MCC Weekly Update 8/25/2023

Transgender Treatment Ban for Minors Set to Go Into Effect on Monday 

Legislation banning gender-affirming medical interventions on minors is set to go into effect on Monday amid a legal challenge and questions surrounding a St. Louis gender clinic. SB 49 would ban physicians from providing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors unless the minors began treatment before August 28, the effective date of the bill. However, the law may not go into effect as planned, as the ACLU of Missouri and others are suing to block the bill. 

As questions surround the safety and effectiveness of gender transition procedures on minors, the New York Times recently looked into the Washington University Pediatric Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital which is at the center of a whistle-blower complaint. 

Bishops Urge Supreme Court to Uphold Gun Bans in Domestic Violence Cases

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a federal law that allows people under domestic restraining orders to be banned from carrying firearms. The Court will hear the case, U.S. v. Rahimi, in its upcoming session in response to a lower court decision.

“As the Church teaches, and this nation’s historical traditions demonstrate, the right to bear arms is not an unqualified license that must leave vulnerable family members to live in fear,” said the bishops’ Aug. 22 amicus brief. “Abused victims are precisely the people whom a just government is tasked with protecting. The Second Amendment does not stand as a barrier to their safety.”

The amicus brief stated that the bishops are interested in U.S. v. Rahimi because they believe in “the protection of the dignity and well-being of vulnerable and disadvantaged persons who live under threat of violence.”

To read more, click here for an article from the Catholic News Agency.

Earlier this summer, Jessica Woolbright, Executive Director of the Saint Martha’s domestic violence center in St. Louis, explained the impact of guns in domestic violence situations in our MCC from the Capitol podcast.

Respect Life Apostolate 50th Anniversary

On Sunday, October 15, the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis will host its 50th Anniversary Conference. Join them for an inspirational and educational day at the Cardinal Rigali Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn the latest from local, state, and national Catholic and pro-life leaders. The conference begins with Mass at 9 a.m. followed by light refreshments, presentations on timely topics, lunch, ministry partner fair, networking, and fellowship. Click here for more information and to register.

Canonization Cause Begins for Argentine Officer Killed by Marxist Insurgents 

The bishop for the military and head of the Bishops’ Delegation for the Causes of the Saints in Argentina, Bishop Santiago Olivera, announced the beginning of the cause for canonization of Argentino del Valle Larrabure, an army colonel tortured and murdered in 1975 by Marxist rebels. In his homily, Olivera noted that “various testimonies say that Larrabure could have been saved from his cruel fate, he could have said ‘yes’ and saved himself at too high a price: helping them make explosives to continue killing. However, holding an unwavering faith, he said ‘no,’ and while he was singing a hymn, he was martyred at the hands of the ERP [People’s Revolutionary Army]... Larrabure gave up his life, forgiving those who decided to kill him,” he said.

Further details of Larrabure’s life can be found in this story by the Catholic News Agency. 

Cooling Centers Near You

With Missouri experiencing 100+ degree weather this week, it’s good to know where to go to get cool. The state of Missouri has prepared a map of cooling stations where people can get out of the heat.

Other tips for keeping cool are to stay out of the sun between 11 am-2 pm, drink lots of water, dress in loose-fitting clothes, use cold washcloths, eat cold foods and avoid alcohol, and if indoors, block out the sun by using curtains or shades. Stay cool!