As we begin Respect Life Month on October 1, will you join us in prayer to defend human life?
This election cycle, Nebraska voters will be confronted with two very different abortion-related ballot initiatives. It is incumbent on us as followers of Jesus to pray that all Nebraskans vote AGAINST Initiative 439. To that end, the Bishops of Nebraska are asking Catholics across the state, starting on October 1, to join in a 9-day novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the defeat of Initiative 439.
You can download a digital copy of the novena here. If you want to print out a copy, use this "printer friendly" version. Take the prayer with you to Mass, say it for your morning or night prayers, pray it as a family before dinner.
No matter what time of day you decide to pray, our united prayers and intercessions are powerful as they go before God, begging Him for His favor and mercy on our state.
Ballot Initiative 439, sponsored by the abortion industry, would insert a right to late-pregnancy abortion in our state constitution. This proposal is unsafe, will lead to unregulated abortions in our state, and is simply un-Nebraskan. It will undermine 50 years of common-sense protections against dangerous and coerced abortion practices, risk the lives of healthy babies in the second and third trimester, and create a culture of abortion that undermines the dignity of women.
You can learn more about why Initiative 439 is bad for Nebraska at www.voteAGAINST439.com.
Thanks for uniting with Catholics across the state in this 9-day novena for life!
Lincoln, Nebraska - On Tuesday, a new ballot initiative providing protections for preborn children was released by Protect Women & Children. In response to the language of the proposed ballot initiative, the three Catholic bishops of Nebraska - Archbishop George J. Lucas, Bishop James D. Conley, and Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt - issued the following joint statement:
“Nebraska voters are likely to decide on two ballot measures regarding abortion this November. We have reviewed the proposed initiative to create a constitutional protection for preborn children in the second and third trimester that was announced on Tuesday morning. Although imperfect in its protection of all preborn children, the proposal is a step toward safeguarding human life. Thus, it is morally permissible for Nebraskans to support this newly proposed initiative.
"More importantly, we urge Nebraskans to unite in opposition to the other initiative proposal that wants to enshrine the evil of late-pregnancy abortion into the state constitution."
"Women in Nebraska deserve support throughout pregnancy, not abandonment to the lifelong, physical and emotional trauma of abortion. The late-pregnancy abortion ballot measure fails pregnant women and is more extreme than meets the eye. Nebraskans should pray and work for its defeat and commit to even more support for pregnant women in need.”
An explainer providing additional information about how the Bishops reached this conclusion on the newly released ballot initiative proposal can be found here.
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The Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has issued a Declaration “On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings.” This Declaration is to provide guidance on “the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.”
The Declaration clearly states that, “It is a matter of avoiding that ‘something that is not marriage is being recognized as marriage.’ Therefore, rites and prayers that could create confusion between what constitutes marriage – which is the ‘exclusive, stable and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children’ – and what contradicts it are inadmissible.” (#4)
The Declaration explains that “one who asks for a blessing show[s] himself to be in need of God’s saving presence in his life and one who asks for a blessing from the Church recognizes the latter as a sacrament of the salvation that God offers.” (#20). Furthermore, “when one asks for a blessing, one is expressing a petition for God’s assistance, a plea to live better, and confidence in a Father who can help us live better.” (#21)
In noting the importance of ‘descending blessings’ from the Lord, the Declaration notes that “pastoral prudence and wisdom – avoiding all serious forms of scandal and confusion among the faithful – may suggest that the ordained minister join in the prayer of those persons who, although in a union that cannot be compared in any way to a marriage, desire to entrust themselves to the Lord and his mercy, to invoke his help, and to be guided to a greater understanding of his plan of truth.” (#30)
The Declaration states, “Therefore, the pastoral sensibility of ordained ministers should also be formed to perform blessings spontaneously that are not found in the Book of Blessings. (#35) The Declaration references the Holy Father’s concern “that these non-ritualized blessings never cease being simple gestures that provide an effective means of increasing trust in God on the part of the people who ask for them, careful that they should not become a liturgical or semi-liturgical act similar to a sacrament.” (#36) Rather, “In a brief prayer preceding this spontaneous blessing, the ordained minister could ask that the individuals have peace, health, a spirit of patience, dialogue, and mutual assistance – but also God’s light and strength to be able to fulfill his will completely.” (#38)
This Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith does not change the Church’s teaching on the Sacrament of Marriage. Rather, it encourages us in the pastoral care of souls to accompany people who ask the Lord’s blessing for greater trust in God and for his “light and strength to be able to fulfill his will completely.” (#38)
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As the world watches the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, it is imperative that Christians throughout the world make a response of faith and take up the call to prayer and fasting for an end to this evil.
