SF Archdiocese-Human Life & Dignity

Archdiocese of San Francisco

“A Step Forward in the Protection of Basic Rights”
Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone
February 6, 2021

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone 's statement this morning re U.S. Supreme Court's injunction issued late last night striking down California's blanket ban on indoor worship:

“This is a very significant step forward for basic rights. This decision makes clear we can now return to worshiping safely indoors without risk of harassment from government officials."

Read the statement here.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court has struck down California's blanket ban on indoor worship. Masses can take place indoors at the same level of retail, currently 25%. Archbishop Cordileone responded, “The Supreme Court has now made it very clear to California government that permitting this is a fundamental right and the law of the land. I trust and hope our state officials will appreciate the care we’ve taken all throughout this crisis to protect the public health with masks, social distancing and other reasonable measures...This is a breath of fresh air in dark times. I’m grateful to God and to the Founders who gave us the shining light of the Constitution of the United States. May God bless America.” Read his full statement below.

The US Supreme Court late last night lifted California's ban on indoor worship!!!! California was the only state that completely banned indoor worship and recent Ninth Circuit Court panel rulings had upheld the state's severe restrictions.

In November, the court by a 5-4 vote set aside New York state regulations limiting attendance at religious services. But the Ninth Circuit panels said the two cases brought by Southern California Protestant churches were not subject to that Supreme Court ruling and the churches appealed to the Supreme Court with an amicus brief by Becket Law.
Read Becket's news release here:
https://www.becketlaw.org/media/supreme-court-nixes-californias-ban-indoor-worship/
This New York Times article explains the opinion and provides clear facts about what led to the ruling.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/06/us/supreme-court-california-church-coronavirus.html

Coming to the end of Catholic Schools Week!

So much to celebrate this #catholicschoolsweek - and in the midst of it all the kindergarteners got to enjoy their 100th day of school.. now we dance! The countdown is on.. See you on the livestream at 10:00am! #olmcpadres

Pope Francis and Benedict XVI receive second dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-and-benedict-xvi-receive-second-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-20561

catholicnewsagency.com Pope Francis and Pope emeritus Benedict XVI have both received their second and final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, a Vatican source confirmed to CNA.

Catholic hospitals launch health equity initiative to fight systemic racism

The Catholic Health Association pledges to tackle racial inequities in an announcement on Thursday. A leading voice is Lloyd Dean of CommonSpirit/Dignity Health.

https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/02/04/racial-inequity-covid-19-vaccine-catholic-health-association-239927

americamagazine.org The plan places a particular emphasis on ensuring equal access to Covid-19 testing, treatment and vaccination.

A Priest-Scientist Responds to Concerns Raised by the Ramping Up of Vaccination Campaigns

Catholics in general plan to receive the vaccine, following the guidance of Pope Francis, the US Bishops Conference and in California, the California Catholic Conference. Nevertheless, there is controversy and concern among a significant minority regarding the vaccine. Two articles address most facets of the issue. Today in the Pillar Catholic, an indepth analysis at pillarcatholic.com addresses most facets with a link to a letter from San Francisco native and Spokane Bishop Thomas Daly about the morality of receiving the vaccine as well an extensive discussion of Tyler, Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland's opposition. For a thoughtful explanation of what is involved that addresses all aspects, Dominican ethicist Father Nicanor Austriaco writes here at the Notre Dame University McGrath Institute for Church Life Journal. #catholic #covid19vaccineupdate #prolifemovement McGrath Institute for Church Life - University of Notre Dame Bishop Thomas A. Daly

churchlifejournal.nd.edu Fr. Nicanor Austriaco OP on the details of what went into the vaccines.

President Biden said he raised the refugee cap to 125,00 for fiscal 2021 (ending Oct.1) up from the historically low figure of 15,000 imposed in the last year of President Trump's administration.
Biden made the announcement of the executive order in a foreign policy address televised from the US State Department on Feb. 4. "It's going to take time to rebuild what is so badly damaged, but that's precisely what we're going to do," Biden said. Biden had promised at a Jesuit Refugee Service event in November that he would raise the cap.(Catholic News Service photo)
#refugees #Catholic

Feminists for Life

"At the dawn of the suffrage movement, no known African-American women attended the famous Seneca Falls Convention, despite the abolitionist sentiments that gave birth to the campaign for women's rights.

"White women, who were still powerless in many ways, needed to influence men to attain the vote. Susan B. Anthony had signed a declaration for universal suffrage, but when her dear friend Frederick Douglass — who shared the vision for women's suffrage — determined men should go first, she felt utterly betrayed. Others like Elizabeth Cady Stanton felt women superior to men because of women's life giving capacity. 'It was sex v. race, and black women were caught in a double bind. Today, we have women's groups who support abortion as if our own children were the enemy. Who is hurt most? Women and children of color,' said FFL President Serrin Foster. 'One day people will look back at this generation and grimace when considering this form of discrimination and violence. We wished they had all refused to choose.'"

