Please take time to visit:  www.usccb.org/conscience

2/22/12  “Dear Brothers and Sisters, Today the Church celebrates Ash Wednesday, the beginning of her Lenten journey towards Easter. The entire Christian community is invited to live this period of forty days as a pilgrimage of repentance, conversion and renewal. In the Bible, the number forty is rich in symbolism. It recalls Israel’s journey in the desert, a time of expectation, purification and closeness to the Lord, but also a time of temptation and testing. It also evokes Jesus’ own sojourn in the desert at the beginning of his public ministry, a time of profound closeness to the Father in prayer, but also of confrontation with the mystery of evil. The Church’s Lenten discipline is meant to help deepen our life of faith and our imitation of Christ in his paschal mystery. In these forty days may we draw nearer to the Lord by meditating on his word and example, and conquer the desert of our spiritual aridity, selfishness and materialism. For the whole Church may this Lent be a time of grace in which God leads us, in union with the crucified and risen Lord, through the experience of the desert to the joy and hope brought by Easter.”-Pope Benedict XVI, news.va

“In a world which demands of Christians a renewed witness of love and fidelity to the Lord, may all of us feel the urgent need to anticipate one another in charity, service and good works.”-Pope Benedict, Vatican Radio, news.va

Pope Benedict chose the theme: “Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works”.

“We must not remain silent before evil. I am thinking of all those Christians who, out of human regard or purely personal convenience, adapt to the prevailing mentality, rather than warning their brothers and sisters against ways of thinking and acting that are contrary to the truth and that do not follow the path of goodness. Christian admonishment, for its part, is never motivated by a spirit of accusation or recrimination. It is always moved by love and mercy, and springs from genuine concern for the good of the other.”- 2012-02-21 Vatican Radio

“In a world pervaded by individualism,” the Pope writes, “it is essential to rediscover the importance of fraternal correction, so that together we may journey towards holiness.”- 2012-02-21 Vatican Radio, you can read full text at news.va

20-February-2012 -- Vatican Information Service   

“Turning then to address the groups as a whole, the Holy Father highlighted how the creation of new cardinals "is an opportunity to reflect upon the universal mission of the Church in the history of man. In human affairs, which are often agitated and confused, the Church is always alive and present, bringing Christ: light and hope for all humankind. Remaining united to the Church and to the message of salvation she bears, means anchoring ourselves in truth, reinforcing a sense of true values, remaining serene whatever happens.”-VIS read full text @ etwn.com

"I exhort you, then", the Pope added in conclusion, "always to remain united to your pastors, and to the new cardinals, in order to be in communion with the Church. Unity in the Church is a divine gift which must be defended and developed. I entrust you, dear brother cardinals, and the faithful accompanying you, to the protection of the Mother of God and of the Apostles Peter and Paul".-VIS read full text @ etwn.com

2/19/12

Benedict XVI-“The Church does not exist for her own sake, she is not the point of arrival, but she has to point upwards, beyond herself, to the realms above.”-romereports.com

Benedict XVI-“The Chair is placed in a prominent position in this place, because this is where Saint Peter’s tomb is located, but this too tends towards the love of God. Indeed, faith is oriented towards love.”-romereports.com

"The pope took the opportunity to announce that on October 21 there will be seven new saints. 
Two of which are American, Marianne Cope, and Kateri Tekakwitha, one of the first American Indians to convert to Christianity."-romereports.com

“It is time to take an assessment of our lives in order to enter more fully into Lent and be converted.”- Fr. James Farfaglia

Please take time to read “The Happy Priest on Getting Ready for Lent” By Fr. James Farfaglia @ Catholic Online http://catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=44806

2/09/12  "The federal government should do what it's traditionally done since July 4, 1776, namely back out of intruding into the internal life of a church,"- Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan

"The federal government has drifted dangerously beyond its constitutional boundaries. This attack by the federal government on religious freedom in our country must not stand and will not stand," –Speaker John Boehner

Catholic Bishops Denounce As ‘Grave Injustice’ Appeals Court Ruling Striking Down California Marriage Law

 2/7/12  “Today’s court ruling is a grave injustice, ignoring the reality that marriage is the union of one man and one woman,” -Cardinal-designate Dolan. “The Constitution of the United States most assuredly does not forbid the protection of the perennial meaning of marriage, one of the cornerstones of society. The people of California deserve better. Our nation deserves better. Marriage deserves better.”- Cardinal-designate Dolan read full text @ usccb.org

When praying the "Lord's Prayer" every day, one is asking that God's "will be done on earth as it is in heaven," the pope said.

