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The Catholic Conference of Ohio is the official representative of the Catholic Church in public matters affecting the Church and the general welfare of the citizens of Ohio.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Readings and Psalms for May

NEWS

Human Trafficking

Catholic Conference Testifies on HB 130: End the Demand Act

Catholic Conference of Ohio Page on Human Trafficking


Internet Cafe Gambling

April 29, 2013: Ohio Bishops Release Statement Supporting HB 7, the Closure of Internet Gambling Cafes.

"The Catholic Church cautions that the passion for gambling can become enslavement. In a few short years, Ohio has gone from allowing only low-stakes, time restricted charitable gaming to widespread gambling. Ohio ought not pursue the legitimizing of more gambling. As a result, we support legislative efforts aimed at restricting and even closing the so-called internet cafes and/or sweepstakes parlors."

Full Catholic Conference of Ohio Statement on Internet Gambling Cafes


Immigration Reform

April 23, 2013: Ohio Bishops Issue Joint Letter Calling for Federal Immigration Reform

Catholic Conference of Ohio Letter: April 23, 2013

Send a Justice for Immigrants Postcard to Congress

Catholic Conference Page on Immigration

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform


Adoption Reform

April 24, 2013: Ohio Senate Committee Passes SB 23.
Catholic Conference of Ohio Encourages Full Senate Support.

April 17, 2013: Catholic Conference of Ohio's Testimony in Support of SB 23: Adoption Records

April 10, 2013: Ohio House passes Conference Supported Adoption Reform Bill: HB 61

Testimony on Behalf of Accessing Adoption Records and in Support of HB 61 & SB 23

Catholic Conference of Ohio Page on Adoption



Catholic Conference of Ohio's Newsletter E-FOCUS
Includes a special State Budget Focus





April 24, 2013: Senate expected to treat Medicaid expansion as separate reform bill


April 18, 2013: Ohio House Passes Budget. Action Moves to the Senate

House budget actions

Medicaid expansion remains in play with study committee [MORE]

Pro life gains included in House proposal [MORE]

Catholic Conference of Ohio Letter to House members regarding the State Budget: March 22, 2013

Catholic Conference of Ohio Web Page on the State Budget


Budget comparison document by state agency

Budget comparison by funding allocations


Medicaid Expansion

The Catholic Conference of Ohio joins with Ohio Catholic hospitals and Catholic Charities agencies in urging the state legislature to support Governor Kasich's plan to expand medicaid coverage

Action Alert on Medicaid Expansion

Press Release in Support of Medicaid Coverage Extension 3/5/13

Letter to Legislators Urging Support for the Medicaid Expansion: 2/27/13

Letter Thanking Governor Kasich : 2/27/13

Letter from the Catholic Bishops to Governor Kasich
1/28/13

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Backgrounder in Support of Medicaid Expansion: 2/2013


Catholic Schools

Catholic Conference of Ohio Education Testimony Ohio Senate: 5/2/13

April 26, 2013: Legislative Report: Ohio Advocates for Catholic Schools (OACS)



Action Alert on State Budget Issues Impacting Catholic Schools, Students & Parents

Background Materials on State Budget Issues Impacting Catholic Schools, Students & Parents

Catholic Conference of Ohio Education Testimony on the State Budget Bill: 3/6/13

Catholic Conference of Ohio Page on The State Budget

Ohio Advocates for Catholic Schools (OACS) web page





Promotion & Defense of Marriage


New! Nationwide bulletin insert: "Marriage and the Supreme Court" (May/June 2013)

New! One Man, One Woman, For Life: Lead Messages on Marriage Redefinition (for clergy, leaders, and lay faithful)


CALL TO PRAYER
FOR LIFE, MARRIAGE AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

The Catholic Bishops of the United States have called for a nationwide effort to advance a movement for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty through prayer, penance, and sacrifice. Catholics across the nation are being encouraged to pray for rebuilding a culture favorable to life and marriage and for increased protections of religious liberty.

  • Monthly Eucharistic Holy Hours in cathedrals and parishes
  • Daily Rosary by families and individuals
  • Special Prayers of the Faithful at all Masses
  • Fasting and abstinence from meat on Fridays
  • A Fortnight for Freedom in June/July 2013

Call to Prayer Resources: USCCB


U.S. Catholic Bishops announce a second Fortnight for Freedom



PRAYER FOR MARRIAGE & FAMILY

God our Father, we give you thanks
for the gift of marriage: the bond of life and love,
and the font of the family.

The love of husband and wife enriches your Church with children,
fills the world with a multitude of spiritual fruitfulness and service,
and is the sign of the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, for his Church.

The grace of Jesus flowed forth at Cana at the request of the Blessed Mother.
May your Son, through the intercession of Mary, pour out upon us
a new measure of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
as we join with all people of good will
to promote and protect the unique beauty of marriage.

May your Holy Spirit enlighten our society
to treasure the heroic love of husband and wife,
and guide our leaders to sustain and protect
the singular place of mothers and fathers in the lives of their children.

Father, we ask that our prayers
be joined to those of the Virgin Mary,
that your Word may transform our service
so as to safeguard the incomparable splendor of marriage.
We ask all these things through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us.

