The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno and Catholic Relief Services (through its local affiliate) are taking donations and voluntary collections this weekend in the 88 parishes of the Diocese for emergency aid to the victims of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Eighty percent of Haitians are Catholic. According to Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the massive earthquake claimed perhaps thousands of casualties, and thousands more are feared dead or injured. The Archbishop of Port Au Prince is reported to be among the dead.
The Catholic Diocese of Fresno joins Pope Benedict XVI and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in calling for generous aid to the victims of the earthquake.
In a January 13, 2010, communication to Catholic parishes and schools, diocesan Bishop John T. Steinbock and Catherine Manfredo, Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fresno (local CRS affiliate) requested donations and collections. Online donations may be made at the following Catholic Relief Services website: www.crs.org.
The Diocese is also receiving Individual donations by check (but not cash) made out to the “Diocese of Fresno.” The memo line on the check should read: “Haiti Earthquake.” Checks should be mailed to:
Diocese of Fresno
Accounting Department
1550 N. Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93703-3788
Bishop Steinbock and Pope Benedict XVI have also called for prayers and prayer intentions for the victims of these disasters, and for those assisting in recovery and relief operations.
U.S. Bishops Call on Parishes to Help Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform
Congress continues to debate health care reform. While the House passed a health care bill that prevents the federal government from funding elective abortions, and includes provisions making health care affordable and accessible for all, the Senate rejected this and passed a bill that requires federal funds to help subsidize and promote health plans that cover elective abortions, while forcing purchasers to pay directly for other people’s abortions. These two bills must now be combined into one bill that both the House and Senate will vote on in final form. The U.S. bishops continue to strongly oppose abortion funding, while calling for critical improvements in conscience protection, affordability for the poor and vulnerable, and access to health care for immigrants.
Kathy Saile, Director of Domestic Social Development for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, explains the importance of health care reform for the U.S. Bishops and why the bishops insist that the legislation not federally fund abortion.
The U.S. Bishops Conference asks Catholics to please contact your congressional representatives immediately and urge them to address these moral issues.
What Reform Should Be
As long-time advocates of health care reform, the U.S. Catholic bishops continue to make the moral
case that genuine health care reform must protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all,
especially the poor and vulnerable. Health care reform should not advance a pro-abortion agenda in
our country.
On November 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed major health care reform that
reaffirms the essential, longstanding and widely supported policy against using federal funds
for elective abortions and includes positive measures on affordability and immigrants.
On December 24, the U.S. Senate rejected this policy and passed health care reform that
requires federal funds to help subsidize and promote health plans that cover elective
abortions. All purchasers of such plans will be required to pay for other people’s abortions
through a separate payment solely to pay for abortion.
Outside the abortion context, neither bill has adequate conscience protection for health care providers, plans or employers.
These two bills must now be combined into one bill that both the House and Senate will vote
on in final form. Provisions against abortion funding and in favor of conscience protection,
affordability, and immigrants’ access to health care must be part of a fair and just health care
reform bill, or the final bill must be opposed.
Take Action
Contact your Representative and Senators today by e-mail, phone or FAX.:
Bishop John T. Steinbock, Bishop, Diocese of Fresno
Press Conference, July 24, 2009
I ask President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders of both parties to fashion and enact Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation, and I encourage particularly the Congressional leaders from our region. I also ask people to write their legislators to speak of the need of this reform.
We can no longer accept that people live as a hidden underclass in our country and we should bring them out of the shadows to participate fully in our society. The vast majority of those undocumented are hard working persons seeking only to support their families, and contribute to our nation’s economic, social and spiritual well being.
The immigration laws of our country are outmoded and impractical and contribute to the problems of immigration. The laws need to be changed for the good of our country, respecting the human dignity and basic human rights of those who come here with the intention of bettering their lives and the lives of their families.
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday, January 11, toppling buildings and causing widespread destruction in and near Port-au-Prince. This is that nations's capital and has more then 2 million inhabitants.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has permanent offices and ongoing projects in Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Eighty percent of Haitians are Catholic. CRS is quickly mobilizing pre-positioned emergency relief supplies and has made an initial commitment of $5 million to help with immediate needs.
Diocese of Fresno
Accounting Department
1550 N. Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93703-3788
Memo portion of check: Haiti Earthquake
"I appeal to the generosity of everyone, so that our brothers and sisters receive our concrete solidarity and the effective support of the international community in this moment of need and suffering" - Pope Benedict XVI
Culture of Violence and Death
January 22nd is the anniversary of the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision by the Supreme Court. This decision denied the right to life for unborn children, and has led to the slaughter of millions upon millions of innocent unborn babies in our land. Without a doubt this decision has led to what we now call a culture of violence and death in our country. When there is no respect for the life of the most defenseless, innocent and vulnerable members of the human family, there is little to support society to uphold and respect the right to life of others in our society. Violence and death are now accepted as a solution for solving problems both in personal lives and in the life of society.
Entérese a través del sitio de la Internet de lo que la Diócesis
de Fresno está haciendo para proteger a nuestros niños y jóvenes
www.dioceseoffresno.org/abusepolicy.html
