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.

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—and probably the only—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.
 
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.
 
  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.

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.

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’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.

This action alert comes from USCCB and Catholic Relief Services. 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. Please act.

MILLIONS OF LIVES ARE AT STAKE:
SENATORS, MOVE THE GLOBAL AIDS BILL FORWARD
TAKE ACTION NOW!
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’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Urge them to complete their work on PEPFAR when they return from the July 4th recess. Millions of lives are at stake!

WHY IS PROGRESS ON THE GLOBAL AIDS BILL STALLED?
Despite our many efforts to advocate for the Senate to complete its work on the bill to reauthorize PEPFAR, known as S. 2731, Tom Lantos and Henry J. 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. While the U.S. 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.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE GLOBAL AIDS BILL DOESN’T MOVE FORWARD?
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.

WHAT HAS PEPFAR ACHIEVED SO FAR?
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. Visit the CRS Web site (http://crs.org/public-policy/hiv_aids.cfm) for more information.

WHAT DOES PEPFAR HAVE TO DO WITH MY FAITH?
Our faith as Catholics requires us to care for “the least of these” 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. Catholic social teaching instructs us to live in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world. Pope Benedict XVI, in his World AIDS Day message in 2007 stated: “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."

WHAT IS THE CHURCH’S POSITION ON PEPFAR?
The Catholic Church in the United States strongly supports moving forward with a PEPFAR bill that retains the program’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’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, reiterated the Church’s support for the PEPFAR program in a recent opinion editorial, stating: “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.”

News from the Catholic Health Association on legislation that would help North Dakota’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.

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 and youth groups, or in classes teaching social justice and human rights, 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 or click on the "Torture is a Moral Issue" logo on the front page of the USCCB/JPHD Web site (www.usccb.org/jphd).

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’s ruling to prevent the expansion of the death penalty is a welcome victory.

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.
 
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’s Response
Catholic Charities USA's (CCUSA) Office of Disaster Response is on the ground in the Midwest 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.
 
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.
 
Catholic Charities USA has provided $10,000 grants to three local agencies impacted by the floods to help them meet immediate needs.
 
Please visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org for further updates.

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

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.

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.

The North Dakota Catholic Conference was among those who supported a plan in the 2007 session to expand eligibility in the state children’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.

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.

USCCB, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, and Catholic Relief Services, have released a good Update on the Farm Bill, where it stands, and the “good news” and “bad news” in the bill.

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.

The North Dakota Catholic Conference conducts workshops on completing the Catholic Health Care Directive. A pdf version of the workshop slides is now available.

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.

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.

The United Nations estimates that up to a million people may have been left homeless in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. "It could not have happened in a worse stretch of land. With the tidal surge at 12 to 15 feet, presumably thousands of people living along the [Irrawaddy] Delta were simply washed away," says Pat Johns, director of Catholic Relief Services' emergency response team.

CRS is supporting the emergency relief and response efforts of the Caritas Internationalis network in the most affected areas of Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis brought a deadly tidal surge across the low-lying coastal areas of the country on Saturday.

The latest reports are that 60,000 people are dead or missing and 1 million are homeless. These numbers are expected to rise. The level of devastation is still difficult to assess as communications remain spotty and news trickles out of the country. Conditions are dire. Food, water and basic shelter are urgently needed.

Please donate now to help CRS provide relief to the thousands of families affected by this tragic disaster.

For more than 60 years, CRS has supported long-term development programs and emergency relief efforts—including responses to cyclones and other natural disasters—in the regions of Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate voted 95 to 0 to pass the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (“GINA,” H.R. 493), which bars employers and health insurers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of their own or their family members’ genetic information, on April 24.

Deirdre McQuade, Assistant Director for Policy and Communications at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, praised its passage.

“Today the Senate took a stand for some of the most vulnerable members of the human family, whether born, yet to be born, or placed for adoption. No one should be discriminated against on the basis of genetic testing,” McQuade said.

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a nearly identical bill by a vote of 420 to 3 on April 25, 2007.

“The Pro-Life Secretariat is particularly grateful to Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) for ensuring that this bill’s protection against discrimination will cover the families of unborn children with adverse prenatal diagnoses, as well as children being adopted,” she said. “His advocacy on their behalf will empower families to welcome vulnerable children with special needs into their lives.”

