family of parishes might go about engaging in the Love in Action principle, we encourage you to check out the Love in Action page on the Pathways platform - https://pathway.catholicaoc.org/love-in-action. There you'll find a great introductory video, as well as further explanation of the breadth of the principle. Over time, you'll find more resources and support, and of course you know you can always reach out to our office for support. If you're looking for the first tool we created - the parish inventory - you can find it here (along with the inventories from the other principles) - https://pathway.catholicaoc.org/pathway-tools. If you work for a parish or are involved in parish leadership, we'd love to talk with you through the Forums. Don't hesitate to reach out!

Breaking Open the Sin of Racism

Engage your community in dialogue

This video series and discussion guide was prepared for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for use by organizations in a 4-part workshop. Check out the Breaking Open the Sin of Racism site to see how your parish, school, or organization can host workshops or use the resources in other ways.

Questions? Contact Sara Seligmann | 513-546-3143

From the Office for Persons with Disabilities

Coffee & Conversation

In June, our office hosted Coffee & Conversation with Catholic Community members in the central (Our Lady of Sorrows, Monroe) and northern (Sacred Heart, Anna) locations in the archdiocese. There was a brief presentation highlighting the mission of OPD, events held in the past 11 months, upcoming events, and goals for the ministry. Those in attendance were members of our Deaf Community, special needs parents, educators, professionals, and advocates. We discussed the needs and wants to grow in union with our Lord. Our next meeting will be held at St. Ignatius (southern location) 5222 North Bend Rd., Cincinnati on July 15, 2023 from 9:00-11:30. Everyone is welcome to attend as we work to create belonging for all in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Coffee & Conversation will be held quarterly at these locations. Fall meeting dates and times will be announced in July! For more information, contact Lisa Averion, laverion@catholicaoc.org.

Mental Wellness Ministry

On June 14, 2023, The Office for Persons with Disabilities and Catholic Charities was a awarded a $30,000 grant through The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers to develop Mental Wellness Ministry for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity from ACMHM to serve members of our community through this ministry. Mental Wellness Ministry educates parishioners on the importance of mental health and wellness, helping erase the stigma often attached to it. It also provides non-clinical, faith-based support to parishioners suffering with mental health needs and their family members. It is not intended to replace professional mental health counseling. Rather, Mental Wellness Ministry provides a prayerful and listening ear in a safe place within the Catholic faith, assuring participants they are not walking their journey alone. It may supplement existing professional mental health therapy, or serve as a bridge to recognizing the need for mental health professionals who can provide appropriate, clinical care. This ministry will be piloted in two parishes in the archdiocese in 2023-2024.

Deaf Community Meeting & Mass

Saturday, July 15 | 5:00 p.m.

St. Christopher Parish

435 E. National Road | Vandalia, Ohio

From the Respect Life Office

November and Abortion Pill Access

You probably recall the cases related to the abortion drug, mifepristone, last Spring, when a judge ordered to revoke the drug’s FDA approval. The US Supreme Court ultimately returned everything to the way it was before the legal battles, sending it back to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to proceed with oral arguments. We now wait for its final ruling, which could have a direct impact on Ohio, if the abortion amendment passes in November.

One of the issues is whether women should be required to have an in-person examination to ensure pregnancy, determine gestational age and rule out any medical concerns that would indicate one should not take the pill. The removal of those requirements is obviously detrimental to women’s health and safety; nonetheless, they were modified during the 2020 pandemic, allowing mifepristone to be mailed after a virtual meeting with a physician. States are free to regulate more strictly than the FDA, and that is the case here in Ohio, where you cannot receive abortion medication by mail without an in-person visit. However, if the court allows the modification to continue, and the abortion amendment passes in Ohio, the in-person requirement will be considered a “burden” to access, and that law will go away.

Putting aside the other dangers to women of the abortion pill regimen, why should the court minimally re-instate the in-person visit requirements? We can start with three very good reasons:

Doctors can’t screen for ectopic pregnancy

The symptoms for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy are the same as expected side effects of the abortion pill. So, women in this circumstance will stay at home and not seek care. When care is delayed, the woman will likely die. Additionally, telemedicine visits are more common the further away the patient is from a hospital, thus increasing the chances of a woman not receiving life-saving care in time.

Doctors can’t determine gestational age

Mifepristone was initially restricted to 7 weeks for good reason. The greater the gestational age, the less effective and the higher the risk for serious complications. PCC workers tell me clients are notorious for underestimating gestational age. When you simply trust a woman’s word, especially when she feels desperate to be eligible for the pills, you increase the chances of serious medical consequences.

Remote prescription assists abusers

Through a computer screen, one can never be sure the woman is alone or being told what to say. An in-person visit is often the best opportunity for a trafficking victim (or anyone being coerced) to get alone time with a health care provider to expose the situation. There is a strong association between abortion and intimate partner violence. Removing the in-person requirement decreases the opportunity to identify victims of sexual abuse.

In addition to defeating the abortion ballot amendment this November, let us also pray the courts advocate better for women than the FDA has regarding mifepristone.