December' editorial now posted.

Many people feel that we should not help those who have brought their problems on themselves through laziness, drug or alcohol use, self-centeredness, illegal entry into the country, or other undesirable behaviors. Providing assistance in those cases, it is thought, only encourages more bad behavior.

The Church's teachers, however, have long cautioned against judging a person's worthiness as a condition for providing assistance. Read more . . .

This morning, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine signed into law a repeal of the state's death penalty.

Earlier today, the United States Senate voted down the Dorgan-Grassley farm program payment limitations amendment by a vote of 56 in favor to 43 opposed. It needed 60 votes to pass.

Please express your thanks to Senator Byron Dorgan for proposing the amendment and your disappointment to Senator Kent Conrad for opposing this reasonable attempt to target farm bill payments.

We just got word from the New Jersey Catholic Conference that this afternoon, the New Jersey General Assembly voted 44 – 36 to abolish the death penalty.

Ask them to support amendments that target supports to those who need it most: family farms, vulnerable producers, and low-income food deficient families

The full Senate is discussing and voting on The Food and Energy Security Act (HR 2419), the version of the Farm Bill approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee in November. We urgently need your help in supporting (1) reforms in commodity supports to help smaller and moderate-scale farmers and (2) critical funding for Food Stamps and emergency food assistance.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED: Please call your senators at 1-800-826-3688.
[Note:  This toll-free number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard, where you will ask to be connected to your senator’s office in order to leave your message.]

MESSAGE: As the farm bill is debated in the Senate, ask your senators to

1)  Support the Dorgan-Grassley Amendment to cap commodity payments at $250,000 per household.

2)  Support  fair competition amendments ensuring a strong Livestock Title.

3)  Support amendments by Feingold-Menendez and Brown-Sununu that puts additional funding into nutrition, conservation, and rural development programs.

After many delays and false starts, the full Senate is voting on specific amendments to the farm bill. Your senators have a critical voice in deciding whether our farm bill will be changed in ways that benefit poor and hungry people here at home and around the world, make programs fairer for U.S. farm and rural families and enable poor farmers in poor countries to earn their way out of poverty. Their vote of support for the key amendments listed above is critical. Please call as soon as possible.

The Senate now has its chance to make agricultural programs fairer to all our farmers and livestock producers, and to strengthen the nutrition programs (especially the Food Stamp Program). This is the Senate’s opportunity to create a more just farm bill.

* Dorgan-Grassley Amendment: Would establish a hard cap for commodity payments at $250,000 per household, helping ensure payments are targeted where they are needed. The amendment would also make sure that payments flow to working farmers rather than their landlords. The money saved from capping payments to the largest producers and landowners would be redirected into nutrition and conservation programs.

* Livestock Title for fair competition: The Senate is amending the Livestock Title with significant reforms that are supported by sustainable agriculture and fair market advocates. These provisions will benefit independent beef and hog producers and provide contract protections for poultry growers. NCRLC is backing amendments by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), and Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT).

* Feingold-Menendez Amendment: Would reduce the amount of direct payments to very large farm operations and re-direct funding to conservation, rural development, and nutrition programs for the needs of many.

* Brown-Sununu Amendment: Would reduce the amount of funds going into crop insurance programs and re-direct funds to nutrition and conservation programs.


SOME KEY POINTS:

Current commodity programs concentrate payments at the upper end of the income scale for farmers who grow program crops, like cotton, corn, wheat, soybeans and rice. This concentration trend has accelerated in recent years. This must change so that small and mid-size family farms receive necessary farm safety-net supports.

A fair and balanced farm bill for the U.S. also requires consideration of its impact on poor farmers overseas. Please ensure that our farm support programs do not make it more difficult for poor farm families in low-income countries to earn their way out of poverty.

Over 35 million Americans -- including more than 12 million children -- struggle to have sufficient food in their homes. New investments made in the Food Stamp Program of the Senate bill are not secure and will be taken away in five years. Please ensure that Nutrition Title improvements do not sunset in 2012.

Current farm and rural development programs are not serving the urgent needs of rural America. Ask your senators to prioritize the needs of vulnerable rural communities as they vote on the 2007 farm bill.

Make the primary focus of U.S. food aid programs the feeding of hungry people by the most effective and efficient means available and building long-term food security.

Each year, the Pope releases a World Day of Peace Message. The Vatican has released Pope Benedict's message for 2008, entitled The Human Family: A Community of Peace. The message teaches about the importance of family, the environment, the moral law, and the need for disarmament as they relate to the establishment of peace.

A Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship bulletin insert is now available from USCCB.

November's column here.

The Maryland Catholic Conference has just published a set of very useful resources on immigration. With the Maryland Conference's permission, we make them available here.

The Root Causes of Migration

In the past 30 years, the number of international migrants has more than doubled, to an estimated 191 million worldwide.These include economic migrants compelled to move to provide for their families, refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing persecution, and victims of human trafficking. The vast majority are economic migrants who have few options to remain in their countries of origin. Read more . . .