“After minor technical differences between the House and Senate bills are resolved, we look forward to President Bush signing into law this important protection for American families,” McQuade said.

New column posted on the new health care directives, Faithful Citizenship, and upcoming health care conference.

North Dakota Catholic Conference executive director Christopher Dodson attended a White House welcoming ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday.

The invitation-only event on the White House south lawn was the official welcome to the Pope on his first visit to the United States since assuming the pontificate. It was only the second visit of a pope to the White House in United States history.

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush welcomed the Pope in a ceremony that included a 21-gun salute, a fife and drum band, and a singing of the Lord’s Prayer. Following the official ceremony, the band led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to the Pope, who turned 81 on Wednesday.

“Both the President and the Holy Father spoke of the importance of faith, virtue, and religious liberty in a democratic society,” said Dodson. “The whole event instilled a sense of pride and appreciation at being both Catholic and American,” added Dodson.

Dodson received the invitation because of his position as the public policy liaison for the state’s Roman Catholic bishops. He will be available for interviews.

Next week, during the Apostolic Visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States, the House of Representatives will likely consider the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007 (HR 2634) which represents an essential next step in alleviating the crushing burdens of debt that plague many developing countries.  The timing is significant since the Holy See has been a strong supporter of debt relief.
 
Please use this action alert and urge your Representative Earl Pomeroy to support the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007 (HR 2634). 
 
Thanks to advocates like you substantial debt burdens have already been lifted off the backs of the poor and this legislation will build on that important work. Let's finish the work we have done on debt relief for poor people around the world. 
 
Represenative Earl Pomeroy
Washington: United States House of Representatives
1501 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone: (202) 225-2611
FAX: (202) 226-0893
Bismarck: Telephone: (701) 224-0355
Fargo: Telephone: (701) 235-9760

rep.earl.pomeroy@mail.house.gov

Three years ago, the North Dakota Catholic Conference published a Catholic health care directive that met North Dakota law, reflected Catholic teaching, and incorporated the advice of  health care providers, ethicists, lawyers, chaplains, and experienced laypersons.  

The Catholic health care directive proved very popular.  Thousands were requested and sent out from our office.  Other state Catholic conferences and diocese have used the documents as a model for their own advance directives. 
 
We have now revised the Catholic health care directive.  Don’t worry if you used the 2005 version.  It is still good.  The new version merely incorporates some facts we learned during the last three years, makes it more user-friendly, and even a little shorter.

We have also created a new website. The new site has an easy to use order/download form.  You can download the copies you need or order multiple copies from the conference at no charge.  The website also contains useful information on directives, end-of-life care, Catholic principles on health care decisions, bulletin inserts and links to additional information.

Please visit the new site and take advantage of this opportunity to ensure that health care decisions conform to your Catholic wishes.

From the North Dakota State Data Center:



According to the report, nearly 47 percent of all food stamp recipients were 18 years or younger.

This month's column discusses Catholic teaching on taxes.

Excerpt:

As Christians, we have obligations toward the common good. For that reason, we have a duty to pay taxes. Jesus did not consider it unjust to pay taxes to Caesar. (Mk 12:13-17; Mt 22:15-22; Lk 20:20-26) Saint Paul insisted on the civic duty to pay taxes. (Rm 13:7) The Catechism says: Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes . . .” (Catechism, No. 2240.)

Read more . . .

From NRLC:

Ennis passionate about sustainable agriculture, ingenuity of rural people

Des Moines, Iowa -- Today Most Reverend Ronald Gilmore, president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC), named James F. Ennis, executive director of the Des Moines-based nonprofit Catholic organization.  "We look forward to Jim Ennis’ professional experience, business skills, and faith experience to help NCRLC apply the teachings of Jesus Christ for the social and economic development of rural America," said Gilmore, Bishop of the Diocese of Dodge City, Kansas.

Ennis is currently Director for Food Alliance Midwest, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based affiliate of the national Food Alliance. Food Alliance operates a sustainable agriculture certification program for farms, ranches, and other food-based businesses interested in using ‘sustainability’ and related claims to differentiate and add value to food products, and to protect and enhance brands. Operating within 8 Midwest states, the program has grown under Ennis’ leadership from four farms in 2000 to over 75 certified farms and processors throughout the Midwest in 2007.

