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<title>North Dakota Catholic Conference</title><link>http://ndcatholic.org/index.html</link><description>News and Updates</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2007</dc:rights><dc:date>2008-07-18T13:22:21-05:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Thu, 15 May 2008 11:03:57 -0500</lastBuildDate><item><title>Cardinal Urges Respect for Conscience</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Religious Liberty</category><dc:date>2008-07-18T13:22:21-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-474</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-474</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[From USCCB:


Responding to objections to anticipated federal HHS regulations protecting health care providers&rsquo; fundamental rights of conscience, Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops&rsquo; Committee on Pro-Life Activities, today wrote to all members of Congress defending &ldquo;efforts to reaffirm and implement laws on conscience protection.&rdquo;


The New York Times on July 15 reported that it had obtained an alleged draft of regulations soon to be issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, to clarify and enforce federal laws on respect for the moral and religious convictions of health care personnel in programs receiving federal funds.   Pro-abortion organizations and some members of Congress have already attacked the as-yet-unpublished regulations, saying they are unwarranted and could limit &ldquo;access&rdquo; to abortion and birth control.


Reacting to these criticisms, Cardinal Rigali said this &ldquo;should be a matter of agreement among members who call themselves &lsquo;pro-life&rsquo; and &lsquo;pro-choice&rsquo;: the freedom of health care providers to serve the public without violating their most deeply held moral and religious convictions on the sanctity of human life.&rdquo;


A copy of the letter is here: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/rigali-conscience071808.pdf]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Lawsuit against Dakota Boys Ranch Dismissed</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Religious Liberty</category><dc:date>2008-07-17T15:02:35-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-473</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-473</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Associated Press is reporting that a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit over North Dakota referrals to the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.    The story is here.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Urge Senators to Support the Jubilee Act to Relieve the Debt of Poor Countries&#x21;</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>International Issues</category><dc:date>2008-07-15T16:28:17-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-472</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-472</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[REASON FOR THIS ALERT: Late last month the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations passed the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2008(S. 2166) with bipartisan support.   The House of Representatives had previously passed a similar bill.   The next step is for the full Senate to consider the bill.   Since the fall session of the Senate is expected to be very short because of the upcoming Presidential and Congressional elections, the best&mdash;and probably the only&mdash;opportunity for getting the bill passed this year would be during the next four weeks, i.e., before the Congress begins its late summer recess.


&nbsp;


BACKGROUND: While major progress has been made in reducing poor country debt, a substantial number of the poorest countries continue to shoulder heavy debt burdens that draw precious government resources away from critical investments in health care, education, water and other sectors necessary to improve lives.   Many poor countries have seen their debts reduced through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative that was adopted in 1996 and expanded in 1999 in response to successful advocacy by the global Jubilee 2000 movement, in which the Catholic Church played a major role.   In the succeeding years, it became apparent that further efforts were required, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) continued its advocacy.   USCCB strongly supported the new debt relief program called the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) that was approved under U.S. leadership in 2005.   This provided major new debt cancellation for HIPC countries.   Nevertheless, more than twenty very poor countries still are unable to benefit from HIPC or MDRI debt relief.


&nbsp;


&nbsp; TAKE ACTION NOW!


Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan are not already cosponsors of the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007 (S.   2166).    Contact them and urge them (1) to become cosponsors today and (2) to support bringing the bill to the Senate floor for a vote on final passage as soon as possible.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Senate Approves Medicare Bill </title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Health Care</category><dc:date>2008-07-11T07:46:02-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-471</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-471</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A veto-proof majority voted July 9 to approve the House-passed Medicare physician payment fix, with 18 Republicans joining all Democrats to approve the bill two weeks after it initially failed to gain cloture.   Although the White House expressed continuing opposition to the bill following the vote, the 69-30 tally indicates the potential support to override a veto, as did the 359-55 earlier vote in the House.   The Catholic Health Association and others supported efforts to prevent the physician payment cuts and improve access and coverage for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Science and Tech Growth the Right Way</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Embryonic stem cell research</category><dc:date>2008-07-02T14:55:52-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-470</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-470</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Much has been made in the local press about a recent study showing North Dakota to have the greatest increase in favorability to technology and science.    The Milken Institute&rsquo;s 2008 Technology and Science Index shows North Dakota to have made the greatest improvement among the states since 2004, moving from 41 to 35.


