Catholic Charities. Providing Help. Creating Hope.
VISION: Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals, families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.
MISSION: Rooted in the Mission of the Diocese of Youngstown "to minister to the people in the six counties of northeastern Ohio . . .(and) to the world community", we are called to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same.
GOALS: Catholic Charities is devoted to helping meet basic human needs, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people. Working to reduce poverty in half by 2020.
KEY VALUE: Hospitality
WHAT WE DO: Organizing Love. "As a community, the Church must practise love. Love thus needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community" (Deus Caritas Est, par. 20)
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On Sunday, (FourteenthSunday in Ordinary Time, http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070812.cfm ) we
read from the Gospel of Mark how Jesus’ friends and neighbors from his
home town refused to acknowledge the Presence in their midst. Jesus’
neighbors “took offense” at Him because of His preaching the Good News.
Jesus heals some who are sick in his own town, but the people still
seem to reject him. We read in the first reading from Ezekiel how God
sends this prophet to announce God’s message and warns the prophet that
he may be rejected. The people are rebellious and hardheaded. Paul
writes to the Corinthians that God has placed hardships in the way to
remind him of God’s grace.
In Catholic Charities http://www.ccdoy.org , we too may experience obstacles, hardships, hardheadedness as we work with persons, families and communities. Oftentimes working with community leaders and elected officials poses a challenge to be heard about the reality of poverty and of threats to human life itself. The current US Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate regarding certain mandates and the severe narrowing of the definition of a religious organization poses such an obstacle today. As we end this Fortnight for Religious Freedom, I ask that you consider contacting your Congressional Representative and our 2 US Senators to ask them to advocate to HHS to change the narrow definition of religious organizations and to rescind this onerous mandate, as well as to change other policies in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-119.cfm .
Reflection from Church Documents and Official Statements
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship - Part I - The U.S. Bishops’ Reflection On Catholic Teaching And Political Life
How Does the Church Help the Catholic Faithful to Speak About Political and Social Questions?
Making Moral Choices
31. Decisions about political life are complex and require the exercise of a well-formed conscience aided by prudence. This exercise of conscience begins with outright opposition to laws and other policies that violate human life or weaken its protection. Those who knowingly, willingly, and directly support public policies or legislation that undermine fundamental moral principles cooperate with evil.
32. Sometimes morally flawed laws already exist. In this situation, the process of framing legislation to protect life is subject to prudential judgment and "the art of the possible." At times this process may restore justice only partially or gradually. For example, Pope John Paul II taught that when a government official who fully opposes abortion cannot succeed in completely overturning a pro-abortion law, he or she may work to improve protection for unborn human life, "limiting the harm done by such a law" and lessening its negative impact as much as possible (Evangelium Vitae, no. 73). Such incremental improvements in the law are acceptable as steps toward the full restoration of justice. However, Catholics must never abandon the moral requirement to seek full protection for all human life from the moment of conception until natural death.
33. Prudential judgment is also needed in applying moral principles to specific policy choices in areas such as the war in Iraq, housing, health care, immigration, and others. This does not mean that all choices are equally valid, or that our guidance and that of other Church leaders is just another political opinion or policy preference among many others. Rather, we urge Catholics to listen carefully to the Church's teachers when we apply Catholic social teaching to specific proposals and situations. The judgments and recommendations that we make as bishops on specific issues do not carry the same moral authority as statements of universal moral teachings. Nevertheless, the Church's guidance on these matters is an essential resource for Catholics as they determine whether their own moral judgments are consistent with the Gospel and with Catholic teaching.
Some important date(s) this week:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/ByDate.aspxSee website for biographies of Saints and Blessed celebrated this week.
For Daily Readings http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month
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SATURDAY JULY 14. St. Francis Solano, 1549-1610. Francis
came from a leading family in Andalusia, Spain. Perhaps it was his
popularity as a student that enabled Francis in his teens to stop two
duelists. He entered the Friars Minor in 1570, and after ordination
enthusiastically sacrificed himself for others. His care for the sick
during an epidemic drew so much admiration that he became embarrassed
and asked to be sent to the African missions. Instead he was sent to
South America in 1589.
Around 1601 he was called to Lima, Peru, where he tried to recall the Spanish colonists to their baptismal integrity. Francis also worked to defend the indigenous peoples from oppression. He died in Lima and was canonized in 1726.
CHARITIES NEWSBYTES
August 26. Help support HMHP Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Care Center through participating in the Panerathon. http://doy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=184%3Apanerathon&catid=45%3Astandalone&Itemid=95
PAPAL INTENTIONS: July 2012
General Intention: Work Security. That everyone may have work in safe and secure conditions.
Missionary Intention: Christian Volunteers. That Christian volunteers in mission territories may witness to the love of Christ.
Corporal Works of Mercy: The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor
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Note: Please consider joining our
FACEBOOK CAUSE http://apps.facebook.com/causes/106889
FACEBOOK GROUP https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Charities-Diocese-of-Youngstown/138817639487339
TWITTER account, CCDOY, http://twitter.com/CCDOY
for current updates and calls to action that we can all use.
See our website at www.catholiccharitiesyoungstown.org for links to the our ministries and services.
For more information on Catholic Social Doctrine and its connection to our ministries, visit my blog at: http://corbinchurchthinking.blogspot.com/
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