The Economics of Immigration

Most immigrants to the United States are motivated to come for economic reasons: To secure stable jobs and a just wage to provide for their families. It is reasonable, in turn, to ask what impact immigrants, including those who are undocumented, have on the economy, public benefits, and native-born workers. The answer is largely positive. Research shows that immigrants – documented and undocumented alike – work hard, pay taxes and help grow the economy. Read more . . .

Resources for Priests and Others

The Basics of Church Teaching on Migration: All persons have the right to have their basic human needs met; Sovereign nations have the right to control their borders; Families have the right to remain united and the right to live with one’s family cannot be denied by law. Also: Scripture references; the Pontiffs on immigration; and The Church’s Public Policy Positions on Immigration; Read more . . .

The Legal Immigration Process

The legal immigration process in the United States is complicated, lengthy, costly, and not available to many who would like to be part of it. For these reasons, and because the process does not provide the United States with the number of workers its economy demands, the U.S. immigration system is widely regarded as “broken.” Read more . . .

The History of Immigration

History always provides us with important perspective as we seek to understand current public policy debates. This is especially true for immigration. While it may be tempting to judge the actions of undocumented immigrants today against the actions of our immigrant ancestors, the legal landscape has changed so dramatically over time that it is difficult to make direct and accurate comparisons. Read more . . .

Statement from Maryland Catholic Bishops (English)
Statement from Maryland Catholic Bishops (Spanish)

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
(from NCRLC’s Spirituality Corner at www.ncrlc.com/Spirituality-Corner.html)

LORD, I am grateful that I am a farmer. I am glad to live close to the earth that You have made. I am happy to spend so much of my time in the open air, under the bright sun, the symbol of Your own justice and light. I am grateful for the rain and for the freshness that it brings--the rain, a symbol of Your rich and undying blessings.

I am happy to cooperate with You in Your work of continuous creation, by growing the food that is needed to sustain life. By Your almighty power You make grow seeds I plant. You fill the earth with minerals, You send the rain and the sun, the wind and the snow--and the dry, hard seeds I plant are raised to soft, green life. You have given us great wisdom and cleverness to build machines that make the labor of the farmer much less burdensome.

Dear Lord, I am in Your almighty hands. I depend upon You for everything. If I sow the seed and cultivate the young plants, and You do not see fit to give me a good harvest, I will be satisfied. You are the Lord and master and creator of all things. You know what is good for me and what would do me harm. I trust You, absolutely and without question.

I thank You again for calling me to a farmer's life. I beg of You never to let me forget its great advantages of closeness to You, absolute trust and confidence in You, and the fullness and richness of my life, close to the earth that You have made and have so marvelously blessed.

Lord, I am grateful that I am a farmer. Amen.

Just about every news outlet is covering the news that scientists have successfully developed a way to produce embryonic-like stem cells without destroying human embryos. Here is a statement on the development by Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

“Studies published this week in the journals Cell and Science offer new hope for advancing stem cell research and therapies while fully respecting the dignity of human life.

“Scientists in Japan and Wisconsin used four genes to ‘reprogram’ ordinary adult human cells, creating ‘induced pluripotent stem cells’ (iPS cells).  James Thomson, head of the Wisconsin team and the founder of human embryonic stem cell research, says these cells ‘meet the defining criteria’ for pluripotent human embryonic stem cells, ‘with the significant exception that the iPS cells are not derived from embryos.’

“Thus the goal sought for years through failed attempts at human cloning – the production of ‘pluripotent’ stem cells that are an exact genetic match to a patient – has been brought within reach by an ethical procedure. This technology avoids the many ethical landmines associated with embryonic stem cell research: it does not clone or destroy human embryos, does not harm or exploit women for their eggs, and does not blur the line between human beings and other species through desperate efforts to make human embryos using animal eggs.  Ian Wilmut, head of the team that cloned ‘Dolly’ the sheep, now says he is abandoning efforts at human ‘therapeutic cloning’ to pursue this adult cell reprogramming avenue instead, because it is technically superior as well as ‘easier to accept socially.’

“I am grateful today for scientists who took up the challenge of finding morally acceptable ways to pursue stem cell research, and for government leaders who have encouraged and funded such avenues.  This advance reminds us once again that medical progress and respect for human life are not in conflict; they can and should support and enrich one another for the good of all.”

Vatican correspondent John Allen reports that Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, describes the U.S. government's lack of support for Catholic schools a "disaster" and a disrespect for "full democracy." If the lack of support by the United States, as a whole, is a disaster, what would he think if North Dakota -- which ranks near or at the bottom of the 50 states when it comes to providing assistance to nonpublic schools and parents?

John Allen's column can be found here.

Approved this morning by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops -- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Bishops of the United States

BALTIMORE-The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) today overwhelmingly approved a statement called Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States.  The statement urges Catholics to be involved in public life and to use the values of their faith to shape their political choice.  It was approved at the bishops’ general meeting in Baltimore, November 12-15.

