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Care for Pregnant Women

Join our Diocese and Take Action

The Diocese of Salt Lake City has long advocated for legislative solutions to abortion that would do more than just tell women to find another option. Legislation that would truly make a difference in the numbers of abortion, while also recognizing the dignity and sanctity of a women's life, has finally arrived in Congress.

Care for Her (H.R. 5163) is the type of legislation that focuses on the root causes of abortion. Care for Her will facilitate support and services to women who find themselves with an unexpected pregnancy, and seeks to meet the emotional, physical, social, financial, and other needs that a woman encounters during pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing.

The bill addresses practical support for pregnant and parenting women's day-to-day needs, including health care and material support; mentorship and parenting resources during pregnancy and following the birth of a child; opportunities for completion of education and employment and job training; safe, affordable, and supportive housing during pregnancy and for their children after birth, including those attending universities; workplace and college campus accommodation, including child care and lactation support; and ease of awareness of available support and services.

CALL TO ACTION:

Urge your member of Congress to show that he wants to Care for Her by co-sponsoring H.R. 5163. Tell him: Pregnant and parenting women deserve better resources and support!

To ensure consistent access to information about available support and services for a woman with an unexpected pregnancy and to fill additional gaps that exist in support and services, Care for Her (H.R. 5163) proposes:

a pregnancy child tax credit (just think about how much is spent before the baby is born!);
an identification of existing pregnancy and parenting services and support in a clearinghouse;
input from women who have experienced available support services to understand what services are useful and gaps that exist in services and support;
assessment and sharing of best practices in local, state, and federal programs;
a new federal-state entity to assure all parties are satisfied with the context of support and services;
a website with geographically relevant programs for women seeking support during pregnancy;
a toll-free number to provide women with referrals for obtaining pregnancy and parenting support and services, including services to support;
provision of grants to support services, such as maternity housing, mentorship programs, job training programs, and child care;
an annual report from HHS on successes and opportunities for improvement;
and an establishment of a new incentive of supplemental funds to communities that demonstrate improved maternal and child outcomes.

Thankfully, Utah's First District, Rep. Blake Moore is already a co-sponsor. If Rep. Moore is your representative, please call or email him to thank him for his support of pregnant women. Email and local phone numbers for Rep. Moore may be found at blake moore.house.gov

For the three other districts, click HERE to personalize and send your message.

Please note: This legislation does not replace pregnancy resource centers. This bill has been written as something EVERYONE can support.

Green Tip: For those of us who still receive a newspaper, be creative with your reuse of this limited resource. Of course, newspapers are recyclable, but first consider some of these creative reuse ideas:

Seedling pot

Layer several sheets of newspaper on top of each other and shape them into a makeshift container for germinating seedlings. The newspaper is compostable so you can plant the container straight into a larger pot or the ground.

Barbecue cleaner

Once you finish using the grill, allow it to cool a little while you soak the newspaper in water. Lay the sheets of paper over the grill and close the lid for an hour. Simply remove the paper and wipe the grill clean.

Packing material

Newspaper is a great substitute for bubble wrap. Wrap your fragile items individually and place them in a box. Fill the remaining space with crumpled paper. This idea also works with shredded paper.

Shape keeper

Help maintain your shoes and bags’ shapes by stuffing them with crumpled newspaper whenever you are not using them.

Ripen tomatoes

Wrap green tomatoes in old newsprint, place them in a box, and cover with a lid. They will ripen into a bright red color.

Shoe deodorizer

Newspapers are good deodorizers. Crumple them into balls and stuff them into smell shoes or anywhere with musty odors.

Source: The Green Dandelion blog from Rochester.edu

PRAYER

God of Infinite Goodness,

watch over expectant mothers as they await the birth of their child.

Grant these women confidence and strength to dispel their anxiety and fear.

Bless them with the courage and faith of Mary, always listening to your will and trusting in your loving care.

As they prepare to bring new life into the world, grace them with good health and great joy.

We look to you and your Son, Jesus Christ, as a sign of mercy and joy.

We ask this through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes in the name of your Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

AMEN.

Source: Catholic Health Association

Image by Free-Photos for Pixabay

Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City
27 C Street
SLC, Utah 84103
801-328-8641
communications@dioslc.org

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