What is not mentioned is that North Dakota made this improvement without legalizing and funding embryonic stem cell research and human cloning.    Proponents of embryo research make it sound as though unless a state jumps on the funding bandwagon, it will be left behind.    The data shows the contrary.    Indeed, some states that expressly prohibit such activities do rather well in the study, while states that have sunk public funding into human cloning, like California and New Jersey, fell in the rankings. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Action Alert: AIDS Relief</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><dc:subject>News and Updates</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-06-28T09:33:39-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-469</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-469</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Abortion and population control advocates are trying to derail passage of this important bill in the hope of getting government funding for abortion and contraceptive efforts, rather than focusing on saving lives.  

...Contact your Senators now (http://actioncenter.crs.org) and express your disappointment that they have not yet reached bipartisan consensus to move forward with the reauthorization of the President&rsquo;s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).   Urge them to complete their work on PEPFAR when they return from the July 4th recess. 

...Despite our many efforts to advocate for the Senate to complete its work on the bill to reauthorize PEPFAR, known as S. ...  Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act, they failed to move the bill forward before recessing for the July 4th holiday. ...  Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) are disappointed that an agreement has not been finalized, we must now redouble our efforts to ensure that the Senate will find a bipartisan consensus and vote on the bill when they return from recess the week of July 7.


...Millions of lives are at stake if the Senate fails to reauthorize PEPFAR this year.   CRS, a major provider of HIV care, prevention and treatment in many of the poorest countries in the world, along with many other providers depends on the PEPFAR program to save millions of lives.   Without a firm commitment to reauthorize PEPFAR, CRS and other providers cannot plan for future activities.   The risk of suspending funding, however brief, could disrupt HIV treatment, undermine the credibility of healthcare institutions providing HIV services, and endanger lives.


...Because of PEPFAR, CRS has saved more than 115,000 lives through antiretroviral treatment and provides care and support services for another 175,000 HIV positive people.   Men and women who were on the brink of death are now leading normal lives, caring for their children and contributing to their communities.   More than 60,000 orphaned children are being cared for, going to school and embracing a bright future.   Nearly 350,000 youth have been educated about risky behaviors and how abstinence-until-marriage and mutual fidelity within marriage are the most effective ways to prevent HIV infections. 

...Our faith as Catholics requires us to care for &ldquo;the least of these&rdquo; and to uphold the life and dignity of all people.   People affected by HIV or suffering from AIDS need and deserve our love and care, just as Jesus called on us to care for those who are hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill. ...  Pope Benedict XVI, in his World AIDS Day message in 2007 stated: &ldquo;I wish to exhort all people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of the HIV virus, to combat the disdain which is often directed towards people who are affected by it, and to care for the sick, especially those who are still children."


...The Catholic Church in the United States strongly supports moving forward with a PEPFAR bill that retains the program&rsquo;s current focus on saving the lives of poor people affected by HIV and living with AIDS and continues to include provisions supporting a morally appropriate approach to combating the disease.   Bishop Wenski, Bishop of Orlando and Chairman of the USCCB&rsquo;s Committee on International Justice and Peace, reiterated the Church&rsquo;s support for the PEPFAR program in a recent opinion editorial, stating: &ldquo;Not only has PEPFAR saved lives, the world has seen in PEPFAR a true act of American compassion and leadership.   This U.S. global initiative has also raised the bar for other donor countries to respond with generosity to the AIDS pandemic.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Senate Vote Falls Short on House Approved Medicare Package </title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Health Care</category><dc:date>2008-06-28T09:28:42-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-467</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-467</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[News from the Catholic Health Association on legislation that would help North Dakota&rsquo;s hospitals:


