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USCCB Marks Refugee Act Thirtieth Anniversary, Catholic Church Commitment To Refugees

WASHINGTON DC (MetroCatholic) – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the largest resettlement organization in the United States, on March 17, marked the thirtieth  anniversary of the 1980 U.S. Refugee Act.
           
Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration explained the impact the landmark legislation. 
           
“The 1980 Refugee Act reinforced the U. S.’ commitment to those fleeing persecution by offering them an opportunity to start their lives anew and enabled the United States to serve millions in need,” he said. “USCCB Migration and Refugee Services is proud of this history and our long-standing commitment to serve refugees.”  
           
The United States has long been a safe haven for the oppressed of the world.  Millions of refugees and other vulnerable populations look to the U.S. as their last hope when fleeing persecution. The United States has responded with humanitarian intervention. The 1980 Refugee Act codified this commitment to the protection of refugees by allowing the admission of refugees on a systematic basis for humanitarian relief and by standardizing the resettlement services for all refugees admitted to the U.S., with the goal of facilitating their achievement of economic self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. 
           
Prior to its enactment, the United States admitted refugees and other immigrants seeking a safe haven but there was no systematic admissions policy or service coordination. The Refugee Act of 1980 established a standard for the admission and resettlement of refugees, including the adoption of the United Nations definition of “refugee,” establishment of admissions criteria, processes and structures, the designation of refugee as an immigration status, conferring unique benefits and status, and federal fiscal support and domestic resettlement programming.  It also established the U.S. asylum program. 
           
The Catholic Church also has a long history of commitment to those seeking a safe haven from persecution. Since the beginning days of this country, the Catholic Church in the United States has assisted immigrants and refugees, and continues to do so by helping newcomers resettle and start a new life. This commitment is rooted in the Gospel mandate that every person is to be welcomed as if he or she were Christ Himself and in the right of every human person to a life with dignity.
           
USCCB/MRS responds to the plight of refugees from around the world and actively advocates for and coordinates their resettlement in conjunction with the local Church. In partnership with over one hundred local Catholic Charities organizations and dioceses across the country, USCCB resettles well over a quarter of the refugees admitted into the country each year. Since the passage of the 1980 Refugee Act, the U.S. has admitted over 2.5 million refugees from all over the world. During these 30 years the Catholic Church has resettled over 800,000 of them, or 32 percent.   
           
MRS will continue to advocate to improve our nation’s refugee protection regime and response to refugees worldwide. Anastasia Brown, director of Resettlement Services for MRS said: “While we have come a long way in 30 years, there remain millions of refugees who live in danger and deserve stronger protection. As a leader in humanitarian relief, the United States must continue to take the lead in this global effort.”
           
For more information on refugee resettlement, the Church’s role and other MRS programs, visit http://www.usccb.org/mrs/index.shtml.

USCCB Tries to Stop Runaway Train (That They Help Set in Motion) at the Last Minute

 

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

 3211 FOURTH STREET NE ? WASHINGTON DC  20017-1194 ? 202-541-3103 ? FAX 202-541-3166

                       

  

                                   Urgent Memorandum

 

Date:   March 16, 2010

 

From:   Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, Secretariat of Pro-Life

            Activities, Office of Migration and Refugee Policy, Office of the Secretary of       Communications

 

To:       Pastors, Diocesan Pro-Life Directors, Diocesan Social Development Directors,       Diocesan Communications Directors, State Catholic Conference Directors 

 

Re:      UPDATED Nationwide USCCB Bulletin Insert on Health Care

 

During October, November, and January, diocesan and parish leaders were asked by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to distribute three consecutive Nationwide Bulletin Inserts on health care reform. Thank you for your great cooperation in that effort. Since that time the following has occurred:

                                                                          

• The U.S. House passed health care reform that reaffirms the essential, longstanding and widely supported policy against using federal funds for elective abortion coverage.

 

• The U.S. Senate has rejected this policy and passed health care reform that requires federal funds to help subsidize and promote health plans that cover elective abortions. All purchasers of such plans will be required to pay for other people’s abortions through a separate payment solely to pay for abortion. And the affordability credits for very low income families purchasing private plans in a Health Insurance Exchange are inadequate and would leave families financially vulnerable.