Ennis has over 18 years of marketing and project management experience, leading cross-functional teams in marketing both food and consumer products with The Pillsbury Company and The Clorox Company, respectively. Ennis earned an MBA degree, with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Davis, where he studied agricultural and managerial economics.

"I’m as passionate about sustainable agriculture as I am about the Catholic faith," said Ennis who spent six years in Christian ministry to college students including two years as a missionary assistant in Lusaka, Zambia in the late 1980s.  "I look forward to providing spiritual, educational, and advocacy leadership to NCRLC as we support the ingenuity of rural people to shape their own destinies and lead lives of dignity," he added.

Ennis follows Br. David Andrews, CSC, as executive director of the organization that has been the rural voice of the Catholic Church for 85 years.

WASHINGTON— Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt was praised for defending physicians’ conscience rights by Deirdre McQuade, spokesperson on pro-life issues for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. She made her comments on March 19 following a public attack on Secretary Leavitt by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

The attack was prompted by a March 14 letter from Secretary Leavitt to the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), expressing concern about a new ethics opinion from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) calling on conscientiously opposed physicians to perform or refer for abortions. Ms. McQuade’s statement follows.

“Secretary Leavitt should be commended for defending federal laws protecting the conscience rights of physicians. The new ACOG ethics opinion calling on pro-life OB/GYNs to perform or refer for abortions is in direct conflict with the policy reflected in federal law since 1973. Indeed, just yesterday, a federal judge in California dismissed a challenge to a federal law protecting physicians in government programs from being forced to do abortion referrals.
 
“If the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology relies on the ACOG opinion when deciding whether to grant board certifications, hospitals could find themselves illegally discriminating against perfectly qualified physicians who have been denied certification for ideological reasons. Any HHS Secretary should be concerned about the possibility of federal health care institutions placing themselves in conflict with federal law.
 
“The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights (RCRR), formerly known as the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights, has nonetheless launched a personal attack on Secretary Leavitt for doing his job. RCRR’s March 18 news release accuses the Secretary of displaying a ‘narrow view of conscience,’ ‘disregard’ for women,’ and a ‘dogmatic indifference to the patient.’ 
 
“But it is RCRR that has a narrow view of conscience – so narrow as to recognize a genuine conscience claim only among those who happen to agree with RCRR about abortion. In fact, women and men, physicians and non-physicians, have a fundamental right not to be forced to participate in actions they believe are gravely wrong, especially actions involving the taking of an innocent human life. Moreover, most OB/GYNs in training today are themselves women, and these women have rights, too.
 
“The abortion industry -- and its allies in medical groups -- have often complained that so few doctors are willing to perform abortions, but that is no excuse for coercing pro-life physicians to do their dirty work. The movement that used to call itself “pro-choice” is becoming a parody of itself.”
 

The following letter appeared in the Fargo Forum on March 7, 2008. We have posted it here with citations to the referenced studies.

Dear Editor:

Planned Parenthood’s Amy Jacobson argues that North Dakota needs more subsidized family planning to reduce unplanned pregnancies and abortions. Her letter, however, overlooks some important facts.
 
For one thing, North Dakota and the federal government already spend over two million dollars a year for family planning services in the state. 1  

Predictably, Planned Parenthood, a major recipient of government funding nationally, thinks two million dollars is not enough and wants North Dakota’s taxpayers to spend more money.  We should not be fooled.  Ample evidence now exists showing that the contraception and “comprehensive sex education” campaigns cannot achieve their alleged goals of reducing abortions and unplanned pregnancies.
 
A report from Planned Parenthood’s own research arm, the Guttmacher Institute, shows that states that most aggressively promote contraceptives have some of the highest abortion rates in the country.  States that do not, like Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota, have the lowest abortion and teen pregnancy rates. 2 Studies from other countries also show the ineffectiveness of contraceptive programs.3  Concludes 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.”4  New studies also show that large part of the reduced abortion rate in recent years is due to an increase in the number of teens nationwide who delay initiating sexual activity,5 in effect, responding to the very “abstinence only” initiatives Planned Parenthood wants to eliminate.
 
