Author: Dan Gallagher

Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider a bill that would protect women and girls’ opportunities in sports by requiring federally-funded female sports programs to be reserved for biological females.

Consistent with the Church’s clear teaching on the equality of men and women and the truth that we are created male and female, this bill would promote fairness and safety for women and girls by ensuring female athletes can compete on a safe and level playing field with other females.

Youth who experience gender identity discordance should be able to participate in sports, and any harassment against these young people is unequivocally wrong. By passing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, Congress would not deny such youth the ability to play sports, but would simply be protecting women and girls and preserving their hard-won opportunities.

Join USCCB in asking your member of Congress to protect women and girls in sports today!

To learn more, read the USCCB’s letter on H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023.

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Your tax dollars could pay for abortions for veterans!

The U.S. Senate will be voting soon on whether to overturn a recent Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) rule that provides taxpayer funded abortions on-demand for veterans, and their spouses and kids. For decades, the law has stopped the VA from providing abortions in its health care benefits packages. Last September, the VA violated this law, as well as long-standing practices preventing taxpayer funding for elective abortion, and issued a regulation to provide such abortions – even in States where they’re now illegal. Further, the rule does not protect the conscience rights of workers who could be forced to participate in abortions. The U.S. Senate will vote soon to overturn the VA’s rule, and your senators need to hear from you. Please tell them to not turn VA hospitals into illegal abortion clinics. Women — especially our heroes in need of care — and their children deserve better.

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To learn more about how the VA rule has these effects and the USCCB’s response, you may view our original regulatory comment letter to the VA here.

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Students, staff and families from St. Clare/St. Paul School in Scranton gathered Friday morning, March 17, 2023, for a pep rally to send off their boys basketball team to represent the Diocese of Scranton in the state CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) Tournament in Philadelphia.

The Crusaders will play their first game this evening at 7:45 p.m. against Our Lady of Mt. Carmel at Holy Family University in Philadelphia.

Best of luck to the Crusaders!!

 

Members of Knights of Lithuania Council 143, Pittston, celebrated the feast of St. Casimir with a Mass held on Sunday, March 5 at St. John the Evangelist Church.

A luncheon and Amber District meeting in the Monsignor Bendik Center followed the service.

Pictured are Council 143 members, Amber District officers and clergy, front row, from left to right, Tom Wierbowski, Judy Stodolny, Mary Claire Voveris, Marilyn Fitzgerald, Dennis Palladino, Janet Palladino, Eileen Kelly, Jean Mihalick, Barbara Miller. Second row, from left to right, John Kovaleski, Irene Kovaleski, Mike Loncoski, Cathy Talarico, Rob Kiska, Mary Portelli, June Supey, Sylvia Waxmonsky, Don Waxmonsky, Reverend Joseph Elston, Deacon David Marx, Tom Miller. Third row, from left to right, Greg Wolovich, Jr., Bill Sodnik, Joe Francik. Absent from photo was Camille Stanis.

 

The annual Saint Patrick’s Parade Day Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton. All are welcome to attend.

The liturgy is traditionally held in conjunction with the city of Scranton’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Following the Mass, the Saint Patrick’s Parade is expected to take to the streets of the Electric City beginning at 11:45 a.m.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will serve as principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass. The Mass will be concelebrated by Rev. Jeffrey D. Tudgay, V.E., Episcopal Vicar for Canonical Affairs and Pastor of the Cathedral of Saint Peter; Rev. Daniel R. Sweeney, S.J.; and priests of the Diocese of Scranton.

The Mass will be broadcast live on CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton and will be rebroadcast on Tuesday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Wednesday, March 15, at 10:30 a.m. It will also be available for viewing on the Diocese of Scranton’s YouTube Channel.

This year marks the 61st Anniversary of the Saint Patrick’s Parade in Scranton.

Saturday’s Mass is being offered in memory of the Most Rev. John M. Dougherty, D.D., Patty Bianche, Michael (Mikey) Castaldi Sr., James Connor, Tom Conway, Bob Foley, Anthony F. (Botch) Hughes, Marty Judge Sr., James “Kuch” Kuchwara, James “Red” McAndrew, Fergal O’Brien, Kathleen Kelly O’Hara, Mary Louise Ruane, Tom Scanlan, Bobby Timlin and Tony Walsh.

Michael J. Cummings, President, Saint Patrick’s Parade Association of Lackawanna County, will serve as lector for the Mass and Gina Pascolini will serve as cantor.

The Offertory gifts will be presented by Dorothea Crowley, President, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Lackawanna County; Al O’Donnell, President, Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Lackawanna County; Conal McHugh, President, Ancient Order of Hibernians of Lackawanna County; Jack McIntyre, President, Irish Cultural Society; and Lori Wagner, President, Society of Irish Women.

 

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote soon on a resolution that could impose abortion-on-demand nationwide without any limits, require taxpayer funding of abortion, put women’s opportunities and spaces at risk of being opened to men (such as in sports, locker rooms, prisons, and shelters), and undermine the religious freedom of people and organizations of faith to carry out their important missions – potentially even requiring Catholic hospitals and health workers to perform abortions and gender procedures on children. On top of these harms, the Senate’s process for this proposal – which attempts to declare that the misnamed “Equal Rights Amendment” (ERA) is a ratified part of the U.S. Constitution – is unconstitutional. Catholic teaching speaks very clearly and strongly about the equality of men and women, but the far-reaching consequences of the ERA would cause serious harm to women, preborn life, and the common good. 

Please contact your U.S. Senators now and tell them to oppose the resolution to unconstitutionally revive the misnamed “Equal Rights Amendment.” More information from the USCCB on the ERA can be found here.
 
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Stop the Senate from eliminating Pro-Life protections and harming women and religious freedom!