Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Death penalty foes applaud message of new movie ‘Just Mercy’

The upcoming movie “Just Mercy” “has the potential to wake up out of a slumber the part of society that either doesn’t believe the death penalty is still in practice or chooses to ignore it,” according to two leaders of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, founded 10 years ago to eliminate death penalty laws and executions.…Read More



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Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Gov. Stitt Gives Consent for Refugee Resettlement

Refugees looking to resettle in Oklahoma will continue to be welcome here, Gov. Kevin Stitt told federal authorities this week. In a letter Wednesday to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Stitt gave his formal consent to allow refugees to resettle in Oklahoma. “Faith leaders across the state reached out requesting the state continue its history…Read More



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from via Blog – Catholic Conference of Oklahoma

Gov. Stitt Gives Consent for Refugee Resettlement

Refugees looking to resettle in Oklahoma will continue to be welcome here, Gov. Kevin Stitt told federal authorities this week. In a letter Wednesday to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Stitt gave his formal consent to allow refugees to resettle in Oklahoma. “Faith leaders across the state reached out requesting the state continue its history…Read More



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Friday, December 20, 2019

New report shows decreased use of death penalty in U.S.

Use of the death penalty in the United States continues to decrease, according to a report released Dec. 17 by the Death Penalty Information Center. The report said this year’s 22 executions and 33 new death sentences were down from the previous year’s 25 executions. This year also marks the fifth consecutive year when there…Read More



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via Blog – Catholic Conference of Oklahoma

Archbishop Coakley Praises House Farm Bill Passage

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019, passed by the House Dec. 11 with a 260-165 bipartisan vote, aims “to make a better system for both the farmer and the farmworkers and to create a more effective and humane agriculture industry,” said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.…Read More



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Thursday, December 19, 2019

Beckett: Supreme Court to decide if government can pick religion teachers

The Supreme Court agreed today to weigh in on whether the government can control who a church school chooses to teach its religion classes. In Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and in St. James Catholic School v. Biel, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is defending two California Catholic elementary schools’ right to…Read More



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Editorial: No surprise in push to legalize recreational pot in Oklahoma

Well, that certainly didn’t take long. Little more than a year after Oklahoma voters approved “medical” marijuana, an effort is underway to legalize recreational pot. This should come as no surprise. Having gained a foothold with medical marijuana, proponents of this wonder drug were naturally going to look to expand its availability. A petition filed…Read More



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Editorial: No surprise in push to legalize recreational pot in Oklahoma

Well, that certainly didn’t take long. Little more than a year after Oklahoma voters approved “medical” marijuana, an effort is underway to legalize recreational pot. This should come as no surprise. Having gained a foothold with medical marijuana, proponents of this wonder drug were naturally going to look to expand its availability. A petition filed…Read More



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Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Facing a ‘Food Desert,’ Oklahoma City Wants Dollar Stores to Sell Fresh Food

In the nine square miles that cover the 73111 ZIP Code in northeast Oklahoma City, there isn’t a single grocery store. The last one closed over the summer. There are, however, four dollar stores in the area, where 32% of the 11,000 residents live below the poverty level—roughly three times the national average. “That ZIP…Read More



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AG Hunter: OK Supreme Court ‘mistaken’ to hear challenges to abortion restrictions

The Oklahoma Supreme Court should stop ruling on lawsuits about abortion restrictions because the state constitution doesn’t recognize a right to abortion, the Oklahoma attorney general argued last week to the state’s justices. “Oklahoma’s founders never intended nor created a right to abortion, nor have Oklahoma’s people ever voted to create such a right,” the…Read More



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Facing a ‘Food Desert,’ Oklahoma City Wants Dollar Stores to Sell Fresh Food

In the nine square miles that cover the 73111 ZIP Code in northeast Oklahoma City, there isn’t a single grocery store. The last one closed over the summer. There are, however, four dollar stores in the area, where 32% of the 11,000 residents live below the poverty level—roughly three times the national average. “That ZIP…Read More



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AG Hunter: OK Supreme Court ‘mistaken’ to hear challenges to abortion restrictions

The Oklahoma Supreme Court should stop ruling on lawsuits about abortion restrictions because the state constitution doesn’t recognize a right to abortion, the Oklahoma attorney general argued last week to the state’s justices. “Oklahoma’s founders never intended nor created a right to abortion, nor have Oklahoma’s people ever voted to create such a right,” the…Read More



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Friday, December 13, 2019

Opinion: Governments can and must take on the billion-dollar pornography industry

A major debate over the public harm of pornography erupted over the weekend after US lawmakers published a letter to Attorney General William Barr, asking him to use existing obscenity laws to restrict pornography. The letter noted that the explosion of Internet pornography has “coincided with an increase in violence towards women and an increase…Read More



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Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Pardon and Parole Board sees 118 percent increase in docketed cases

The Pardon and Parole Board had an increase of 118% in docketed cases this year. The board had 6,940 docketed cases this year, up from 3,183 in 2018, according to information Executive Director Steven Bickley presented Monday. “Volumes are exploding,” Bickley said during a board meeting in Oklahoma City. Pardon cases were up 76%. Parole…Read More



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How a Once-Bullied Kid Became a Fierce Advocate for Education Freedom

As a kid, I was surrounded by people who were making awful choices—choices that led to many of my friends and family members being in prison or six feet under before I reached adulthood. And I was well on my way to following in their footsteps. Our environment, including the zoned public schools we were…Read More