 

• Congressional leaders are now trying to figure out how the rules of the House and Senate could allow the final passage of a modified bill that would satisfy disagreements between House and Senate versions. 

 

Catholics need to make their voices heard insisting that health care reform protect the lives, dignity, consciences and health of all. Provisions against abortion funding and in favor of conscience protection, affordability, and immigrants’ access to health care must be part of a fair and just health care reform bill. Unless and until these criteria are met, the final bill must be opposed.

The U.S. bishops have asked that the attached USCCB Nationwide Bulletin Insert (Spanish Insert) on health care reform be distributed in any way possible as soon as possible. Final votes may take place as early as this weekend. If your Arch/bishop approved disseminating the earlier bulletin inserts, consider this an update. 

Also included are suggested Pulpit Announcements and a Prayer Petition (Spanish Announcements and Prayer). Please encourage parishioners to pray for this effort as well. More information can be found at www.usccb.org/healthcare.

Thank you for your urgent actions and prayers on behalf of this nationwide effort!

Cardinal Mahony will Celebrate Mass for Immigrants, March 21, in Washington

WASHINGTON DC (MetroCatholic) – Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, will celebrate a Mass for Immigrants, March 21, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Washington. The event coincides with the “March for America: Change Takes Courage and Faith” organized by diverse communities of faith demanding comprehensive immigration reform.

WHAT: Mass for Immigrants

WHEN: March 21 at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church (Upper Church)—19 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC (corner of N. Capitol and I Streets; Union Station Metro)

WHO: Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles
            Bishop  John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Migration
            Bishop Paul Loverde of Arlington, Virginia
            Bishop Francisco González, SF Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
            Father  Allan Deck, SJ, executive director, USCCB Cultural Diversity Office

The Mass is organized by the Justice for Immigrants Campaign (http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Following Mass, organizers encourage Catholics to participate in the “March for America: Change Takes Courage and Faith,” 1-5 p.m. on the National Mall.

IPS Co-sponsors Rome Conference with the Hildebrand Project

ARLINGTON, VA (MetroCatholic) – The Institute for the Psychological Sciences (IPS), a Catholic graduate school of psychology, has the distinctive honor of co-sponsoring the first major international conference on Dietrich von Hildebrand’s writings on love.

The Dietrich von Hildebrand Legacy Project is convening in Rome for the purpose of initiating the critical reception of Dietrich von Hildebrand’s great work, The Nature of Love, published in 2009 for the first time in English translation.

Although the conference is dedicated to the whole of von Hildebrand’s Christian personalism — his philosophy of human nature — the two-day event will explore von Hildebrand’s compelling understanding of love, particularly the love between man and woman.

The conference will take place from May 27-29, 2010 at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.

Renowned philosophers, theologians, political figures, and religious will be speaking. Confirmed speakers include Alice von Hildebrand, Michael Waldstein, John Zizioulas, Michael Novak, and Josef Seifert. To view the complete list of speakers, please visit www.hildebrandlegacy.org.

IPS Senior Scholar Dr. Paul Vitz will also present a paper entitled Applying von Hildebrand’s Concept of Love in Psychotherapy.

A number of IPS students are competing in the essay contest entitled The Nature of Love, to be held in conjunction with the conference. Up to five contestants will be invited to present their papers and will receive an award that covers all of their meals,lodging, and travel expenses.

Please visit www.hildebrandlegacy.org  for more information. For those unable to attend, the conference will be broadcast live via the Hildebrand Project website. To obtain the necessary login information, please visit the conference website.

Spring Conference Equips Catholics to Evangelize

Ellicott City, MD (MetroCatholic) – ChristLife, a Catholic Ministry for Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Baltimore is busy preparing their second Discovering Christ training conference, to be held April 15-16 at St. Louis Parish, Clarksville, MD.

The conference is for Catholics passionate about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others. The main purpose is to train Catholic leaders how to use Discovering Christ in their parish or ministry.

“Discovering Christ is a seven-week experience to help people encounter Jesus Christ personally,” said Dave Nodar on a recently posted YouTube video on ChristLife’s Web site. The course, produced in 2009, consists of a meal, prayer, video-based teaching, and small group discussion.