"Only by conforming one's own will to the divine does the human person reach his true greatness -- becomes divine," he said. Only by shedding one's own interests and goals for God's does humanity obtain what everyone wants: "to be completely free," the pope said.  Read full text @ http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1200413.htm

“That all people have full access to water and the resources necessary for survival.” “Water is the most precious natural resource on earth as without it no living thing can survive. But our planet’s water resources are not shared out equitably.” You can listen to and read the full message and text at news.va-the Vatican today

“Faith is a gift that was given to us to be shared. … It is the most important gift of our lives and we cannot keep it to ourselves.”-Pope Benedict XVI 
On January 25, 2012, at Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the importance of this year’s World Mission Day, this year it will fall on Sunday, October 21^st.  The theme will be, “Called to radiate the word of truth.”  He stresses urgency for everyone to share the gift of faith, due to an increase of people in the world who do not know Christ. 

“The command to preach the Gospel … must involve all actions and sectors of a particular Church, its entire being and activity.”  He also said, “We pastors, religious and all Christ’s faithful must follow the footsteps of the Apostle Paul who … worked, suffered and struggled to bring the Gospel among the pagans, not sparing energy, time or means to make Christ’s message known.”-Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI you can read full text @ The Vatican Today-news.va/Published by VISarchive 02

If you are a young man in the 7th or 8th grade thinking about becoming a priest, you are invited to spend a day of prayer and sports with the Cathedral Prep High School Program.

Click here for info and dates.

This program is for young men in High School considering the priesthood.  The program consists of a fraternity of high school age (14-18) who are practicing Catholics and who attend Masses regularly.  There are sports, prayer and talks about the priesthood.  The program will be held on Feb. 10-12th, Mar. 2-4th, Apr. 20-22nd, (Priestly Ordination), and Jun. 29-July 3rd.

Clicke here for info and dates.

Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.-1 Timothy 6:18-19 usccb.org

Pray for Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and all our leaders in faith for strength and wisdom to continue with the Holy Spirit to march forward on behalf of religious liberty…

Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray, O Lord, and further them with your constant help, that all we do may always begin from you and by you be brought to completion.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.-Liturgical Press-Classic Edition-Celebrating the Eucharist

"Presidents Day ad stresses importance of God and religion."
 “The idea that our rights come from God and that religion has a role to play in our nation’s public life is not partisan or sectarian, it is quintessentially American,” Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said on Feb. 20, Presidents Day.-full text provided by catholicnewsagency.com By Kevin J. Jones

Benedict XVI
“The Cardinals are expected to serve the Church with love and strength, with the cleanliness and wisdom of teachers, with the energy and strength of the shepherds, with fidelity and courage of the martyrs.”-romereports.com

Ave Maria University challenges HHS mandate in federal court
By Benjamin Mann from catholicnewsagency.com 
 “As an American Catholic, I am in disbelief that I have to choose between being a good Catholic and a good citizen,” said Towey, who previously served as legal counsel to Mother Teresa and led the White House's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives from 2002 to 2006"

“It is a sad day when an American citizen or organization has no choice but to sue its own government in order to exercise religious liberty rights guaranteed by our nation’s Constitution,” said Ave Maria President Jim Towey, speaking to reporters on a Feb. 21 conference call."- Ave Maria, Fla., Feb 21, 2012 / 10:35 am (CNA/EWTN News) 

2/20/12 FRC (Family Research Council) Releases Letter Signed By 2,500 Religious Leaders Opposing Contraceptive Mandate
Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council
Dr. Richard Land, President, Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Bishop Harry Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian Church

Part of the Letter States:
“The contraceptive mandate with the requirement that there will be no co-pay to the patient means millions of Americans will incur the additional cost for these drugs and devices. Forcing religious entities to do the same, despite objections of good conscience, is a severe blow to our religious liberty. Thomas Jefferson drafted the Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom in 1779, which passed in 1786, and set the stage for the First Amendment. In it, Jefferson states: "to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical." Consequently, we ask that you would reverse this decision and protect the conscience rights of those who have biblically-based opposition to funding or providing contraceptives and abortifacients.”-  provided by frc.org

(EWTN News)
About 50 members of Congress convened to oppose the administration's contraception mandate and to voice support for legislation that would overturn it.

