Respect Life Update
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April 29
Greetings everyone!
“Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him,
upon those who count on his mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive through famine.” (Ps. 33:18-19).
Dr. Alveda King was recently on a colleague’s radio show. She offered the following COVID challenge: Be faithful rather than fearful; pray rather than panic!
***URGENT*** ACTION ALERT!! Let your voice be heard NOW:
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) along with leaders of many healthcare, bioethics, and pro-life organizations, is urging the Trump Administration to make sure that vaccines for COVID-19 are developed ethically and are free from any connection to the exploitation of abortion.Please let your voice be heard here:
https://www.votervoice.net/USCCB/Campaigns/73486/Respond
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Prayers in this time of pandemic…
Please go to the Resect Life Office Prayer Team page for the prayer updates…
https://respectlife.arch-no.org/under-her-mantle-prayer-team
Pope Francis’ April prayer intention:
…those who suffer from addiction, especially addiction to gambling, pornography, & the internet
Pope Francis’ May prayer intention:
For Deacons
We pray that deacons, faithful in their service to the Word and the poor, may be an invigorating symbol for the entire Church.
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Coronavirus & the Life Issues (news)…
This week I am adding video links for you to explore for the life issues.
Abortion/The Unborn
Listen to Patricia Sandoval’s witness (Transfigured) here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP0URPG2bNI&feature=emb_logo
“Many women are feeling pressured by circumstances into getting ‘emergency’ abortions ‘We need to offer women hope for the future, not death’”
Source: https://pregnancyhelpnews.com/safe-haven-should-be-used-instead-of-abortion-during-pandemic-legal-foundation“On April 14 more than 130 members of Congress signed a letter to President Donald Trump asking that in light of rapid COVID-19 vaccine development, the administration maintain its ban on federal funding for research using aborted fetal tissue.”
Source: https://lamborn.house.gov/sites/lamborn.house.gov/files/Fetal%20Tissue%20Letter.pdfMany are using the pandemic to push the Abortion Pill…
“The U.K. has now issued temporary approval for chemical abortions to be completely done at home. The U.S. abortion lobby continues to call for the Food and Drug Administration to lift restrictions (REMs) off the abortion pill (U.S. brand ‘Mifeprex’), making way for complete ‘self-managed’ abortions.
Unfortunately, this is what the abortion industry all over the world has pursued even before the current pandemic—for abortions to be unrestricted, unregulated, and do-it-yourself.”
“More than 150 members of Congress have signed a letter to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn asking that the mifepristone/misoprostol regiment used in chemical abortions remain on the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) list. Drugs on the REMS list are those that raise ‘special concern.’ The letter stated, in part, ‘We write to urge you to continue to robustly enforce the REMS for medication abortion and end dangerous runarounds of these protections under the guise of medical research.’”
(Above info courtesy of the weekly NCBC COVID-19 Public Policy Report: April 22, 2020)
Adoption
Watch Danna Cousins’ Celebrate Adoption presentation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X_AknTLcco&feature=emb_logo
Capital Punishment/Mercy behind Bars
Watch Fr. Allan Weinert’s presentation on the Death Penalty in the US here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGq6ZFujjEM&feature=emb_logo
Chastity
“What is currently called ‘gender’ is nothing but a mental construct designed to undermine that propagation, nurture, and order…rather an absurd denial of sex and sexual complementarity.
Some … have shown themselves willing to deploy vulnerable children as pawns: manipulating their minds, suppressing their passage through puberty, and surgically altering their bodies… All of this amounts to a crime against reason, a crime against humanity, and a crime against God. For instead of ordering the body to the soul, and the soul to the Maker in whose image the person properly exists body and soul, it refuses to acknowledge the Maker and thus finds itself baffled by the soul, which it cannot see, and even by the body, which it can see.”
Source: https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/04/25/no-more-lies-dissenting-from-gender-ideology-and-the-trans-phenomenon/Conscience Protection/Religious Freedom
From US Attorney General Barr:
"But even in times of emergency, when reasonable and temporary restrictions are placed on rights, the First Amendment and federal statutory law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers. Thus, government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity. For example, if a government allows movie theaters, restaurants, concert halls, and other comparable places of assembly to remain open and unrestricted, it may not order houses of worship to close, limit their congregation size, or otherwise impede religious gatherings. Religious institutions must not be singled out for special burdens.”