USCCB Resources on the Defense of Marriage

Catholic Conference Page on Marriage & Family Life




April 23, 2013: Renewed Effort Sought on Passage of Health Care Conscience Rights Act

NCHLA has posted an updated Action Alert urging the inclusion of the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940) in upcoming "must-pass" legislation.


United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Respond to the Proposed Rules regarding the Preventive Services Mandate

The proposed regulation keeps in place a regulatory definition of “preventive” health care which includes items that do not prevent disease, but rather are intended to render a woman temporarily or permanently infertile, and may be associated with adverse health outcomes. Under the proposed regulation, most stakeholders are offered no exemption or accommodation. The proposed regulation creates an exemption that artificially and arbitrarily carves up the religious community into those deemed “religious enough” for the exemption and those that are not, generally excluding those who practice their faith by most visibly serving the common good. Finally, under the proposed “accommodation” for non-exempt religious organizations, plan premiums or the plan, or both, would continue to serve as the source or conduit for the objectionable “services.”

In short, the Administration continues to propose: (a) an unjust and unlawful mandate; (b) no exemption or “accommodation” at all for most stakeholders in the health insurance process, such as individual employees and for-profit employers; (c) an unreasonably and unlawfully narrow exemption for some nonprofit religious organizations, mostly houses of worship; and (d) an “accommodation” that still requires bona fide religious employers that fall outside the narrow government definition of “religious employer” to fund or facilitate the objectionable coverage."

February 1, 2013: Revised Regulations Released Regarding the HHS Mandate:
HHS news release



U. S. Bishops Establish A New Web Link On Religious Liberty

Catholic Bishops statement on Religious Liberty: Our First, Most Cherished Liberty




Contact Congress Today to Protect Religious Freedom


Catholic Conference of Ohio Page on HHS Mandate




Catholic Conference of Ohio web page on environmental justice entitled Care for Creation. It provides resources for families, parishes, schools and other institutions.

OHIO LEGISLATIVE UPDATE




4/10/13: Ohio House passes Conference supported Adoption Reform Bill: HB 61

4/9/13: House Finance Committee removes Medicaid expansion from budget bill. [more]




Important legislation is pending that needs your attention

Ohio General Assembly
  

May, 2013
Contact You Ohio Senator Today

Urge Support for Programs
Assisting Catholic School Students & Parents
&
Urge Support for Expanded Health Care Coverage

Support the Educational Choice Expansion Program.

Support the proposed increases in the Auxiliary Services
and Administrative Cost Reimbursement programs.

Support improvements in the EdChoice  & Cleveland Scholarship Programs.   

Strengthen the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program

Action Alert on Education (PDF)

Action Alert on Expanded Health Care coverage (PDF)

Contact Information

Catholic Conference of Ohio Page on The State Budget


U.S. Congress



May, 2013
Contact Congress Today to Protect Religious Freedom
Urge Support for HR 940: the Health Care Conscience Act

“Please support the Health Care conscience Rights Act in upcoming ‘must-pass’ legislation.
Government must not force Americans to violate their religious and moral beliefs on respect for life when they provide health care or purchase health coverage.

Contact Information


Contact Information for U.S. Senators
Contact information for U. S. Representative


May, 2013
Now is the Time to Pass
Just and Compassionate Immigration Reform



Contact Information


May, 2013
Support a Balanced Farm Bill

Raise your voice to fight hunger, protect God’s creation,
and support small family farmers and rural America

The U.S. Senate and U.S. House are now moving on the federal farm bill. Action is needed now!

Send a message to Members of Congress.

EXECUTION ALERT


2013

Billy Slagle, Cuyahoga County, is rescheduled for execution on August 7, 2013 for the death of Mari Anne Pope.

Harry Mitts Jr., Cuyahoga County, is scheduled for execution on September 25, 2013 for the deaths of John Bryan and police sergeant Dennis Glivar.

Ronald R. Phillip, Summit county, is scheduled for execution on November 14, 2013 for the death of Sheila Marie Evans.

2014

Dennis McGuire, Preble County, is scheduled for execution on January 16, 2014 for the death of Joy Stewart.

Gregory Lott, Cuyahoga County, is rescheduled for execution on March 19, 2014 for the death of John McGrath. Mr. Lott had two previous execution dates stayed; one on August 27, 2002, the other on April 27, 2004.

Arthur Tyler, Cuyahoga County, is scheduled for execution on May 28, 2014 for the death of Sander Leach.

William Montgomery, Lucas County, is scheduled for execution on August 6, 2014 for the deaths of Debra Ogle and Cynthia Tincher.

Raymond Tibbetts, Hamilton County, is scheduled for execution on October 14, 2014 for the deaths of Judith Sue Crawford and Fred Hicks.

2015

Warren K. Henness , Franklin County, is scheduled for execution on January 7, 2015 for the death of Richard Myers

Jeffrey Wogenstahl, Hamilton County, is scheduled for execution on May 14, 2015 for the death of Amber Garrett.

Alva Campbell Jr., Franklin County, is scheduled for execution on July 15, 2015 for the death of Charles Dials

CATHOLIC TEACHING OPPOSING THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY
CLICK HERE

OTHER RESOURCES
Study the Catechism in the new, easy-to-navigate E-pub format

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church


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