In particular, Our Lady of Fatima asked the world to pray for the conversion of Russia. Once again it is time to make a response of faith by our fervent praying of the holy rosary, that Our Lady Queen of Peace will overcome this evil and bring a peaceful resolution to this tragic conflict.
I encourage all our parishes, and the various organizations within our diocese and parishes, to begin regularly praying the holy rosary for the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. Pray that the great mercy of God will bring healing and hope to all who are victims of this senseless conflict.
Together, let us renew our faith in the powerful intercession of Our Blessed Mother. Pray the rosary so that the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph over this evil. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us to have recourse to thee!
Most Reverend +Joseph G. Hanefeldt
Bishop of Grand Island
Today, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson reported on the findings of his three-year investigation into criminal misconduct by clergy ministering in Nebraska’s three Catholic dioceses. His report outlines the abusive behavior of a number of priests, deacons, and Catholic laity over a span of many decades. The Attorney General’s investigation and report concern the Catholic Church in Nebraska only, and not any other religious denomination, youth service organization, or school system.
We acknowledge with sadness that so many innocent minors and young adults were harmed by Catholic clergy and other representatives of the Church. It is clear that the hurt is still felt, even if the abuse was perpetrated many years ago. We apologize to the victims and their families for the pain, betrayal and suffering that never should have been experienced in the Church.
This report also points out mistakes made in the way dioceses received, reported and responded to allegations of sexual abuse in the past. We have been committed in recent years to comprehensive measures to protect young people and vulnerable adults, preventing abuse, offering healing for past victims of abuse and fully cooperating with civil authorities in these matters. We have made our own public disclosures of offending clergy.
Anyone who believes that a member of the clergy, church worker, or church volunteer has engaged in inappropriate conduct with a minor should contact law enforcement and the Victim Assistance Coordinator of the Diocese where the conduct occurred.
Please join us in praying for healing for victims of abuse, for their families and all in our communities who are touched by the evil of sexual abuse.
Archbishop George J. Lucas, Archdiocese of Omaha
Bishop James D. Conley, Diocese of Lincoln
Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt, Diocese of Grand Island
Victim Assistance
Fall is a beautiful time of the year and fall decorations highlight the natural beauty of this change of seasons. However, as the date of Halloween approaches, a greater fascination with ghosts, zombies, death, dark spirits and with evil is also on display. Sometimes events and activities are planned, perhaps simply as seasonal fun, that also open the door for evil spirits to enter into a person, often without their knowing it.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in dealing with the First Commandment, states in section #2116, “All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history and in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.” In other words, the use of Ouija boards, Tarot cards and other items thought to possess magical powers elicit a type of ‘faith’ which is contrary to the Christian faith in God alone.
Furthermore, section #2117 of the Catechism teaches that, “All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others – even if this were for the sake of restoring their health – are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another’s credulity.”
The hidden, unanticipated result of participating in these practices is that a person opens themselves up to the activity of evil spirits and, unwittingly, to the deceptive attraction of other demonic and satanic activity. In this way, a person compromises their own spiritual health and well-being because of some initial voluntary participation in things through which evil spirits gain entry into their lives.
