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Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act Heard in Senate Committee
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 On Wednesday, the Senate Health and Pensions Committee heard testimony on the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act." SB 665, sponsored by Sen. Eric Burlison (R-Battlefield), requires that babies born alive after an attempted abortion be given the same rights as any live-born child. The bill also requires physicians to provide the same level of care to children born alive after an abortion as they would any other child. Though the bill was also filed last year, it was one of the few pieces of pro-life legislation that did not pass as part of HB 126, the Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act. The MCC testified in support of this legislation. |
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U.S. Bishops Express Support for Parental Choice in Education
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 Bishop Michael C. Barbor, SJ of Oakland, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Catholic Education, and Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, expressed appreciation this week of the Trump administration's efforts to expand school choice options for parents. "The right of parents to exercise freedom of choice in education is firmly rooted in the teachings of our Catholic faith. As the primary educators of their children, parents have the right to choose the school best suited for their children," they said.
The Missouri Catholic Conference is supporting current efforts in the Missouri legislature to create more choices for school parents as well. This week, SB 581, sponsored by Senator Mike Cierpiot (R-Lee's Summit), passed through the committee process and will now be placed on the Senate calendar for debate. This bill creates the "Show Me a Brighter Future Scholarship Fund," a fund to be administered by the state treasurer to allow students in low performing school districts to obtain scholarships to attend private schools. Other bills are also being considered that would allow parents greater choice in education, but these bills face great opposition and are difficult to pass at the state level. If you have an interest in school choice, please consider joining us in our efforts to pass this kind of legislation. We can direct you on how to receive training in how to advocate for school choice at the local and state-wide level. Feel free to reach out to us in Jefferson City by email at mocatholic@mocatholic.org or by phone at 573-635-7239. |
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Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship Videos Inspire Catholics to Prayer and Action in Political Life
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 This week, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released new videos to accompany the bishops' teaching document on Faithful Citizenship. According to the press release, "they seek to help the faithful participate in public life, prioritize faith over partisan politics, engage with civility, and respond to pressing issues of our day." Each video ends with a prayer.
Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the USCCB, emphasized the importance of these videos in advance of a heightened political season saying, "The bishops of the U.S. invite all Catholics to bring their faith into the public square. Political engagement and participation are important ways that together, we can work to protect the unborn, welcome immigrants, bring justice to victims of racism and religious intolerance, support families, accompany those experiencing poverty, and advocate on behalf of all who are vulnerable. As we enter an election year, these Faithful Citizenship videos are meant to help the faithful reflect on this call, and we hope they will be widely shared."
The videos are available on the USCCB's YouTube channel in four languages: English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Follow the link to start watching today! |
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U.S. Bishop Chairmen Voice Opposition to Proclamation that Further Restricts Immigration and Family Reunification
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 Last Friday, the president issued a proclamation restricting the issuance of immigrant visas to people from Burma (Myanmar), Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan and Nigeria. People from Sudan and Tanzania will no longer be eligible for certain visas to come to the United States, commonly called "Diversity Visas."
The chairmen of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a statement this week in opposition to this proclamation.
"The proclamation restricting immigration further undermines family reunification efforts and will make ensuring support for forced migrants in the designated countries more difficult. This proclamation also serves as a painful reminder of the 2017 ban which threatened our country's founding principle of religious freedom. Over the last three years, waivers to allow visas from current travel ban nations based on undue hardship (such as family illness) were supposed to be available but were almost never authorized. We note with particular sadness and have witnessed firsthand the trauma of family separation that occurs with travel bans, which will only increase with this new proclamation."
To read the full statement, visit the USCCB website. |
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Latest MCC Messenger Dives into Immigration Issues
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 In the latest MCC Messenger, out in all four diocesan papers next week, we strive to explain the complicated U.S. immigration process, breaking down the different paths for asylees, refugees, and others. The edition is packed with information, so take your time reading and reach out to us or the recommended sources (found on the last page of the document) with any questions. Visit our website to read Messenger today! |
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Chiefs Kicker Discusses His Catholic Faith
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 On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers to win the team's first Super Bowl in 50 years. While the attention was on the Chiefs' dynamic quarterback Patrick Mahomes this season, Harrison Butker played an important (and often overlooked) role as the team's place kicker. In addition to being one of the most accurate kickers in the league, Butker is also a devout Catholic. However, it was not always that way. In an interview with EWTN, Butker talks about how he fell away from the faith in high school, but was brought back to the Church through the sacrament of Confession.
The full interview discussing Harrison's faith journey can be found here.
image courtesy of EWTN |
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Last Saturday, over 2,000 pro-life Missourians attended the Midwest March for Life in Jefferson City. The rally included a march downtown and guest speakers in the Capitol rotunda. During the pre-march rally outside of St. Peter's Church, Bishop Shawn McKnight of the Diocese of Jefferson City and Governor Mike Parson gave remarks in support of the fight for the unborn. David Bereit, founder of 40 Days for Life, gave the keynote address at the rally. 
In anticipation of Super Bowl LIV, last week Bishop Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Archdiocese of San Francisco made a friendly wager on who would win the championship. Hint: it involves some of the dioceses' delicacies. And after that historic win by our Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, we know Bishop Johnston rightfully won that bet.