In Brief

Join faithful across the nation for Religious Freedom Week

Religious Freedom Week is taking place from June 22, the Memorial of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, through June 29, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. Join Catholics across the country to pray and act for the freedom to serve faithfully and with integrity. Learn more at www.usccb.org/ReligiousFreedomWeek.

Dobbs anniversary is ‘opportunity to continue to strengthen culture of life’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is an “opportunity to continue to strengthen the culture of life,” Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, chair of the House Republican Conference, said June 20 at an event hosted by a pro-life group in the nation’s capital to mark the occasion. The Supreme Court issued its Dobbs ruling June 24, 2022, in a case involving a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks, in which the state directly challenged the high court’s previous abortion-related precedents in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The Supreme Court ultimately overturned its own prior rulings, undoing nearly a half-century of its own precedent on abortion. In the year since that ruling, individual states have moved to either restrict abortion or expand access to the procedure. Stefanik, the chamber’s No. 3 Republican, said at an event hosted by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America that “this year’s anniversary of Dobbs is a moment to embrace how far we have come in this movement to protect the sanctity of life.”

U.S. bishops encourage Catholics to ‘read, pray and discuss’ Synod on Synodality working document

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A working document released June 20 on the upcoming worldwide Synod on Synodality “presents the People of God with a remarkable opportunity to reflect on what we have learned thus far about the nature of a synodal Church and how we might embrace that more fully,” said Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, in a same-day statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It will form the basis for the discernment and discussion for the participants of the first session” in October at the Vatican, the USCCB statement explained. Read the document online at www.usccb.org/synod.

World Refugee Day, Salesian Missions highlight programs that aid refugees, internally displaced

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — In a world where 103 million people are forcibly displaced, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency, Catholic missionaries are often first responders helping those in need of a new home. “Salesian missionaries live among the communities they work in and are on the front lines of the refugee crisis. They provide support and services for refugees and internally displaced persons whose lives have been affected by war, persecution, famine, and natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and earthquakes,” said Father Timothy Ploch, interim director of Salesian Missions. UNHCR estimates that 53.2 million people are displaced within their own country and 32.5 million are refugees. More than 72% come from five countries, including Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, Afghanistan and South Sudan. UNHCR expects the number to climb to 117.2 million people who will be forcibly displaced or stateless in 2023. June 20 is World Refugee Day, as designated by the United Nations. on the

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