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U.S. Bishops Issue Statements Following Biden Inauguration
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.jpg) The U.S. bishops issued several statements following President Joe Biden's inauguration at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. this week. The first statement, issued by USCCB President Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, offered prayers for the new president, praying for wisdom and courage to lead this great nation in these challenging times. Gomez also said that he looks forward to working with the new president and Congress, stating that "[a]s with every administration, there will be areas where we agree and work closely together and areas where we will have principled disagreement and strong opposition."
Gomez stated that "it will be refreshing to engage with a president who clearly understands, in a deep and personal way, the importance of religious faith and institutions." At the same time, Gomez wrote, "our new president has pledged to pursue certain policies that would advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender. Of deep concern is the liberty of the Church and the freedom of believers to live according to their consciences." For the full statement, click here.
The bishops also issued statements welcoming President Biden's reinstatement of the DACA program and recommitting the U.S. to the Paris Climate Accord.
As President Biden issues further details about his administration's policy priorities and issues further executive orders, we expect additional statements to follow. |
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Governor Announces Mass Vaccination, Targeted Vaccination Sites Across the State
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 Governor Parson announced this week that the Missouri National Guard will begin assisting the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) in establishing COVID-19 vaccination sites across the state. Mass vaccination sites are scheduled to begin this week in the Southeast region, and other sites will be operational in the remaining eight Highway Patrol regions by the end of January. These sites have the capability to provide up to 2,500 doses per day. Targeted vaccination sites provide vaccines to populations outside the reach of mass vaccination sites as designated by DHSS. Teams staffing these sites have the capability to provide up to 160 doses per day. These vaccination sites will ensure that vaccines, which are extremely limited, are being administered efficiently and that every Missourian will have an opportunity to eventually receive one. Missourians are encouraged to visit the state COVID-19 vaccine information site to see the latest news. |
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National Vigil Held to Honor 400,000 Victims of COVID-19
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 On Tuesday evening, a national vigil was held at the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to mark the 400,000 U.S. lives lost to COVID-19. Four hundred lanterns lined the Pool to commemorate the dead. "To heal, we must remember," said President Biden. The memorial also included 400 bell tolls at the national cathedral and churches across the country. The grim milestone in the U.S. is a stark reminder of the gravity of the COVID-19 virus, and marks the highest national death toll in the world of those countries reporting. The next is Brazil, with over 210,000 dead.
image credit: CNS photo/Callaghan O'Hare |
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Archdiocese Provides Update on Missouri's Abortion Numbers
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 Amid recent reports that Missouri may be the first "abortion free" state in the nation, the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis provided an update on the status of the last abortion facility in the state, Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region (RHS of PPSLR).
Urging caution on the validity of reported claims that abortions have stopped in the St. Louis clinic, RLA provided information showing that abortions have greatly decreased in the last year. Specifically, there has been a nearly 24 percent decrease in abortions from 2018 to 2019 and abortions at RHS of PPSLR have sharply declined, with no reports of abortions for December 2020.
However, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported that 39 abortions were conducted between January 1 and November 15, 2020, and at least one health system is performing abortions in the cases of perceived "fetal abnormalities" and perceived "maternal health conditions" and "mother's health being at risk". In addition, women who go to RHS of PPSLR are now being referred to Planned Parenthood Fairview Heights Health Center in Illinois for surgical and chemical abortions.
The MCC joins the Respect Life Apostolate in encouraging the pro-life community "to stay focused on -- and be encouraged by -- the known documented successes" of our efforts in the state. We must continue our efforts to provide support and protection for mothers and their unborn children in Missouri.
The full statement from the Respect Life Apostolate can be found on the Archdiocese of St. Louis website. |
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"We Can Do Better, We Can Do Both"
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 This week, Catholics commemorate two important causes. On Monday, January 18, we remembered Martin Luther King Jr., the noted Christian pastor and respected U.S. civil rights leader. Friday, January 22, we observe the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Though the fight to end racism and the fight to end abortion might appear two segmented matters, in a recent column in the St. Louis Review, Archbishop Rozanski of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, writes of the unity we can find when we look at them together.
Archbishop clarifies that he is not making a "seamless garment" argument, noting the distinctions between each, but notes the violations against each group. "...if abortion is wrong because human dignity must be upheld, and if the lives of the vulnerable should be protected in law, in practice, in policy and through services, then those same protections should be extended to those whose lives are vulnerable because of their race," he writes.
As Catholics, it is quite impossible to follow party line politics. "According to the logic of American politics, pro-life issues and race issues are divided: one is the concern of Republicans, and the other is the concern of Democrats. According to the logic of Catholic Social Teaching, however, pro-life issues and race issues are united under one banner: the dignity of the human person." Archbishop's words are an important reminder in these divided times that we must embrace our Catholic identity ahead of our political party. As he acknowledges, it will not be an easy road ahead; but, together as Catholics, we can continue our work to uphold human dignity. "I am not naïve - I don't think this will be simple. I am hopeful - I think the inherent logic of human dignity ties these issues together, just as the calendar this week does."
Read the full column here. |
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March for Life 2021 Happening (Virtually) Next Week
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 In a non-pandemic year, pro-life groups would be preparing to shuttle bus loads of supporters to Washington D.C. for the annual March for Life. This year, the thousands of participants will instead gather online. As many large events have, the 2021 March for Life has gone virtual.
Though a small group of pro-life representatives from around the country will still march in D.C., the organization has asked its supporters to remain safely at home. "The annual rally will take place virtually and we are asking all participants to stay home and to join the March virtually," the website reads. "We will invite a small group of pro-life leaders from across the country to march in Washington, DC this year. These leaders will represent pro-life Americans everywhere who, each in their own unique ways, work to make abortion unthinkable and build a culture where every human life is valued and protected."
If you haven't been able to participate in the March for Life in years past, your time is now! You can RSVP here to livestream the march, which will include inspiring speeches from pro-life leaders, information on how to stay involved in the pro-life movement all year long, and a performance by Christian singer and songwriter Matthew West. |
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Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
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 Last week, Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI both received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as reported by the Vatican. The popes had both expressed their intentions of receiving the vaccine as soon as it was available. In this Crux article, it is reported that Pope Benedict has been following the news "on television, and he shares our concerns about the pandemic, about what is happening in the world, about the many people who have lost their life because of the virus." The article also states that Pope Benedict has personally known several people who have perished due to COVID-19. Read the full article here.
In addition to the two popes and members of Vatican staff receiving vaccinations, the Vatican reports that Pope Francis has made it a priority to ensure that homeless persons who receive assistance from the Holy See be offered the possibility of being vaccinated against Covid-19. Read more here.
image credit: AP |
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In this episode of MCC from the Capitol, the three Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) lobbyists discuss the happenings of the early 2021 Missouri legislative session, including the governor's inauguration and early bill filings, along with the