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Pardon and Parole Board sees 118 percent increase in docketed cases

The Pardon and Parole Board had an increase of 118% in docketed cases this year. The board had 6,940 docketed cases this year, up from 3,183 in 2018, according to information Executive Director Steven Bickley presented Monday. “Volumes are exploding,” Bickley said during a board meeting in Oklahoma City. Pardon cases were up 76%. Parole…Read More



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Monday, December 9, 2019

Federal lawmakers aim to reduce payday loan rates from 400% interest to 36%

Tens of millions of Americans are turning to high-cost loans that routinely carry interest rates of more than 400% for everyday expenses, such as paying their bills and covering emergency expenses. For many, those rates end up being just too high and lead to a seemingly endless debt cycle. But that may soon change. This…Read More



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Friday, December 6, 2019

Archbishop Coakley: It’s time to stop federal executions for good

We have embarked on the season of Advent, waiting in eager anticipation for the birth of the Lord into our sinful world. With a heavy heart in a season of holy preparation, we are reminded of the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to resume federal executions for the first time in 16 years. The first of…Read More



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National Poll Shows Strong School Choice Support

A RealClear Opinion Research survey of 2,014 registered voters shows that support for educational choice is strong, and that the vast majority of parents would prefer to send their child to a school other than their zoned public school. Statement from John Schilling, President of the American Federation of Children: “Once again, a new round…Read More



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Thursday, December 5, 2019

Op-ed: I Know What It’s Like to Carry Out Executions

With all of the attention focused in Washington on impeachment, it might be easy to overlook that Donald Trump’s administration is undertaking something momentous. Beginning on December 9 and continuing in rapid succession over the following days and weeks, the government is hoping to carry out the first federal executions in 16 years. Though a…Read More



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Wednesday, December 4, 2019

City council sets hearing on food desert ordinance

The city council plans a public hearing Dec. 17 on a “healthy neighborhoods” zoning ordinance to fight junk-food proliferation in northeast Oklahoma City. The measure would set standards for “small-box” retailers in the 73111 ZIP Code, an area marked by above-average mortality rates and below-average life expectancy. “There is not a single grocery store in…Read More



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from via Blog – Catholic Conference of Oklahoma

City council sets hearing on food desert ordinance

The city council plans a public hearing Dec. 17 on a “healthy neighborhoods” zoning ordinance to fight junk-food proliferation in northeast Oklahoma City. The measure would set standards for “small-box” retailers in the 73111 ZIP Code, an area marked by above-average mortality rates and below-average life expectancy. “There is not a single grocery store in…Read More



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Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Pennsylvania considers requiring burial or cremation of fetal remains

The Pennsylvania Senate is debating a bill that would require the burial or cremation of human remains after miscarriage or abortion. HB 1890, the Final Disposition of Fetal Remains Act, was passed by the state House Nov. 18 by a vote of 123 to 76. It would require health care facilities to bury or cremate…Read More



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via Blog – Catholic Conference of Oklahoma

For the first time, most Americans prefer life imprisonment to death penalty

For the first time in more than three decades, a majority of Americans favor life imprisonment without parole over the death penalty as a punishment for murder. A Gallup poll released this week found that 60% of survey respondents said life without parole is the preferable sentence for a person convicted of murder, while 36%…Read More



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School for Homeless Children Breaks Ground On New Facility

Positive Tomorrows, Oklahoma’s only elementary school specifically serving homeless children, recently broke ground on a new facility and announced it has met its Building Success Campaign goal of $10.2 million raised from the community. An additional $5 million received in New Market Tax Credits will bring the final project total to $15 million. The new facility will more than double the school’s capacity and expand grade levels served.…Read More



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via Blog – Catholic Conference of Oklahoma

School for Homeless Children Breaks Ground On New Facility

Positive Tomorrows, Oklahoma’s only elementary school specifically serving homeless children, recently broke ground on a new facility and announced it has met its Building Success Campaign goal of $10.2 million raised from the community. An additional $5 million received in New Market Tax Credits will bring the final project total to $15 million. The new facility will more than double the school’s capacity and expand grade levels served.…Read More



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Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Pro-life groups file lawsuit over latest New York abortion law

Several pro-life organizations in New York have sued the state over a law they say targets pro-life and religious employers, barring them from reflecting their core beliefs in hiring policies. “No government has the right to tell pro-life or religious organizations they must hire someone who doesn’t agree with their core mission,” Ken Connelly, senior counsel…Read More



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Kansas Catholic Conference says Medicaid expansion needs pro-life revisions

As Kansas considers expanding its Medicaid program, the state’s Catholic Conference said its support is contingent upon the establishment of pro-life safeguards. Last week, the Special Committee on Medicaid Expansion – a joint House and Senate panel – held two days of hearings discussing an expansion of KanCare. Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas…Read More



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Washington DC drops bill to legalize sex trade

A bill to legalize the buying and selling of sex in Washington, DC, will not move forward after widespread opposition and concern that the bill lacked enough support of the city council to be passed. The Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019 (B23-0318) would have made the capital the first city in the…Read More



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Monday, November 18, 2019

Gov. Kevin Stitt’s approval required for refugee resettlement order

Oklahoma’s governor and mayors will soon be required to approve the resettlement of refugees across the state, a new requirement from the Trump administration that potentially adds another layer of politics to immigration policy. An executive order signed by President Donald Trump in September instructs the federal government to “resettle refugees only in those jurisdictions…Read More



