Social Justice

There will be a shift at the helm of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference beginning June 1, 2018. Eric A. Failing, PCC’s current social concerns director, will assume the role upon the retirement of Robert J. O’Hara, Jr. after his 21 years as executive director. Prior to joining the P

Pennsylvania House Health Committee took a decisive 17-9 vote in support of House Bill 2050, the Down syndrome Protection Act. The legislation (and its companion Senate Bill 1050) would ban abortion of an unborn child as a result of a Down syndrome diagnosis. The bill proceeded to the

“It was a wave of humanity that lifted us out of institutions, brought us home, got us into schools and included us in the community of life, and now it will require another wave of humanity to stop the targeting of Down syndrome around the world.” Karen Gaffney, Disability Rights Cha

“We’re raising the concern in Pennsylvania because of some tragic trends in European countries. In Iceland, they’ve become notorious for the claim that Down syndrome has been nearly eliminated. What they fail to mention is that Iceland has a 100 percent abortion rate of pre-born child

Saint Paul Cathedral in Oakland served as the backdrop for a Mass of Remembrance and Healing for people struggling with addiction, their families and for those who have died as a result of drug addiction. The mass was held on Sunday, February 11 and celebrated by Bishop David A. Zubik

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is taking a mid-session break and will resume session late in January 2018. 2017 was a very busy year and more issues are on the horizon for 2018. Here is the status of the several high priority bills that are on the legislative agenda of the Pennsylv

Legislation seeking to address the statewide opioid crisis that had strong support by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference was recently signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf. Senate Bill 446, now Act 59 of 2017, will establish state-regulated minimum quality standards for the licensure

This holiday season, students at Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School have teamed up with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown to help make Christmas bright for seven children within two area families. Every angel on the tree is marked with information describing a

People who are homeless in Pennsylvania have new hope. House Bill 1076, legislation that would use collaborative relationships among municipalities to address the need for housing for the homeless across the state is now poised for a vote by the full House of Representatives. The bill