Finally, we cannot ignore that in Planned Parenthood’s view, “comprehensive reproductive health care” includes unfettered access to, and taxpayer funding for, abortion.  Policies that limit abortion, however, such as restricting public funding, ensuring informed consent for women seeking abortions, and protecting parental rights in the case of minors seeking abortions, have a well-documented and significant effect of reducing abortions.6
 
In short, Planned Parenthood says it wants to reduce abortion, but proposes only failed, and ultimately flawed, government programs. 

Christopher Dodson
Executive Director
North Dakota Catholic Conference


1. (Public Funding for Family Planning, Sterilization and Abortion Services, FY 1980–2006; Adam Sonfield, Casey Alrich and Rachel Benson Gold; Guttmacher Institute, January 2008)

2. http://www.guttmacher.org

3. David Paton, “The Economics of Family Planning and Underage Conceptions,” Journal of Health Economics, 21.2 (March 2002): 207-225; abstract available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V8K-4537PJR-3/2/7b0ac0ed4b84065fae3119e1663e50bc; Edgardh, K. et al. Adolescent Sexual Health in Sweden, Sex Trans Inf 78 (2002): 352-6, available at http://sti.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/78/5/352

4. Douglas Kirby, “Reflections on Two Decades of Research on Teen Sexual Behavior and Pregnancy,” Journal of School Health 69.3 (March 1999.)

5. JK Mohn et al. “An analysis of the causes of the decline in non-marital birth and pregnancy rates for teens from 1991-1995,” Adolescent and Family Health 2003; 339-47; available at www.afhjournal.org; National Campaign to Reduce Teen Pregnancy, “Science Says: Pregnancy Among Sexually Experienced Teens, 2002,” No. 23, April 2006, available at www.teenpregnancy.org/press/pdf/sciencesays23.pdf.

6. Theodore Joyce et al., “Changes in Abortions and Births and the Texas Parental Notification Law,” New England Journal of Medicine, 354: 1031-1038 (March 9, 2006); available at http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/354/10/1031; [The authors. found a reduction in abortion rates among minor teens in Texas following enactment of that state’s parental notification law. “[A]bortion rates fell by 11 percent among 15-year-olds, … 20 percent among 16-year-olds, and 16 percent among 17-year-olds, … relative to the rates among 18-year-olds.” Joyce et al. also report: “Results from [five] previous studies have indicated that the abortion rate of minors decreases 13 to 42 percent after enforcement of a parental notification or consent law, if abortions are measured according to state of occurrence.”]; J. “Impact of Minnesota Parental Notification Law on abortion and birth,” American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 81, Issue 3, 294-298. See also Michael New, “Analyzing the Effects of State Legislation on the Incidence of Abortion During the 1900s,” Heritage Foundation Data Analysis Report #04-01 (2004), available at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/CDA04-01.cfm. [“The pre-enactment to post-enactment change in the Minnesota abortion rate reflected a greater decline for minors (less than or equal to 17 years old) than for 18-19 year-olds (who were not under the law). An increase in abortion rate occurred for women ages 20-44. The law appeared to have had no impact on birth rate in minors. … These data suggest that parental notification facilitated pregnancy avoidance in 15-17 year-old Minnesota women. Abortion rates declined unexpectedly while birth rates continued to decline in accordance with a long-term trend.”]; M. New, "Analyzing the Effect of State Legislation on the Incidence of Abortion Among Minors," Heritage Foundation Data Analysis Report #07-01 (2007), available at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/CDA07-01.cfm; M. New, “Using Natural Experiments to Analyze the Impact of State Legislation on the Incidence of Abortion,” Heritage Center for Data Analysis Report #06-01 (January 23, 2006); available at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/cda06-01.cfm.

From the USCCB:

Why this issue is important?  The Church stands firm in denouncing torture as it undermines and debases the dignity of both victims and perpetrators. Pope Benedict XVI said “the prohibition against torture cannot be contravened under any circumstance.”
 
The Senate voted 51-45 to pass HR 2082, the FY2008 Intelligence Authorization Act, which contains anti-torture legislation (Section 327) expanding the prohibition against torture of detainees to all U.S. intelligence agencies and their agents. We urge you to contact the White House and express your support for the anti-torture provisions of HR 2082 into law.
 