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Oklahomans with DACA fight to protect the program

Even with their immigration status in question, undocumented Oklahomans are speaking out for the federal program allowing them to stay in the U.S. Rallies in the state and Washington, D.C., shone a light on immigrants who have made Oklahoma their home, in part with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. DACA reached the U.S.…Read More



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from via Blog – Catholic Conference of Oklahoma

Gov. Kevin Stitt’s approval required for refugee resettlement order

Oklahoma’s governor and mayors will soon be required to approve the resettlement of refugees across the state, a new requirement from the Trump administration that potentially adds another layer of politics to immigration policy. An executive order signed by President Donald Trump in September instructs the federal government to “resettle refugees only in those jurisdictions…Read More



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Oklahomans with DACA fight to protect the program

Even with their immigration status in question, undocumented Oklahomans are speaking out for the federal program allowing them to stay in the U.S. Rallies in the state and Washington, D.C., shone a light on immigrants who have made Oklahoma their home, in part with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. DACA reached the U.S.…Read More



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Thursday, November 14, 2019

As SCOTUS hears DACA arguments, bishop calls for congressional action

The USCCB’s migration committee chairman hopes that Congress can come to a solution regarding the situation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy recipients, as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case seeking approval to eliminate the program altogether. Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin told CNA Nov.12 that while he and his brother…Read More



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Ohio bill would target proposal on abortion reversal notification

Two Democratic lawmakers in Ohio have introduced legislation that would prohibit the state from requiring doctors to provide patients with information that is not recognized by expert medical associations or supported through peer-reviewed research. The bill challenges another piece of proposed legislation in the state, which would require physicians to inform patients seeking a medication…Read More



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Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Second federal court rules against HHS conscience protection rule

For the second time in two days, a federal judge on Thursday said the Trump administration’s conscience protection rule for health care workers violated the law. Judge Stanley Bastian in the Eastern District Court of Washington, an Obama appointee, ruled against the Department of Health and Human Services Nov. 7 after the State of Washington…Read More



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Stitt considers Medicaid block grant, refuses support for SQ802

Gov. Kevin Stitt believes he has found a solution to Oklahoma’s health care problems. “The solution for Oklahoma is a block grant,” he said during a recent radio interview in response to a question about his health care plan. A Medicaid block grant, which would require approval from the federal government, would completely overhaul how…Read More



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Stitt considers Medicaid block grant, refuses support for SQ802

Gov. Kevin Stitt believes he has found a solution to Oklahoma’s health care problems. “The solution for Oklahoma is a block grant,” he said during a recent radio interview in response to a question about his health care plan. A Medicaid block grant, which would require approval from the federal government, would completely overhaul how…Read More



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Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Oklahoma Supreme Court blocks 2015 abortion law

The Oklahoma Supreme Court granted an injunction on Monday barring enforcement of a law that bans a method of abortion in the second trimester. Six justices agreed to the injunction, while two dissented. The injunction is expected to remain in place while the court hears an appeal of the “Unborn Child Protection-from-Dismemberment-Abortion Act,” which was…Read More



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Police Chief: permitless carry law creates policing concerns

While most Oklahomans can now legally carry a firearm without a permit or training, Oklahoma City’s top police official is worried about the consequences the change in law could have. “There are a lot of circumstances that this could potentially create that concern us,” Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley said. “Our officers have to…Read More



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Oklahoma Supreme Court blocks 2015 abortion law

The Oklahoma Supreme Court granted an injunction on Monday barring enforcement of a law that bans a method of abortion in the second trimester. Six justices agreed to the injunction, while two dissented. The injunction is expected to remain in place while the court hears an appeal of the “Unborn Child Protection-from-Dismemberment-Abortion Act,” which was…Read More



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Police Chief: permitless carry law creates policing concerns

While most Oklahomans can now legally carry a firearm without a permit or training, Oklahoma City’s top police official is worried about the consequences the change in law could have. “There are a lot of circumstances that this could potentially create that concern us,” Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley said. “Our officers have to…Read More



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Hundreds of inmates released from state prisons in largest commutation in U.S. history

The Pardon and Parole Board voted Friday to recommend 527 inmates for commutation, setting the stage for Monday’s mass release. The governor signed off on all but three of the recommendations because of a last-minute victim’s protest and a couple of last-minute reports of misconduct, officials said. Not all of the inmates granted commutation were…Read More



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Monday, November 4, 2019

Senate bill could blacklist pro-life groups for aid funding

A pro-life group is warning Senators that a proposed government funding bill could “blacklist” pro-life groups while funding promoters of abortion. In an Oct. 30 letter to senators, March for Life Action warned that language in a mini omnibus (minibus) funding bill, H.R. 2740, “would prop up the abortion industry and overseas promoting of abortion…Read More



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Kentucky shirtmaker wins discrimination case over LGBT festival

The Kentucky state Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of a Christian business owner who declined to serve an LGBT pride festival, and who was punished by a local government for discrimination. “Today’s decision makes clear that this case never should have happened,” said Jim Campbell, senior counsel with the group Alliance Defending Freedom…Read More



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HHS changes rules to protect religious adoption agencies

The Trump administration has announced a change to federal rules to preserve federal funding of faith-based adoption agencies, regardless of their views on same-sex marriage. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Nov. 1 that it would change its enforcement of previous regulations and propose a new rule, allowing faith-based adoption agencies to continue…Read More



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Pro-abortion lawsuit seeks to strike down 13 laws in Minnesota

Minnesota’s restrictions on abortion are too important for pro-abortion groups to eliminate through a single lawsuit, pro-life defenders of the 13 challenged laws have said. Paul Stark, communications director with Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, said the state’s current laws are “reasonable and very modest protections for pregnant women and their unborn children.” “Women have…Read More



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Friday, November 1, 2019

Will Colorado tax sacramental wine?