Disability & the Life Issues
Watch Sophie Trist of Loyola’s Wolf Pack for Life discuss Disabilities, Abortion, Assisted Suicide, & Euthanasia in our current culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNeb4NPBy88&feature=emb_logo
The National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities has excellent resources for this time:
https://ncpd.org/covid-19-resources
Resources for home-bound families of kids with special needs:
https://www.exceptionallives.org/home-with-kidsEnd of Life/Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia
Watch Deacon Jeff Tully present Dying with Dignity: https://respectlife.arch-no.org/end-of-life-issues-assisted-suicide-euthanasia
Canada debates offering Physician Assisted Suicide to patients who aren’t terminally ill:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/canada-trudeau-medical-assistance-dying-physician-suicide/2020/03/29/bd98c4a0-5751-11ea-8efd-0f904bdd8057_story.htmlVery helpful information from the Catholic Medical Association on coronavirus:
https://www.cathmed.org/programs-resources/cma-resources/coronavirus-resources/
Fertility/Infertility Awareness/Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART/IVF)
Watch Dr. Susan Caldwell present Approaching Infertility with Faith & Science: https://respectlife.arch-no.org/fertility-infertility-awareness-assisted-reproductive-technologies-art-ivf
Healing after Abortion
Watch Pam Richard, Rachel’s Vineyard Team member, present on the healing mission of Rachel’s Vineyard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=w4Ge_7clZ7I&feature=emb_logo
Human Cloning/Stem Cell Research
Watch Respect Life Coordinator Yvette Fouchi present Biotechnology: Stem Cell, IVF, & More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAn6cOSB-uY&feature=emb_logo
Human Trafficking/Violence/Homelessness
Watch our informational video to learn more about Human Trafficking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=2kaiXfqGDrc&feature=emb_logo
Sometimes home is NOT the safest place…
“Of those young people who contacted the hotline in March, 67% identified their perpetrator as a family member and 79% said they were currently living with that perpetrator.”
Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/28/847251985/child-sexual-abuse-reports-are-on-the-rise-amid-lockdown-orders~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Help Ideas/Updates from our Church Parishes/Organizations…
Abortion/The Unborn
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans is in need of the following items for ACCESS Maternity Services:
Diapers – especially sizes 4, 5, 6 and Pull Ups. They will take opened packages of unused diapers.
Baby Wipes
Baby Shampoo
Diaper Cream
To help please go to www.ccano.org/donation-drive
ACCESS Pregnancy - Tuesdays/Thursdays 9am-3pm
Free pregnancy tests & ultrasounds via appointment
Diapers, wipes, & other essentials to families
BOTH at METAIRIE location only - 921 Aris Ave - 504-832-1503
Woman’s New Life Clinic assistance:
Licensed counselors via telephone & telehealth counseling
Material assistance by appointment
Abortion Pill Reversal
Urgent gynecologic care & period problems via telemedicine
Call 504-831-3117
Please pray for abortion-minded women & those women being coerced into abortion during this crisis.
Capital Punishment/Mercy behind Bars
Women Determined update:
They are working with the prison to help a lady who will be released & is in need of housing. Please pray for those reentering society in the midst of the crisis.
Contact Rhonda to help their ministry at [email protected]
Cornerstone Builders update:
The family bus trips are cancelled until further notice
The mentors in their program are staying in touch with the youth who are in their program
The Prison Apostolate is currently not visiting prisons due to closure to visitors
A note on those who are incarcerated - it is not possible to properly social distance in prison nor is it possible to properly wash hands; please pray for them.
Disabilities
God’s Special Children May 3 Mass is cancelled.
Jay Zainey of God’s Special Children has encouraged the families who have needs to let him know in order to mobilize help. If you can be a support to God’s Special Children families, please email me ([email protected])
End of Life/Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia
Peace with Dementia Rosary update:
-Education - www.DementiaRosary.com -blog, podcast, and live YouTube Rosary, Critical Dementia Skills series, private (virtual) consultation & coaching based on client caregiver goals (call for details) - Matt at [email protected] or 504-339-1757
Please pray for those who cannot have visitors during this crisis.
Healing after Abortion
Rachel’s Vineyard update:
Planning a fall retreat - TBAThe team is in touch with those who were planning to make the April retreat to assist them in their healing process. Please pray for them.
For assistance please reach out to Pam at [email protected]
Human Trafficking/Violence/Homeless
Our street teams are not currently going out to the streets. A few times team members have been out driving & praying over areas. A few girls are out there; please pray for them.
Homelessness on the streets has decreased significantly after hotels opened, but it is now showing signs of increasing again (under Claiborne AVE overpass)
Some teams are feeding the homeless by driving through the areas & providing meals from he car window.
Please pray for those who remain on the streets during this crisis.