“In this statement, we bishops do not intend to tell Catholics for whom or against whom to vote,” the bishops explain. “Our purpose is to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth. We recognize that the responsibility to make choices in political life rests with each individual in light of a properly formed conscience, and that participation goes well beyond casting a vote in a particular election.”

The church’s role in helping Catholics to form their consciences is a central theme of the document. “With this foundation,” the bishops explain, “Catholics are better able to evaluate policy positions, party platforms, and candidates’ promises and action in light of the Gospel and the moral and social teaching of the Church in order to help build a better world.”

The bishops affirm their legitimate role in public life. “The obligation to teach about moral values that should shape our lives, including our public lives, is central to [our] mission,” they state. “Our nation’s tradition of pluralism is enhanced, not threatened, when religious groups and people of faith bring their convictions and concerns into public life.”

Respect for the dignity of every human being is a foundation for Catholic teaching about “faithful citizenship.” The statement explains the necessity of opposing actions that are intrinsically wrong, such as abortion and euthanasia, because these actions involve directly and
intentionally ending an innocent human life. It also affirms the obligation to promote the common good by combating such threats to human life and dignity as hunger, poverty, racism, unjust immigration policies, and unjust war. “Both opposing evil and doing good are essential obligations.”

The bishops warn of two temptations for Catholics in public life. “The first is a moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity. The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life…is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed.” A second temptation involves “dismissing or ignoring other serious threats to human life and dignity. Racism and other unjust discrimination, torture, the use of the death penalty, resorting to unjust war, war crimes, the failure to respond to those who are suffering from hunger or lack health care, or unjust immigration policies are all serious moral issues that challenge our consciences and require us to act.”

The bishops call Catholics to a different kind of political engagement shaped by the moral convictions of well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good, and the protection of the weak and the vulnerable.” They add, “Participation in political life in light of fundamental moral principles is an essential duty for every Catholic and all people of good will.”

The President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop William S. Skylstad, Bishop of Spokane, issued a statement released Nov. 13 which calls for a responsible transition in Iraq.  During their general meeting in Baltimore Nov. 12, the bishops of the United States gave their affirmation to his letter, entitled A Call for Bipartisan Cooperation on Responsible Transition in Iraq.
 
Bishop Samuel Aquila of the Diocese of Fargo commented on the statement via an e-mail to the diocesan offices in Fargo today.  He addressed the phrase “responsible transition” and called for continued prayer.
 
“‘Responsible’ means political leaders must put aside their partisan views and vote-seeking agendas and work in cooperation with each other to determine how to incrementally lessen the U.S. presence in Iraq while providing for the support and safety of the people of Iraq.  Definite strategies must be developed that ensure a shift from an environment of war to an existence in peace,” Bishop Aquila wrote.
 
“‘Transition’ means a gradual, well-planned movement which focuses on the care and dignity of each human person who is involved in the war in Iraq,” he continued.  “Responsible transition can be accomplished only if our politicians put others before themselves – put peace, life and the common good before their own political popularity or party agenda.  They must ask those most close to the conflict – the Iraqis, the refugees, the military personnel – what they see as needs, rather than sitting behind desks, determining strategies that look good on paper but fail when implemented.
 
“A pull-out from Iraq based on the schedules of politicians is not the answer nor is remaining in Iraq based on the interests of the U.S. alone.  Responsible transition, based upon the dignity, safety and needs of the human persons whose lives are most closely affected by this war, is the only answer.
 
Bishop Aquila concluded with a call for continued prayer.  “I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Fargo continue to pray for peace in the Middle East, for our service men and women, and for wisdom for all leaders and politicians involved in resolving the present conflict.”

WASHINGTON-The United States and its leaders must work together in a bipartisan fashion to bring about a responsible transition in Iraq that ends the war at the earliest opportunity and minimizes the loss of lives, American and Iraqi.  This was the major thrust of a statement by Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,  that was affirmed by the full body of bishops at their general meeting on November 12 in Baltimore. 

“As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops gathers in Baltimore, our thoughts and prayers are with our military personnel in Iraq, their families, and all the suffering people of Iraq,” Bishop Skylstad said.

The statement decried “the political stalemate in Iraq that blocks national reconciliation” and “finds a parallel” in “the political and partisan stalemate in Washington.”  Bishop Skylstad continued, “Our country needs a new direction to reduce the war’s deadly toll and to bring our people together to deal with the conflict’s moral and human dimensions.  Our nation needs a new bipartisan approach to Iraq policy based on honest and civil dialogue.”

The statement noted that our nation faces important challenges and decisions about the terrible dilemmas in Iraq.  “Our nation must focus more on the ethics of exit than on the ethics of intervention.  The morally and politically demanding but carefully limited goal of responsible transition should aim to reduce further loss of life and address the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, the refugee crisis in the region, the need to help rebuild the country and human rights, especially religious freedom.”

Read the full statement.