A bicameral committee in Colorado’s legislature is considering two bills that would tax sacramental wine and insurance premiums paid to fraternal societies, like the Knights of Columbus, that sell insurance to their members. The Tax Expenditure Evaluation Interim Study Committee of the Colorado General Assembly is tasked with evaluating recommendations regarding Colorado’s tax exemptions and…Read More



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Thursday, October 31, 2019

Pro-Life Groups Praise Down Syndrome Discrimination By Abortion Prohibition Act

The following stakeholders praised the introduction of the Down Syndrome Discrimination by Abortion Prohibition Act: “Taking the life of an unborn child because the baby has been diagnosed with Down Syndrome is the ultimate manifestation of discrimination,” said Tony Lauinger, State Chairman of Oklahomans For Life. “Targeting for death a human being who is deemed…Read More



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Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Missouri’s last abortion clinic could be closed after state hearing

A hearing began on Monday in Missouri to determine the fate of the state’s last remaining abortion clinic. “Planned Parenthood’s stubborn refusal to correct its gross deficiencies is the reason Missouri may soon be the first state since Roe v. Wade in 1973 to be free from abortion clinics,” Jeanne Mancini, president of the group…Read More



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Pro-life leaders ask HHS to separate abortion payments in insurance plans

A group of pro-life leaders is calling on the Trump administration to finalize a rule that would require abortion to be billed separately from other services in taxpayer funded health insurance plans. An Oct. 21 letter to Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the Department of Health and Human…Read More



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Thursday, October 24, 2019

Louisiana court lets challenge to abortion regulations continue

A lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s pro-life legislation will be allowed to continue, but the state is confident that it will prevail after the lower court re-examines whether the plaintiffs have standing to challenge the regulations. The 5th Circuit’s Court of Appeals declined to dismiss the case altogether, but also stated that those suing the state did…Read More



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via Blog – Catholic Conference of Oklahoma

Pompeo highlights religious freedom, pro-life goals as among US priorities

The U.S. Secretary of State listed promoting international religious freedom and fighting abortion as among U.S. foreign policy priorities in a Tuesday speech on diplomacy. In his remarks, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned the second annual Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom hosted by the U.S. State Department in July, with religious leaders and survivors…Read More



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Appeals court rules against Little Sisters’ exemption from HHS mandate

Attorneys for the Little Sisters of the Poor reiterated their call for the U.S. Supreme Court to step in after a second appeals court ruled against the sisters’ exemption from the federal contraception mandate. “The Little Sisters never wanted this fight and have spent 8 years trying to focus on caring for the elderly poor…Read More



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Monday, October 21, 2019

Sen. Sasse: Church beliefs should not jeopardize tax-exempt status

One U.S. senator is looking to bring up a vote on protecting churches from attempts to police their beliefs, after a presidential candidate said churches should lose their tax-exempt status if they oppose same-sex marriage. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) has introduced a resolution in the Senate expressing support for freedom of conscience (S.J.Res. 58). He…Read More



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Friday, October 18, 2019

Opinion: A chance to end discrimination against Catholic schools

Today Teresa Schmit and her husband, Mike, have their hands full with their eight children, thanks in part to the Catholic schools in Great Falls, Montana, which have helped to make their family’s life – and their kids’ education – manageable and successful. Back when the Schmits had only three children, their marriage was in…Read More



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Thursday, October 17, 2019

Criminal justice reform, faith leaders urging clemency for death row inmate

Criminal justice reform, faith leaders and an Oklahoma County Commissioner are urging the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board and Gov. Kevin Stitt to back clemency for death row inmate Julius D. Jones, whose claims of racial bias have been rejected by appeals courts. “For over 20 years, (Jones) has been on Oklahoma’s death row, though…Read More



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Criminal justice reform, faith leaders urging clemency for death row inmate

Criminal justice reform, faith leaders and an Oklahoma County Commissioner are urging the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board and Gov. Kevin Stitt to back clemency for death row inmate Julius D. Jones, whose claims of racial bias have been rejected by appeals courts. “For over 20 years, (Jones) has been on Oklahoma’s death row, though…Read More



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Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Calif. governor signs state college campus abortion pill mandate into law

California governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Friday a measure requiring public universities to provide free access to medical abortions for students. The law will take effect in 2023, and applies to the 34 campuses of the University of California and California State University. Sen. Connie Levya (D-Chino), the law’s author, said Oct. 11 that…Read More



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Attorney General: education is ‘ground zero’ in fight for religious freedom

Education is “ground zero” in the fight for religious freedom, the U.S. Attorney General told an audience at the Notre Dame Law School on Friday. While speaking on the threats posed to freedom of religion in the U.S. by aggressive secularism, Attorney General William Barr told law students that nowhere is the threat to religious…Read More



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Ohio Down syndrome abortion ban remains blocked after court ruling

A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a block on an Ohio law banning abortions on the grounds of a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Former Governor John Kasich signed the law nearly two years ago, but it has not yet been able to come into effect. The court’s decision comes amid Down Syndrome Awareness Month,…Read More