Background:  USCCB was successful in joining with other organizations in pressing the Senate to pass HR 2082 on February 13, 2008 with its anti-torture provisions intact. It was a triumph as it prohibits cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners held by U.S. intelligence agencies. Earlier legislation supported by USCCB had prohibited torture of those held by U.S. military and required that interrogation techniques conform to the standard now offered by the U.S. Army Field Manual. While the Conference cannot presume to be experts on the Manual, one of its guiding principles which USCCB supports echoes the Golden Rule, i.e. we should not use any technique against an enemy that we would not like to have used against our own military or civilians.
 
While USCCB does not take positions on the more technical and other provisions of the Intelligence Authorization Act, we believe the adoption of the anti-torture provision (Section 327) in HR 2082 would go a long way to restoring U.S. credibility in the international community by helping the U.S. regain the moral high ground. Respect for the dignity of every person, ally or enemy, must serve as the foundation of security, justice and peace. We cannot win the war against terror by abandoning fundamental moral values.
 
ACTION REQUESTED:  Ask your members to call the White House at 202-456-1111 or send an email to President Bush at comments@whitehouse.gov to express support for the anti-torture provisions in HR 2082 and urge him to sign this legislation.

The White House Office on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives has just released a seven-year progress report. Here is the page on activities in North Dakota:

(click on the image)

Today, February 26, the U.S. Senate approved the Vitter Amendment, 52-yes, 42-no, 6-not voting (Roll Call 30). The Vitter Amendment places the language of the Hyde Amendment abortion funding restrictions in the bill reauthorizing the Indian Health Service, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments, S. 1200.

Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan voted AGAINST the amendment.
 
Please contact them and express your disappointment that they did not support this amendment to ensure that taxpayer funds are not used for abortion on demand.

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

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
   

North Dakota Catholic Conference Executive Director Christopher Dodson responded to a letter in the Forum about torture with the following:
In his Feb. 19 letter defending the use of waterboarding and other harsh techniques, Raymond Lottie makes a statement that is all too common today. He states: The relevant question for waterboarding is not whether it's torture, but whether it is effective.

That is precisely not the question we should ask. When effectiveness determines whether our government will engage in a particular interrogation technique, we stoop to a policy of the "end justifies the means." Is not rejection of such a philosophy one reason our nation fought World War II and the Cold War?

Most importantly, appeal to "effectiveness" and "results" glosses over the fact that a human person suffers. The use of physical or moral violence to extract confessions, punish the guilty or obtain information violates the dignity of the human person and is always morally wrong.

Effective? Maybe. What, however, does it profit a nation to gain results, but lose its soul in the process?

The U.S. Bishops office has launched a new Faithful Citizenship site. It includes many, many resources for Catholics, pastors, educators, and more. The new site also includes podcasts on principles from Catholic social teaching. Check it out.

Late Wednesday afternoon, February 13, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that the Senate would re-commence consideration of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments (S. 1200), and that consideration would continue through Thursday, February 14, and Friday, February 15, until work on the bill is completed
Pending since January 22 is an amendment by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) that would incorporate the language of the Hyde Amendment into the authorizing legislation. NCHLA issued an Action Alert in support of the Vitter Amendment on January 18. Please take whatever last minute efforts you can to urge your two Senators to vote for the Vitter Amendment. For NCHLA’s latest alert, see: nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=259. Thanks!
For the earlier alert see: http://ndcatholic.org/2/index.html#unique-entry-id-432

New column from the New Earth and Dakota Catholic Action posted.

Wesley Smith has worked closely with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for some years. An attorney who began his career working with Ralph Nader, Smith has developed an expertise and exposing the weaknesses in arguments for assisted suicide and embryonic stem cell research.

Here is the announcement on his visit:

The Hankinson Chapter Right for Life is sponsoring a Gift of Life conference on Sunday, March 2, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at the St. Francis Convent Gym in Hankinson. The conference features guest speaker, Wesley J. Smith.
 
Smith is an international lecturer and public speaker, appearing frequently at political, university, medical, legal, disability rights, bioethics, religious, and community gatherings across the United States, Europe, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.
 
The conference is free to the general public. Three contact hours are available for nurses and social workers at a cost of $10 per contact hour. Pre-registration by February 15 is helpful, walk-ins are welcome. For more information or to register, contact HCRL at dvc2008@rrt.net or (701) 242-7196.