“There are many parish programs that offer information about Jesus. Discovering Christ is not one of them. It is a relational course designed to bring people into a life-changing encounter with the Lord Jesus,” said Fr. Erik Arnold, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) in Ellicott City, MD and speaker on the Discovering Christ series.

One participant of OLPH’s course shared at the end of Discovering Christ: “Before the course I was not involving God in my daily life and felt very unfulfilled and felt like I was failing in life. Now I see that God is with me everyday even when the days are bad. I feel a freedom from the stress and have more clarity.”

Nearly 1000 people have already gone through Discovering Christ in Maryland and five others states. “It is so exciting to see this new movement of evangelization beginning to spread around the nation,” said Pete Ascosi, young adult coordinator at ChristLife.

Conference speakers will include Dave Nodar, founder and director of ChristLife, and Fr. Erik Arnold, pastor of OLPH. The conference will offer complete training in Discovering Christ, prayer and worship, and opportunities to network with others from around the country passionate about making the Lord known.

To find out more about Discovering Christ and the Spring conference visit http://www.christlife.org or call (410) 531-7701.

CHA spent over $1 million lobbying for Obamacare

I don’t think anyone will be too surprised, but it’s good to know the actual amount.   CatholicCulture.org has reported that the Catholic Health Association has spent over $1 million lobbying in favor of Obamacare.  But since Sr. Carol Keehan is compensated at over $850,000 per year, perhaps she paid for most of that effort, in her ongoing dedication to social justice causes. 

The Catholic Hospital’s Association is a trade organization.  They ostensibly represent the interests of over 600 Church affiliated hospitals in the United States.  Some of the members of CHA, like Catholic Health West, are very profitable, even though they are designated, and taxed, as non-profits.   Irrespective, the problem with CHA’s endorsement of Obamacare, or whatever you want to call the current health insurance takeover effort in Washington, is that they are constantly being quoted in the press as some official arm of the USCCB, and hence seem to give the approval of the Church to this very bad legislation.  At the very least, they cause scandal and confusion among the faithful in their open opposition to the bishops, who have denounced this legislation as being inimical to Catholic moral doctrine on a number of levels (and this, in spite of many of the bishops having a great desire to see some form of health care legislation enacted).   CHA is, as an independent organization, free to lobby as it wishes, but as an organization that trades on its affiliation with the Church, and which claims to uphold all the doctrine of the Church, it is beyond unfortunate that they have chosen to strongly endorse legislation that the USCCB, many individual bishops, and all legitimate pro-life organizations have opposed to the utmost of their ability. 

One additional interesting factor: Michael Rodgers, the CHA senior vice president for public policy and the head of their lobbying effort, in 2008 contributed $2000 to the campaign of Judy Feder, a pro-abort candidate for Congress, who was running against a candidate with a 100% pro-life voting record.  As I said, in the seamless garment, some threads are more important than others.

h/t www.culturewarenotes.com

CCHD “Stations of the Cross” advertises for pro-gay marriage, pro-abort groups

They are just completely tone deaf.  Or, they think they are utterly untouchable.  One of the two, or maybe both.  Thanks to http://culturewarnotes.com, we learn that the CCHD has produced its own version of Stations of the Cross for this year.  And in this version, there are a few scripture passages, but a whole bunch of commercials for groups tied to CCHD.   True to form, several of these groups support things inimical to Catholic moral teaching, like abortion, contraception, and gay marriage. An example:

The second station, which is “Jesus Takes up His Cross,” focuses on the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition. OVEC’s news archive is littered with articles on various progressive agendas, including abortion and same-sex marriage

There is much, much more at the link.  I know that some want to reform CCHD, but I doubt that is possible.  CCHD was formed with a Saul Alinsky agenda in mind, and has been and is staffed with Alinsky-ite progressives.  The entire nature of the organization is to lobby for the poor, not to aid the poor.  That lobbying rarely does much to directly help the poor with increased access to better training or education, things that could really help lift the poor out of poverty.  No, it’s programs and affiliates focus on two things: being a jobs programs for leftists with degrees in subjects like “queer theory” and “elemental marxism,” and lobbying the government for more funding for CCHD grantees. 