FFL was proud to celebrate the often overlooked contributions of Black American suffragists in "Remembering Black Suffragists," from our Spring/Summer 2020 issue of The American Feminist, "Pedaling Toward Freedom." As we kick off Black History Month, we renew our focus on the women and men who came before us, with the hope that no human being will ever again be left behind, regardless of her or his race, sex, age, size, or location. You can read the rest of this article, for free, here:

www.feministsforlife.org/remembering-black-suffragists

First row: Fannie Barrier Williams, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Sojourner Truth
Second row: Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Frederick Douglass, Dr. Anna Julia Cooper
Third row: Angelina Weld Grimké, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Harriet Tubman

A Message for President Biden: The Unified Voices of Africa

Reversing the Mexico City policy will bring increased pressure on developing nations and peoples to kill their unborn children. That was the reaction from Culture of Life Africa to President Biden's action today that will return federal tax dollars to funding international organizations that offer and promote abortion.
#chooselife #racism #prolife

https://youtu.be/zymBhgUqoh4

youtube.com President Biden has taken a most unfortunate step to repeal the Mexico City Policy, a policy that protected Africa’s most innocent unborn babies by withholdi...

Why We March for Life

Archbishop Cordileone today in the National Catholic Register on the eve of the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
#respectlife #chooselife #MarchForLife2021 #WalkForLifeWC 40 Days for Life
https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/why-we-march-for-life

ncregister.com Before God, differences in rank, race, beauty, intelligence, humor, talent, health, and everything else the world values fade in comparison to the equal dignity inherent in each human being.

The California Catholic Conference (CCC) invites you to attend a free Restorative Justice Certificate Series.

This is part of the kick off to the Catholic Restorative Justice Network - the official source for formation and leadership in restorative justice ministry in California.

Requirements: Interest in learning more
Cost: Free

Register at: www.restorejustice.com

A partnership of the CCC Office of Restorative Justice, Santa Clara University Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries, and the (Arch)Diocesan #RestorativeJustice Directors.

Conversations That Matter: The Intersection of Racial Justice and Life Issues // McGrath Institute for Church Life // University of Notre Dame

Hear from Gloria Purvis in a special conversation hosted by the McGrath Institute of Church Life at Notre Dame. Conversations that Matter: The Intersection of Racial Justice and Life Issues.

mcgrath.nd.edu Tap into Notre Dame's intellectual resources and join other Catholic leaders in addressing today's pastoral challenges.

[01/27/21]   New! Our human trafficking prevention seminars begin



Welcome to the Jan. 27, 2021 edition of Just 3 Things, the weekly social action newsletter of the Office of Human Life & Dignity. If this email was forwarded to you, and you'd like to receive it each week, please click here. This week our topics are immigration, abortion and a new effort in the Archdiocese to combat and prevent human trafficking.
Valerie Schmalz
Director
Office of Human Life & Dignity
Archdiocese of San Francisco ____________________________________________

Tonight begins our series on Human Trafficking -- the first step to creating an education and outreach campaign led by the Respect Life Ministry. Tonight's seminar topic is "How You Can Fight Human Trafficking, Over 100 Ways to Make a Difference.” The speaker is Susan Patterson, Prevention Advocate with Through God's Grace Ministry . January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. There is still time to sign up!

President Joe Biden introduced a sweeping immigration package that would offer a path to citizenship to the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Much of the immigration package tracks what the U.S. bishops recommend , although they have not taken a position on the legislation. And U.S. bishops praised President Biden's order preserving the DACA program as well as lifting the "Muslim ban" in executive orders on the day he was inaugurated. (Photo shows asylum-seekers praying during Mass at a tent camp along the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico, Jan. 9, 2021. The asylum-seekers are in a program where they must remain in Mexico while their cases are heard in U.S. courts. CNS photo/David Agren)

https://youtu.be/pWgTtWcc5So

S.F. Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone last week publicly rebuked San Francisco's Rep. Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House speaker, saying "To begin with the obvious: Nancy Pelosi does not speak for the Catholic Church...she also speaks in direct contradiction to a fundamental human right that Catholic teaching has consistently championed for 2,000 years." For more on the events of the past few days and what to expect going forward, go to the blog linked below. To hear the Archbishop in conversation with two of the most influential pro-life leaders in this time, please watch the webinar linked above.