The Senate cloture vote that would have led to passage of the House approved Medicare bill (HR 6331) failed, 58-40, falling short of the 60 votes required.   Senate Majority Leader Reid only allowed a floor vote on the House approved Medicare bill and did not bring the tentative Medicare compromise worked out earlier in the week between Senator Max Baucus, D-MT, and Sen.   Charles E.   Grassley, R-Iowa, to the floor for a vote.   Senate Democratic leadership believed that with the overwhelming veto proof vote in the House, the Senate would be able to muster the 60 votes.


The House voted earlier this week 355-59 to approve the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, H.R. 6331, that would block a July 1 physician payment cut, strengthens low-income beneficiary protections, and includes a number of hospital provisions.   The bill would freeze physician payments for 2008 and provide a 1.1% increase for physicians in 2009.   Similar to the legislation sponsored by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), the bill also would extend the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility grant program; provide rebasing for sole community hospitals; extend and expand the outpatient hold-harmless provision for small rural and sole community hospitals; and extend Section 508 reclassification.   In addition, the House bill would delay for 18 months the competitive bidding program for Durable Medical Equipment (DMEPOS).


With the cuts to physician rates now scheduled to go through, Congress will have the option of returning after the recess and passing a retroactive bill that will restore payment rates and make up for the cuts.   That will likely create an administrative headache, however, and had long been seen as an undesirable outcome.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Torture is a Moral Issue</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><dc:subject>News and Updates</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-06-25T16:52:58-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-466</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-466</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[USCCB has released a new Catholic study guide on "Torture is a Moral Issue."   Written in a lively style, this four chapter guide will stimulate discussion in your parish social action&nbsp;and youth groups, or in classes&nbsp;teaching social justice and human rights,&nbsp;on a topic much in the news.   Learn what you can do to stop torture now.   To access the guide, go to http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/TortureIsAMoralIssueCatholicStudyGuide.pdf&nbsp;or click on the "Torture is a Moral Issue" logo on the front page of the USCCB/JPHD Web site (www.usccb.org/jphd).
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Important Ruling on the Death Penalty</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Death Penalty</category><dc:date>2008-06-25T16:47:39-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-465</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-465</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 today against the expansion of the use of the death penalty for those who have raped, but did not kill, a child.   While the Catholic Church strongly condemns sexual violence of every kind, Catholic teaching calls for an end to the use of the death penalty because we have other, non-lethal ways to protect society from those who commit heinous crimes.   The U.S. bishops have been calling for an end to the use of the death penalty for almost three decades and today&rsquo;s ruling to prevent the expansion of the death penalty is a welcome victory.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Catholic Charities USA Midwest Floods Reliefs Efforts</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><dc:subject>News and Updates</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-06-25T09:21:09-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-464</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-464</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Flooding in the Midwest is the biggest disaster to hit the United States since Hurricane Katrina three years ago.   Nearly 35,000 people have been displaced and 24 people have been killed.


&nbsp;


According to Catholic Charities USA Disaster Response Office, people are depressed and anxious as a result of all the devastation that surrounds them.   The need for mental health counseling will only grow as more people return home.


Catholic Charities USA&rsquo;s Response


Catholic Charities USA's (CCUSA) Office of Disaster Response is on the ground in the Midwest&nbsp;helping local Catholic Charities agencies assess, develop and implement recovery efforts.   We also are working closely with our partners, including FEMA, local Red Cross and church groups to help address the needs of victims.


&nbsp;


Drawing on our experiences with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, plans are underway to train and deploy volunteer coordinators and crews to help with the cleaning up and gutting of damaged homes in the hard-hit areas of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana.


&nbsp;


Catholic Charities USA has provided $10,000 grants to three local agencies impacted by the floods&nbsp;to help them meet immediate needs.


