| |
Parental Consent Prior to a Minor's Abortion Becomes Law
|
|
| |
Pictured L to R: Senator Kelli Stargel, Governor Ron DeSantis, and Rep. Erin Grall. Photo: @ErinGrall/Twitter
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops thanks Governor Ron DeSantis for signing into law SB 404, a bill that requires parental consent before a minor has an abortion. This common-sense measure simply holds abortion to the same consent requirements as most every other medical decision involving a child, including simple interventions such as taking an aspirin or getting ears pierced.
We are especially grateful to the legislative leaders who advanced this pro-life legislation, particularly bill sponsors Senator Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) and Representative Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach). We also commend the Democratic lawmakers who courageously crossed party lines and voted in support of this good bill.
As Catholics, we condemn abortion as a grave injustice that denies the fundamental human right to life. However, as long as abortion is legal, we support measures such as parental consent that will reduce the grave harm it inflicts. While deeply disappointed in the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding an abortion case out of Louisiana, we are pleased that Florida has taken a step forward today in ensuring vital protections for parents and their children. |
|
|
Top
|
| |
U.S. Supreme Court Protects Religious Liberty in Three Recent Decisions
|
|
| |
Religious Organizations Able to Participate in Government Programs
On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in the case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, upholding a tax-credit scholarship program in Montana. The Montana Supreme Court invalidated the program as a violation of the "Blaine Amendment" against aid to religious schools in its state constitution, because families benefiting include those who choose to send their children to religiously-affiliated schools.
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, FCCB president and chairman of the USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty, and Bishop Michael C. Barber, S.J. of Oakland, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Catholic Education, praised the decision in a statement. "The Court has rightly ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not permit states to discriminate against religion.This decision means that religious persons and organizations can, like everyone else, participate in government programs that are open to all."
The bishops also addressed the anti-Catholic history of Blaine Amendments, which are in 37 state constitutions, stating, "They were never meant to ensure government neutrality towards religion, but were expressions of hostility toward the Catholic Church. We are grateful that the Supreme Court has taken an important step that will help bring an end to this shameful legacy."
While Florida's constitution contains a similar provision, current state scholarship programs successfully allow participants to choose the best school for their children even when those schools are religiously affiliated.
Preserving the Religious Liberty of the Little Sisters
On July 8, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor against attempts to force Catholic religious to cooperate with immoral activities. In a 7-2 decision, the Court recognized their right to religious freedom.
"This is a saga that did not need to occur. Contraception is not health care, and the government should never have mandated that employers provide it in the first place," said Archbishop Wenski and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, in a statement. "Time after time, administrators and attorneys refused to respect the rights of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and the Catholic faith they exemplify, to operate in accordance with the truth about sex and the human person."
Right of the Church to Choose Its Own Ministers
Also on July 8, the Supreme Court issued its decision in the consolidated cases of Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel. These cases involved the right of Catholic schools, free of government interference, to choose teachers who will teach and model the Catholic faith. In a 7-2 decision, the Court ruled in favor of the schools.
"As institutions carrying out a ministry of the Church, Catholic schools have a right, recognized by the Constitution, to select people who will perform ministry. The government has no authority to second-guess those ministerial decisions," Archbishop Wenski and Bishop Barber said in statement welcoming the decision. |
|
|
Top
|
| |
Federal Government to Restart Executions
|
|
| |
.jpg)
Federal executions by lethal injection occur at United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute, IN. Photo: Federal Bureau of Prisons
The U.S. Department of Justice has scheduled three executions to take place over a five-day span beginning on July 13. A fourth has been scheduled for the end of August.
The four men scheduled to be executed are: Daniel Lee on July 13; Wesley Purkey on July 15; Dustin Honken on July 17; and Keith Nelson on Aug. 28.
In response to this news and the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear the appeals of four federal death row inmates, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, called on the Administration to reverse course: "Two of my brother bishops and I wrote last year: 'To oppose the death penalty is not to be "soft on crime." Rather, it is to be strong on the dignity of life.' To this end, I implore Attorney General Barr and President Trump to abandon this path to preside over the first federal executions in 17 years."
Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis have all called for an end to the death penalty around the world. As Pope Francis articulated through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the death penalty is unacceptable as an affront to the Gospel and to respect for human life. The U.S. bishops have affirmed this teaching and have called for an end to the death penalty for decades. |
|
|
Top
|
| |
Pope Francis Names Two Florida Priests to Serve as Bishops
|
|
| |
Bishop-Elect David L. Toups (left) and Bishop-Elect Stephen Parkes.
Within the span of a month, the Holy Father named two Florida priests to serve as bishops.
Bishop-Elect David L.Toups
Pope Francis has appointed Monsignor David L. Toups, a priest of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, to serve as the Bishop of Beaumont in the state of Texas. The appointment was publicized on June 9.
Bishop-elect Toups was born on March 26, 1971 in Seattle, Washington and was ordained to the priesthood on June 14, 1997 for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg.
His assignments after ordination include: Parochial Vicar at St. Francis Cabrini Parish in Spring Hill (1997-2001); doctoral studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (2002-2004), Assistant Dean of Students (2004) and Dean of Students (2004-2006) at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach; the Administrative Council, Faculty Council and Seminary Formation Team, and Professor of Sacramental and Liturgical Theology at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary (2004-2006).
Between 2007-2010, Bishop-elect Toups was released from diocesan assignment to serve as the Associate Director of the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington. He returned to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg in 2010 and served as Pastor of Christ the King Parish in Tampa (2010-2012) before being named as President and Rector of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in 2012.
Bishop-Elect Stephen Parkes
Pope Francis has appointed Father Stephen Parkes, a priest of the Diocese of Orlando, to serve as the Bishop of Savannah. The appointment was publicized on July 8.
Bishop-elect Parkes was born on June 2, 1965 in Mineola, New York, and ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1998 for the Diocese of Orlando.
After ordination, Bishop-elect Parkes was assigned to Annunciation Church in Longwood as parochial vicar where he served until 2005 when he was named Parochial Administrator at Most Precious Blood Church in Oviedo. Additionally, in 2004 he was named Spiritual Director for Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Central Florida in Orlando where he served until 2011.
Since 2011, Bishop-elect Parkes has served as Pastor at Annunciation Church in Longwood. His ministry also includes serving as Dean of the North Central Deanery (2010-present), and Spiritual Director of the Catholic Foundation of Central Florida (2009-present).
Bishop-elect Parkes is the brother of Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. |
|
|
Top
|
| |
Catholics Across the Aisle: New Episode Released
|
|
| |
A new episode of Catholics Across the Aisle: Commentary on Public Policy and Civic Life is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. In this episode, Executive Director Michael Sheedy discusses the 2020 legislative session with Ken Kniepmann, associate for health, and James Herzog, former associate director for education. They cover a variety of topics ranging from health care to Catholic education and schools.
We encourage you to subscribe, listen, rate, and review our podcast to help us grow our audience. Please share it with your friends, family, fellow parishioners, and anyone who you think may be interested in the topics we are discussing.
Please stay tuned for future episodes coming soon. |
|
|
Top
|
|
July 10, 2020
Follow Us On
Words of Wisdom
"Faith makes us walk with Jesus on the roads of this world, in the certainty that the power of His Spirit will bend the forces of evil, subjecting them to the power of God's love."
-- Pope Francis
@Pontifex
Twitter
July 6, 2020
* * *
Text FLCAN to 50457
to receive network notifications via text message or add your mobile number to your advocacy profile. |
|
|
|