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What's coming up:
Jan. 27 6:30 p.m. Webinar. "An Overview of Human Trafficking." First of a series. Info here .

http://flocknote.com/note/10643088

Archbishop: Villainizing 74 million voters does not unify the country

SF Archbishop Cordileone on Speaker Pelosi's comments on abortion and President Biden's support of abortion. "My concern that she is misleading Catholics ... let's face it abortion is just blatantly evil. ...we're talking about dismembering babies in their mother's womb." #RespectLife #prolife #catholic #archbishopcordileone
https://video.foxnews.com/v/6226480951001#sp=show-clips

video.foxnews.com Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Cordileone joins 'Fox News @ Night' to discuss Democrats' calls for 'unity.'

A new guidebook is available to help us bring care for creation into our parishes in concrete ways. #LaudatoSi #CareForOurCommonHome

Along with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers, we have published a new Ecumenical and Interreligious Guidebook: CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME. The new guidebook offers diocesan ecumenical and interreligious officers, pastors, parish groups and the faithful at large a number of theological and practical resources to put the ecological and creation care counsels of Pope Francis and Catholic magisterial voices, along with selected interfaith voices, into practical action. “This guidebook has been prepared with a sense of urgency about the health of planet Earth and the wellbeing of its people, particularly the most vulnerable.” https://catholicclimatecovenant.org/resource/ecumenical-and-interreligious-guidebook-care-our-common-home

Group of US Catholic bishops urges support for LGBT youth

Archbishop Cordileone praises statement by several bishops and cardinal and of course agrees!!! God loves LGBTQ youth and they must not be bullied!
“I am appreciative of this reaffirmation of the Church’s care for those who are struggling with sexual identity issues, especially when they are targets of bullying and suffer rejection even from the very ones who should love and support them," he said via email. “The Church stands in solidarity with them, and all of her children, to help them live a life of virtue.”

https://starexponent.com/news/national/group-of-us-catholic-bishops-urges-support-for-lgbt-youth/article_2b34206a-a89e-5049-acc0-d7cd1637b4d6.html

starexponent.com NEW YORK (AP) — Declaring “God is on your side,” a Roman Catholic cardinal, an archbishop and six other U.S. bishops issued a statement Monday expressing support for LGBT youth

San Francisco archbishop: Pelosi singling out pro-life voters 'not language of unity'

SF Archbishop Cordileone interviewed this morning about why he called out Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her statements vilifying voters who vote pro-life. #chooselife #ArchbishopCordileone

https://video.foxnews.com/v/6225785013001

video.foxnews.com Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Joseph Cordileone comments on Speaker Pelosi's criticism of Trump-backers against abortion.

While many pro-life walks and marches went virtual this year, the Walk for Life West Coast decided to maintain an in-person presence but did not widely publicize itself and no buses brought participants from outside the area. The organizers held an informal rally from the back of Walk organizer Dolores Meehan's truck on Jan. 23 at San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza. Walk stalwart and speaker Rev. Clenard Childress traveled from the East Coast to join the Walk. Walk organizers estimated more than a thousand joined the walk which traveled along Market Street with police protection. The Walk photos reflect the various opinions of the pro-life participants, some of whom believe in wearing masks and others who do not. (Photos by Dennis Callahan/Archdiocese of San Francisco) #respectlife #chooselife #WalkForLifeWC Archdiocese of San Francisco

Some photos from the 10:30 a.m. Jan. 23 Walk for Life West Coast Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption offered by SF Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone. The cathedral followed COVID-19 social distancing norms and required masks and temperature taking. More than 400 people were inside and some 200 were outside. The Mass was moved indoors at the last minute because of security concerns about right and left wing groups expected to congregate at the Chinese Embassy next door. (Photos by Dennis Callahan/Archdiocese of San Francisco) #chooselife #WalkForLifeWC #prolife #archbishopcordileone Archdiocese of San Francisco Catholic News Agency

SF Archbishop says 'security threat' prompted moving worship service indoors, despite COVID-19 rules

Local media covered the Walk for Life Mass Saturday which at the last minute was moved indoors at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, rather than being held outdoors on the plaza as planned. As Archbishop Cordileone explains in this news story from ABC News, the plan was to hold the Mass outdoors -- but security threats flagged by law enforcement from both left and right wing groups (including one involved in the capitol riots) at the Chinese Embassy next door prompted the decision to move the Mass indoors. The Mass was celebrated using all safety protocols including requiring masks, sanitation of hands coming in, social distancing and temperature taking of all those who came into the cathedral. #WalkForLifeWC #masks #COVID19 #chooselife #prolife #respectlife Archdiocese of San Francisco Catholic San Francisco
https://abc7news.com/religion/sf-cathedral-holds-indoor-service-despite-covid-19-rules/9951582/

abc7news.com "It was a trade-off": San Francisco Catholic Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone says a security threat prompted him to move the worship service inside, possible violence due to a rumored protest and counter-protest next door at the Chinese Consulate.