Questions and Answers on the War in Iraq

The Witchita Eagle has posted an obituary for Mike Farmer at: http://www.kansas.com/news/obituaries/story/224600.html

This morning, Michael Farmer, the executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, passed from this earthly life after an heroic battle against acute leukemia. Mike was a former legislator, an officer for the National Association of State Catholic Conference Directors, and succeeded me on both the USCCB Pro-Life Committee and as a board member of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. One of his daughters, Sister Mary Ruth, is a member of the Wahpeton Carmelite community here in North Dakota.

May the angels lead him into paradise;
May the martyrs come to welcome him,
and take him to the holy city,
the new and eternal Jerusalem.

Editorials written for the New Earth and the Dakota Catholic Action dating from 2001 to 2003 have been added to the editorial page.

This Action Alert reflects the joint efforts of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Catholic Charities USA, and Catholic Relief Services.

Call Your Senators Today
Ask Them to Support Amendments that Feed the Hungry and Target Farm Supports to Those Who Need It Most
 

The Senate will be voting on The Food and Energy Security Act (HR 2419), the version of the Farm Bill approved by its Senate Agriculture Committee last week. We urgently need your help in supporting critical funding for Food Stamps and emergency food assistance; reforms in commodity supports to help smaller and moderate scale farmers; as well as support for conservation programs that benefit all rural communities.
 

Immediate Action Required:
Call Senator Byron Dorgan and Senator Conrad (click for contact information.) Urge our Senators to:
 
Vote YES on amendments that provide additional funding for Food Stamps and for emergency food assistance (TEFAP). The Senate Agriculture Committee-approved bill contains $1 billion less in new investments for the Food Stamp Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) than the House-passed bill (H.R. 2419).
 
Vote YES on the Dorgan-Grassley amendment, which ensures support for U.S. farmers who need it most. Today 66 percent of commodity payment programs go to 10 percent of our nation’s farmers, the biggest and most affluent. Urge the Senate to pass a fair commodity title that better targets payments to those who need them while closing loopholes that have permitted the powerful to collect multiple payments. The status quo, which directs the majority of payments to large and wealthy agribusinesses while leaving behind the majority of farm families, is unacceptable.
 
Vote YES on amendments that reduce trade-distorting subsidies.  Our brothers and sisters who till the land in developing countries, where three-quarters of the population rely on small-scale farming for their livelihood, are struggling to survive in an increasingly global market that stymies their efforts to feed their families and work their way out of poverty.
 
Support the Food Aid provisions of the bill.  Support the committee bill which provides for a “safebox” with no waivers, and sets aside $600 million of PL 480 Title II resources for development programs.  We must protect Title II resources that address chronic hunger, in order to mitigate future emergencies and to help the poorest reach long term food security. Oppose attempts to weaken Committee-passed provisions on Food Aid.


Background:

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services have been working together to seek a new kind of Farm Bill that reflects a commitment to feed the hungry at home and abroad, to offer effective support for those who till the land, while promoting fairness and equity for farmers and ranchers. We especially support efforts to target agriculture resources to those who need help the most rather than those who need it least.
 
The 2007 Farm Bill was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives (HR 2419) this summer. The Senate expects to begin voting on its version of the Farm Bill the week of November 5. The bill approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee makes important investments in conservation and includes key provisions for beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers. However, more needs to be done to address the inequities in farm supports, especially programs that are trade distorting and that harm farmers in developing countries. While ensuring a genuine farm safety net, savings from greater fairness improvements need to be used for nutrition assistance to low-income people, conservation and rural development.
 
We will continue to work for fairness and justice in our food and farm policies as the Farm bill moves to conference committee for final passage, possibly before Thanksgiving.

The U.S. Bishops have stated that "the primary goals of agricultural policies should be providing food for all people and reducing poverty among farmers and farmworkers in this country and abroad." (For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food: Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers and Farmworkers).  See letters on USCCB’s 2007 Farm Bill priorities at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/agric.shtml.

Click here for a pdf copy of the Action Alert.

Please call your Senators and tell them to support a State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill that includes codifying the unborn child rule.  
 
The Senate is expected to vote on the SCHIP bill the week of October 29.
 
You may call your Senators through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or:

Senator Kent Conrad
Washington: (202) 224-2043
Bismarck: (701) 258-4648
Toll Free: 1-800-223-4457
Fargo: Telephone: (701) 232-8030
Grand Forks: Telephone: (701) 775-9601
Minot: Telephone: (701) 852-0703
senator@conrad.senate.gov

Senator Byron L. Dorgan
Washington: (202) 224-2551
Bismarck: (701) 250-4618
Toll Free: 1-800-666-4482
Fargo: (701) 239-5389
Grand Forks: (701) 746-8972
Minot: (701) 852-0703
senator@dorgan.senate.gov

  
Action Needed:
 
Congress should improve the SCHIP bill and garner strong bipartisan support. The bill can be improved in ways that will strengthen and increase support for SCHIP by making the regulation providing states the option to enroll the unborn child in their SCHIP programs permanent.
 
A final SCHIP reauthorization should codify the unborn child rule, so states are secure in being able to choose life-affirming health services for needy children and their mothers without involvement in abortion. Without the unborn child option, the only way states could provide prenatal care would be by defining the pregnant woman as the patient in need of “child health assistance," which would trigger funding for abortion. Also, many children born as U.S. citizens would not receive needed prenatal care because of their mother’s immigration status.
 