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Friday, October 11, 2019

Little Sisters of the Poor Appeal to the Supreme Court — Again

The Little Sisters of the Poor have filed a petition requesting that the Supreme Court affirm the religious exemption protecting them from having to comply with the Health and Human Services’ contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act. The renewed petition comes after several states, including Pennsylvania and California, sued the Little Sisters of the…Read More



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Archbishop Coakley Joins CNA Panel on Opposition to Death Penalty

The Catholic Church’s opposition to the death penalty stems from its view on the sacredness of human life and the value of mercy, said U.S. bishops in a roundtable discussion about capital punishment Oct. 10. The discussion, which was livestreamed by Catholic News Service, took place on the World Day Against the Death Penalty and…Read More



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Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Federal appeals court considering Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban

A federal appeals court is considering a Mississippi law ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The law was signed in 2018 but is not currently in effect. The law allows abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy only when the mother’s life or a major bodily function is in danger, or when the unborn…Read More



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Indiana bishops: death penalty does not help convicts or victims

Ahead of a scheduled reinstatement of the death penalty for federal inmates, the bishops of Indiana are calling on U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration to reverse the decision. “The federal government’s decision in July to end a 16-year moratorium on executing federal inmates is regrettable, unnecessary and morally unjustified,” the bishops said in…Read More



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Monday, October 7, 2019

Senators introduce bill requiring states to report abortion figures

Senators have introduced legislation that would require states to report abortion statistics to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control, including in all cases where babies survive botched abortions. The Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2019 would make certain Medicaid family planning funds to states conditional upon their gathering and reporting comprehensive…Read More



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Saturday, October 5, 2019

Supreme Court Revisits Abortion With Louisiana Case

The Supreme Court will consider an abortion case this term after it announced on Friday that it will hear a challenge to Louisiana’s abortion law. Louisiana’s Unsafe Abortion Protection Act requires abortionists to have admitting privileges at a local hospital, defined as within 30 miles of the abortion clinic; when then-Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) signed…Read More



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Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Lawmakers Want Dignified Treatment of Aborted Fetuses

Senator Mike Braun (R., Ind.) is sponsoring new legislation requiring abortion providers to dispose of the remains of aborted fetuses through either burial or cremation. The senator introduced the Dignity for Aborted Children Act late last week in the wake of news that more than 2,200 fetal remains had been discovered inside the Illinois home…Read More



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Supreme Court to Decide High-Stakes ‘LGBT’ Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court will begin its 2019-2020 term with a thunderclap: a trio of cases that could result in the extension of federal employment protections that now bar discrimination based on “sex” to encompass workers who identify as “gay” or “transgender.” “When Title VII passed in 1964, there is no question that Congress at…Read More



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HHS allocates $33m previously meant for Planned Parenthood

The Department of Health and Human Services announced on Monday that is allocating $33.6 million in Title X funding previously earmarked for Planned Parenthood and other entities that have withdrawn from the program. In total, 50 groups will receive family planning grants which would otherwise have gone to abortion providers. HHS said that the funding…Read More



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Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Georgia Abortion Ban

A federal judge temporarily blocked Georgia’s abortion ban Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones temporarily blocked the implementation of the law, which was scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1. Jones’s actions follow a June lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, and the Center for Reproductive Rights, according to WSB-TV Atlanta. Jones ruled…Read More



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Split ruling for Virginia abortion regulations

A federal judge on Monday overturned two Virginia restrictions on abortion, while upholding several others, saying, “the right to choose to have an abortion is not unfettered.” “In addition to a woman’s personal liberty interest, the state has profound interests in protecting potential life and protecting the health and safety of women,” wrote U.S. District…Read More



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Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Governor’s criminal justice task force to hold first public meeting

A governor-created criminal justice reform task force that faced early criticism over a lack of transparency will start opening meetings to the public this week. The 15-member group is scheduled to hold its first public meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the attorney general’s Tulsa office. “The governor’s very excited about what will be brought…Read More



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Illinois bill would ban government travel to pro-life states

An Illinois state representative has introduced legislation to prevent government employees from traveling to states which have enacted pro-life legislation. The Illinois state Catholic conference told CNA the bill is “absurd.” The bill, introduced last week by Rep. Daniel Didech (D-Buffalo Grove), would ban any Illinois state agency from requiring or approving travel by any…Read More



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Friday, September 27, 2019

Foster families win big in Michigan court

St. Vincent Catholic Charities, along with Chad and Melissa Buck, parents of five children with special needs, won a major victory for the adoption agency and the families and children it serves.  In Buck v. Gordon, St. Vincent joined the Bucks and Shamber Flore, a former foster child, in fighting the Attorney General of Michigan’s attempt…Read More



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Thursday, September 26, 2019

Holy See and Trump administration oppose abortion at UN General Assembly

President Donald Trump and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin have challenged world leaders to protect unborn human life. Both leaders spoke at the United Nations in New York, as the body met for the 74th session of its General Assembly. On Tuesday, President Trump stated that “like many nations here today, we in America…Read More



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Virginia Catholic Conference: ‘Public accountability’ important in death penalty cases

The Virginia Catholic Conference has spoken in support of public accountability in the administration of the death penalty, while calling for an end to its use. In a statement given in response to questions about a lawsuit demanding that the public be able to view the entirety of the execution process in capital cases, the conference…Read More



