Category Archives: Advocating Dignity

U.S. Bishops’ Pro-Life Chairman Commends House for Passing “Born Alive” Bill

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives voted 220 to 210 today to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 26). “We commend the House of Representatives for passing legislation to protect innocent children from infanticide, and urge the Senate to follow suit,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Pro-Life Activities. “Babies who are born alive during the process of an abortion deserve compassionate care and medical attention – just the same as any other newborn baby.”

H.R. 26 would require health care providers to give children born alive after an attempted abortion the same medical care that they would for any child born at that same gestational age and to transport them to a hospital. On Tuesday, Bishop Burbidge sent a letter to members of the House urging them to vote for the bill. His letter and other resources may be found at: https://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/born-alive-bill.cfm

U.S. Bishops’ Pro-Life Chairman Denounces FDA Action on Chemical Abortion Pill

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the loosening of safety requirements to allow retail pharmacies, through a simple certification process, to distribute the chemical abortion drug, mifepristone (previously commonly known as RU-486), by prescription. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued the following statement in response:

“The Catholic Church is consistent in its teaching on upholding the dignity of all life, and that must include care for both women and their children. We decry the continuing push for the destruction of innocent human lives and the loosening of vital safety standards for vulnerable women. This week’s action by the FDA not only advances the obvious tragedy of taking the lives of the preborn, but is also harmful to women in need.

“The rate of serious complications after chemical abortion is considerably higher than after surgical abortion. Overturning the safety protocols around abortion-causing drugs to effectively make them available on demand at pharmacies, requiring no in-person medical supervision, facilitates the isolation of critically vulnerable pregnant women, and invites more risk, pain, and trauma. It may also result in new violations of conscience for pharmacy workers who cannot dispense such drugs. The FDA should protect the life and health of both mothers and children, not loosen safety standards under industry or political pressures. We call on the Administration to correct its policy priorities and stand with mothers in need. They deserve better.”

Read this and other statements from the USCCB here.

Act Now! Tell the Federal Government to Do No Harm to Catholic Health Care Ministries

The Church’s ministries of healing, education, and social services bear witness to Jesus Christ and build up the common good. Church institutions are not mere providers of so-cial services. They are expressions of Christian ministry dedicated to human flourishing. We serve all people, without regard to race, sex, religion, or any other status, because God has imbued every person with inherent human dignity. Most Americans understand that mission-driven organizations should be free to operate in accordance with their missions. But a recent rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Ser-vices (HHS) would prevent Catholic hospitals, clinics, assisted living facilities, and health care workers from carrying out their work. HHS needs to hear your opinion by October 3rd! Click here to read the full statement and visit www.usccb.org/do-no-harm to learn more.

Celebrate NFP Awareness Week July 24-30, 2022

An Introductory Session of the Creighton Model FertilityCare System (CrMS) will be presented at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday, July 30th at 11:30 am in the parish hall. The presentation is free, and registration is not required. For more information about the CrMS please go to www.fertilitycarerochester.weebly.com or www.popepaulvi.com or contact Anne Olek at 585-310-8305