The legislation should also maintain and expand coverage, reduce enrollment barriers, and expand outreach. Sufficient funding should be included in order to provide health care coverage to an additional four million more low-income children, reducing the number of uninsured children by nearly half. 

USCCB Position:
 
“As Catholic organizations united by our common faith and committed to the principles of Catholic social teaching, we recognize and affirm the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and the inherent dignity of every human being. We consider access to adequate health care to be a basic human right, necessary for the development and maintenance of life and for the ability of human beings to realize the fullness of their dignity. A just society is one that protects and promotes fundamental human rights and dignity, with special attention to meeting the basic needs of children and the vulnerable, including the need for safe and affordable health care.” (Letter to Senate Budget Committee from USCCB, Catholic Charities USA, and Catholic Health Association, March 15, 2007)
 
“The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has worked persistently to support and strengthen the nation’s vital efforts to provide adequate and affordable health care, especially to the most vulnerable members of our society, our children. We have joined with Catholic Health Association and Catholic Charities USA to encourage Congress to strengthen, expand and improve the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). We urge the Congress not to turn away from this essential national priority, but to renew its efforts to enact a strong, effective and improved national investment in the health of our children.
 
...We are convinced the bill can also be improved in ways that will strengthen and increase support for SCHIP. In 2002, the Department of Health and Human Services improved SCHIP by allowing states to interpret the word “child” in the statute to include the period from conception to birth. Twelve states (AR, CA, IL, LA, MA, MI, MN, RI, TN, TX, WA, WI) have already chosen to provide health care to pregnant women and their unborn children under this regulatory option.
 
Codifying this option will allow states to retain choice and  flexibility in how best to provide essential health services to pregnant women and children. Access to prenatal care will allow more children to be born in good health, without a need for more extensive and expensive medical intervention. States will be able to choose improved coverage for unborn children and their mothers, without being required to expand state funding for abortions which would be especially tragic in a program dedicated to the lives and health of children…” (Letter to members of U.S. Congress from Bishop DiMarzio, Chairman of the USCCB Domestic Policy Committee, October 24, 2007)

 
We urge Congress not to turn away from the effort to reauthorize SCHIP. Congress has a responsibility to support this successful program and improve it by including coverage of the unborn child. Congress should enact a strong, effective, and improved national investment in the health of our children.
 

Background:
 
The SCHIP program is now in the process of being reauthorized. Temporary funding for SCHIP has been included in the Continuing Resolution (H.J. Res. 52) that will keep the government running to November 16, 2007. A first bill (H.R. 976) was vetoed by the president, and the veto was sustained. A revised bill (H.R. 3963) was passed by the House on October 25, 2007 by a vote of 265-142. This is not a veto proof majority. It is expected that the Senate will act on the legislation during this week. The president has threatened to veto the revised bill in its current form.

For more information on the unborn child rule see: http://www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=258
To see a copy of at letter from USCCB to the Senators: http://ndcatholic.org/files/SenateSCHIPLetter.pdf

Why Don't We Have That? Part II

The Farm Bill finally cleared the Senate Agriculture Committee today. Senator Kent Conrad has posted his take on the bill and its impact on North Dakota. We will hopefully have a broader analysis from a Catholic perspective to post soon.

DREAM Act falls short of 60 votes to move forward
Yesterday the U.S. Senate voted 52-44 to move to consideration of S. 2205, the DREAM Act.  Sixty votes were required in order to move to debate on the bill.

The bad news is that the DREAM Act most likely will not be considered this year.   The good news is that the legislation received majority support (52 votes and likely 56 if absent Senators had voted) and that we are narrowing the gap of achieving 60 votes to move toward consideration of immigration legislation. Below you will find the results of the vote. 

Senators Conrad and Dorgan voted against moving the bill forward. Please contact them to express your disappointment. 

The U.S. Senate will have its first procedural vote on the DREAM ACT on Wednesday, October 24, 2007.  This act will permit certain immigrant students who have grown up in the United States to apply for temporary legal status and eventual permanent status if they attend college for two years or serve in the U.S. military. We need to redouble our efforts to get in phone calls and messages.

Take Action!

Votes on the bill could continue until the end of the week.   Call 202-224-3121 ASAP and ask your Senator to vote yes on the DREAM Act, S. 2205.  
For more information on the DREAM ACT:

WHAT:  The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (S. 2205, the DREAM Act) is likely to be debated on the floor of the U.S. Senate  this week.  Sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Richard Lugar (R-IN), the bill would provide many students who are children of undocumented immigrants and who graduate from high school, with the opportunity to gain citizenship and access to higher education.

ACTION NEEDED:  Click on "Take Action" and enter your zip code to contact both of your Senators today and ask them to support the DREAM act.  We have provided a pre-formatted letter for you to personalize and to help get you started.

