Five Things to Remember on Jan. 7

 

1.      The 113^th Congress has 163 Catholics (30 percent of the body), up from 156 Catholics (29 percent of the Congress) in the previously elected body, notes the Pew Forum on Religion. About a fifth of the nation is Catholic.

2.      Another preliminary injunction, this time from Illinois, to bar enforcement of the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive coverage mandate against a for-profit company. Notes the blog Religion Clause, “the company's Catholic owners believe that providing their employees with insurance coverage that facilitate abortion, contraception and sterilization constitutes 'cooperation with evil that violates the laws of God.' ” 
 
3.      For Poverty Awareness Month, the USCCB blog will feature guest posts this week by Carolyn Woo, CEO, Catholic Relief Services; Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Chairman of Board, CRS; Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines, chairman, USCCB Committee on International Justice and World Peace; Thomas Melady, former U.S. Ambassador to Burundi, Uganda and the Vatican and Msgr. Charles Pope, pastor, Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Parish, Washington and blogger for the Washington Archdiocese and Our Sunday Visitor. Blogs will be in English and Spanish.
 
4.      Yesterday we marked the feast of Epiphany, which celebrates the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem. The three wise men warned that the newborn Jesus faced the threat of Herod’s massacre of the innocents and soon the Holy Family fled into Egypt. The story of this immigrant family 2,000 years ago is a reminder of the plight of immigrants today. Information about comprehensive immigration reform can be found at http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/frequently-asked-questions-comprehensive-immigration-reform.cfm

5.      God loves you.