Author Archives: Julie Gutierrez

Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Heading to Senate

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal the Hyde and Helms Amendments. If the Senate agrees with these repeals, your tax dollars would pay for abortions in the United States and overseas.

We can still stop taxpayer-funded abortion. But we have to fight even harder now. The Senate needs to hear from many, many more people.

So far, over 145,000 people have signed the petition! Think of the impact if everyone who signed the petition got even just one more person to sign it.

Will you help?

Simply copy, paste, and post this text on your social media: Don’t let our government make you pay for the deaths of innocent babies. Sign the petition at www.notaxpayerabortion.com!

August 28, 2021 Wedding Recognition Mass

Mass of Recognition of the Sacrament of Matrimony
Please join The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Rochester and couples celebrating anniversaries of Matrimony on Sunday, August 29, 2021 at Two o'clock in the Afternoon at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 296 Flower City Park, Rochester, NY 14615

All married couples and their guests are welcome to attend and renew their vows with Bishop Matano. Those celebrating milestone jubilees will be given special recognition.

Informational Flyer: Wedding Recognition Mass 2021 (1)

September 11, 2021 Mass Honoring First Responders

U.S. Bishops’ Chairmen Respond to House Vote to Force Taxpayers to Fund Elective Abortions

Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities
News Release: July 30, 2021

U.S. Bishops’ Chairmen Respond to House Vote to Force Taxpayers to Fund Elective Abortions

WASHINGTON - Today, the House voted 219 to 208 in favor of H.R. 4502, a package of appropriations bills that currently excludes the 46-year-old Hyde Amendment and other longstanding, bipartisan provisions like the Weldon Amendment. Eliminating these provisions would force taxpayers to pay for elective abortions and would have the effect of forcing health care providers and professionals to perform and refer for abortion against their deeply-held beliefs, as well as forcing employers and insurers to cover and pay for abortion.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee for Religious Liberty, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued the following statement:

“The House has voted in a way that is completely out of step with the will of the American people who overwhelmingly oppose taxpayer-funded abortion. The Hyde Amendment has saved at least 2.4 million lives since its enactment. Without it, millions of poor women in desperate circumstances will make the irrevocable decision to take the government up on its offer to end the life of their child.

“To be certain, this bill includes provisions that help vulnerable people, including pregnant moms. As we have said before, ‘being “right” in such matters can never excuse a wrong choice regarding direct attacks on innocent human life.’ In truth, ‘the failure to protect and defend life in its most vulnerable stages renders suspect any claims to the “rightness” of positions in other matters affecting the poorest and least powerful of the human community.’^[i]

“The injustice in HR 4502 extends to removing conscience protections and exemptions for healthcare providers who believe abortion is wrong, or whose faith drives them to serve and heal lives, instead of taking them.

“Funding the destruction of innocent unborn human lives, and forcing people to kill in violation of their consciences, are grave abuses of human rights. We call on the Senate to redress this evil in H.R. 4502, and for Congress to ultimately pass appropriations bills that fully support and protect human dignity, and the most vulnerable among us.”