In this Month of Mary, please pray the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Life.  

https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/litanies/the-litany-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary

The Response is: Mary, pray for us.

Mary, Mother of all Life,
help us to respect human life from the moment of conception
to the moment of natural death. R.

Mary, Mother of Compassion,
You showed us how valuable a single life can be;
Help us to guard and protect the lives of all people entrusted to our care. R.

Mary, Mother of the Child Jesus,
with St. Joseph you formed the Holy Family.
Guard and protect all families in this earthly life; R.

Mary, Mother Most Holy,
You sanctified the vocation of motherhood;
Pour out your heavenly aid on all mothers and help them to be holy. R.

Mary, Mother of Sorrows,
Simeon’s prophecy foretold that a sword of suffering would pierce your heart;
Bring comfort and hope to all mothers who suffer over their children. R.

Mary, Full of Grace,
You had a choice in responding to God’s call;
Help us always to say “Yes” to the will of God in our lives,
And strive always to do whatever he tells us. R.

Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted,
Pour forth your heavenly grace on all who are in need of God’s healing,
Especially those involved in abortion;
Help them to experience the love and mercy of Christ, your Son. R.

Mary, Intercessor and Advocate,
We lift up the poor, the displaced, the marginalized and vulnerable members of society;
Help them to never abandon hope, but to place their trust in the God who gave them life. R.

Mary, Mother of the Word Incarnate, you bore in your womb him whom the heavens cannot contain;
Help us to bear witness to Christ by the example of our lives
And show the world the extravagant love of God. R.

All:
Remember, o most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen.

Call to Action: Tell Your Senators to Oppose The Equality Act   
Cardinal Dolan has asked that we Stand Against Unjust Discrimination and Oppose the Equality Act. “ The Equality Act goes far beyond the noble desire to protect vulnerable people. It burdens consciences, severely curtails the rights of people to practice their faith, smuggles in an abortion mandate, and explicitly exempts itself from respecting religious freedom.“ 

The US Bishops are requesting that we Tell our Senators to Oppose The Equality Act.

Tell your Senators to oppose the Equality Act!

Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The Equality Act, which has now passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is being actively considered in the Senate, 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. The Equality Act would: punish faith-based organizations, such as charities and schools who serve everyone in their communities, simply because of their beliefs; force girls and women to compete against boys and men for limited opportunities in sports, and to share locker rooms and shower spaces with biological males who identify as women; risk mandating taxpayers to fund abortions; force people in everyday life, and especially health care workers, to support gender transition; and expand what the government considers a “public” place, forcing even some parish halls to host functions that conflict with Catholic beliefs.

US Bishops : Urgent Action needed to prevent taxpayer funding for abortion in COVID Relief Bill – contact your Senators now.

Last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a new COVID relief bill, called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which addresses the needs of many vulnerable people related to the pandemic. Unfortunately, unlike previous COVID relief bills, this bill appropriates billions of taxpayer dollars that are not subject to longstanding, bi-partisan pro-life protections that are needed to prevent this funding from paying for abortions. The Senate is expected to vote this week.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to Congress to express its support for additional COVID-19 relief that prioritizes the poor and vulnerable and its strong opposition to any taxpayer dollars going to abortion as part of this legislation, saying that the Hyde Amendment policy must be included before this bill moves forward. Your voice is critically needed today to tell your senators to support amendments that prevent abortion funding, and to work for their inclusion in the final bill.

Take Action – this link provides an easy method to send an email. 

Background: What is the Hyde Amendment and Why is it Important?

Currently, there is no US law that prohibits federal funding (i.e. your tax dollars) from being used to support abortion. To prohibit federal funding of abortion therefore, every financial appropriation of Congress must include a prohibition on funds for abortion – that is the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funding of domestic abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. The Hyde Amendment has been credited with saving nearly 2.5 million lives since its enactment in 1976. Until now, The Hyde amendment has enjoyed strong bipartisan support. On February 27, the US House of Representatives passed the $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan of 2021, without including the Hyde Amendment protections.

More on the Hyde Amendment 

Birthchoice now has an Amazon registry where donations can be selected and sent directly to them: https://www.amazon.com/baby-reg/HU06Q6U5LAYO

Wake County AOH Division #1 has a long tradition of supporting Birthchoice, including helping them obtain their life saving ultrasound machine.

Please consider a donation. To do so visit the site, select an item to donate and add a note stating that it is part of the “AOH Baby Shower” using the “Gift Note” option.

Please join with our Bishops and Dioceses across the country, praying to Protect Human Life.

9 Days for Life is a novena for the protection of human life. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life.

https://pro-life-activities.lpages.co/9-days-for-life-2021-english/

Meet Our Virtual Keynote Speaker: Melissa Ohden

Melissa Ohden is the survivor of a failed saline infusion abortion in 1977. Despite the initial concerns regarding Melissa’s future after surviving the attempt to end her life at approximately seven gestation, she has not only survived but thrived.

She is the founder and director of The Abortion Survivors Network and is a Master’s level prepared Social Worker. She’s the author of “You Carried Me: A Daughter’s Memoir.”

Fulfilling the purpose that she believes God set out for her when He saved her from the certain death of the abortion attempt, Melissa is truly a voice for the voiceless. Melissa and her husband, Ryan, live in Kansas City, Missouri, with their two daughters, Ava and Olivia.

MiraVia Mission

Respecting and affirming life from the moment of conception, MiraVia is a safe haven and source of hope for pregnant mothers and their children. Invoking a Christ-centered approach inspired by the examples of Mary and Joseph, MiraVia helps young families move toward a new life of hopeful, independent, and healthy living and educates the broader community on the importance of fostering a culture of life.

Online Registration Link: https://miraviabanquet.lpages.co

USCCB Priorities at the Polls

As Catholics approach the polls, we are asked to weigh many important issues. The U.S. bishops have reaffirmed that “the threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself, because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed.”[1] While they did warn us not to “dismiss or ignore other serious threats to human life and dignity such as racism, the environmental crisis, poverty, and the death penalty,” they did give priority to upholding and defending our brothers’ and sisters’ most basic right—to live.

Additional resources:

A Comparison of the Republican and Democratic Platforms

Where do the Candidates for President Stand on Abortion?

Where do the Candidates for Vice President Stand on Abortion?

2020 Elections – North Carolina Senate Scorecard