Welcome to the March 3, 2021 edition of Just 3 Things, the weekly social action newsletter of the Office of Human Life & Dignity. If this email was forwarded to you, and you'd like to receive it each week, please click here.
Valerie Schmalz
Director
Office of Human Life & Dignity
Archdiocese of San Francisco
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Catholic organizations continue to be boots on the ground to help homeless people, partnering in San Francisco with the City and County of San Francisco and others. Tomorrow, March 4, the San Francisco Interfaith Council hosts a webinar where representatives of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Catholic Charities of San Francisco will join the interim director of the S.F. Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, Abigail Stewart-Kahn, for a briefing titled "San Francisco's Homelessness, Shelter and Housing Response in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic." (Photo courtesy Catholic San Francisco)
Your voice is critically needed today to tell our US Senators to support amendments that prevent abortion funding, and to work for their inclusion in the final COVID-19 relief bill.
Background: 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.
Read the bishops' letter here. Please contact your U.S. Senators.
Are you looking for a simple and rewarding Lenten project for your students, children or your family? The Restorative Justice School Project is asking students to create Easter cards for prisoners in San Francisco County jails. Students create cards that are sent to the prisoners via the Restorative Justice Ministry. We have a lovely website with tips on how to make the cards and more information about the process. (Photo by Sebastian Staines at Unsplash.com)
What's coming up:
- March 6 _ Monthly Mass for Life, 8 a.m., St. Mary's Cathedral. Followed by Rosary Walk to Planned Parenthood at Bush Street.
- March 14 _ Respect Life Essay Contest Awards Mass with Archbishop, 11 a.m. St. Mary's Cathedral. Outdoor awards ceremony. More here.
- March 23 _ 7 p.m. Salutations of the Holy Cross Prayer Service @ Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross, Belmont. Metropolitan Gerasimos presiding and Archbishop Cordileone to deliver homily.
- Feb. 17 - March 28 _ 40 Days for Life campaigns. Sign up at 40daysforlife.com
- April 17 _ Retreat for healing after abortion. Go to sfarch.org/rachel or call 415-614-5567.