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"Raise the Age" Passes Senate!
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 This week, the Senate passed SB 793, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau), by a vote of 31-0. Known as "Raise the Age", this bill would raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction from 17 years old to 18 years old. This bill has been gathering momentum all session. Thanks to all the MOCAN members who contacted their senators urging passage of this issue! Senators spoke on the floor about the large number of messages they received.
This bill is following the national trend of raising the age for juveniles. Missouri is one of only five states that still automatically treats 17-year-olds as adults. Sen. Wallingford spoke about how this move would take youth away from prison and move them into rehabilitation. Earlier in the day, the bill was passed out of fiscal review. The bill has a high fiscal note, but with a three-year delay in implementation of the bill, and a $3.50 charge on court filings, the state should have the revenue needed to adequately take care of young people in the juvenile system.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Nick Schroer (R-St. Charles) has a companion bill (HB 1255) that has also passed out of committee. |
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Bishops Urge Action on Gun Violence
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Bishop Frank Dewayne of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, issued a statement this week urging Congress to act to curb gun violence in America. In doing so, he outlined the bishops longstanding position in support of sensible gun regulations, including a ban on assault weapons, implementing universal background checks, and limitations on civilian access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition, among other things.
In addressing the need for action, Bishop Dewayne was joined by Bishop George Murray, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Education. This moment, they wrote, "calls for an honest and practical dialogue around a series of concrete proposals, not partisanship and overheated rhetoric. The idea of arming teachers seems to raise more concerns than it addresses. Setting a more appropriate minimum age for gun ownership, requiring universal background checks (as the bishops have long advocated), and banning 'bump stocks' are concepts that appear to offer more promise."
They also called for addressing the violent images our young people are exposed to, stating "[w]e must explore ways to curb violent images and experiences with which we inundate our youth, and ensure that law enforcement have the necessary tools and incentives to identify troubled individuals and get them help." |
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Congress to Consider Conscience Rights for Healthcare Providers
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 Next week, Congress will consider including The Conscience Protection Act (CPA) in a must-pass budget bill. The CPA would protect the conscience rights of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers that do not wish to participate in abortions. Those who support abortion rights have become increasingly hostile towards healthcare providers who choose not to participate in abortion for religious and moral reasons.
The prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, for example, published an article last year in which the authors argued that OB/GYN's who refuse to perform abortions should become radiologists or some other specialty which would not present a moral quandary, because they believe that denying a patient an abortion would unjustly deny the patient services based upon personal beliefs, rather than professional medical standards. The authors even suggest that professional societies declare conscience objection unethical.
The MCC has asked its MOCAN members to contact their Congressional delegation to encourage their support for the CPA. If you have not yet done so, please consider joining the over 500 MOCAN members who have. |
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Pope Clears the Way for Sainthood for Pope Paul VI and Romero
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 This week, Pope Francis signed decrees for the causes of Blessed Pope Paul VI and Oscar Romero to be canonized. In signing the decrees, he recognized the miracles attributed to both. Pope Paul VI will be declared a Saint in October. No date has been set for Romero's canonization.
Pope Paul VI, who served from 1963 to 1978, continued the Second Vatican Council which closed in 1965 and implemented its numerous reforms. Oscar Romero was the 4th Archbishop of San Salvador, who spoke out against poverty, social injustice and torture. He was assassinated on March 24, 1980, while saying Mass. |
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2018 St. Louis Climate Summit
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 Want to learn more about climate science? Head to St. Louis in April for the the 2018 Saint Louis Climate Summit, hosted by Saint Louis University as a part of its yearlong Bicentennial Celebration. The summit will bring some of the most authoritative minds in climate science and related disciplines to the Midwest for three days of discussion on climate change. The speakers include Cardinal Peter Turkson, Carl Pope, Mario Molina, Peter Raven, Jane Lubchenco, Jeffrey Sachs, and more. Take a look at the conference agenda and see if you'd like to register for this springtime event. |
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Garden of the Monks
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 In Medieval times, monks designed beautiful gardens full of wonderful plants, from fruits and vegetables to eat, to herbs for medicinal purposes. These were places of beauty and order enclosed from a wild countryside. The gardens were typically arranged in parterres: flowerbeds edged in boxwood. Walkways would divide the parterres so that monks would have easy access to the edible plants, flowers and herbs. Typically, a fountain would grace the garden so the sound of water could soothe the senses and nourish a time of prayer. In Brittany, in Northern France, the garden of a 12th century Abbey has been lovingly reconstructed. The Irish gardener Rachel Darlington takes us on a refreshing visit of this Garden of the Monks. Enjoy! |
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