Category: Pro-Life Issues

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In Vitro Fertilization

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is in the news and it’s something all Catholics should be aware of. This is a challenging issue in many ways…and…Church teaching is abundantly clear that IVF is never acceptable.

We recognize this can be a difficult teaching, which makes it only more important that we understand why the Church teaches this…both for our own peace of mind and so we can help others understand.

To that end, here are two resources:

  1. From the CMA – What Catholic Social Teaching Says About the Status of Embryos Part One
  2. Peter Colosi, PhD – Catholic Wisdom on the Origin of Human Life and its Link to Human Relationships (PDF)
  3. From the National Catholic Register – 15 Questions Catholics Ask About In Vitro Fertilization

IVF will remain a challenge for Church teaching in or (post)modern world. Please pray for all involved!

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Urgent Call To Action: Help STOP Pending Assisted Suicide Law In NY

The Pro-Life FeministLegislative Advocacy
February 13th, 2025 (Vol. 4)
 
URGENT CALL TO ACTION
 Please call and email your NYS Legislators and URGE them to VOTE NO to the pending Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) Act.
Several NYS Legislators already re-introduced MAID this year in both the NYS Assembly & Senate. Both MAID bills, A136 and S138, were referred to the health committees in each respective chamber. 
Please URGE the NYS Legislators that sit in these health committees to VOTE NO to MAID. 
MAID permits doctors to give qualifying people, including teenagers (18 + 19 year olds), a lethal overdose of drugs to self-administer. MAID endangers the lives of vulnerable people, including the disabled and aged.MAID disproportionately impacts women. MAID normalizes suicide, especially by drug overdose.MAID allows individuals to financially benefit from the death of MAID victims.   
The American Medical Association opposes MAID. The AMA clearly states that physician assisted suicide “would ultimately cause more harm than good.”
Robust research demonstrates that legalizing assisted suicide is associated with a “significant increase in total suicides,” and serves as a “threat to suicide prevention.”
 
It is a fundamental principle of suicide prevention that ‘every suicide is a tragedy’. Every death robs the world of someone who is unique, irreplaceable, a world in themselves.
                                                   David Albert Jones, Research Fellow, Oxford University
 
A “growing body of evidence” shows- feeling like a “burden to others”- is a relevant factor in “death hastening acts.” Nearly half of Canadians, for example, who died by assisted suicide cited they felt like a “burden on family, friends or caregivers,” among their reasons for committing suicide.
(Please only participate if you are a NY Registered Voter)

Phone & Email Script Suggestion:
Dear Senator/Assemblyperson,
I am a voting New Yorker and I oppose the Medical Aid in Dying Act /MAID.
MAID jeopardizes the lives of the disabled, aged and infirm. Legalizing medical aid in dying increases rates of suicide, according to comprehensive studies, and disproportionately impacts women.
Self-administering a lethal dose of drugs, even if provided by a physician, is suicide, and helping someone commit suicide is criminal. Progressive societies promote life-affirming solutions, not the violent destruction of human life. 
On behalf of vulnerable people and future generations please VOTE NO to MAID, #S138, #A136.
Sincerely,
 NYS Senate Health Committee
Chair: J. Gustavo Rivera, District 33Albany: 518-455-3395District: 718-933-2034Email HereSamra G. Brouk, District 55Albany: 518 455-2215District: 585-223-1800Email HereSimcha Felder, District 22Albany: 518 455-2754District: 718-253-2015Email Here
Brad Holyman Sigal, District 47Albany: 518-455-2451District: 212-633-8052Email HereKristen Gonzalez, District 59Albany: 518-455-3250District: 718-765-6674Email HereRobert Jackson, District 31Albany: 518-455-2041District: 212-544-0173Email Here
Zellnor Myrie, District 20Albany: 518-455-2410District: 718-284-4700Email HereKevin S. Parker, District 5Albany: 518-455-2580District: 718-629-6401Email HereChristopher J. Ryan, District 50District: 315-428-7632Albany: 518-455-3511Email Here
Lea Webb, District 52Albany: 518- 455-2170District: 607-773-8771Email HerePatrick Gallivan, District 60Albany: 518-455-3471District: 716-656-8544Email HereJacob Ashby, District 43Albany: 518-371-2751District: 518-455-2381Email Here
Jack M. Martins, District 7 Albany: 518-455-2677District: 516-922-1811Email HereStephen D. Rhoads, District 50Albany: 518-455-3161District: 516-882-0630Email HereDaniel G. Stec, District 45Albany: 518-455-2811District: 518-743-0968Email Here
 