BACKGROUND:  S. 2205 would permit certain immigrant students who have grown up in the United States to apply for temporary legal status and eventual permanent status if they attend college for two years or serve in the U.S. military. It applies to those young persons who entered the United States at least five years prior to enactment of the bill. S. 2205 does NOT contain a provision permitting states to more easily offer in-state tuition to undocumented students (this provision was included in earlier versions of the bill)

Employment Opening for NCRLC Executive Director
 
The nonprofit, membership-based National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC) is seeking an Executive Director. Applications are invited immediately. The Executive Director has overall management responsibility for NCRLC and its four pillars of advocacy, outreach, education and spirituality. NCRLC is based in Des Moines, Iowa and currently has a staff of four. The executive director is expected to have experience in rural pastoral life, sustainable agriculture and food policy. Fundraising and program development are important elements. He/she reports to a national Board of Directors. Full job description at www.ncrlc.com.
 

Send a cover letter, your resume and salary history by November 12, 2007 to:
Sr. Christine Pratt, NCRLC Search Committee, 537 Lime St., Fremont, OH 43420
Or email to cpratt@toledodiocese.org

The North Dakota Catholic Conference has long supported the State Children's Health Insurance Program and has supported its expansion in North Dakota. The conference has also called on the federal government to renew and adequately fund the program.

Since the vote on whether to override the President's veto is a federal matter, the North Dakota Catholic Conference will take direction, if any, on the matter from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB.) USCCB has historically supported SCHIP and has been involved in discussions regarding the renewal of the program. At this time, however, it has not expressed a position on the vote on whether to override the President's veto.

Since some abortion proponents attempted to include abortion funding in SCHIP and to prohibit states from including unborn children as “children” under the law, some persons are under the impression that USCCB opposes the current legislation. This is not true. Those efforts were defeated and the bill sent to President Bush retain the current law's prohibitions on using SCHIP for abortion.

For further clarification, the Catholic Health Association and Catholic Charities – USA supported the SCHIP legislation passed by Congress and which the President vetoed.

Those interested in the Farm bill should look at this joint letter from USCCB, Catholic Relief Services, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, and Catholic Charities USA.

We are continuing our posting of articles from the 2007 - 2008 Respect Life Program from the USCCB. Here is the second installment -- Helen Alvare's Assisted Reproductive Technology and the Family.

It is often said that the states are laboratories for the development public policy. Our federal system allows states to enact legislation independent from each other, each responding to their unique history, traditions, and conditions. When one state enacts legislation, other states may follow and try to improve on its example.

Inevitably, someone, looking at another state, will ask, “Why don't we do that?” What works or is possible in one state, however, may not work or be possible in another state. Here is a look at some laws in other states that have not been embraced in North Dakota. (Read More . . .)

WASHINGTON - In a statement released September 27, Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, CA, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, expressed concern about the direction and tone of the national debate on immigration.  Legislation to comprehensively reform the U.S. immigration system failed in the U.S. Senate June 28.
“The immigration reform debate, while provoking informed analysis and thoughtful discussion, also has generated harsh rhetoric against migrants in this country, particularly those without legal status,” said Bishop Barnes.  “Fanned by talk radio and anti-immigrant organizations, this rhetoric has inflamed fears and misunderstanding among some portions of the American public, leading to a polarized and vitriolic atmosphere.” 
Bishop Barnes also said that the increase in enforcement initiatives at the federal and local levels will not solve the issue of illegal immigration but will drive immigrants further into the shadows and create fear in immigrant communities. Bishop Barnes pointed to enforcement raids, state and local enforcement initiatives, and other administrative actions as examples of an immigration system that needs reform.
“We reaffirm our view that enforcement-only measures at any jurisdictional level will further drive undocumented migrant workers into a hidden underclass and create more fear and suspicion in immigrant communities,” Bishop Barnes said.
“The U.S. bishops acknowledge the right of our country to secure our borders and enforce immigration law.  Such enforcement, however, must respect human rights and dignity and minimize the separation of families.”
Bishop Barnes urged Congress to return to the consideration of comprehensive immigration reform as soon as possible.  “We call upon Catholics and all Americans to work together constructively to ensure a positive outcome to this vital national debate.”

Here's the Press Release from USCCB:

WASHINGTON—In response to a request by the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s teaching on providing nutrition and hydration to patients in a persistent “vegetative state.”

The bishops presented two questions in a formal manner, known as a “dubium,” to the Congregation. The reply, which was approved by Pope Benedict XVI.

The responses reaffirm the church position that patients in a “vegetative state” are living human beings with inherent dignity and deserve the same basic care as other patients. This basic care would include nutrition and hydration, even when provided through artificial assistance.

“The administration of food and water even by artificial means is, in principle, an ordinary and proportionate means of preserving life,” according to the Congregation’s response. “It is therefore obligatory to the extent to which, and for as long as, it is shown to accomplish its proper finality, which is the hydration and nourishment of the patient. In this way suffering and death by starvation and dehydration are prevented.”