“We have come together to say it's time to act to protect Americans' most basic rights – our religious freedom and rights of conscience,” said Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.)   Read full text at: ewtnnews

Bishop Lori Tells Parable of the Kosher Deli and the Pork Mandate in Congressional Testimony

2/16/12 The full text of Bishop Lori’s testimony may be found online: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/upload/lori-testimony-for-oversight-on-religious-freedom-2012-02-16.pdf

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo
Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
Chairman, Committee on Pro-Life Activities
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo -“If the needless dispute over this issue were resolved through this legislation, Congress and the Administration could return to the most pressing of all the real problems – the fact that many millions of Americans still lack basic coverage for health care that supports and sustains life,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “Let us begin the task by respecting each other’s values that call so many of us to work for life-affirming health care for all in the first place.”

The full text of the letter is available online: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/upload/DearSenatorfeb151.pdf

"Despite all of its public apprehension about "culture warriors" on the political right in the past, the current administration has created an HHS mandate that is the embodiment of culture war. At its heart is a seemingly deep distrust of the formative role religious faith has on personal and social conduct, and a deep distaste for religion's moral influence on public affairs. To say that this view is contrary to the Founders' thinking and the record of American history would be an understatement." (Archbishop Charles Chaput) you can read more on this subject at catholic online, article “An Archbishop Who Inspires the Faithful: Courageous Charles Chaput Helps Lead the Catholic Resistance” by:  Deacon Keith Fournier

“I express a particular word of appreciation to the Becket Fund for its many efforts on behalf of religious freedom in the United States and around the world.”  – Pope John Paul II

“Unacceptable”

The letter “Unacceptable” was released Feb. 14 on the website of the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom, in response to the contraception mandate.

“This so-called “accommodation” changes nothing of moral substance and fails to remove the assault on religious liberty and the rights of conscience which gave rise to the controversy. It is certainly no compromise. The reason for the original bipartisan uproar was the administration’s insistence that religious employers, be they institutions or individuals, provide insurance that covered services they regard as gravely immoral and unjust. Under the new rule, the government still coerces religious institutions and individuals to purchase insurance policies that include the very same services.” From the letter “Unacceptable” you can read this letter in full text @   http://www.becketfund.org/unacceptable/    

"Women want to know, and women have a right to know, what researchers have known for over 20 years."- Judy Brown
“Reducing "the likelihood of implantation" means that the embryonic child will not be able to attach himself to his mother's womb and therefore will die. This is an abortion caused by chemical interference created by a synthetic hormone: the birth control pill. Treating pregnancy as if it were a deadly outbreak of influenza is among the most anti-woman attitudes anyone could possibly have.”-Judy Brown

Here are some facts that Judy Brown posted in her article:
The birth control pill was ranked in 2005 by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer as a "group one" carcinogenic drug. Such a finding points to the real possibility that the pill can and does contribute to a number of cancers in women, including breast cancer. Yet, this finding - and the data upon which it is based - have not been widely publicized. 

In political speak, the demand that all women have access to "free" contraception, sterilization, and abortion means controlling births regardless of the harmful effects of certain drugs and devices on the targeted females and their offspring.

