The U.S. House just passed H.R. 5, "The Equality Act". 
The Act purports to protect people experiencing same-sex attraction or gender discordance from discrimination. But instead, the bill represents the imposition by Congress of novel and divisive viewpoints regarding “gender” on individuals and organizations. 

Tragically, this Act can also be construed to include an abortion mandate, a violation of precious rights to life and conscience. 
Rather than affirm human dignity in ways that meaningfully exceed existing practical protections, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith. It would also inflict numerous legal and social harms on Americans of any faith or none.

There are some forces behind this Act that are attempting to redefine any religious expression in support of traditional morality as “discrimination” and push those who hold such views to the outskirts of polite society. 

READ LETTER FROM U.S. BISHOPS

EQUALITY ACT Q & A

The Act poses a serious threat to religous liberty.  Contact your U.S. senators now and urge then to oppose this act in the senate.  

CONTACT SENATORS:

Marshall, Roger - (R - KS)
B33 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4774
Contact: www.marshall.senate.gov

Moran, Jerry - (R - KS)
521 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
Contact: www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-jerry

DAILY PODCAST TO STUDY THE BIBLE

With this podcast, you won’t just read the Bible in a year … you’ll finally understand how all the pieces of the Bible fit together to tell an amazing story that continues in your life today!

Listen and…
1.    Read the ENTIRE Bible
2.    Feel more confident about your understanding of Scripture
3.    Experience the transformative power of God’s Word in your daily life
4.    Start seeing the world through the lens of Scripture

Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children – parental discretion is advised.

Each 20-25 minute episode includes:
•    Two to three scripture readings
•    A reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz
•    A guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his Word

To sign up to receive all the episodes of the Bible in a Year podcast go to the Ascension Press website, click HERE
 

The rosary is prayed in the church as well as livestreamed Monday - Friday, at 7:30AM. All who pray the rosary in church must adhere to the prescribed social distancing and safety procedures.

The rosary will also be prayed/livestreamed approximately one half hour before the Saturday morning 8AM Mass and before the Sunday morning 8:30AM Mass.

You can pray along from home by watching the livestreaming of this event HERE. 

Since Miami County has lifted it's health order,  since many have been vaccinated and since the number of Covid cases is down locally, we will be allowing more open  seating at Mass, STARTING THE WEEKEND OF APRIL 10-11. 

The TWO CENTER SECTIONS of pews will be open seating in each row; no reservations required -first come, first seated.   

For those who wish to observe social distancing, there will be a limited number of RESERVED SEATS along the north and south banks of short pews.  Seating will be in every other pew and the following guidelines will apply:
- up to 2 singles per pew, one on each end,
- or one couple per pew
- or up to 5 people of same household

We will continue to broadcast the Masses on FM 101.9 for those that feel safer listening to Mass in the car and Communion will be offered outside.  The 8:30 AM Mass will continue to be live-streamed.  

TO RESERVE A SEAT IN THE NORTH OR SOUTH SIDE SECTION WHERE DISTANCING PRACTICES ARE OBSERVED, CLICK  HERE.

All Mass Attendees ar ENCOURAGED to wear face masks out of charity for those who are still concerned about the virus. 

The USCCB has put out a document concerning the moral considerations of the Covid-19 Vaccines.  To see the statement, go HERE

The Value Them Both (VTB) Amendment would amend the Bill of Rights in the Kansas Constitution to state that there is no constitutional right to abortion, and reserving to the people the ability to regulate abortion through the elected members of the legislature of the state of Kansas.  The impetus for this amendment was an April 26, 2019, ruling by the Kansas Supreme Court that took power from Kansas voters and found—created, really—a nearly unlimited “right to abortion” in our 1859 State Constitution.   

This court decision effectively made any legislative effort to limit, condition or in any way regulate abortion in Kansas subject to being declared unconstitutional.  The VTB Amendment aims to give the citizens of Kansas, through their elected representatives, the power to make laws concerning how abortions are handled in Kansas.  It gives the people the power to make this determination rather than leaving it in the hands of a few court justices.    

Kansas Legislators have approved the amendment to be placed on the ballot in August of 2022.  Amending the Kansas Constitution is a two-step process.  Both chambers of the Legislature must pass the measure by “supermajority” margins of 2/3’s of the membership (which they have now done).  Then, the measure is placed on a statewide ballot for a vote of all Kansans.  The measure at that point needs a simple majority to be adopted.

National pro-abortion forces will undoubtedly pour millions of dollars into advertising campaigns in an effort to prevent the amendment from passing.  Catholics faithful to the teaching of the Church on the dignity of life in the womb should do all they can to support, promote and vote for passage of this amendment.  This struggle between pro-life and pro-abortion (so called, pro-choice) advocates is a clash between the Culture of Life and a Culture of Death.  Now is the time for faithful Catholics to step up and be more pro-life than ever. 

This is not simply a political issue, but a moral one.  Since 1973, over 62,000,000 human lives have been extinguished through elective abortions in the United States.  What will children studying history one hundred years from now say about this generation?  Will they look back on us as we look back on those who in the 1800's thought it was somehow morally justifiable to own slaves?  We they look back and say, "What were they thinking?  How could they have embraced such a grave evil?"  Abortion, of course, is not the only pro-life issue, but it is the preeminent one.  Other rights have no meaning, if the right to life is denied.  Let us open our hearts to God's grace and the truth about the dignity of life in the womb.

For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Eph 6:12


For more information go to:
https://www.kansasamendment.com/   
or 
https://www.kansascatholic.org/report/ 

What can the Ministry of Care do for you or your loved one?

*Grief support *Transportation *Visits to shut-ins at home or in a facility *Holy Communion brought to you *Meal support in time of crisis *Respite relief for caregivers *Other assistance as needed

If you or someone you know could benefit from these services, please contact Marian Seuferling at (913) 980-5276 or marianseuferling@gmail.com. 

Breaking Bread Mass books for the 2021 Church year are available to borrow. Please use the Sign Up Genius form located HERE to reserve a book. Books are limited to one per family and may be kept for the entire 2021 Church year, which begins on the first Sunday of Advent (November 29). Once you sign up for a book, you will be assigned a number, and the parish office will contact you when your book is ready to be picked up. Books will be left in the vestibule of the Church with your family name on it. If you have any questions, please contact Katrina in the parish office at (913) 533-2464 or parish@qhrwea.org.