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MARCH FOR LIFE 2010
The 2010 March for Life Trip will have all the excitement and depth of the 2009 trip with a few “improvements.” We will once again enjoy the company and leadership of Bishop Sartain who will celebrate the Eucharist, March for Life and lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown with participants.
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Two nights at the Holiday Inn in downtown Washington, DC, less than
1 mile from the sight where the March ends.
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Brief visit to Arlington Cemetery and the remainder of Saturday free to
enjoy the sights.
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There is also an optional group trip on Saturday to the Holocaust Museum, Smithsonian Institute and other sights, please sign up for the optional
Saturday trip including lunch for an additional $10.00.
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There will also be a celebratory dinner after the March for Life at the
Hard Rock Café.
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Trip includes transportation, lodging and all meals Thursday and Friday.
The trip will return to departure locations Sunday afternoon and Sunday Mass will be available upon our arrival.
Click on our March for Life 2010 web page for more information and registration forms.
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 Bishops urge Catholics to Contact Congress and NIH:
OPPOSE DESTRUCTIVE STEM CELL RESEARCH
WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched a new “Oppose Destructive Stem Cell Research” campaign today, equipping citizens to contact Congress and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to oppose embryonic stem cell research and support ethical cures and treatments “we can all live with.” The campaign is facilitated by the USCCB’s partner organization, the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment. Following President Obama’s March 9 executive order, the NIH proposed guidelines for federally funded research that will require destroying live human embryos for their stem cells. The draft guidelines are open for public comment through May 26.
The campaign homepage, www.usccb.org/stemcellcampaign, summarizes why the proposed guidelines are unacceptable, provides links to USCCB resources (including the bishops’ statement “On Embryonic Stem Cell Research” and multi-media resources and ads), and encourages web users to “Contact Congress & NIH Now” through an e-mail interface. Several resources are available in both English and Spanish. The campaign site explains that the NIH guidelines “would—for the first time—use taxpayer funds to encourage the killing of embryonic human beings for their stem cells.” It continues, “Embryonic stem cell research treats innocent human beings as mere sources of body parts, as commodities for our use.” The webpage features a video of Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, critiquing the draft guidelines.
“The Catholic bishops of the United States will be writing to Congress and the Administration about the need to restore and maintain barriers against the mistreatment of human life in the name of science, and we urge other concerned citizens to do the same,” Cardinal Rigali said. Catholics and other citizens are urged to contact both NIH and Congress because members of Congress and the Administration have expressed interest in pursuing an even broader policy. “They want to obtain stem cells by destroying human embryos specially generated for research through in vitro fertilization (IVF) or cloning procedures – a ‘create to kill’ policy,” the campaign page explains.
Those who want to call for stem cell research and cures “we can all live with” may speak out by visiting www.usccb.org/stemcellcampaign and clicking on “Contact Congress & NIH Now.”
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LIFE IN FOCUS NEWSLETTERS
Fall 2009 Life In Focus Newsletter
Spring 2009
Life In Focus Newsletter
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A Message from Bishop Sartain:
Bishop Sartain wishes to express his sincere gratitude to those who contacted their legislators expressing opposition to HB 2354, the State FOCA proposal. This bill has been defeated and will not be called for a vote. This great accomplishment would not have happened without decisive action by the Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Joliet and across the state of Illinois.
We now have the opportunity to contact our legislators once again. This time we need to ask our elected officials to vote yes on HB 3700, a bill that will truly reduce the unnecessary taking of innocent human life. HB 3700 would mandate that an ultrasound be offered to an expectant mother prior to an abortion. If you would like to receive additional updates on this bill, or on other matters affecting the Catholic Church’s public policy agenda in Springfield, please call 312-368-1066, or go to www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org.
Thank you for your actions and prayers.
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 Pro-Life Issues
The Life Office offers advocacy, education, and outreach in pro-life areas; in particular, in the areas of chastity, abortion and euthanasia. Most of the parishes have a pro-life director, and through them, many in our diocese are involved in educational programs, in caring for those facing pregnancy in difficult life situations and other challenges, and in working for appropriate laws to protect the lives of the unborn, the elderly, and other lives at risk. The Life Office endorses the Birthright Centers for crisis pregnancies, and supports a prayerful, respectful, and lawful witness at local abortion clinics. The Life Office also has set up RETURN Ministry at 1 (866) 99 4 -GIVE or 1 (866) 994 - 4483, which is a hotline of support and resources for women and men seeking healing after abortions.
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Please support the prayer vigil
at the Aurora Planned Parenthood
Saturday, July 18, 2009, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM, Monthly Protest at Planned Parenthood: Located at New York Street and Oakhurst Drive, Aurora, IL. If you can make it Saturday you'll be part of the growing nationwide effort to fight Planned Parenthood with the pro-life message of hope. For further information visit: www.familiesagainstplannedparenthood.org.
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