September 12-13, 2026
Dear parishioners,
In an article a few weeks ago, I updated everyone on Bishop Thomas’ activity this year in his role as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ chairmen of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities. In it, I highlighted his statements on various items of pending federal legislation; please continue to keep these items in your prayers!
Continuing in a more general manner with the topic of prayer for Pro-Life current events, I would like to mention here two figures that have been in the news recently. These two figures are members of a trend that, sadly, we are all too familiar with, namely, Catholic politicians who openly oppose the Church’s teaching on many moral issues pertaining to human life and sexuality. The two I have in mind are Governor Kathy Hochul of New York, and Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts. Both have been disastrous so far in their tenures as governors, and St. Paul’s words apply to them: “By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith” (1 Tim. 1:19). Their words and actions are a reminder to us that there is always something more for us to be praying for in Pro-Life matters.
Governor Hochul, who seems to have a nasty proclivity for opposing the Church’s moral teaching whenever she can, was in the news quite a bit in February of this year when she signed into law the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which took effect on August 6. This law makes euthanasia legal for anyone aged 18 or above who has been diagnosed with an incurable medical condition and has a prognosis of 6 months or less to live. In her own words, Hochul described the law as giving the terminally ill “the right to bodily autonomy” and to “end their lives with dignity and compassion.” Not only do these awful words contradict Hochul’s prior work in trying to prevent suicide, they are also antithetical to any proper understanding of dignity and compassion. No so-called “autonomy” can actually set itself over and above the order of creation made by God himself. After all, the devil tried to do the very same thing! Regarding dignity and compassion, the Church has always taught that providing palliative care for the terminally ill until they die naturally is always the correct way.
Hochul was also in the news recently regarding a different law which is at odds with Church teaching. When Hochul signed the LGBT Long-Term Care Facility Residents’ Bill of Rights in 2023, she required all nursing home operators to provide care, assign rooms, and use pronouns based solely on one’s gender identity, as opposed to their biological sex. In April of 2026, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne began a lawsuit against the State of New York to make their case that the law violates the free exercise of their religion. Please offer some prayers for these nuns, their convent, and their nursing home operation!
Governor Healey, also Catholic, is also very outspoken in her opposition to the Church’s moral teaching, both in legislation and in lifestyle. Most recently, she signed a bill into law a month ago which permits abortion up to birth throughout Massachusetts. In addition to the repugnant nature of the law itself, she even celebrated it in her comments at the signing, surrounded by women who appeared giddy to be there. Nothing could be more diabolical than what transpired there that day.
On that note, please offer some prayers for all legislators to work together to protect what is most basic, and what no one should really need to be convinced of- the true dignity of human life, from conception to natural death. Pray especially for those legislators who are Catholic; if all of them would vote in accord with Catholic moral principles, it would go a long way to at least defeat bills promoting the ubiquitous culture of death which has established itself in so many minds… and pockets. For those who, as I mentioned above, have “made shipwreck of their faith,” we pray for their conversion back to the truth- for the sake of their own salvation, and for the many that are affected by their laws. For those who are faithful, please pray that they have the fortitude to remain faithful, and to reject what is contrary to the truth of Christ.
Blessings,
Fr. Ammanniti