NYS Assembly Health Committee
Chair: Amy Paulin, District 88Albany: (518) 455-5585District: 914-723-1115Email HereRodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, District 42Albany: 518-455-5385District: 718-940-0428Email Here
Jake Blumencranz, District 15Albany: 518-455-4684District: 516-937-3571Email HereEdward C. Braunstein, District 26Albany: 518-455-5425District: 718-357-3588Email HerePatrick J. Chuldzinski, District 143Albany: 518-4555921District: 716-686-0080Email Here
Jeffrey Dinowitz, District 81Albany: 518-455-5965District: 718-796-5345Email HerePhara Souffrant Forrest, District 57Albany: 518-455-5325District: 718-796-5345Email HereJarett Gandolfo, District 7Albany: 518-455-4611District: 718-457-0384Email Here
Jessica González-Rojas, District 34Albany: 518-455-4545District: 718-457-0384Email HereScott Gray, District 116 Albany: 518-455-5545District: 718-457-0384Email HereJen Lunsford, District 135Albany: 518-455-5784District: 585-223-9130Email Here
Andrew Hevesi, District 28 Albany: 518-455-4926District: 718-263-5595Email HereJosh Jensen, District 134  Albany: 518-455-4664 District: 585-225-4190Email HereAnna R. Kelles, District 125Albany: 518-455-5444District: 607-277-8030Email Here
Nikki Lucas, District 60 Albany: 518-455-5912District: 718-257-5824Email HereJohn T. McDonald III, District 108Albany: 518-455-4474Email HereBrian Maher, District 101Albany: 518-455-4633District: 845-379-5001Email Here
Daniel J. Norber, District 16Albany: 518-455-5192District: 516-482-6966Email HereJenifer Rajkumar, District 38 Albany: 518-455-4621District: 718-805-0950Email HereKarines Reyes, District 87 Albany: 518-455-5102District: 718-931-2620Email Here
Daniel Rosenthal, District 27Albany: 518-455-4404District: 212-873-6368Email HereLinda B. Rosenthal, District 67Albany: 518-455-5802 District: 212-873-6368Email HereNader J. Sayegh, District 90 Albany: 518 455 3662District: 914-779-8805Email Here
Michaelle C. Solages, District 22Albany: 518-455-4465District: 516-599-2972Email HerePhil Steck, District 110 Albany: 518-455-5931 District: 518-377-0902Email Here
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Mt. Carmel House

Thank you to the Catholic Courier for their article highlighting the wonderful work being done by Mt. Carmel House! The volunteers and staff are truly doing God’s work, caring for the dying.

If you are looking to volunteer with a worthy organization, give them a call!

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NY Bishops Statement on (So-Called) Equal Rights Amendment

Please take a moment to read the NY State Catholic Bishops’ statement on the (so-called) Equal Rights Amendment (aka Proposition One). This will be on the ballot and we urge you to be informed!

The Bishops conclude:

“Proposal 1 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing that could lead to darkness for many New York families. This amendment disregards the lives of unborn and struggling children in the name of political agendas. It could have dangerous consequences for these children and their parents. As they look to make their voices heard in the public square, faithful Catholics should consider these consequences and vote no. Likewise, they should thoughtfully vote their informed conscience up and down the ballot so that we might usher in change for good.”

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Life-Limiting Prenatal Diagnoses and Beauty

While it is sad that this study was initiated with what seems to be an unquestioned assumption that it is, unusual, to “continue pregnancy after a life-limiting prenatal diagnosis”…we are very happy to see this result:

While we might choose a term like, “integral beauty” (the beauty of life is not some accident but rather is integral to life itself)…it is wonderful that this qualitative study included as an outcome, “…feelings of gratitude towards life…”

Hopefully this will picked up on by these and other researchers in the future!