COMMENTARY

for the first United for Life pro-life advocacy day, met with legislators, testified in committee hearings, offered innumerable prayers during First Friday Adoration, and sent 7,361 messages, phone calls, tweets and videos through our Catholic Advocacy Network along with hundreds of postcards urging legislators to protect women and their unborn children.

The Legislature has left in place the parental notification requirements for minors seeking an abortion, though the statute is currently struck down through a Ramsey County court case. Fortunately, a group called Mothers Offering Maternal Support (MOMS) is working to challenge that decision.

Spiritual warfare in America

The April 27, Catholic Spirit legislators to put families first, many of our poorest families across the state will now benefit from a nationleading Child Tax Credit. More work is needed to make more families eligible, but this per-child refundable tax credit is expected to reduce childhood poverty in Minnesota by 20-30%.

Minnesotans who fall on hard times are also now better protected from debt traps by a 36% interest rate cap on payday loans. Additionally, families and individuals, especially those working in low-wage jobs, now have access to earned sick and safe time, thus enabling them to receive one hour of paid time off for every 30 hours worked to care for a sick family member or themselves.

Finally, after a decade of advocating for immigrant families, starting this fall they can apply for a driver’s license and no longer need to fear separation through deportation for simply driving their kids to school, the grocery store, the doctor or Mass. Our migrant brothers and sisters can also now buy into Minnesota Care, allowing them access to health insurance instead of avoiding necessary care or only making use of costly emergency rooms.

Although there still is much work to be done to defend life, dignity and the common good, the victories won this session have come from many years of ensuring good seeds have healthy soil in which to grow.

Despite great adversity, pro-lifers should remain undeterred by the Minnesota Legislature and a swipe of a governor’s pen. Hundreds of advocates showed up

CATHOLIC WATCHMEN | DEACON GORDON BIRD