Life, Justice and Peace News

Dear Life, Justice and Peace Contacts,

Prayers for the Healing of Seattle – In response to the recent gun violence in Seattle, there will be two opportunities for prayer at St. James Cathedral.

Friday, June 1 at 6:30pm: The weekly Taizé service will focus on prayer for the victims and for law enforcement officials. The service will feature the meditative music of the ecumenical community of Taizé in France, scripture readings, and candle-lighting. All are welcome.

Sunday, June 3: The Church Council of Greater Seattle, St. James Cathedral, and St. Mark's Cathedral invite everyone to an interfaith prayer for healing. The service will begin at St. Mark's Cathedral on Capitol Hill at 6:00pm, then participants will join in a peaceful procession to St. James Cathedral, where the service will conclude at about 7:30pm. Archbishop J. Peter Sartain and other local leaders, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim, will offer prayers for healing and peace. Please bring a candle to carry during the procession.

Father Michael G. Ryan, Cathedral Pastor, has said: "With all the senseless violence that has recently erupted in our city, it seems important that people of faith come together to pray for the victims and for our law enforcement officials, and to pray for an end to the violence in our midst."

Religious Freedom – The June 19 deadline for sending a message to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is fast approaching. If you have not already done so, please click on the link below to send messages to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Congress, urging them to stand up for religious liberty and conscience rights. For USCCB resources on this issue including bulletin inserts and prayers, visit www.usccb.org/conscience.

The Administration recently adopted as a final rule “without change.” The rule allows only a very narrow exemption for a “religious employer.” Religious organizations providing education, health care and charitable services to all in need cannot qualify for the exemption. Message to HHS: On March 21, HHS published an “advance notice of proposed rulemaking” (ANPRM) that suggests various ways the new mandate can be applied to religious organizations (Federal Register, 3/21/12, 16501-08). The ANPRM does not address the fundamental legal and moral concerns about government intrusion into religious ministries or about the coercion of individual consciences. Whatever funding and administrative mechanisms are ultimately chosen, many deeply religious institutions that serve the common good will be forbidden to provide their own employees or students with health coverage consistent with their values.

Click on the following link to send your message: http://actions.nchla.org/link/target.../it4z2NyQ.aspx

Thanks for all that you do in support of life, justice and peace!
Jim

Jim Thomas
Director of Adult Faith Formation for
Catholic Social Teaching and Family Life
Archdiocese of Seattle
710 - 9th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104-2017
Dir. (206) 382-4268
Toll-free (800) 950-4970
Fax (206) 264-2084
www.seattlearchdiocese.org/cst
www.seattlearchdiocese.org/FamilyLife