The bishops also asked for clarification as to whether nutrition and hydration could be removed if physicians determined that the patient would never recover consciousness. The Congregation affirmed that the patient must receive “ordinary and proportionate care which includes, in principle, the administration of water and food even by artificial means” regardless of the prognosis of recovery of consciousness.

A Vatican commentary noted some possible exceptions.

“When stating that the administration of food and water is morally obligatory in principle, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith does not exclude the possibility that, in very remote places or in situations of extreme poverty, the artificial provision of food and water may be physically impossible,” it said.

“Nor is the possibility excluded that, due to emerging complications, a patient may be unable to assimilate food and liquids, so that their provision becomes altogether useless. Finally, the possibility is not absolutely excluded that, in some rare cases, artificial nourishment and hydration may be excessively burdensome for the patient or may cause significant physical discomfort, for example resulting from complications in the use of the means employed.”

“These exceptional cases, however, take nothing away from the general ethical criterion, according to which the provision of water and food, even by artificial means, always represents a natural means for preserving life, and is not a therapeutic treatment. Its use should therefore be considered ordinary and proportionate, even when the “vegetative state” is prolonged,” it added.

The bishops asked the Holy See for clarification of the Church’s teaching after Pope John Paul II’s address on March 20, 2004, to an international congress sponsored by the Pontifical Academy for Life and the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations.

“We are grateful that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith responded to our request with such a thorough investigation and explanation,” Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Connecticut, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for Doctrine, said in introducing the Response. “We hope the Church’s documents on this issue will provide help and guidance to pastors, ethicists, doctors, nurses and families involved in the care of those diagnosed as being in a persistent ‘vegetative state.’”

The responses from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF)  ( www.usccb.org/comm/hydrationletter.doc ), a CDF commentary ( www.usccb.org/comm/hydrationcommentary.doc ), approved by Cardinal William Levada and bishop members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and a Q&A from the USCCB Committee on Doctrine and Committee on Pro-Life Activities  ( www.usccb.org/comm/hydrationq&a.doc ) can be found on the Web.

“Care of water resources and attention to climate change are matters of grave importance for the entire human family… Encouraged by the growing recognition of the need to preserve the environment, I invite all of you to join me in praying and working for greater respect for the wonders of God’s creation!”

To find out more about what you can do, check out:

The Climate Change Justice and Health Initiative - a project of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change

The Prairie Climate Stewardship Network

WASHINGTON—A spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Deirdre McQuade, praised the Senate’s vote last night to maintain the longstanding federal law against any involvement in coercive abortion programs overseas.  She also faulted the Senate for voting to overturn the Mexico City Policy, which denies U.S. funds to organizations that perform and promote abortion as a method of family planning.  Both votes occurred during debate on the State Department/Foreign Operations appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 2764).

On September 6, the Senate voted 48-to-45 to approve an amendment by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) to restore the “Kemp-Kasten Amendment” deleted from the bill in committee.  Since 1985, this provision has denied U.S. funds to any organization or program that, as determined by the President, “supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.”

“I commend the Senate for refusing to participate in such atrocities against vulnerable women and their children in the developing world,” Ms. McQuade said.  “At the same time, it is disconcerting to think that this was considered debatable at all – and that the vote was so close. By a vote of 53 to 41, the Senate also passed an amendment by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to negate the Mexico City Policy. An amendment offered by Senator Brownback to reinstate the policy was defeated by the same margin.
           
“After witnessing their good sense on the Kemp-Kasten provision, I am extremely disheartened to see our Senators reject the Mexico City Policy,” Ms. McQuade said.

In a letter sent to all Senators before the votes, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia and chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for Pro-Life Activities, had urged Senators to preserve both the Mexico City and Kemp-Kasten policies.  Without the Mexico City policy, he said, “abortion-promoting organizations will exploit their status as the conduits for U.S. aid to promote abortion to vulnerable women in the Third World.”

Before the votes, President George W. Bush also reaffirmed his pledge to veto any appropriations bill that “weakens current Federal policies and laws on abortion.”  Deirdre McQuade expressed her appreciation for the President’s veto pledge: “We are very grateful to the President for his commitment to these basic, long-standing policies protecting both mother and child.  We hope and expect that due to his pledge, and the pledge by many members of Congress to uphold such a veto, the Mexico City Policy will be preserved in law this year.”

The full text of Cardinal Rigali’s letter to the Senate can be found at:  www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/abortion/foreignops2008.pdf

An Orientation to the Northern Plains for Clergy from
All Denominations
October 8 - 9, 2007
Maryvale at Valley City
Sponsored by the eleven member denominations of the
North Dakota Conference of Churches

For All New or Experienced Clergy, Church Workers, and Their Spouses

Effective ministry in any setting requires a knowledge of the people and the place — the history, culture and realities of life in the area. Whether you are new to the ministry or have years of experience, North Dakota 101 is designed to help you gain a greater understanding of North Dakota, its people, and life on the Northern Plains. Speakers include representatives from a variety of fields and veteran pastors who will share their knowledge of North Dakota. This annual event is an enlightening experience and opportunity to meet others from around the state who face similar challenges.

