MISSION STATEMENT
We the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Scranton,
in union with our Holy Father, the Pope, are called
through baptism to share in the mission which Jesus
Christ has entrusted to the One, Holy, Catholic and
Apostolic Church. Priests, deacons, religious and laity,
under the leadership of our Bishop, cooperate to
proclaim the Gospel in accordance with the teaching of
the Church, to celebrate the sacraments, especially the
Eucharist, for the salvation of all, and to witness by
grace to the Kingdom of God so as to promote a culture
of life, justice and peace.
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This Issue:
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Christian Families: Schools of Obedience and
Freedom |
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Pro Life Spokeswoman Objects To FDA Approval of
Morning-After Pill For Minors |
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Action Alert: Justice for Immigrants |
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Catholic Home Missions Appeal This Weekend |
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Annual Wedding Anniversary Celebration Is May 10 |
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Mark Your Calendar |
Christian Families: Schools of Obedience and
Freedom |
Pope Benedict XVI recently celebrated
Mass with members of the organizing committee of
the Sixth World Meeting of Families, which was
held in Mexico City last January. Commenting on
the reading from the Acts of the Apostles in
which St. Peter affirms that “we must obey God
rather than any human authority,” the pope noted
in his homily:
“The Word of God speaks to us of an
obedience that is not mere subjection, nor
simply an obeying of orders, rather it arises
from an intimate communion with God and consists
in an interior vision capable of discerning that
which ‘comes from on high’ and ‘is above
everything.’ It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit
which God grants without measure.
“Our contemporaries need to discover this
obedience, which is not theoretical but
essential. It means opting for specific forms of
behavior which are based on obedience to God’s
will and which make us fully free. Christian
families, with their domestic, simple and joyful
lives, in which day by day they share their
joys, hopes and concerns, and live in the light
of faith, are schools of obedience and
environments of true freedom. They know this
well who over many years have enjoyed marriage
in accordance with God’s plan, ... experiencing
the goodness of the Lord Who helps and
encourages us.” |
Pro Life Spokeswoman Objects To FDA Approval of
Morning-After Pill For Minors |
WASHINGTON—The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) announced late on April 22
that it has expanded over-the-counter access to
the morning-after pill, Levonorgestrel or “Plan
B,” for 17-year-old minors as well as to adults.
Deirdre McQuade, assistant director for policy
and communications at the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life
Activities, objected to the move in the
following statement:
“The FDA’s court-driven decision to make
Plan B available without a prescription to
17-year-old minors – as well as to adults –
flies in the face of common sense.
Levonorgestrel is a powerful drug, taken in two
doses over a 12-hour period. It is 40 times more
potent than comparable progestin-only birth
control pills (Ovrette) for which a prescription
is required.
“Wider access to Plan B could endanger the
lives of newly-conceived children, and will put
minors at risk for unnecessary side effects,
undermine parental rights, and contribute to
higher STD rates.
“Pregnancy is not a disease and fertility
is not a pathological condition, so Plan B has
no authentic therapeutic purpose, and can
actually cause harm to women and their
newly-conceived children.
“The FDA describes Plan B as ‘a
contraceptive drug.’ Although Plan B can prevent
fertilization, the manufacturer admits it may
also prevent an embryo from implanting in the
womb, which is essential to his or her continued
survival. Since it takes several days for the
growing embryo to reach the uterine lining and
implant in the mother’s womb, the child in his
or her second week of life could die as a direct
result of Plan B. This is properly understood as
an early abortion.
“Without the benefit of a doctor’s
supervision, many teens will be unaware of this
possible abortifacient action and the other
risks posed by Levonorgestrel, particularly the
risks from repeated use.
“Much to the surprise of the morning-after
pill’s early advocates, five years of research
in Europe and the U.S. shows that increased
access to emergency contraception has failed to
reduce rates of unintended pregnancy and
abortion. But it has led to greater sexual
risk-taking among adolescent populations, in
turn leading to higher rates of
sexually-transmitted disease. In the unlikely
event a teenager will bother to read the Plan B
package insert all the way to the end, she will
find sound advice: ‘Of course, not having sex is
the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and
stay free of STDs’.”
