Take a moment to contact your legislators on these important issues of life and dignity.
Office for Social Concerns
Catholic Diocese of Columbus

I nformation and Response NETWORK 
Urge Support for the Heartbeat Bill

Bill will prohibit most abortions once a heartbeat is detected

The Catholic Conference of Ohio supports passage of  S B 23 , the Heartbeat bill. This version of the bill generally prohibits a person from aborting an unborn child whose fetal heartbeat has been detected (usually around 10 weeks). The bill also establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on Adoption Promotion and Support. The bill is pending in the  Senate Health and Human Services and Medicaid Committee .

The Catholic Church teaches that every child, at every moment of existence, deserves love and the protection of the law. We do not believe any person or government has the right to take the life of an innocent human being.

The Heartbeat bill will challenge the current legal precedents to abortion. With new changes in the United States Supreme Court, it is our sincere hope that this legislation will withstand constitutional challenge and be implemented in order to save lives.

Urge Support for the Protect Trafficked Minors Act: SB 13

Bill will help protect children up to age 18 from human traffickers

The Catholic Conference of Ohio supports passage of  SB 13 , the Protect Trafficked Minors Act. This bill will help protect minors up to age 18 years old from being “trafficked”. Currently, only children up to age 16 years old are fully protected under Ohio law. The bill is pending in the  Senate Judiciary Committee .

The Catholic Conference of Ohio believes it is important for Ohio to continue strengthening protections for victims of human trafficking. SB 13 provides yet another series of helpful changes. Such changes will help ensure that minors up to age 18 will have a greater degree of protection under Ohio law.

In his address to participants in the 2018 World Day of Prayer, Reflection and Action Against Human Trafficking , Pope Francis again denounced trafficking as a crime against humanity. He stated, “It is “a true form of slavery, unfortunately more and more widespread, which concerns every country, even the most developed.” He called for a shared sense of responsibility and firmer political will to gain victory on this front.


President of U.S. Bishops’ and Chairman of Bishop’s Committee on Migration Respond to President’s Order to Fund Construction of Border Wall
 
February 15, 2019

WASHINGTON—Today President Trump announced that he will issue an order stating his intention to make use of funds previously appropriated for other purposes to fund the construction of a border wall at the U.S./Mexico border that Congress has refused to fund. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, issued the following joint statement:

“We are deeply concerned about the President’s action to fund the construction of a wall along the U.S./Mexico border, which circumvents the clear intent of Congress to limit funding of a wall. We oppose the use of these funds to further the construction of the wall. The wall first and foremost is a symbol of division and animosity between two friendly countries. We remain steadfast and resolute in the vision articulated by Pope Francis that at this time we need to be building bridges and not walls.”

Learn more about the Catholic Church's teaching on immigration and ways you can respond.
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Jerry Freewalt
Office for Social Concerns
Catholic Diocese of Columbus
197 E. Gay Street
Columbus, Ohio  43215
614-241-2540
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The Office for Social Concerns is the central diocesan resource for Catholic Social Teaching, reaching out through prayer, education, service, and advocacy.