The Votes are In - What Lies Ahead and the 2025 Connecticut Legislative Session by Christopher Healy, Executive DirectorThe 2024 Election provided few changes in the makeup of the Connecticut General Assembly. Democrats gained three seats in the state House and one in the State Senate. Democrats will hold a 102-49 advantage in the House and 26-11 edge in the Senate. Are you a Catholic wondering what the Catholic Church actually teaches about immigration and how we should respond?On the issue of immigration, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin" (CCC 2241). Another country, New Zealand, joins an ever growing group of nations changing how they treat trans identifying youths.The United States and Connecticut medical communities continue to promote care that is seen as harmful and lacking in supporting evidence. Serious mental health evaluations before affirming care and puberty blockers is a must, but is not occurring. Maybe it is time to reevaluate our policies. |
December 2024 |
The Votes are In - What Lies Ahead and the 2025 Connecticut Legislative Sessionby Christopher Healy, Executive Director
The 2024 Election provided few changes in the makeup of the Connecticut General Assembly. Democrats gained three seats in the state House and one in the State Senate. Democrats will hold a 102-49 advantage in the House and 26-11 edge in the Senate. Democrats were reelected for all federal offices, including U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, who won a third term. Democrat Members of the House of Representatives – Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Johanna Hayes, Jim Himes, and John Larson were easily re-elected. President-Elect Donald J. Trump lost in Connecticut, but his policy initiatives may provide some positive outcomes for people of faith, particularly Catholics. Statistics from exit polls indicated Trump collected 61 percent of the voters who proclaimed themselves of the Catholic faith. Several policies and laws are likely to be affected when the Trump administration takes office on January 20, 2025: Title IX protections of young women’s rights, protection of religious freedom on college campuses, and the promotion of school choice. Read More. |
Are you a Catholic wondering what the Catholic Church actually teaches about immigration and how we should respond? Watch the video below and read the article.
On the issue of immigration, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin" (CCC 2241). While elaborating on that teaching, in this video Fr. Mike also points out that a nation has a right and responsibility to protect its borders. While it's impossible to avoid politics completely on this issue, Fr. Mike addresses the Christian principles inherent in the immigration debate.What does the Church and its great minds, such as St. Thomas Aquinas, teach on the political issue of immigration? The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides a nuanced perspective on immigration, balancing the duty to welcome the stranger with the responsibility of governments to protect their citizens and promote the common good. Contrary to the perception that Catholic teaching demands an open-border policy, the Catechism outlines important qualifications for managing immigration. Read "Catholic teaching on immigration: integration and the common good" from CatholicVote. |
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Another country, New Zealand, joins an ever growing group of nations changing how they treat trans identifying youths.The United States and Connecticut medical communities continue to promote care that is seen as harmful and lacking in supporting evidence. Serious mental health evaluations before affirming care and puberty blockers is a must, but is not occurring. Maybe it is time to reevaluate our policies. The Ministry of Health of New Zealand has just released an evidence brief and position statement on the use of puberty blockers for gender identity issues and outlining a more cautious approach to their use. The evidence brief shows a lack of good quality evidence to back the effectiveness and safety of puberty blockers when used for this purpose. A Ministry position statement underpinned by the evidence brief that sets out expectations of a more precautionary approach for the care of adolescents with gender identity issues. The Ministry’s assessment is that the starting point for treatment is a holistic assessment determining the full spectrum of needs a young person may have including social and mental health. These tighter controls reflect a level of concern both in New Zealand, England and other western European countries about the increasing use of these medicines for the treatment of gender identity issues without sufficient evidence to support their safety and effectiveness both now and in the longer-term. The appropriate and safe care for this group of young people is critically important. |
