January 23, 2024

WASHINGTON – The bipartisan enhanced Child Tax Credit agreement is “exactly the sort of policy” that Congress should prioritize, said Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, saying it would support the well-being of struggling families to lift many children out of poverty.

“We welcome the recent announcement from Chairmen Wyden and Smith of a bipartisan agreement for an enhanced Child Tax Credit. The bishops have repeatedly urged Congress to pass a strengthened Child Tax Credit that prioritizes the poorest children. This framework makes meaningful progress towards the goal of a strengthened Child Tax Credit by largely targeting improvements in the credit to the lowest-income children. This will help support the well-being of families struggling to meet their basic needs and has the power to lift many children out of poverty. This is exactly the sort of policy supporting women, children, and families that Congress should prioritize. We encourage lawmakers to work together to make this improved Child Tax Credit a reality for families in need.”

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 24, 2024 / 16:00 pm

Ohio lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to prohibit doctors from facilitating sex changes for children on Wednesday, Jan. 24, in a successful override of Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of the legislation.

The bill, which will go into effect in 90 days, prohibits all “gender reassignment surgery” performed on minors and the prescription of puberty-blocking drugs and hormone treatments designed to facilitate a gender transition for minors. More than half of the country still makes these procedures and drugs available to children.

Image by Tina Gehlhausen

Several of our parishes have developed ministries to support foster children and foster families in their communities.  If you would like more information for yourself or your parish, contact for details.

If you are suffering from grief or trauma from an abortion, come experience the healing love of Jesus Christ on a Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreat on May 3-5, 2024 at the Passionist Retreat House in Whitesville, KY sponsored by Rachel’s Vineyard of Bowling Green.  The weekend retreat will combine discussions, spiritual exercises, the sacrament of reconciliation, a Memorial Service and a Mass of Entrustment of our Children to Jesus.  Participation is strictly confidential and offers a beautiful opportunity to experience God’s love, forgiveness and compassion.  For more information or registration contact:  Rita by phone (270-474-4707) or email (retreats@hopeafterabortionky.com).  The cost is $200 for meals, private room, and all retreat materials.  If you have a financial burden, assistance is available – no one is ever turned away due to financial need!
For a complete listing of retreat dates and locations contact 1-877-HOPE-4-ME or visit the Rachel’s Vineyard website at www.rachelsvineyard.org.

The Office of Family & Life is giving away ten marriage builder packages!  Each package is a $59.00 value.  Parishes can also create eucharistic marriage groups for their married couples.  CMI funds are available for this ministry.  Contact for details.

Sex, Gender, and a Sacramental Worldview | January Newsletter

Gathering for a New Pentecost Jesus is calling us back to our first love for a new Pentecost. The 10th National Eucharistic Congress is an invitation to experience profound personal revival so that we can be sent out to share Christ’s love with a world that desperately needs it. The Congress will be a high point within the grassroots movement of the National Eucharistic Revival and a defining moment for our generation. Eden Invitation is proud to sponsor and speak at this gathering of the Church in the United States! From July 17–21, 2024, as many as 80,000 Catholics from all over the nation will come together around the family table in a way the United States hasn’t seen in 83 years. On Day 2 of the Congress, come to Anna Carter’s breakout session:   | Broken and Blessed: Sex, Gender, and a Sacramental Worldview | In the sacraments, the transcendent, invisible realities of grace become visible and immanent. The Eucharist offers this par excellence. When we see the broken host lifted high every liturgy, we see our broken humanity taken up into something glorious and new. All too often, the conversation around sexuality and gender – particularly LGBTQ+ topics – becomes mired in political and cultural talking points. But these experiences are not excluded from the salvific work of grace. Join the Co-Founder and President of Eden Invitation in exploring how discordant experiences of sexuality and gender can be united to the Paschal Mystery and Christ’s Eucharistic love. Thousands of Catholics will be there, and we hope many of you, our community members and supporters, will be among them. Will you join us?   Space is limited, so don’t wait to reserve your pass. We’re less than six months away from the National Eucharistic Congress. Passes to this historic event are now an extra 10% off until January 31—use the code EMMANUEL at checkout. REGISTER HERE We hope you will join us for this powerful moment in the life of the Church!