TEXAS – Bishops around the country reacted with praise to a Texas law banning abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat and noted that women experiencing a crisis pregnancy have resources available instead of abortion. “We celebrate every life saved by this legislation,” said the Texas Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of Texas’ 16 Catholic dioceses and 20 bishops, in a Sept. 3, 2021, statement. The Texas bishops said that opponents of the law, who have described a fetal heartbeat as
“We cannot turn away and say that,
“Abortion is a human rights issue; the most fundamental human right is the right to life,” said the Texas bishops. “Abortion is not healthcare. Abortion is not freedom. Abortion does not help women. Abortion is never the answer. It is always the violent taking of innocent human life.” The statement dismissed the notion that abortion is a privacy right.
“electrically induced flickering of embryonic tissue” or “embryonic cardiac activity,” are making a “disturbing” effort to “dehumanize the unborn.”
Minnesota’s Most Rural Diocese Diocese of New Ulm Vol. 36 No. 1 September 2021
since the killing of another person takes place within the body of a woman, we as a society should not care, any more than when someone is killed within the privacy of a home or in a public venue,” said the Texas bishops. The Texas Heartbeat Law went into effect September 1 after the Supreme Court refused to issue an injunction. This is the first time since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that the Supreme Court has not blocked a piece of pro-life legislation while the law is being contested in lower courts. The law prohibits abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. WASHINGTON – Since the conclusion of the U.S. bishop’s June assembly held virtually, there has been much attention on the vote taken to draft a document on the Eucharist. Whether or not to deny any individual or groups Holy Communion was not on the ballot. The vote by the bishops tasked the USCCB Committee on Doctrine to begin the drafting of a teaching document on the Eucharist. The document currently being drafted is not meant to be disciplinary, nor is it targeted at any individual or
Visit www.usccb.org for some commonly asked questions and answers.
(Read more about the Church of St. Gregory the Great on page 5.)
“Civilize It: A Better Kind of Politics” aims to equip Catholics to address the division and polarization in society that are at times also reflected in the Church. Such division among the faithful compromises the Church’s ability to effectively witness the human person’s life and dignity in the family, parish, workplace, and political sphere. More information on the initiative as well as the pledge, resources, and other tools may be found on CivilizeIt.org.
Together we can bring about an end to abortion.
Visit www.40daysforlife.com/location for vigil sites or email judy4life@meltel.net or call (320) 453-7592.
September 22 — October 31
Sign-up for Fall Campaign!
A coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of an abortion performing facility.
WASHINGTON – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched a new initiative on Sept. 7, 2021, addressing polarization in society. Based on Pope Francis’ call in his encyclical, Fratelli Tutti for “a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good”
LAFAYETTE – The closing Mass of the Church of St. Gregory the Great in Lafayette was held on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. The standing-room only assembly were greeted by song from the parish choir that consists of 12 members. The decision to close the parish, which was incorporated in 1942, was due to declining membership and a shortage of priests. The church building and other parish property was auctioned off on Sunday, Aug. 15. Members of the choir pictured: Nancy Reed, left, Dave Reed, Michelle Oswald, and Mark Dick. Also pictured is St. Gregory parishioner, Neal Hoffmann (front-left). (no. 154), the new initiative, “Civilize It: A Better Kind of Politics,” asks Catholics to respond to this invitation with charity, clarity, and creativity.
Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works (Psalm 105:2)
class of persons. Instead, it will include a section on the Church’s teaching on the responsibility of every Catholic, including bishops, to live in accordance with the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Eucharist we as Catholics celebrate.
(Photo by Christine Clancy)