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Catholic Medical Association: fund palliative care, not assisted suicide

The Catholic Medical Association, along with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Health Association, are voicing support for a bill pending in Congress to fund training, research, and education on palliative care. Palliative care involves medical care and pain management for the symptoms of those suffering from a serious illness, and refraining…Read More



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Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Polls: US majority support medical conscience protections

New poll results show that a large majority of Americans believe that healthcare professionals should not be forced to provide procedures that violate their moral beliefs. The results of two polls, released by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on Sept. 18, show widespread support for conscience protections in the healthcare industry, and for…Read More



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Saturday, September 21, 2019

AG Hunter Leads 18 States in Urging SCOTUS to Protect School Choice

Attorney General Mike Hunter has filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the justices to overturn a Montana Supreme Court decision that required the state to exclude religious school options for parents participating in a state tax credit scholarship program. Montana’s program, enacted by its legislature in 2015, gave a tax credit to…Read More



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Friday, September 20, 2019

Stitt pick for OK Supreme Court described as pro-life

Gov. Kevin Stitt named M. John Kane IV, of Pawhuska, to the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday, filling the first of two vacancies on the nine-member court. Kane, 57, a registered Republican, has been a district judge in Osage County since 2005. He does not have to be confirmed by either house of the State…Read More



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Stitt pick for OK Supreme Court described as pro-life

Gov. Kevin Stitt named M. John Kane IV, of Pawhuska, to the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday, filling the first of two vacancies on the nine-member court. Kane, 57, a registered Republican, has been a district judge in Osage County since 2005. He does not have to be confirmed by either house of the State…Read More



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Thursday, September 19, 2019

Oklahoma judge denies effort to halt ban on D&E abortions

The Oklahoma County District Court has denied a motion to pause a law banning a common abortion procedure during the second trimester. According to the Associated Press, Judge Cindy Truong declined to issue a temporary injunction that would have stopped the bill from going into effect while the case progresses. Officials have agreed to wait…Read More



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Oklahoma judge denies effort to halt ban on D&E abortions

The Oklahoma County District Court has denied a motion to pause a law banning a common abortion procedure during the second trimester. According to the Associated Press, Judge Cindy Truong declined to issue a temporary injunction that would have stopped the bill from going into effect while the case progresses. Officials have agreed to wait…Read More



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Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Survey: Oklahoma parents want money to follow their child to school of their choice

Yet another scientific survey of Oklahoma voters has found strong support for parental choice in education. The survey, conducted by Cor Strategies, asked: “School choice gives parents the right to use the tax dollars designated for their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best meets their needs. Generally…Read More



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Editorial: the abortion lobby’s frightening new goal

Prior to Roe v Wade, perhaps the most popular argument for legalising abortion was that women’s safety demanded avoiding the dreaded “back alley abortion”. In untrained hands, the unregulated procedure was just too dangerous for women. Now, as non-surgical, chemical abortion becomes more common, abortion rights activists hunger for a future where women and girls…Read More



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Bishops: reducing refugee numbers ‘wholly counter to our values’

As the Trump administration reportedly considers further cuts to U.S. refugee admissions, the leader of the U.S. bishops’ migration committee has stated his opposition to any such plan. Any “further reductions in the number of refugees” accepted into the U.S. “would be wholly counter to our values as a nation of immigrants,” Bishop Joe Vasquez…Read More



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Survey: Oklahoma parents want money to follow their child to school of their choice

Yet another scientific survey of Oklahoma voters has found strong support for parental choice in education. The survey, conducted by Cor Strategies, asked: “School choice gives parents the right to use the tax dollars designated for their child’s education to send their child to the public or private school which best meets their needs. Generally…Read More



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Arizona Supreme Court sides in favor of religious freedom for business owners

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of two Christian artists who argue that they should not be forced to create custom artwork for same-sex weddings in opposition to their religious beliefs. “The rights of free speech and free exercise, so precious to this nation since its founding, are not limited to soft murmurings…Read More



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California Catholic Conference asks governor to veto college abortion bill

California legislators passed a bill last Friday that would require all state universities to offer medication abortions, despite the objections of pro-life leaders. In a Sept. 16 statement, Andrew Rivas, executive director of the California Catholic Conference, encouraged California Governor Gavin Newsom to oppose the bill. “We urge him to veto this unprecedented and unnecessary…Read More



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Saturday, September 14, 2019

Florist appeals to Supreme Court for second time for religious liberty

A florist in Washington state sued for declining to serve a same-sex wedding is once again appealing her case to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a statement issued Sept. 11, lawyers from the Alliance Defending Freedom said that Barronelle Stutzman’s case must be considered by the court for a second time. Stutzman’s appeal comes after the Washington…Read More



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Supreme Court hands Trump a victory on asylum restriction

President Donald Trump scored a major legal victory on immigration on Wednesday as the Supreme Court gave him the go-ahead to proceed with a new policy barring asylum for migrants who pass through another country en route to the U.S. The high court order allows the policy, which is expected to drastically reduce asylum granted…Read More



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Thursday, September 12, 2019

Catholic immigration group sues Trump administration over asylum policy

A Catholic group is suing the Trump administration over the restriction of protections granted to asylum seekers in the U.S. The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), Democracy Forward, and Proskauer Rose LLP filed a lawsuit Sept. 6 arguing that the Trump administration’s new policies violate the statutory rights of asylum seekers and were issued…Read More