WASHINGTON---U.S. Catholic bishops urged Congress and the Bush Administration to work together quickly to shape and pass effective economic measures to help our nation and our people respond to growing economic stress. The bishops also expressed our strong conviction that poor families and their children as well as low wage workers receive priority consideration in developing these plans and carrying them out.

In a letter dated January 23, Bishop William Murphy, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, called on government leaders to find effective ways to protect the poorest families and low wage workers from financial hardship during this economic downturn.

The letter also expressed support for strengthening existing programs such as unemployment compensation, food stamp benefits, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as effective means to assist families and help the economy.

In a time in which a growing number of Americans are facing increasing financial hardship due to a slowing economy, rising unemployment and an inability to meet mortgage obligations and consumer bills, the bishops reminded leaders of the moral obligations we all share to care for the neediest among us.

A good society, Bishop Murphy wrote, is measured by the extent to which those with responsibility attend to the needs of the weaker members, especially those most in need. Economic polices that help lower-income working families live in decency and with dignity should be a clear and common priority.

He concluded by reminding the nations leaders that the poor working people and their families will be disproportionately hurt by this declining economy.

Urge Senators to Support Vitter Amendment to Restrict Indian Health Service Funding for Abortion

On Tuesday, January 22, the U.S. Senate is expected to take up a reauthorization bill for the Indian Health Service.  Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) is prepared to offer the Hyde Amendment language as an amendment to this bill.  The amendment would, as is the case of all other federal programs, prohibit the use of Indian Health Service funds to pay for abortions except to save the life of the mother, and in cases of rape or incest.

It is especially important to reach Senator Byron Dorgan. Senator Dorgan has supported the Hyde Amendment in the past. However, as sponsor of the Indian Health Service reauthorization bill and chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, he may resist any floor amendments to the bill. Urge Senator Dorgan to not resist the Vitter Amendment and to support the amendment when it comes to a vote.

Message: Please support the Vitter Amendment to the Indian Health Services bill, to limit taxpayer funding for abortion.

When: Now! The Senate will vote on this as early as Tuesday. Note: Monday is a federal holiday.

Who: Senator Byron Dorgan and Senator Kent Conrad

Where:

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

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

Click here for more information on the Vitter Amendment.

The first is from a story at Stateline.org on how states approach embryonic stem cell research. The second is from the Forum.

FROM MANY, ONE FAMILY OF GOD,’ HERALDS NATIONAL MIGRATION WEEK, JANUARY 6-12
 
WASHINGTON – ‘From Many, One Family of God’ is the theme for this year’s National Migration Week, sponsored by Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB/MRS), and to be observed January 6-12. These words are accompanied by an image from the Gospel of Mark of Jesus feeding the crowds with multiplied loaves and the fishes. The message is one of assurance of the providence of God as well as a reminder that His abundance is meant to be shared with all people. This year’s celebration marks the 27th annual National Migration Week observance.

Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, new chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, said that this year’s theme “reminds us that though we come from many cultures and places, we are all part of one human family and members of the one Body of Christ. Sadly, rather than embracing newcomers to our land whose circumstances have compelled them to seek new lives among us, we too often respond in fear and harbor attitudes of resentment and suspicion.”

“The miracle of the loaves and fishes is God's promise not only to the disciples but to us as well. If we fail to minister to the needs of these newcomers, we fail our Lord himself,” Bishop Wester said. “National Migration Week 2008 is a celebration of the diversity and richness of the family of God…When we set aside our concerns and share our resources, God’s blessings extend to all of us.”

After failure by the U.S. Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform last summer, the Catholic Bishops have vowed to continue raising their “prophetic voice calling the faithful and all people of goodwill to reach out in love and understanding to our migrant brothers and sisters. We must learn of the realities that cause them to leave all that is precious behind for an uncertain future, learn the truth about the many contributions they make and gifts they bring to our society, and work to reform our immigration laws that cause family disintegration and strife within communities,” the bishops say.

The Migration and Refugee Services of the USCCB has made several materials available to facilitate the observance of National Migration Week 2008. These materials include a prayer for migrants and refugees, bulletin inserts explaining the meaning and purpose of the celebration, a bilingual poster and a calendar for reflection for each day during the week of observance. Each day is devoted to one particular topic and contains a Scripture passage and suggestions for action.

Information and materials for National Migration Week 2008 can be found at www.usccb.org/mrs/nmw.shtml.