The New York State Catholic Conference submits the following comments on the draft Scoping Plan developed by the Climate Action Council, which was created by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 (CLCPA). June 30, 2022 General Position of the Catholic Church The perspective of the Catholic Church with respect to the environment […]

WASHINGTON - Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a 5-4 decision in Biden v. Texas, finding that the Secretary of Homeland Security’s termination of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) was lawful.

On March 21, 2022, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), and Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) filed an amicus curiae brief in Biden v. Texas, supporting the Secretary’s decision to terminate the program. The brief argued that MPP is immoral because it disregards the God-given dignity of those enrolled, contrary to Catholic social teaching, and illegal because it violates the United States’ non-refoulement obligations under U.S. and international law. The widely accepted principle of non-refoulement prohibits the practice of returning refugees and asylum seekers to any territory where they are likely to face threats to their life or freedom based on certain characteristics.

Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, president and CEO of CCUSA, and Anna Gallagher, executive director of CLINIC, issued the following statement:

“Today’s decision recognizes and preserves the executive branch’s ability to reverse untenable, illegal, and immoral policies, regardless of who is in office. The implementation of MPP has obstructed due process and subjected people to the very dangers that forced them to seek refuge in the United States in the first place. With this ruling, we welcome the end of MPP.

“Ours is both a nation of laws and a beacon of hope for many throughout the world. This should inspire us to work toward just and humane responses to forced migration, not embrace failed policies of the past. As Pope Francis has warned, we cannot limit ourselves to building ‘walls of fear’ and supporting ‘vetoes dictated by nationalist interests’ if we are to achieve meaningful progress in addressing these challenges.

“While this ruling helps pave the way forward, it does not resolve the ongoing challenges at our country’s southwest border. We remain committed to supporting immigration policies that produce more sustainable solutions, respect the God-given dignity of migrants, and better reflect Christ’s call to welcome the stranger.”

###

Media Contact:
Chieko Noguchi
202-541-3200

Gospel Verse for First Martyrs, Mt 5:10:Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

This is so exciting! 🤩 After his amazingly successful Bible in a Year podcast with biblical scholar Jeff Cavins, Fr. Mike Schmitz

The post “God is Still Calling Us”: Fr. Mike Schmitz Announces New Podcast ‘Catechism in a Year’ appeared first on .

WASHINGTON - Last week, on the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the U.S. Department of Education proposed revising its regulations implementing Title IX - a law intended to promote women’s equality and opportunity. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee for Religious Liberty, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, and Bishop Thomas A. Daly of Spokane, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Catholic Education, issued a statement in response:

“The 701-page proposed rule issued last week contains many provisions of concern to the Church and her ministries, to the faithful and the common good. The full meaning and impact of these provisions is not entirely clear and will require more careful study.

“But even at this early stage, it is apparent that the rule’s provisions on discrimination based on ‘pregnancy or related conditions,’ which include ‘termination of pregnancy,’ are intended to have implications for abortion, and therefore, life in the womb. And by adding self-asserted ‘gender identity’ to the prohibition against sex discrimination, the rule may foreshadow a threat to women’s athletics, sex-separate spaces, and the right of students, parents, and teachers to speak the truth about the nature of the human person. 

“It is a sad irony that these rules could effectively erase women and girls from the very law meant to serve them.”

###

Media Contact:
Chieko Noguchi
202-541-3200

WASHINGTON – Earlier this week, nearly fifty migrants were found dead in an abandoned tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas. Additional migrants were rescued from the truck, including children, and several of the survivors have since died. Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, issued the following statement:

“This is a tragic loss of life and a harrowing depiction of the extreme risks assumed by migrants out of sheer desperation. With deep sadness, I join Archbishop García-Siller in praying for strength, mercy, and understanding during this difficult time, especially for the survivors of this horrific incident. I also unite with Pope Francis in asking the Lord to ‘open our hearts so these misfortunes never happen again.’

“Unfortunately, this disregard for the sanctity of human life is all too common in the context of migration. As a Church called to build a culture of life, we cannot tolerate this injustice. Instead, we must recognize that we are brothers and sisters, each imbued with God-given dignity. To prevent further loss of life, we urge governments and civil society to promote access to protection, including asylum, develop new pathways for those compelled to migrate, and combat human trafficking in all its forms.”

###

Media Contact:
Chieko Noguchi
202-541-3200

Entrance Antiphon:These are the ones who, living in the less, planted the Church with their blood; they drank the chalice of the Lord and became the friends of God.Communion Antiphon, Cf. Mt 16:16, 18:Peter said to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus replied: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.Preface: the twofold mission of Peter and Paul in the Church:It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For by your providence the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul bring us joy:

This is so cool! Bishop Robert Barron announced in an Instagram post that he met with Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf while he

The post Actor Shia LaBeouf Meets Bp. Robert Barron at Capuchin Friary & Padre Pio Movie Screening appeared first on .

Memorandum of Opposition Re: S8797-B Krueger In relation to Constitutional Amendment Regarding “Equality”   The above-referenced legislation would amend New York State’s Constitution to ban unjust discrimination against persons based on a broad variety of classes and characteristics. Despite this measure’s well-intentioned and worthy objectives, it fails on a variety of levels to achieve these purposes. […]

Entrance Antiphon, Mal 2:6: The law of truth was in his mouth; no dishonesty was found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and peace, and turned many away from evil.St. Irenaeus was born in Asia Minor around the year 140. It is not known when he came to Gaul. He was a priest of the Church of Lyons during the persecution of 177 when St. Pothinus, first bishop of the city and the first martyr of Lyons, was put to death. Irenaeus succeeded him as bishop and twenty-five years later was martyred in his turn during a fresh persecution. At a time when Gnostic sects threatened to undermine Christianity by a perversion of Christian thought, St. Irenaeus vigorously denounced all heresies and safeguarded unity of belief by laying down the principles of the doctrinal tradition of the Church.