&nbsp;


Please visit www.  CatholicCharitiesUSA.org for further updates.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Bishops Speak Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Embryonic stem cell research</category><dc:date>2008-06-13T21:02:04-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-462</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-462</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Catholic bishops of the United States overwhlemingly approved a new policy statement on embryonic stem cell research, by a vote of 191 to 1.    The statement is available at:


 


www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/bioethic/bishopsESCRstmt.pdf]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Sister Susan Berger&#x2c; Friend of Conference</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><dc:subject>News and Updates</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-06-13T07:28:38-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-461</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-461</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Sister Susan Berger, OSB, former prioress of Annunciation Monastery and long-time friend of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, died Thursday.    Our prayers to the sisters, and all who knew and were touched by Sister Susan.


More information here.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>State Chief Justice Wants Guardianship Need Study</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><dc:subject>News and Updates</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-06-12T16:23:59-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-460</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-460</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[North Dakota Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle presented the annual State of the Judiciary message to the State Bar Association's annual meeting on June 12.    In the address, the Chief Justice expressed concern about the growing demand for guardianships and public administrators:


I am growing more and more concerned about the need for and how the courts deal with guardianships and public administrators.   With our aging population, it will become an issue of ever greater importance.   I think that it may be especially acute in North Dakota because many of the family members who would normally provide care to elderly relatives are no longer residing in North Dakota.   I intend to approach the legislature with these concerns and ask them to consider a study on population and aging issues.   If this resolution should be accepted for interim study, I expect the legislature will look to the Bar for its input.


The full address can be found here.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>SCHIP Expansion Approved</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Health Care</category><dc:date>2008-06-09T13:28:52-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-459</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-459</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The North Dakota Catholic Conference was among those who supported a plan in the 2007 session to expand eligibility in the state children&rsquo;s health insurance program from 140% of the poverty level to 150%.     This proposal, however, hit a federal rule snag and did not go into effect.    This week, the Department of Human Services received approval from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to increase the eligibility level.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Faithful Citizenship Videos</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Catholic Social Teaching</category><dc:date>2008-06-04T20:12:52-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-458</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-458</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[USCCB has released a DVD for use with Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.    The Faithful Citizenship website has three videos from the DVD for viewing.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Farm Bill Summary</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Rural Life</category><dc:date>2008-06-04T10:03:58-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-457</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-457</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[USCCB, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, and Catholic Relief Services, have released a good Update on the Farm Bill, where it stands, and the &ldquo;good news&rdquo; and &ldquo;bad news&rdquo; in the bill. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>ND Office for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>News</category><dc:date>2008-06-03T14:13:50-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-456</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-456</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The 2007 legislature moved the Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) to the Department of Commerce.    The department now has a website devoted to the state OFBCI.    The site includes regular newsletters, meeting information, grant opportunities, and communications from the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives.    Check it out.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Health Care Directive Workshop</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Health Care</category><dc:date>2008-05-15T11:01:12-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-455</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-455</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The North Dakota Catholic Conference conducts workshops on completing the Catholic Health Care Directive.    A pdf version of the workshop slides is now available.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>New Items on Papal Visit</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><dc:subject>News and Updates</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-05-15T09:40:45-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-454</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-454</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We have posted two items related to Pope Benedict's visit to the United States.


White House Papal Visit includes a reflection by Christopher Dodson prepared for the diocesan newspapers, a photo gallery, and the text of the Holy Father's and the President's remarks.


Was the Pope's Visit Political?    examines whether the Pope's visit was political and what it means to be political.    It is the monthly column for the diocesan papers.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Farm Bill - Joint Letter to Congress</title><dc:creator>ndcatholic@btinet.net</dc:creator><category>Rural Life</category><dc:date>2008-05-13T13:02:43-05:00</dc:date><link>http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-453</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-453</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Representatives from USCCB, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, and Catholic Relief Services have sent a joint letter to members of Congress regarding the Farm Bill.    House and Senate conferees have finished a final conference report that is heading to congress for a vote.]]></content:encoded></item></channel>
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