Bishops call for Bipartisan Action to Advance Health Care Reform that Protects Human Life and Dignity

On the eve of the White House Health Care Summit, the U.S. Bishops urged Congressional leaders “to commit themselves to enacting genuine health care reform that will protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.” In their February 24 letter to Congressional leadership, the bishops also cited their longtime support of adequate and affordable health care for all, calling health care a basic human right.

[read letter]

Diocese Joins in Support of Minimum Wage Indexing Bill

In a bold gesture of solidarity, Maine’s Catholic Diocese joined with allies from women’s organizations, advocates for the poor, and organized labor in support of a legislative bill that would protect the earning power of Maine’s lowest paid workers by indexing the minimum wage to the consumer Price Index (CPI). The bill is scheduled to be heard before the Labor Committee at 1 PM on Thursday, February 18. [read more]

Help us Oppose the Excessive Use of Solitary Confinement

On February 17, the legislature’s Criminal Justice Committee will head testimony from the public about LD 1611 “An Act to Ensure Humane Treatment for Special Management Prisoners."

Click here to read the testimony of Marc Mutty, Diocese of Portland Public Affairs Director.

Click here to sign a petition opposing the excessive use of solitary confinement.

On February 17, the Committee on Insurance and Financial Serivces heard testimony on an Act to Protect Health Care Consumers from Catastrophic Debt.

Marc Mutty, Portland Diocese Public Affairs Director, spoke in favor of the legislation.

Click here to read his testimony.

An Act to Prevent the Spread of H1N1

The Legislature's Labor Committee heard testimony on a bill that aims to prevent the spread of H1N1 by guaranteeing employee sick leave.

Marc Mutty, Portland Diocese Public Affairs Director, spoke in favor of the legislation.

Click here to read his testimony.

Bishops call on faithful to Take Action Now!

Call our Congressional Delegation Now and Tell Them We Need Health Care Reform

Passage of a health care reform bill is uncertain, but the need for reform remains a national priority and moral imperative. Health care is a basic human right, yet there are nearly 50 million Americans who do not have access to health care.

Take Action Now! Urge Congress Today to Continue to Work on Genuine Health Care Reform!

Contact your Senators and Representative today (see below for contact information or visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov). The Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

Click here for more details.

The Catholic Response to Global Warming…

“Respect for creation is of immense consequence, not least because creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s work” - Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI asks:

• Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions?

• Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of “environmental refugees”, people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it — and often their possessions as well — in order to face the dangers and uncertainties of forced displacement?

• Can we remain impassive in the face of actual and potential conflicts involving access to natural resources?

[Read more]

Good Friday Community Leadership Breakfast

The 2010 Good Friday Community Leadership Breakfast will be held on Friday, April 2, 2010 from 7 a.m. to approximately 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland co-hosted by CLIMB - Christian Leaders in Maine Business. Invitees will include Maine’s “Cultural Gatekeepers” — government, business and community leaders.

The 2010 goals will remain the same as in past years:

1. to glorify Jesus Christ on Good Friday
2. to foster an atmosphere of Christian unity
3. to encourage our guests to consider the practical application of our shared Faith in their daily lives.

[Read more]

March for Life

A group of 50 people from the Diocese of Portland travelled to Washington, DC to join in the March for Life. They were among tens of thousands of people who took part in the rally on the National Mall and then marched to the U.S. Supreme Court. The rally, which began in 1974, is held annually on the anniversary of the Court's Roe v. Wade decision which legalized abortion.

In addition to the rally and march, the group from Maine attended the Vigil Mass for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass was concelebrated by five cardinals, 40 bishops and 350 priests, who were joined by 65 deacons and 550 seminarians.

Although organizers did not release an estimate of the number of participants, they say the crowd "far exceeded" last year's.

[read more]