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Born Alive bill still stalled as Congress returns to session

Five months after first attempting to force a vote on legislation to protect babies who survive botched abortions, pro-life Members in the House are still at a standstill. “This is not even a pro-life or a pro-choice issue. This is an issue of someone’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” Rep. Ann…Read More



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Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Suit challenges religious liberty of Catholic hospitals over assisted suicide

A Colorado man with cancer along with his doctor have filed a suit last month against a health system run by the Catholic Church. The suit alleges that hospital policy barring doctors from participating in assisted suicide violates state law. Cornelius “Neil” Mahoney, 64, was told July 16 that his cancer was incurable and he…Read More



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Thursday, September 5, 2019

Opinion: Universal school choice is needed – your address shouldn’t limit your child’s future

What social institutions have the most immediate and strongest impact on a child’s development and well-being? According to researchers for the Pew Charitable Trust’s Economic Mobility Project, it’s the child’s family circumstances, with schools ranking as the second-most important factor. In the U.S., family circumstances and schools are closely linked, because most cities and counties…Read More



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Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Judge temporarily blocks Missouri’s 8-week abortion ban

A federal judge temporarily blocked Missouri’s ban on abortion on or beyond the eighth week of pregnancy that was to take effect Aug. 28. U.S. District Judge Howard Sachs delayed implementation of the law in a ruling Aug. 27 while a legal challenge to it continues. The decision comes in a lawsuit filed by the…Read More



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Pope Francis condemns euthanasia as utilitarianism, not freedom

Euthanasia is a way of treating the human person as an object; while it may appear to give freedom, it is really a rejection of hope, Pope Francis told an oncology association Sept. 2. “The practice of euthanasia, which has already been legalized in several countries, only apparently aims to encourage personal freedom,” he said…Read More



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Analysis: What is next for pro-life legislation?

Last week, a Missouri judge ruling against a state pro-life law which was drafted to withstand judicial review. The decision calls into question whether any legislation is possible on abortion in the first two trimesters of pregnancy, and whether a new Supreme Court decision on the issue is now inevitable. A growing number of state…Read More



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Saturday, August 31, 2019

Permitless carry opponents submit signatures

It’s unclear if groups opposed to a permitless carry law have collected enough signatures to put a referendum question on the 2020 ballot, but petition backers said they were close to the 60,000 threshold as they submitted petitions to the secretary of state’s office before Thursday’s 5 p.m. deadline. A few hours before the deadline,…Read More



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Thursday, August 29, 2019

OKC Council advances ordinance on ‘food deserts’

The Oklahoma City council will be asked Tuesday to take a step toward limiting the proliferation of junk food in northeast Oklahoma City. The city manager is seeking authority to initiate an application, on the city’s behalf, to create a “healthy neighborhood overlay” zoning district within the boundaries of the 73111 ZIP code. Zoning terms…Read More



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OKC Council advances ordinance on ‘food deserts’

The Oklahoma City council will be asked Tuesday to take a step toward limiting the proliferation of junk food in northeast Oklahoma City. The city manager is seeking authority to initiate an application, on the city’s behalf, to create a “healthy neighborhood overlay” zoning district within the boundaries of the 73111 ZIP code. Zoning terms…Read More



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Wednesday, August 28, 2019

TX Leads Mul­ti­state Coali­tion Urg­ing Supreme Court to Allow Faith-Based Orga­ni­za­tions to...

Attorney General Ken Paxton led a multistate coalition in an amicus brief filed with the United States Supreme Court in support of faith-based child welfare organizations. Discriminating against faith-based organizations that partner with state agencies based on their religious beliefs would not only be a blatant violation of the Constitution’s religious liberty protections, it would…Read More



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Sen. Marco Rubio Pens Op-ed on Catholic Social Teaching

Almost 130 years ago, Pope Leo XIII published the encyclical Rerum Novarum. In this text, he defended the well-being of workers and made the Catholic Church’s position on work clear: Work and working people have a fundamental dignity that all societies are bound to respect and serve. “No man,” the pope wrote, “may with impunity…Read More



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Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Kentucky Supreme Court hears religious freedom case over LGBT shirts

The Kentucky Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Friday in the case of a Christian business owner who is facing punishment for declining to print shirts for an LGBT Pride festival because of his faith. “The right to decide which ideas to express is core to human freedom. The Commission violated that freedom by ordering…Read More



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Saturday, August 24, 2019

Former death row inmate wins freedom or new trial in 1984 murder case

For decades, two Ada men insisted from prison that they did not kidnap and murder a convenience store clerk in 1984 despite their confessions to police. They claimed their admissions came from a dream. Those innocence claims attracted renewed national attention when the true-crime documentary series, “The Innocent Man,” debuted on Netflix last December. Now,…Read More



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Friday, August 23, 2019

Gov. Stitt calls for higher education chancellor to be replaced

Gov. Kevin Stitt is pushing for Glen Johnson, Oklahoma’s longtime higher education chancellor, to be replaced. “Oklahomans hired me to put a fresh set of eyes on everything in state government,” the governor said Tuesday. “And the fact of the matter is, the chancellor has been there for 12 years — he’s been in government…Read More



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Florida bishops: Serial killer’s execution is ‘unnecessary’

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops is pleading for Gov. Ron DeSantis to stop the execution of Gary Ray Bowles, who confessed to murdering six men during a six month period in 1994. “As we approach the date of Gary Ray Bowles’ scheduled execution, we urge you to grant a stay,” said an Aug. 14…Read More