It’s like a perpetual motion machine.  Staff an organization with leftists, who then lobby the government for more money to breed more leftists, create more organizations that are staffed with leftists from that money, and so on ad infinitum.  CCHD is alot of things, but it’s not discerably Catholic.  It is tied to organizations infused with leftist rhetoric tied to abortion, gay rights, contraception, and other things contrary to Church teaching, to its very core.  And it should be disbanded, as it is irreformable. 

If you oppose the Catholic Church supporting these kinds of activities, sign the petition now.

UPDATE: The Stations of the Cross webpage has been pulled from the CCHD website.

Archbishop Chaput: Health care bill doesn’t meet moral standards

The very good Archbishop of Denver, Charles Chaput, released a column recently regarding the socialist takeover that wouldn’t die pending health care legislation in Congress.  He also criticizes, strongly, groups like CHA and pseudo-Catholic lobbies like Catholics United for the Common Good and Catholics for a Free Choice.  I don’t normally post entire pieces into this blog, but this is so concise and so good that I will in this case:

Catholics, Health Care and the Senate’s bad bill 

The Senate version of health-care reform currently being forced ahead by congressional leaders and the White House is a bad bill that will result in bad law.  It does not deserve, nor does it have, the support of the Catholic bishops of our country.  Nor does the American public want it.  As I write this column on March 14, the Senate bill remains gravely flawed.  It does not meet minimum moral standards in at least three important areas: the exclusion of abortion funding and services; adequate conscience protections for health-care professionals and institutions; and the inclusion of immigrants.

Groups, trade associations and publications describing themselves as “Catholic” or “prolife” that endorse the Senate version – whatever their intentions – are doing a serious disservice to the nation and to the Church, undermining the witness of the Catholic community; and ensuring the failure of genuine, ethical health-care reform.  By their public actions, they create confusion at exactly the moment Catholics need to think clearly about the remaining issues in the health-care debate.  They also provide the illusion of moral cover for an unethical piece of legislation.

As we enter a critical week in the national health-care debate, Catholics across northern Colorado need to remember a few simple facts.

First, the Catholic bishops of the United States have pressed for real national health-care reform in this country for more than half a century.  They began long before either political party or the public media found it convenient.  That commitment hasn’t changed.  Nor will it.

Second, the bishops have tried earnestly for more than seven months to work with elected officials to craft reform that would serve all Americans in a manner respecting minimum moral standards.  The failure of their effort has one source.  It comes entirely from the stubbornness and evasions of certain key congressional leaders, and the unwillingness of the White House to honor promises made by the president last September.

Third, the health-care reform debate has never been merely a matter of party politics.  Nor is it now.  Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak and a number of his Democratic colleagues have shown extraordinary character in pushing for good health-care reform while resisting attempts to poison it with abortion-related entitlements and other bad ideas that have nothing to do with real “health care.”  Many Republicans share the goal of decent health-care reform, even if their solutions would differ dramatically.  To put it another way, few persons seriously oppose making adequate health services available for all Americans.  But God, or the devil, is in the details—and by that measure, the current Senate version of health-care reform is not merely defective, but also a dangerous mistake.

The long, unpleasant and too often dishonest national health-care debate is now in its last days.  Its most painful feature has been those “Catholic” groups that by their eagerness for some kind of deal undercut the witness of the Catholic community and help advance a bad bill into a bad law. Their flawed judgment could now have damaging consequences for all of us.

Do not be misled.  The Senate version of health-care reform currently being pushed ahead by congressional leaders and the White House—despite public resistance and numerous moral concerns—is bad law; and not simply bad, but dangerous.  It does not deserve, nor does it have, the support of the Catholic bishops in our country, who speak for the believing Catholic community.  In its current content, the Senate version of health-care legislation is not “reform.”  Catholics and other persons of good will concerned about the foundations of human dignity should oppose it.

