Actions to take on current (2022) legislation
1) American Rescue Act (aka $1.9 trillion COVID Relief) - passed by the Democrat majorities in the U.S. House & Senate as of March 6th and signed into law by Pres. Biden on March 11th, this legislation includes billions in taxpayer funds for abortions in the U.S. and around the world; this legislation did NOT include the Hyde Amendment that would otherwise restrict tax dollars from paying for abortions.
2) 'HR 5 Equality Act' - passed in the U.S. House, but rejected in the U.S. Senate. Subsequently, it was added into the $1.2T "Bi-partisan Instrastructure" bill (calling it 'Digital Equity'), which then passed by Congress and is going to Pres. Biden to become law. So now we have $3.1 trillion in new federal government spending approved so far this year, in addition to the annual $4 trillion federal budget, that once again has NO Hyde Amendment nor other restrictions on the use of taxpayer dollars for abortions (here are more reasons why this is really bad legislation The Equality Act | USCCB )
3) 'Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act' - was introduced in the U.S. House on March 25, 2021 by the majority to "reverse the Hyde Amendment", which currently prohibits use of taxpayer funds to pay for abortion. This change would be required in all Medicare & Medicaid coverages, including for indigenous people, for refugees, people in prisons, as well as "immigrants in detention". Please contact your legislators in Congress to OPPOSE this expansion of abortion.
4) "Women's Health Protection Act" (S.1975/HR3755) was introduced by Congressional Democrats in the U.S. House & U.S. Senate to prohibit state and local governments from enacting multiple types of abortion restrictions, and would invalidate nearly every state law that places limits on abortion. This extreme pro-abortion bill was defeated in the United States Senate on February 28th, 2022 by Republicans...and one Democrat Senator (Joe Manchin of W VA) - and then defeated for a 2nd time in the U.S. Senate on May 11!!
5) The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) heard arguments on Dec 1, 2021 in the Mississippi case "Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health". While the case is a challenge to Mississippi's new 2021 law that established "viability" of the unborn child outside of the mother's womb at 15 weeks (v. the current court established 22 to 24 weeks), the case is also an opportunity for SCOTUS to re-consider the Roe v. Wade & Casey court decisions. SCOTUS is expected to release their decision at the end of June 2022; PLEASE be praying for our Justices to GIVE LIFE A CHANCE! The infamous May 2nd 'leaked' draft decision indicates that 5 justices are prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade.
6) The Missouri Catholic Conference issued this news report: “the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday, Dec 16th (2021) lifted restrictions on the abortion drug, mifepristone, allowing the drugs to be prescribed online and sent by mail. The FDA announced that it was removing the "in-person dispensing requirement" that had required mifepristone to be dispensed only in certain health care facilities.
Archbishop William Lori, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, criticized the move, stating that the decision would continue the taking of unborn lives while doing little for the well-being of women in need. "Far from the accompaniment that women in crisis pregnancies deserve, this decision would leave women alone in the midst of trauma, often without any medical attention or follow up care".
The abortion lobby, facing the possibility that Roe v. Wade could disappear, has now created a brand-new frontier for the abortion industry…‘no test, on-line chemical abortion drugs delivered straight to the doorsteps of vulnerable young women’, aka “abortion by mail”. As of Dec 16th, the President’s FDA now allows these dangerous abortion pills to be shipped through the mail. It’s another reminder that elections have serious consequences. The current President, who is a Catholic, has the power to immediately overturn this decision by the FDA (which reports to Health & Human Services, which is represented on the President’s Cabinet).
Everyone is encouraged to email the White House right away (www.whitehouse.gov/contact/) to insist that the President overturn this horrific decision by his FDA, consistent with his Catholic heritage.
Nov 3rd, 2020 General Elections
Results in Missouri: state House now 114 Pro-life reps v. 49 pro-abortion reps; state Senate now 24 Pro-life v. 10 pro-abortion! State-wide pro-life office holders re-elected (Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Sec. of State, and Treasurer)
USCCB on Abortion and Catholic Social Teaching
Archbishop Naumann - Priorities at the Polls
2020 Party Platform Comparisons
From Saint John Paul II (1988, Christifideles Laici)
“Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights – for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture – is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination”.
From Saint John Paul II (1998, The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae, 18)
Today, when the inviolable rights of the human person are proclaimed and the value of life publicly affirmed, the most basic human right, "the right to life, is being denied or trampled upon, especially at the more significant moments of existence: the moment of birth and the moment of death".
ICD's Reproductive Loss ministry
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
ICD is undertaking an effort to provide parishioners with information and resources to help those who are dealing with an unexpected pregnancy, as well as those who have suffered from reproductive loss due to a miscarriage, stillbirth, or an abortion. Below is information and resources that are available to all -- right now. We will be working toward preparing a team of ICD parishioners to assist you in the near future as well.