General Information
St. Catherine of Siena in Metairie has a page up that connects those who need help & those who want to help…
St. Rita’s (Harahan) Food Pantry
They have an urgent need of funds to purchase necessary food items. You can donate directly to the food pantry at the link here: https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/stritaharahan
St. Peter in Covington has offered to their parishioners who are elderly or have a low immune system and would like someone to pick up your groceries or drug prescriptions, to please call the St. Peter Parish office at 985-892-2422
Looking for ideas to do with your children? Choose the Child has wonderful pro-life activities you can do…
May Choose the Child activity - Honor Your Father & Mother:
http://www.choosethechild.com/activity-of-the-month.php
The link to the "Loving the Elderly" Activity can be found here:
http://www.choosethechild.com/loving-the-elderly.php
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Loneliness is Real! Take advantage of the technologies we have…
Do you have someone in your life who has tested positive for Coronavirus? Please consider regular phone/text contact to check up on them. Isolation & presence of the virus are heavy burdens.
Do you have family or friends who must be isolated & live alone? Make frequent calls/texts to check in.
Check on your family, friends, those in your parish, your neighbors who are in the high risk categories (older- especially those >60 - & those with underlying health conditions). Make check in calls, & if you are not in a risk group, offer assistance with necessities such as food & medication.
Reach out to those who take Holy Communion to the homebound. Ask them if there are any who would like phone/email check ins.
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Beyond Faith…General Help in our Community
This information is now found on the website at the bottom of the weekly Respect Life Update: https://respectlife.arch-no.org/weekly-respect-life-update
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Don’t forget to pray for those on our prayer list:
Lindsey, Bernie & his family, Jimmy & his family, Susie, Angele & her family, Jim & Marlene, Fr. Terry Collins & his family, Fr. Tony's dad, Deacon Urial Durr, Frank, Archbishop Aymond, Frank, Ernie & Alice, Gannon & his family, Tyrie & Donetta, Baby Doris & her family, Tristan, Sean, Eric, Msgr. Gauthreaux, his family & parishioners, Robert, Kat, Lauren, Alison, Roquey, Anna, Wilson, Judith, Fay, Kathy, Fr. Tony DeCandia, Jeanna, & Elise Angelette in your prayers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Beyond Faith…General Help in our Community…
CDC Fact Sheet:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf
CDC Coronavirus main page:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Louisiana Department of Public Health information:
http://ldh.la.gov/coronavirus/
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Hotline:
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services has launched a toll-free civil legal help hotline to assist low-income residents of southeast Louisiana impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.Please call the hotline at 1-844-244-7871, Monday-Friday, from 9am-5pm. Callers must meet financial and other requirements to receive free civil legal assistance.
Disability Rights Louisiana Hotline:
Offering legal services for those with disabilities. If you encountering disability-related issues, please reach out to Disability Rights Louisiana by calling 504-522-2337 or toll free number 1-800-966-7705 or email at: [email protected]. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911.
To Fill Out Online Intake Form for Additional Assistance https://disabilityrightsla.org/get-help-now/
City of New Orleans Resources for Food, Shelter (Homelessness, etc), Utilities’ Issues, Mental Health, Workers, Legal, Coronavirus Testing…
https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/resources/
Catholic Charities COVID Disaster Case Management Hotline…
Catholic Charities is offering assistance for benefits enrollment and can assist folks in completing: SNAP Application/Re-certification; Medicaid Application; & Benefit Enrollment Checkup. For assistance, with enrollment, please contact: Mary Smith Office (504) 861-6360 cell (504) 605-9248. You can visit Catholic Charities website here: http://www.ccano.org/press/coronavirus-precautions/
2nd Harvest Food Bank information…
https://no-hunger.org/covid-19/
Grocery stores offering special hours for seniors during COVID-19 pandemic. See the list here…
Food for school children via several Catholic school locations:
https://clarionherald.org/news/free-take-away-meals-available-at-16-catholic-school-cafeteriasGrocery & Prescription Pick Ups
If you are hearing of vulnerable residents who need groceries delivered or prescriptions picked up, the GNO Caring Collective has volunteers who can assist seniors, individuals with special medical needs, & other vulnerable residentst. The GNO Caring Collective was formed in 2020 as response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They offer assistance with school meal delivery, laundry, grocery and supply deliveries, and limited financial assistance. For more information about them: https://www.gnocaringcollective.org/get-help
Diapers & Feminine Hygiene Products
The Junior League of New Orleans is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank to distribute diapers and feminine hygene products throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Click here for a list of locations for pick up.
Good Mental Health information during the quarantine…