Conscience rights

The recent push to make emergency contraception more widely available in the United States raises questions about the mechanisms of the drug and the implications of making it available as an over-the-counter product.

When Tony and June Lepski opened their home to two foster children, they never would have imagined the gift they received in return.

The Lepskis, members of St. Cletus Parish in St. Charles, have a story unlike many others. After his birth in 1940, Tony Lepski was placed with an adoptive family. But it wasn't until many years later that he discovered his biological mother, living in a small town in southwest Missouri, was believed to have been raped at the age of 15. Tony Lepski was conceived in that rape.

Last fall, Theresa Hannegan received a letter from her insurance company, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, telling her that her health insurance plan would start covering contraceptives.

The part-time employee at Our Lady's Inn, who had opted to purchase an individual health insurance plan on her own, was dismayed to receive the news. So she cancelled her insurance.

You are being called to prayer.

Yes, you.

The U.S. bishops recently have debuted a special Call to Prayer -- a simple movement to pray, make penance and give sacrifice for the sake of renewing a culture that is favorable to life and marriage and for the protection of religious liberty in the United States.

Spiritual stamina. Spiritual warfare. These words are being conjured up during this watershed moment in American history. Consider what we're facing right now: the 40th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court consideration of same-sex marriage and the federal government's mandate to cover contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs in virtually all health care plans.

It's frustrating, it's confusing, and for people of faith, these decisions are heart-wrenching.

So our bishops have asked us to keep it simple.

The Missouri Catholic Conference has expressed its disappointment with Attorney General Chris Koster's recent decision to not appeal a federal judge's ruling that struck down the conscience protections in SB 749, the law protecting the religious liberty of Missouri citizens. The law was passed last fall by the Missouri General Assembly.