For USCCB comments to the FDA and other
information on the morning-after pill, go to:
www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/contraception/morningafterpill.shtml. |
Action Alert: Justice for Immigrants |
On March 26, the Development, Relief,
and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act)
was introduced in both the U.S. House by
Representatives and the Senate. The DREAM Act
permits certain immigrant students who have
grown up in the United States to adjust to
temporary legal status and eventually obtain
permanent resident status provided that they
attend college or enter the U.S. military. This
bill would apply to students in public and
private schools, including Catholic schools.
The premise of DREAM is that immigrant
youth should not be hindered from working
towards a more promising future solely because
they were brought to the United States by their
parents at a young age without legal status.
DREAM seeks to provide these students a fair
chance to earn citizenship and to contribute to
the country they call home.
You can support this effort by calling
and/or writing your representative or senator
today and ask them to co-sponsor the DREAM Act
(S.729 / H.R.1751). Numbers can be obtained by
calling: Capitol Hill Switchboard: (202)
224-3121 TTY: (202) 225-1904 |
Catholic Home Missions Appeal This Weekend |
For 10 years, the Catholic Home
Missions Appeal has relied on the generosity of
parishioners in the United States to provide for
less fortunate mission parishes. The campaign
has allocated $100 million to fund
evangelization, prison ministry, religious
education and other essential pastoral services
in home mission dioceses.
Another challenge addressed by this appeal
is the shortage of priests in the United States.
This problem is further complicated by the lack
of funding in home mission dioceses, where
parishes often struggle with poverty among
parishioners, difficult or isolated terrain,
religious hostility, and other circumstances
that challenge the practice of the faith.
For example, in the Archdiocese of
Anchorage, Alaska, there are 11,500 registered
Catholic families situated in more than 140,000
square miles. There are only 30 active diocesan
priests to serve these people. Sadly, such
shortages occur often in our United States
mission dioceses.
A year of training and education for a
future priest costs approximately $25,000. More
than 400 seminarians are now studying for
priesthood in America’s home missions.
The Catholic Home Missions Appeal will be
taken up in the Diocese of Scranton this
weekend, April 25-26. “As the Church, we are
called to solidarity with our sisters and
brothers who need our help to practice their
faith right here at home,” said Bishop Joseph F.
Martino. |
Annual Wedding Anniversary Celebration Is May 10 |
On Sunday, May 10, 200 couples from
around the Diocese will join Bishop Martino, for
the annual Wedding Anniversary Celebration. This
occasion honors those couples that are
celebrating their 25th and 50th wedding
anniversaries.
The event will begin at 2:30 p.m. with
Mass, celebrated by Bishop Martino, at St.
Peter’s Cathedral, during which couples will
renew their wedding vows. The Mass will be
televised live by CTV and couples will have the
opportunity to order a copy of the program as a
keepsake.
Following the Mass there will be a
reception with music and light refreshments at
the former Holy Cross campus across the street.
In addition, anniversary couples will receive a
commemorative folder marking the event, as well
as have an opportunity to have their pictures
taken with the Bishop. |
Mark Your Calendar |
Support Group for Separated, Divorced &
Widowed Persons, May 15 –– 7 to 9 p.m. at
St. Ann Basilica Parish Center, 1200 St. Ann
St., Scranton. Sponsored by the diocesan Office
for Parish Life, this “Beginning Experience”
monthly session offers support to cope with
sorrow, doubt, anxiety and loneliness after
losing a spouse. For more
information/registration, call 489-7769.
Northeastern Pennsylvania Catholic Deaf
Association Interpreted Mass, May 17 –– at
St. Joseph’s Oblate Seminary, 1880 Highway 315,
Laflin. Bible study and Sacrament of
Reconciliation begin at 2 p.m., followed by Mass
(signed and interpreted), celebrated at 3 p.m.
Refreshments follow. For more information,
contact Sister Mary Beth Makuch, SSCM, at
207-2213 ext. 1013 –– voice/tdd.
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