In this week’s edition:

• White House won’t try to enforce HHS mandate in TX

• Bill to define genders introduced in US Senate

• New TX curriculum under fire

• Former New Orleans priest pleads guilty to crimes committed in 1975

• and more!

Biden HHS says it won’t try to enforce Title X birth control changes after TX AG sues

Summary: Texas AG Paxton’s office said “This effectively vacates the unlawful rule in Texas, and Attorney General Paxton filed a notice of dismissal.”

Details:

• The Title X changes removed the requirement for minors to obtain parental consent prior to obtaining birth control.

• AG Paxton had sued the HHS this July, saying it undercut Texas law and contravened legal precedent.

• The AG’s office’s statement said, “This result ensures that Texas health entities will not be forced to violate state law under threat of losing Title X funding.”

• The HHS has not clarified whether this change applies to the entire nation or strictly to Texas.

Why we care: This is a fantastic win on many fronts - parental rights, subsidiarity, federalism, etc. It goes to show that the states can stand up to the federal government, hold its ground on what it views as a moral wrong, and win. While this may by a purely symbolic victory given the imminent changing of the guard (as it were), we appreciate the dedication of politicians like Mr. Paxton who will stand up for conservative principles and demonstrate that states can still be bastions of pro-family legislation. We’d love to see this decision extended to all states, though we have a sneaking suspicion this may be a moot point under the incoming administration.

Senate Republicans introduce act to define male and female

Summary: The Defining Male and Female Act of 2024 aims to codify “male”, “female”, “sex” etc. using their biological definition when used in legislation.

Details:

• The act was introduced by Senator Marshall of Kansas with Senators Risch (ID), Crapo (ID) and Hyde-Smith (MO) joining.

• Along with creating legal definitions, the bill would reserve women’s sports (and related) for biological women and restore segregation for facilities that are normally sex-separated (prisons, dorms, restrooms, etc.).

• It would also declare sex to be identifiable at birth and immutable.

• The bill is in response (at least partially) to changes to the Affordable Care Act and to Title IX.

Why we care: It’s wild that in this day and age we apparently need legislation to define what humans have known for millennia, but desperate times…. Our gut says this is more of a symbolic play than anything and that the legislation won’t get very far, but we’d be more than happy to be proven wrong. We’re generally of the mind that we should not try to accomplish by law what can be accomplished by having a moral populace, but at this point we’re not sure how we go about climbing back up the slippery slope of immorality down which we seem to have slid these last fifty, seventy-five years. Perhaps this is the kind of backstop we need to regain our morality; only time will tell.

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Religion in schools in the spotlight as Texas Board of Education introduces Bible into language arts curriculum

Summary: The Blue Bonnet Learning Curriculum will be available in the spring of 2025 and incorporates lessons from the Bible into the lesson plan.

Details:

• The curriculum has been under attack for its Christian topics.

• Participating schools will receive money on a per-student basis to pay for the program.

• Critics cite the usual suspects - discrimination against/alienation of other faiths, indoctrination, etc.

• Supporters say it helps students understand Western History, with Word on Fire CEO Fr. Gunrow calling it “commendable” that students would learn “the cultural influence and moral perspectives of the Scriptures.”

Why we care: We’re obviously pretty pro-Bible here, so we don’t take much issue with students learning about the massive impact the Bible has had on the development of Western society. However, as Fr. Gunrow points out in the article, Catholic parochial schools were started in opposition to the Protestant bias of the religion being taught in school. This is the underlying issue of teaching religion in schools - there’s no way to satisfy everyone. Better to keep it simple and teach the impact the Bible (and other religious text, for that matter) have had on the world. That cause/effect at least should not be up for debate. We certainly don’t think the curriculum crosses a line, but we do think it would be nice if you were able to support the local parochial school and educate your children in the Faith.

Former priest in diocese of New Orleans pleads guilty to kidnapping, rape and more

Summary: Lawrence Hecker was charged with kidnapping and raping a teenage boy in 1975.

Details:

• Though the charges relate to a single occurrence, Mr. Hecker, is alleged to have molested multiple minors over the course of decades.

• Hecker’s trial had been delayed due to questions about his ability to stand trial and the initial judge’s recusal.

• A doctor determined that while Hecker does have dementia he was fit to stand trial.

• Shortly before the jury was to be picked Mr. Hecker entered his guilty plea and could face life in prison when sentenced on Dec. 18.

• His case comes in the midst of a bankruptcy filing by the Archdiocese of New Orleans concerning a multi-million dollar payout to more than 600 alleged abuse victims.

Why we care: What an awful case, and how terrible to have to wait nearly fifty years to see justice served. This case is a reminder that there are still a lot of wounds left to be healed and that the Church has plenty of work left to do. It’s unfortunate that so often it seems like the ‘solution’ is to throw money at the problem with survivors rejecting the settlements for being insufficient. It’s hard not to read these articles and feel disheartened, disgusted and cynical, but it’s important to consider too how far we’ve come. Let us continue to pray for the Church, for her priests, for abuse victims, and for healing.

Other Stories

• Updates on previous stories:

  • Fort Worth Carmelites suppressed by Vatican

  • Nicaragua expels priest, pressures nuns.

• At home…

  • CUA says decreasing tuition, increasing expenses to blame for $30 million deficit

  • Missouri AG stands behind pro-life laws as state’s reproductive freedom amendment is set to take effect

  • SCOTUS justices may not buy arguments behind challenge to TN minor sex-change ban

• …and abroad

  • 21 new cardinals created during consistory

  • Pope Francis urges preachers to keep homilies short and sweet.

  • Notre Dame in Paris re-opens

• In memoriam: Pro-life activist Msgr. Philip Reilly passed away at the age of 90.

Quote of the Week

What’s going on:

• December 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

• Notable / Interesting feast days:

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