For more information, download the brochure or contact the North Dakota Conference of Churches at: 701-226-8037; exe_sec.ndcc@yahoo.com.

A letter from Planned Parenthood's Amy Jacobson in the Bismarck Tribune prompted this response from Christopher Dodson, executive director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference. Word limits prevented Dodson from listing sources for the studies mentioned in the letter. This restatement of the letter gives citations in bold.

Planned Parenthood's Amy Jacobson accuses pro-life groups of falsely claiming that emergency contraception is an abortifacient. Maybe we could quibble about the definition of “abortifacient,” but the fact remains that both the FDA and the pill's manufacturer admit that emergency contraception may prevent implantation of a newly formed embryo.  [Concerning the definition of what is an embryo, see http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/bioethic/fact298.shtml.] Call it what you will, but in those cases where fertilization has occurred, emergency “contraception”  works only because it prevents the embryo from attaching to the uterine wall. [According to the FDA, "EC pills ... act by delaying or inhibiting ovulation, and/or altering tubal transport of sperm and/or ova (thereby inhibiting fertilization), and/or altering the endometrium (thereby inhibiting implantation)" (FDA Notice, 62 Fed. Reg. 861 [Feb. 25, 1997]).]
 
Ms. Jacobson also claims that greater access to contraception and emergency contraception will reduce  unintended pregnancies and abortions.   A report from Planned Parenthood's own research arm, however, shows that states that most aggressively promote contraceptives have some of the highest abortion rates in the country.  States that do not, such as Kansas and the Dakotas, have the lowest abortion rates. [Data available from Guttmacher Institute's "Contraception Counts: Ranking State Efforts" (http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/02/28/IB2006n1.pdf) and "Abortion in Women's Lives" (http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/05/04/AiWL.pdf); for analysis of the data, see: Response to Guttmacher Institute’s Claims On Contraception and Abortion Policy and Latest Guttmacher Institute Report At Odds With Itself.]

Studies from other countries also show that contraceptive programs do not reduce abortion rates. [A. Glasier et al., “Advanced provision of emergency contraception does not reduce abortion rates," Contraception 69 (May 2004): 361-6 (www.cwfa.org/images/content/scotland0905.pdf; visited Feb. 14, 2007).T. Raine et al., “Direct Access to Emergency Contraception Through Pharmacies and Effect on Unintended Pregnancy and STIs,” Journal of the American Medical Association 293 (2005): 54-62 (www.dph.sf.ca.us/sfcityclinic/providers/Directaccesscontraception.pdf; visited Feb. 14, 2007).Xiaoyu Hu et al., “Advanced provision of emergency contraception to postnatal women in China makes no difference in abortion rates: a randomized controlled trial,” Contraception 72 (2005): 111-6.S. Girma and D. Paton, "Matching Estimates of the Impact of Over-the-Counter Emergency Birth Control on Teenage Pregnancy," University of Nottingham School of Business Occasional Paper Series, No. 2005-15 (October 2005) (www.nottingham.ac.uk/%7Elizecon/RePEc/pdf/matching.pdf; visited Feb. 14, 2007; Anna Glasier, Editorial, “Emergency Contraception: Is it worth all the fuss?”, British Medical Journal 333 (2006): 560-1; A. Williams, "The Morning-After Pill," Scottish Council of Human Bioethics (Nov. 2005) (www.schb.org.uk, click on "Publications" then "Sexual Health;" T. Tyden et al., “No reduced number of abortions despite easily available emergency contraceptive pills,” Lakartidningen 99 (2002): 4730-2, 4735 (abstract at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12523048&dopt=Citation; visited Feb. 14, 2007; J. Gardner et al., “Increasing Access to Emergency Contraception Through Community Pharmacies: Lessons from Washington State,” Family Planning Perspectives 33 (2001): 172-5 (www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3317201.pdf; visited Feb. 14, 2007).]

In fact, says one recent overview: “Most studies that have been conducted during the past 20 years have indicated that improving access to contraception did not significantly increase contraceptive use or decrease teen pregnancy.” [Douglas Kirby, “Reflections on Two Decades of Research on Teen Sexual Behavior and Pregnancy,” Journal of School Health 69.3 (March 1999).]

The same is true with emergency contraceptives. When leading experts who favor emergency contraception programs recently summarized 23 studies gauging the effect of such programs, they had to admit that not one of the 23 found a reduction in unintended pregnancies or abortions.  [E. Raymond et al., “Population Effect of Increased Access to Emergency Contraceptive Pills,” Obstetrics & Gynecology 109 (2007): 181-8.]

Each year the chair of the Domestic Policy Committee of the USCCB issues a Labor Day Statement. Here is this year's statement.

Each year, the USCCB Office of Pro-Life Activities produces a Respect Life Program with to assist everyone with learning about and educating on issues concerning human life. The central piece of the program is a series of excellent articles written by experts in their fields.

Once a month, we will post one of the articles on this web site.

To start us out, here is The Person with Mental Illness: Bearing God's Image by Rev. Richard Gill, L.C.