Religious Liberty

Pope Benedict XIV stated religious liberty is the "most cherished of American freedoms". We are Catholics.  We are Americans. We are proud to be both grateful for the gift of faith as Christian disciples and grateful for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens.

"The vision of our founding fathers and our Constitution guarantees citizens of all religious faiths the right to contribute to our common life together." said Cardinal Dolan.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Religious Liberty, April 12, 2012
Our First, Most Cherished Liberty: A Statement on Religious Liberty
 

April 2, 2017 An Old Irish proverb states:
‘It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.’
Indeed, we are created to depend upon one another and walk together in suffering.”
Visit www.goo.gl/fvSEYp for 10 ways to care for loved ones approaching life’s end. 
Caring for Loved Ones at Life’s End USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, 2016-17 Respect Life Program 

Click on the following for more information:

• Current Threats to Religious Liberty

• 2013 pdf version (English)

• Marriage and Religious Freedom   |    en Español
• HHS Mandate
• Providing Pastoral Care to Immigrants
• Discrimination Against Christian Students on Campus
• ​Discrimination Against Catholic Adoption Services
• Discrimination Against Catholic Humanitarian Services
   

"As Christians we must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, but as Christians we must also stand up for what we believe and always be ready to fight for the Faith.  The days in which we live now require heroic Catholicism, not casual Catholicism. We can no longer be Catholics by accident, but instead be Catholics by conviction." Bishop Jenky, Peoria, IL

The Life and Dignity of the Human Person

    May married couples experience the fullness of God's plan for their love through openness to life.
     Click here–Married Love and the Gift of Life, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop
     "Marriage, the Sanctuary of Life" presents, in a fascinating and compelling way, the Catholic vision of marriage, drawing from Scripture, Pope Saint John Paul II, and social research.  

The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops pledges to affirm
he instrinsic value of human life and the dignity of every human being
in a way that transforms the culture.

Read more and click on the highlighted issues from USCCB below:     

•     Marriage
        For Your Marriage 
        Por Tu Matrimonio
        Marriage: Unique for a Reason
          What is NFP?   Natural Family Planning, Find an NFP Class
   

  Prayer for an End to Infanticide

   
  
  

  The U.S. Senate recently failed to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act—legislation that prohibits infanticide by ensuring that a child born alive following an attempted abortion would receive the same degree of care to preserve her or his life and health as would be given to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.  Please join us in prayer for an end to infanticide:

  “Jesus, Lord of Life, transform the hearts of our elected leaders to recognize that infanticide is wrong and must not be tolerated. We especially pray for our Senator(s) __________ (and __________).  Open his/her/their heart(s) and mind(s) to recognize and defend the precious gift of every human life.”

  CHILDREN OF GOD FOR LIFE
  The PRO-LIFE World Leader in the Campaign for Ethical Vaccines, Medicines & Consumer products. 
  Contact @ 727-483-9251,   https://cogforlife.org/

  

  Love, Naturally 
  www.kofc.org/en/columbia/detail/2013-07-nfp.
  Millions of babies had a chance at life thanks to 1,000 ultra sound machines donated

  by member councils and brother knights councils around the world.

• "Millions of lives are saved for the better by the Catholic community
  coming and volunteering together in these donations", as stated by Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight
  provided by Knights of Columbus Ultrasound program. Check out video below:
   

  
  

  CLICK TO WATCH

•  

• ​    Abstinence and Chastity
•     Contraception, IVF/Reproductive Technologies,
      Stem Cell Research
        Contraception: Fact Sheets, Life Giving Love in an Age of Technology   
•     Abortion

         Project Rachael - visit HopeAfterAbortion.org.        
          Assisted Suicide
             To Live Each Day with Dignity

•     Euthananasia - Statement on Euthanasia, USCCB,

Safe Babies. Safe Place.  Safe Haven.

Illinois Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act defines the Safe Haven law enacted in 2001.  It allows a parent in crisis up to 30 days to safely and legally relinquish an unharmed newborn in the arms of staff at any safe haven.  In Illinois, Safe Havens are fire stations, police stations, hospitals, and emergency care centers. Those who leave their unharmed baby with personnel at a Safe Haven can remain anonymous and do so without fear of prosecution.

www.saveabandonedbabies.org
www.restinhisarms.org
http://www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org/

www.optionline.org (800)712-4357
emergency helpline

www.heartbeatinternational.org/worldwide-directory

Service Opportunities for Life

Women's Center of Chicago
(773)794-1313, www.womens-center.org

Knights of Columbus (Chicago)
McGiveny Center for Hope and Healing
www.thewellofmercy.com, 773-277-4227

Heather House in Des Plaines
www.helpaidforwomen.org, 847-795-3700
 

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