Sr. Keehan’s ears should be ringing.  When the Archbishop says “The long, unpleasant and too often dishonest national health-care debate is now in its last days.  Its most painful feature has been those “Catholic” groups that by their eagerness for some kind of deal undercut the witness of the Catholic community and help advance a bad bill into a bad law. Their flawed judgment could now have damaging consequences for all of us.”  While the Archbishop doesn’t name CHA directly, they, and other groups, have done great damage to the Church by stating, in opposition to the opinion of many bishops, that the pending legislation is somehow ‘abortion neutral.’  There has not been a single statement from a reputable pro-life group (not a fake astro-turf group like the Soros funded Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good) that corroborates Keehan’s opinion that this legislation is “pro-life.”  Many faithful Catholics have sadly been forced to conclude, over months of observing CHA in this present health care debate, that CHAs desire for a nationalized health care system (single payer – their stated objective), is greater than their commitment to the prevention of abortion. 

In the seamless garment, some colors, some threads, apparently have more weight than others.

Catholics Urged to Picket Cdl. Mahony’s Faith-Subverting Dissent-Fest

ANAHEIM, CA (MetroCatholic) – “Our committee is calling all Catholics to come join us and oppose Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony’s latest dissent-fest,” says Kenneth M. Fisher, chairman of Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc. (CRCOA).  “He’s going to make tens of thousands of Catholics hear Faith-subverters, the kind who get people to defy the Church on abortion, homosexuality, contraception, New Age practices and ordination of women.”

Fisher announced that on Saturday, March 20, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., his group will picket Cardinal Mahony’s annual Religious Education Congress, the world’s largest training event for Catholic schoolteachers.

(The Congress will be at the Anaheim Convention Center, March 18-21.  The Saturday protest will be outside the Center’s main exhibit hall.  CRCOA will supply picket signs to picketers.)

Fisher said, “Many of the presenters aren’t objectionable, and Cardinal Mahony does have a few well-known ‘token’ orthodox Catholic speakers.  But he’s also bringing in speakers with long track records of dissent from Catholic doctrine.”

“Cardinal Mahony’s pro-gays, women-priest advocates, New Agers and anti-Pope rebels will tell Catholic educators what to teach,” Fisher warned.  “Then the teachers will go home and infect countless innocent Catholic children with those errors.”

Fisher said CRCOA members will hand out flyers that expose speakers who dissent from the Church’s doctrines.  Here are some of Cdl. Mahony’s 188 speakers:

A non-Catholic, far left, pro-contraception speaker who’s said we don’t need to ban aborting babies and who’s advised U.S. senators and representatives on how to get believers to vote for pro-gay, pro-abortion Democrats

A laicized priest who dissents from “a wide range of Church teachings” and wants women priests and women bishops

A nun who called Catholic doctrine against non-marital sex “a fixation.”

A Catholic priest who told the 2005 REC that “we” need “public models” of “healthy gay priests for Catholics to reflect on.”

“Why is Cardinal Mahony promoting such speakers?” Fisher asked.  ”Shouldn’t a cardinal make sure his speakers are loyal to the Church?”

Fisher invites faithful Catholics to join CRCOA’s peaceful, prayerful protest by calling him at: 714-491-2284 or e-mailing him at: crcoa@dslextreme.com.  To get on CRCOA’s group e-mail list, go to: crcoa@aweber.com.

Ninth Circuit Gets it Right–Still One Nation Under God

WASHINGTON, DC (MetroCatholic) – The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled that teacher-led recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools, including the words “under God,” does not violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.  “The Pledge is constitutional,” concluded the court, dismissing the latest attack by atheist Michael Newdow to remove every reference to God from the public square.

Penny Young Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America (CWA), said, “This is a great victory for all Americans and the rule of law.  There is no question that this nation was founded on the fundamental belief that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights.  We are pleased that the Ninth Circuit recognized that and dismissed the misguided efforts to rewrite history and alter the character of our nation through judicial fiat.”

Mario Diaz, Esq., CWA’s Policy Director for Legal Issues, said, “Even the most activist and most overturned court in the country managed to recognize that there is no basis in history or in law that would require the removal of the words ‘under God’ from the Pledge of Allegiance.  The court correctly pointed out that the mere mention of God does not immediately establish a religion.  Newdow and other progressives want the government to be hostile to religion, an idea that has been emphatically rejected by the Supreme Court and actually runs counter to our form of government.  All Americans, including atheists, win with this decision by the Ninth Circuit.”

Concerned Women for America is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization.

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