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Information and Response NETWORK 

The USCCB Pray-Reflect-Act series aims to help Catholics build solidarity with people of faith who are persecuted abroad and find strength to carry out the mission of the Church here in the United States. 

Graphics with the prayer intention for each day of Religious Freedom Week are available for download. Lectionary notes for Sunday, June 27 are also available. For additional resources, visit www.usccb.org/religiousfreedomweek. 

For the latest USCCB news on immigration visit Twitter Page @USCCBJFI

Keep the Hyde Amendment and pass a budget to build up the common good. The Hyde Amendment and similar laws have protected taxpayers from funding elective abortion for 45 years. Now, powerful members of Congress want to take away these laws that both Democrats and Republicans have supported for nearly half a century. Billions of taxpayer dollars could be used to pay for abortion. Learn more and sign petition.

Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The Equality Act, which is coming up for a vote in the Senate soon, in many ways does the opposite and needs to be opposed. Instead of respecting differences in beliefs about marriage and sexuality, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith. Take Action

For updates and on how to contact your state representative and senator visit www.ohiocathconf.org.

Carolyn Jurkowitz and Jim Tobin retiring after 34 years of Service. Carolyn Jurkowitz has served thirty-four years with the Catholic Conference of Ohio, fourteen as executive director. She started at the Conference as an Associate Director responsible for the Department of Education. Prior to this, she served ten years with the diocese of Columbus. Carolyn retires August 1, 2021. Jerry Freewalt, from the Columbus diocese, will take her place. Jim Tobin has also served thirty-four years at the Conference as the Associate Director for the Department of Social Concerns. Prior to this, he served eleven years with the diocese of Columbus. Jim retires on July 1, 2021. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND FAITH-FILLED SERVICE! Read more.

Support OhioRISE in the state budget. Encourage further actions ensuring that the proposed funding and Medicaid resources for Multisystem Youth and OhioRISE remain viable. The Ohio Department of Medicaid’s OhioRISE program is a new transformational program designed to support multi-system youth and their families. It will provide intensive wrap-around services for children with complex behavior health needs and prevent the heart-wrenching practice of child custody relinquishment. Funding for OhioRISE is irrevocably woven throughout the Medicaid managed care procurement. An amendment in the budget bill would redo the procurement process for the entire Medicaid program which will impact OhioRISE and the 50,000 to 60,000 families in Ohio it intends to serve. Help keep families together. Urge Comp Doc MCDCD 42 and MCDCD 43 to be removed from the budget bill.

Take Action: Contact members of the Conference Committee of HB 110 and your state representative and senator. Sign the petition and sign-on letter.

The Vatican launched the Laudato Si' Action Platform

The new platform is a unique collaboration between the Vatican, an international coalition of Catholic organizations, and “all men and women of good will.” (LS 3) Taking a truly ground-up approach, it is rooted in the strengths and realities of communities around the world, empowering all to take “decisive action, here and now” to care for God's creation as we journey towards a better future together. (LS 161) Learn more.

Resources, Upcoming Events, Advocacy

Email: socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org 

Website: www.columbuscatholic.org/social-concerns-office