Diocesan News
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will conclude the Year of Mercy by creating 17 new cardinals, including three from the United States: Archbishop Blase J. Cupich of Chicago; Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the new Vatican office for laity, family and life; and Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin of Indianapolis.
Announcing the names of the new cardinals Oct. 9, Pope Francis said, "Their coming from 11 nations expresses the universality of the church that proclaims and witnesses the good news of God's mercy in every corner of the earth."
For the current Chairman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, religious liberty is reduced to "nothing except hypocrisy," and religion is being used as a "weapon ... by those seeking to deny others equality." He makes the shocking suggestion that Catholic, evangelical, orthodox Jewish, Mormon, and Muslim communities are comparable to fringe segregationists from the civil rights era.
These statements painting those who support religious freedom with the broad brush of bigotry are reckless and reveal a profound disregard for the religious foundations of his own work.
Each year during October the Church observes Respect Life Month. During this time, we pray and reflect on the precious gift of life and recommit ourselves to working toward a culture that truly welcomes and protects human life in our society, from conception to natural death. Catholic teaching on abortion and euthanasia is very clear, as is our commitment to the ongoing work of improving living conditions, education, and health-care access for all, especially the poor and those without resources.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated October as "Respect Life Month." The Life Chain is an annual event observed the first Sunday of October where people join to affirm the sanctity of human life.
The Diocese of Laredo's Family Life Ministry joined this national event, with hundreds of faithful from the Diocese of Laredo gathered in the sidewalks along the intersection of McPherson and Hillside Road to pray together for the respect of all human life.
Are you ready to enter into holy matrimony? Marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, and we want to help you be prepared for this very important day.
Make sure you talk to your priest at least 6 months before the wedding!
Click here to see the full 2017 Pre-Cana Schedule.
For more information, visit our Department of Family Life's "Marriage Preparation" page.
WASHINGTON—Two USCCB committee chairmen have issued a joint statement reaffirming the Catholic Church's teaching on marriage "as exclusively the permanent, faithful, and fruitful union of one man and one woman [and] cannot change."
Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Doctrine and Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo, New York, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, issued the following statement:
God's Plan Doesn't Change