Welcome to the Jan. 22, 2020 edition of Just 3 Things, the weekly social action newsletter of the Office of Human Life & Dignity. Today is the 47th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision, and the companion Doe v. Bolton decision, that effectively removed every legal protection from human beings prior to birth. Today is a day to pray particularly for unborn babies, their mothers and fathers, and our country. 

Here are a few of the important priorities, news and ideas of the week.

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Join us for the Walk for Life West Coast this Saturday, Jan. 25, in Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco! Rally begins at 12:30 p.m. There are many great activities the entire weekend, centered around the 16th annual Walk for Life West Coast. Start the day with 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, celebrated this year by Portland Archbishop Alexander Sample. Visit our Archdiocesan Respect Life booth at the InfoFaire at Civic Center Plaza to learn how we help pregnant women and those hurting after abortion. Walk speakers this year are Priests for Life director Father Frank Pavone, Walk mainstay Rev. Clenard Childress Jr., and St. Dominic's director of youth and family ministry Kathy Folan. Folan's story will touch your heart.

Religious freedom, school choice--and potential funding for Catholic schools--are at stake in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court today as it considers a challenge to Montana's anti-Catholic Blaine Amendment. Blaine Amendments, in place in the constitutions of 37 states including California, are named after Rep. James G. Blaine of Maine, who in 1876 proposed a federal constitutional amendment that would have prohibited state funding for schools “under the control of any religious sect.” The amendment arose as part of the 19th century anti-Catholic Know Nothing movement.

U.S. bishops are praising a federal judge's order halting President Trump's executive order that allows states and localities to refuse permission for refugee resettlement. “Jesus Christ, who was part of a refugee family, calls us to welcome the stranger, and our pro-life commitment requires us to protect refugees,” said Bishop Mario Dorsonville, an auxiliary bishop of Washington who chairs the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration, adding, “the Church looks forward to continue working with communities across America to welcome refugees as we uphold the dignity of all human life.”