Many people suffer lasting effects from a curious exploration by which they dabbled in divination, magic, sorcery or other occult practices. They need deliverance and healing from these spiritual maladies. Anyone who has participated in these types of activities should renounce such practices and confess this offense against the one true God in the sacrament of reconciliation. Furthermore, they should seek deliverance and healing for these spiritual maladies from priests who are to offer prayers of deliverance over them.
Let us avoid all that offends God and strive to fulfill all that brings him honor. Do not open your life to the activity of evil spirits. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
Catholic Diocese of Grand Island
To the Faithful of the Diocese of Grand Island – July 11, 2023
As the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Island, I am encouraging you to respectfully decline to sign the petition initiative underway in our state that seeks to repeal LB753 (the Opportunity Scholarships Act). If you have already signed this petition, let me encourage you to complete the Secretary of State’s form necessary to remove your signature from this petition.
Earlier this Spring, the Nebraska legislature, with a super-majority of senators from across the state, passed LB753 which was then signed into law by Governor Pillen. This legislation made Nebraska the 50th state to pass some type of school choice plan.
The Opportunity Scholarships Act provides increased scholarship opportunities, primarily for low-income children, through a state income tax credit. Taxpayers can claim this tax credit by making financial contributions to a scholarship granting organization (SGO) which is authorized by LB753.
The three Catholic bishops of Nebraska are in full support of a statewide SGO, Opportunity Scholarships Nebraska, the formation of which is in its initial stages. The Nebraska Catholic Conference is helping to lead this effort. Using the wisdom and experience gained from other places around the country who are enjoying the benefits of school choice options, this statewide SGO will know our schools, our families and their needs. It will deliver scholarships to provide meaningful school choice opportunities for students seeking an education at one of the many non-public schools in our state.
Unfortunately, there is and has been for many years, a well-organized opposition to school choice in Nebraska. This has led to numerous myths being spread about school choice. For example, some people believe that providing scholarship tax credits will hurt public education, even as the Nebraska Legislature recently passed historic public education funding which will infuse nearly $1 billion of increased financial support for public schools. We certainly need strong public schools, but we also need school choice for parents who seek better opportunities for their children.
In conclusion, there is no need to repeal LB753. We need to protect school choice for Nebraskans, especially for children who experience poverty and bullying. Please respectfully decline to sign this petition. School choice makes everyone better off. For more specific information I would encourage you to go to the Nebraska Catholic Conference website at: School choice under attack: DECLINE to sign! (necatholic.org) and learn more about why we believe LB753, signed in to law by Governor Pillen, is a step in the right direction. You may also find out more on this by going to: Keep Kids First (keepkidsfirstnebraska.com).
Today there is new hope for the unborn in this country. There is new hope for their mothers and fathers, that they might accept the amazing gift of life they have created. Today there is new hope for humanity, that each unborn person may be given the chance to enrich our lives with their unique gifts. Today the Supreme Court has taken an important step in bringing respect for all human life back to this country.
The generous work of all who believe in the sanctity of human life must continue, as before, with ever greater mercy and compassion. While there are numerous pregnancy care centers throughout this country – and parishes, organizations and individuals who serve them – we must become ever more responsive to the practical needs of those who find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy. In this way, the choice for life can be made more confidently, and the trauma of an abortion experience and its aftermath can be avoided.
Every baptized person must be a true servant of life! As disciples of Jesus, who came “that we might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10), we must always be generous servants of life! Serve the lives of others right where you are! Support the choice for life not only before birth, but after the birth of a child, as well!
In a particular way, let us pray for the conversion of those who believe that destroying life through abortion should ever be an option. Likewise, let us pray for the ongoing healing of those whose lives have been destroyed because of an abortion experience. To them, let us be ambassadors of hope in God, who is rich mercy.
Let us mark this historic day by renewing our esteem for all human life: embryos already created in labs, the unborn in the womb, those with special needs, the abandoned or marginalized, the mentally ill, the terminally ill and all those who live with great suffering. Let us remember the words of Jesus who said, “whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)