The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Office of Pro-Life Activities, in cooperation with its partner organization the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA), is urging all U.S. Catholics to contact their federal lawmakers in support of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA). Due to "loopholes and legal weaknesses," current federal laws leave health care workers vulnerable when they decline to violate their religious beliefs in their capacities as health care providers.
Several items of significance resulted from the Bishops' annual General Assembly held in Baltimore, November 16-19: *The bishops approved an official statement on pornography. *The bishops approved a new introductory note and limited changes to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. *Bishop Frank J. Dewane of the Diocese of Venice was named chairman-elect of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. *Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee provided a consultation on the canonization cause of Antonio Cuipa and Companions.
The 2016 Florida Legislative Session begins January 12, 2016, but pre-session legislative committee meetings have been occurring since September 2015. The FCCB has released the Legislative Bill Report on its website. Bills of particular interest that have already seen committee movement include:
On November 30, dioceses in Florida will participate in an international project spearheaded by the lay Catholic community of Sant'Egidio. Each year, about 2,000 cities in more than 80 different countries celebrate the International Day of Cities for Life, Cities against the Death penalty.
On November 17, 2015, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration, issued a statement on Syrian refugees and the terrorist attacks in Paris:
As both Catholics and citizens of the United States, the lay faithful are called to discipleship in the world of politics. Both Pope Francis and the U.S. Bishops have reminded us of this duty. As the U.S. Bishops write in their statement Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, “In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.”