Speaking at a 2010 conference, Dr. Angela Lanfranchi, a breast cancer surgeon and cofounder of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, shared with her audience "a wealth of statistical data from various sources to support a fact that is known by the medical community to be true yet is rarely acknowledged: use of the pill has been strongly linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. The pill is also believed to increase the risk of cervical cancer and liver cancer.- read full text at Catholic Online by Judy Brown  on the The Contraceptive Mandate

By Deacon Keith Fournier 2/12/2012

"The only complete solution to this religious liberty problem is for HHS to rescind the mandate of these objectionable services."-Deacon Keith Fournier, Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

“We will therefore continue-with no less vigor, no less sense of urgency-our efforts to correct this problem through the other two branches of government. For example, we renew our call on Congress to pass, and the Administration to sign, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. And we renew our call to the Catholic faithful, and to all our fellow Americans, to join together in this effort to protect religious liberty and freedom of conscience for all.”- Deacon Keith Fournier, Catholic Online

  Regulatory changes limited and unclear
Rescission of mandate only complete solution
Continue urging passage of Respect for Rights of Conscience Act  (see below under ACTION ALERT)

2/10/12 WASHINGTON – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have issued the following statement: http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-026.cfm 
"·It would still mandate that all insurers must include coverage for the objectionable services in all the policies they would write. At this point, it would appear that self-insuring religious employers, and religious insurance companies, are not exempt from this mandate."-USCCB

Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan responded by saying…
"a first step in the right direction," but "we reserve judgment on the details until we have them."
"We hope to work with the administration to guarantee that Americans' consciences and our religious freedom are not harmed by these regulations,"   

“Catholics are called to form their consciences in accordance with what is true and then to act morally, that is to act in accordance with that truth.”-Pope Benedict XVI

Doug Kmiec Writes President Obama: 'Friendship Will Not Permit Me to Disregard Duty to Faith and Country' Read full text @ http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=44667

 "Responsible citizenship is a virtue,
and participation in political life is a moral obligation."
-- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

By our baptism, Catholics are committed to following Jesus Christ and to be "salt for the earth, light for the nations." As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, "It is necessary that all participate, according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This is inherent in the dignity of the human person ... As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life" (nos. 1913-1915).

Click here Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States provides a framework for Catholics in the United States.

Support Respect for Rights of Conscience Act

MESSAGE: “Please co-sponsor the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179, S. 1467). This measure ensures that the rights of conscience of all participants in our nation’s health care system will be respected.”-NCHLA

Responding to the announcement, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, stated: “In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences.” Cardinal-designate Dolan continued: “To force Americans to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable. . . It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom.” Noting that the Obama administration “has now drawn an unprecedented line in the sand,” the Cardinal-designate urged that the HHS mandate be overturned. “The Catholic bishops are committed to working with our fellow Americans to reform the law and change this unjust regulation.” See: www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-012.cfm. For more information, see:www.usccb.org/consience

Send a pre-written, editable email to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and your congressional representative urging support for this bill. This attack on the First Amendment guarantee of religious liberty must not stand. Please send your email today!

TO TAKE ACTION & read full text, please visit here:  http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=292 

Come to Catholics at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 13, in Albany

Registration is now open for Catholics at the Capitol, the annual public policy day of the New York State Catholic Conference to be held Tuesday, March 13, at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center at the State Capitol Complex in Albany. Join the Bishops of New York State and more than 1,000 Catholic New Yorkers from around the state for a day of public policy advocacy, including meetings with your elected officials. The day will conclude with Mass with the Bishops at the nearby Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Registration is free and a box lunch will be provided.

The issues of the day will be as follows:
1.         Oppose the “Reproductive Health Act” which expands abortion and support the Maternity & Early Childhood Foundation
2.         Preserve Catholic schools and provide equity for all school children
3.         Support emergency food programs, affordable housing and increased employment opportunities for low-income families and individuals
4.         Support programs that prepare and assist incarcerated individuals to successfully return to the community
5.         Support ‘English as a Second Language’ (ESL) instruction, direct legal services and assistance to recent immigrants on the path toward citizenship

Don't forget to register soon to ensure a seat on a bus (Note: Albany and Ogdensburg dioceses are not providing busing.) If you are a member of the Knights of Columbus, see special registration information on the registration page.
We also invite you to explore our brand-new redesigned Web site, which is chock full of new features and information, including blogs on Respect Life, and Catholic schools, bill memos, news from around the state and nation, and much, much more. Go to www.nyscatholic.org to get started!
We look forward to seeing you in Albany March 13. If you can't make it, please send your prayers for our participants, that they may be effective advocates for the most vulnerable members of society.-provided by NYS Catholic Conference