MCC Corner

The Missouri Catholic Conference promotes the sanctity and dignity of human life in public policy advocacy in Jefferson City, MO on behalf of the Missouri Catholic Bishops. Proposed Bill HB1004would create provisions relating to in vitro fertilization procedures; the MCC is opposed to this bill. Per the MCC: "IVF depersonalizes the act of creating a child, and requires the harvesting of human eggs and the artificial storage of human embryos, denying them maternal reception and gestation. IVF also often results in the destruction of excess embryos through selective reduction after implantation (a form of abortion), or destruction for use in human embryonic stem cell research."

Read more about HB1004 and others at https://mocatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/Progress-Report-4-11-25.pdf

Contact your legislators to show your support at https://www.votervoice.net/MOCATHOLIC/Address

Volunteer Opportunities

Many volunteer positions are available within our office programs and with our community partners. Highlighted today are just four:

Help support The Source Medical Clinic in caring for pregnant moms in Maryville!

Become a volunteer with Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation, growing grassroots entrepreneurial efforts in Andrew, Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway, and Worth counties.

Volunteer in support groups or spread mental health education with Pathway to Hope.

Get involved with a number of volunteer opportunities through Vitae Foundation, such as promoting events, preparing mailings, or other fundraising and administrative tasks.

For these and more volunteer opportunities, please visit www.lifeandjusticekcsj.org/volunteer or call 816-714-2375

In the News

Where do you encounter Life and Justice in the news and broader world? Here are some headlines to watch related to Life and Justice issues:

Abortion:

Proposed abortion ban amendment gets initial approval of Missouri House • Missouri Independent

Adoption/Fostering:

High cost and delays make it difficult for families to adopt | Opinion

Contraception/Birth Control:

Women’s Health on the Farm: New Tools for Fertility Awareness - Morning Ag Clips

Criminal and Restorative Justice:

‘This is real rehabilitation’: A Chicago program that keeps young men out of prison is expanding - WBEZ Chicago

Death Penalty:

United States Supreme Court Denies Review for Death-Sentenced Missouri Man Whose Jury Foreman Was Removed for Bias | Death Penalty Information Center

Economic Justice:

Catholic Business Profile: Farmstead Meatsmith| National Catholic Register

Education:

Addressing the teacher shortage through recruitment and retention - News - Missouri State University

Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide:

Pope Francis Makes Appearance at Jubilee of Sick, Reflects on Own Illness, Sickbed as a Holy Place| National Catholic Register

Fetal Development:

Air pollution link to fetal, maternal problems calls for a Catholic lens | National Catholic Reporter

Human Trafficking:

Clinton County Sheriff's Office joins Human Trafficking Task Force | News | kq2.com

Immigration & Refugees:

California sisters form coalition to help migrants on border | National Catholic Reporter

Mental Health:

First-of-its-kind sensory room at church welcomes neurodivergent parishioners | National Catholic Reporter

Non-Violence:

Women face rape as weapon of war while conflict in Congo displaces millions | National Catholic Reporter

Post-Abortion:

Pregnancy Help News - Grief, not relief, more common after abortion; new study

Racial Harmony:

Thea Bowman Conference celebrates Black Catholic saint-to-be in Washington

Religious Freedom/Conscience Protection:

Ukrainian Catholic leaders: Religious practice law needed

Reproductive Technology:

Brave New Immigration World: Foreigners Take Advantage of America’s Unregulated IVF Baby Market| National Catholic Register

Stem Cell Research/Human Cloning:

DNA organization offers clues for advancing stem cell therapy | EurekAlert!

Stewardship of Creation:

MARC News

Other Calendar Items

Did you know that on our social media we share awareness topics saint feasts and ways to pray about them, take action, and support local groups which address the topics? Here are some examples of some upcoming "awareness" topics and saints:

Month of May: National Foster Care Month

May 1st: National Day of Prayer

May 1st-4th: Jubilee of Workers

May 4th-5th: Jubilee of Entrepreneurs

May 12th: National Nurse Day

May 15th: St. Dymphna

May 22nd: St. Rita of Cascia

May 28th: World Hunger Day

May 30th: St. Joan of Arc

May 31st: Visitation of Mary

May 30th-June 1st: Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly

Keep watching our social media to see how we address these topics and more!