Faithful Citizenship
  - Fortnight for Freedom
  - HHS Mandate

Google Search

Picture
Picture

Stained Glass from
St. Joseph's

Want to learn more?
Click here to learn about this and the other stained glass windows in our church designed by parishioner and local artist Mary Mullins.

The Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

Test of Fire

 

Faithful Citizenship (Adapted from the USCCB)

Picture
Our nation faces political challenges that demand urgent moral choices. We are a nation at war, with all of its human costs; a country often divided by race and ethnicity; a nation of immigrants struggling with immigration. We are an af‹ uent society where too many live in poverty; part of a global community confronting terrorism and facing urgent threats to our environment; a culture built on families, where some now question the value of marriage and family life. We pride ourselves on supporting human rights, but we fail even to protect the fundamental right to life, especially for unborn children. 

We bishops seek to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with the truth, so they can make sound moral choices in addressing these challenges. We do not tell Catholics how to vote. The responsibility to make political choices rests with each person and his or her properly formed conscience. 
Read full article>>
 

Fortnight for Freedom

Picture
 ...A “fortnight for freedom," a great hymn of prayer for our country...
a special period of prayer, study, catechesis and public action... [emphasizing] both our
Christian and American heritage of liberty... 

Click here to learn more>>
 

HHS Mandate Response from Cardinal Dolan

Picture
Dear friends in the Lord,

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people—the Catholic population—and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.  Read entire letter>>

HHS Mandate Links
 

First They Came for the Catholics

Picture
Pertaining to the HHS mandate, it is no exaggeration to say that this is the greatest threat to religious freedom in our lifetime. We cannot help but think of the words attributed to German pastor Martin Niemoeller, reflecting on the Nazi terror:

    First they came for the Socialists, and I
    did not speak out — 
    Because I was not a Socialist.

    Then they came for the Trade Unionists, 
    and I did not speak out — 
    Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

    Then they came for the Jews, and I did 
    not speak out — Because I was not a Jew.

    Then they came for me — and there was 
    no one left to speak for me.

Adapted from ChristianityToday.com
 

The Manhattan Declaration: 
A Call of Christian Conscience

Picture
The Manhattan Declaration was released on November 20, 2009 at a press conference in Washington, DC. The 4,700-word declaration speaks in defense of the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty. It issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere firmly to their convictions in these three areas.

Click here for more information>>
 
Click here for a partial list of religious leader's signatories >> 

California Voter Registration

 

Stop the HHS Mandate

 

Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally Address

June 8, 2012 in San Francisco, California 
 
 

Spiral of Silence

 

Is it a Sin to Vote for a Pro-Abortion Candidate?

 

May 21st, 2012 - Michigan Catholic Conference Legal Response to the HHS Mandate

 

For Greater Glory

 

 
St. Joseph's Catholic Church