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Mother Miriam urges parents to pull kids from public school: ‘I don’t know of anything more urgent’

During her daily live show yesterday, Mother Miriam challenged parents to uphold their duty as primary educators of their children. She alerted parents to the fact that today’s schools are filled with evil and that it is the first and foremost duty of parents to protect their kids. “It has to do with you being…Read More



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White House criticized for push to allow indefinite detention of migrant kids

The White House announced on Wednesday that it would look to terminate court-approved limits on detention of migrant children and families, allowing for indefinite detention. The announcement drew strong criticism from a leading Catholic immigration group. “These changes would expand the number of children who will be detained and are in direct opposition to the…Read More



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Gov. Stitt calls for higher education chancellor to be replaced

Gov. Kevin Stitt is pushing for Glen Johnson, Oklahoma’s longtime higher education chancellor, to be replaced. “Oklahomans hired me to put a fresh set of eyes on everything in state government,” the governor said Tuesday. “And the fact of the matter is, the chancellor has been there for 12 years — he’s been in government…Read More



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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Planned Parenthood to forgo funding from federal program over abortion rule

Planned Parenthood will be foregoing as much as $60 million annually from a federal family planning program that will carry new anti-abortion rules. “Planned Parenthood is still open. We are continuing to fight this rule in court,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president of Planned Parenthood, said in a call with reporters Monday. She said…Read More



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Tuesday, August 20, 2019

9th Circuit: Trump Can Defund Planned Parenthood of Title X Dollars

In great news this weekend, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which traditionally has been seen as being a left-leaning Circuit Court, allowed Trump’s Protect Life Rule to move forward, after no judges asked for a vote on whether to have a hearing on Planned Parenthood’s request to halt the Protect Life Rule, which prevents Title…Read More



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State records reveal extent of botched abortions, as GOP reps push ‘born-alive’ protection law

At least 40 babies were born alive after botched abortions across three states since 2016, according to state health data that offers a glimpse into the extent of an issue that lawmakers have fiercely debated in recent months. The data on babies surviving abortions is compiled on a mandatory basis by only a handful of…Read More



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Thursday, August 15, 2019

Archbishop Cordileone: Christians must ‘serve as the conscience of society’ by opposing abortion

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco called for Christians to be the “moral conscience” of society during a Mass marking the end of a novena against an upcoming abortion bill. From August 3 to August 11, Californian dioceses and archdioceses prayed a novena for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe to defeat a…Read More



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Future of Michigan pro-life program in jeopardy as funding threatened

Lawmakers in Michigan are considering ending public funding for a program that counsels pregnant women on alternatives to abortion, prompting concern from the Michigan Catholic Conference, which has been advocating for the program since its inception five years ago. The program, administered by a nonprofit called Real Alternatives, began in Pennsylvania in 1996 and has…Read More



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Bishops call for support for HHS rule change

Public consultation closes Tuesday on a new rule to protect doctors’ and healthcare workers’ right to object to abortion and so-called gender reassignment procedures. August 13 is the last day on which the Department of Health and Human Services will receive feedback on the proposed change to the interpretation of section 1557 of the Patient…Read More



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Tuesday, August 13, 2019

NYT Best-selling Author Credits Catholic Social Teaching for Recent Conversion

From the desk of Rod Dreher: I’ve been in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a special reason this weekend: my friend J.D. Vance was baptized and received into the Catholic Church. This has been a long journey for him. He was officially brought into the Catholic faith by Father Henry Stephan, a Dominican priest, at St. Gertrude…Read More



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Saturday, August 10, 2019

Catholic Church in Wisconsin opposes bill attacking seal of confession

Two bills were announced in Wisconsin this week intended to protect victims of child sexual abuse. The Catholic Church in the state has registered its strong objection to one bill’s intention to force violation of the seal of confession. The Child Victims Act would remove the statute of limitations for victims of child sexual abuse,…Read More



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Friday, August 9, 2019

Lankford Joins Senators Urging Trump Admin to Keep Refugee Program

A bipartisan group of 18 senators is urging the Trump administration not to shut down refugee admissions, but rather to increase admissions. Citing “alarming” reports that the administration might cut off refugee admissions in FY 2020 amidst what the United Nations Refugee Agency says are the “highest levels of displacement on record,” the letter from…Read More



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Federal judge extends injunction against Arkansas abortion laws

A federal judge has extended a temporary injunction against three new abortion clinic regulations in Arkansas. Saying that women would “suffer irreparable harm” if the laws were to be enforced, District Court Judge Kristine Baker of the Eastern District of Arkansas on August 6 blocked the regulations while legal challenges play out in court. The…Read More



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Saturday, August 3, 2019

Senators introduce bill to stop federally funded embryonic stem cell research

Senators have introduced legislation to stop federally-funded research at the National Institutes of Health using embryonic stem cells, and instead promote stem cell research not involving the destruction or damage of human embryos. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the sponsor of the legislation, said that the bill, the Patients First Act, “would encourage the use of…Read More



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What the Philadelphia foster care case could mean for the Supreme Court

When the U.S. Supreme Court mandated legal recognition of same-sex marriage in the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the majority opinion argued that doing so “would pose no risk of harm” to those who disagreed with it. In his dissent, however, Chief Justice John Roberts suggested that serious religious liberty issues had been left unanswered…Read More



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