Covering several significant topics, Catholics and others of goodwill will not soon forget the powerful messages Pope Francis delivered while on US soil, September 22-27. He expressed our country's historical ties to immigration, religious liberty and the family; he reiterated the importance of caring for the environment, the value of work, the inherent dignity of human life at all stages, the need for cooperation and the existence of hope; he called on individuals to live a life pleasing to God and pressed leaders to serve the needs of their people.
In US Catholic churches, the month of October is designated as Respect Life Month, a time during which we are called to celebrate God's gift of human life and to endorse a culture that values the inherent dignity of all people in all circumstances and at all stages of life.
After a special August redistricting session came to an end without a resolution by the Florida legislature, a mandated redrawing of our state's congressional districts was left to the courts.
The Florida Department of State has launched an online voter education campaign designed to communicate the importance of participating in the electoral process and help voters prepare for the 2016 elections, which begin with the March 15 presidential primaries.