Resources and support for women and couples facing an unexpected pregnancy
For immediate assistance in the St. Charles or St. Louis areas, contact Thrive Express Women's Healthcare.
Other recommended agencies in our area include Birthright of St. Charles and Birthright of Wentzville.
For additional resources go to WalkingWithMomsSTL.com. For expectant parents, or those who have recently given birth under difficult circumstances, in need of financial assistance there is the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Fund in our archdiocese (call 314-792-7555). Maternity homes (such as Our Lady's Inn) and adoption services (Good Shepherd Children and Family Services) are also available through Walking With Moms STL.
Resources for couples dealing with infertility
The St. Louis Archdiocesan Office of Natural Family Planning offers an important program called Enkindle to support couples experiencing challenges trying to conceive a child. You can arrange for a free 30 minute appointment to speak with a licensed, professional infertility counselor, in person or over the phone, by calling 314-997-7576.
Resources & Help for Reproductive Loss and Healing
ICD recognizes that we have parishioners (both women and men) that are looking for help in dealing with and healing from reproductive losses due to miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion. We are committed to identify where the critical resources and help are available for those who are looking, from sources including the St. Louis Archdiocese, the USCCB (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops), as well as other external sources recommended by the Church. Our goal is to find the organizations, and people to contact, to assist those in need of help. Please bear with us as we undertake this project that we believe is very important to our church and our parish.
One important starting point is for people who have experienced the loss of an unborn child to know that the St. Louis Archdiocese (and parishes) offers a special ceremony, called the Rite of Naming and Commendation available to the parents and families to assist in the grieving process and to help bring closure to that loss. This rite is available by asking your parish priest, or you can also participate with a group of parents who have experienced similar losses at churches within the archdiocese, when those are offered (that information is often posted on the St Louis Archdiocesan website). Regardless if the loss occurred recently, or many years or decades ago, many people experience the pain of the loss of an unborn child for long periods until it is resolved.
Another wonderful opportunity available at ICD is the upcoming annual "Angel of Faith Memorial Prayer Service for Infant or Child Loss" on Sunday, May 29th, 2022 following the 10:15am mass. This service is offered for parents and families who have suffered a miscarriage, or any loss of a child. The service will begin after mass at the fountain in the front of the Main church, and then will proceed together to the prayer garden. If you would like your child's name printed in the program and read aloud during the prayer service, please contact Debbie Hilke at (636)-795-9001 or Lucy Fink at (314)853-9641 by not-later-than May 22nd.
Resources after Miscarriage or Stillbirth
Some additional resources of interest include the Blessing of Parents after a Miscarriage or Stillbirth (www.usccb.org/prayers/blessing-parents-after-miscarriage-or-stillbirth), as well as Solace and Strength in the Sorrow of Miscarriage (//d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/23075/documents/2019/8/Solace-and-Strength-in-the-Sorrow-of-Miscarriage-RLP2014-Color.pdf).
Also, Mercy Hospital in St. Louis County has a special program called Mercy HeartPrints that is available to people who experience the loss of a baby any time during pregnancy or the newborn period, including neonatal death, stillbirth, miscarriage, or ectopic pregnancy. This program is designed to provide one-to-one support during hospitalization at Mercy Hospital, and after discharge. The trained staff will work with families as long as needed to provide support through the grief process. There is also a Mercy HeartPrints Support Group for parents to come together to share and validate each other's feelings. For more information, call the Mercy HeartPrints coordinator at 314-251-6878.
Resources for Healing from an Abortion
There are many wonderful sources of help for healing with the loss of a child to abortion, starting with the St. Louis Archdiocesan's Abortion Healing Ministry (AHM). The Respect Life Apostolate has trained staff and well-structured programs to support women, and men, through this often challenging process. Here is a link to the AHM website with contact information for confidential support (https://www.archstl.org/hope-healing), or call 314-406-0815. One of the excellent programs offered through this ministry is called Project Rachel, offering a one day retreat (for women only) that is held at a confidential location in the St. Louis area. There is also an on-going Women's prayer & fellowship group that is available two evenings each month (Prayer & Fellowship). Another program for men, women, and couples is a two-day retreat called Rachel's Vineyard that offers a trained and compassionate team (including a priest and professional therapist) that gently leads participants through the critical healing steps. The next opportunity for this two-day retreat is September 16th thru 18th, 2022.
An organization external to the Catholic church, but that is recommended by the St. Louis Archdiocese, includes Support After Abortion for those looking for healing (or call 844-289-HOPE).