Vocations Awareness Week is January 10-16, 2010.

WHEREAS, from earliest times Christians sharply distinguished themselves from surrounding pagan cultures by rejecting abortion and infanticide, and

WHEREAS, in the 5th century A.D. this rejection of abortion at EVERY stage was affirmed by the great bishop-theologian, St. Augustine, and

WHEREAS, in the 13th century St Thomas Aquinas also rejected abortion as gravely wrong at every stage, observing that it is a sin "against nature" to reject God's gift of a new life, therefore, be it

RESOLVED that ODCCW members support pro-life in prayer and fasting, sidewalk counseling, 40 days for life, and financially through organizations that work for rights of the unborn and have respect for grassroots  pro-lifers.

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP

WHEREAS, the mission statement of the legislative commission for 2008-2010 is to promote the common good and the dignity of the human family through legislation, and

WHEREAS, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has called the laity to Faithful Citizenship, and

WHEREAS, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation, be it 

RESOLVED that the ODCCW Legislation Commissions continue to tirelessly educate and inform our Council sisters and parishes of ongoing pertinent legislation in this regard, both statewide and nationally.

BUILDING STRONGER AFFILIATIONS

WHEREAS, the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women recognizes a generalized decline in affiliations, therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women shall   support affiliations through knowledge, education, leadership training and spiritual nourishment to enable our parish women to sustain the strength  of their affiliation by empowering other women of their parish to become affiliation members, therefore creating a larger supportive base for     deaneries, the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, and the  National Council of Catholic Women, and be it further

RESOLVED that the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women continue to extend an invitation to non-affiliated parish Pastors to encourage women to join the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women by  helping them to develop an affiliation within their parish.

PROTECTING NEWBORNS:

WHEREAS, “A Safe Haven for Newborns” in the state of Florida has helped to save over 100 newborn babies being abandoned, be it

RESOLVED that the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (ODCCW) continue to help save more of these precious lives by sup-porting this organization, so that they can continue to reach out to young mothers and let them know they have a choice about their newborns.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

WHEREAS, Domestic violence is predicted to increase as the financial climate worsens, and

WHEREAS, Elder abuse is increasing and Florida is a state with a larger elder population at risk of abuse, and

WHEREAS, Domestic violence affects not only the partners but also the
children, and research shows that exposing a child to domestic violence affects their emotional, social, and cognitive development, be it

RESOLVED that the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women advocate against domestic violence and elder abuse in our affiliations and com-munities, building on the progress that has been made in recent years in addressing domestic violence.

GLOBAL POVERTY

WHEREAS, The Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women can make a significant difference in the fight against world poverty by promoting fair trade practices, and

WHEREAS, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB)  Campaign Against Global Poverty seeks to promote an equitable international trade system, and

WHEARAS, Farmers in developing nations have a right to just compensation for their products traded on the world market, be it

RESOLVED, That the members of the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women purchase Fair Trade items and encourage that such items be made available to the general public.

AFRICA

WHEREAS, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) sponsors Africa Rising, Hope and Healing, a campaign that calls for solidarity and action to affirm human dignity, promote peace-building, and reduce poverty on the continent of Africa, and

WHEREAS, The campaign addresses the health needs of the victims of the
pandemic HIV/AIDS, the number one killer of women, men, and children in Africa today, and

WHEREAS, Other communicable diseases such as malaria, polio, and tuberculosis also require healthcare, be it 

RESOLVED, That, through its support of the CRS campaign, Africa Rising, Hope and Healing, the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (ODCCW) will increase the awareness of its members about Africa’s healthcare needs, and be it further

RESOLVED, That ODCCW will support increased funding by the United States government for medications to fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases in Africa, and be it further

RESOLVED, That ODCCW members be encouraged to bring hope and healing to Africa through increased awareness and education about the Africa
Rising campaign and through their monetary contributions to the ODCCW/CRS partnership program Help-a-Child Africa.

ENVIRONMENT

WHEREAS, In 2007, the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change (CCC) was formed under sponsorship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), with support from the Religious Partnership on the Environment, a group in which NCCW was honored to be asked to serve, and

WHEREAS, The mission of the Coalition is to engage the Catholic community in education and action on climate change as an imperative of our faith, and

WHEREAS, In 2008, a bill to shape climate change legislation failed in
Congress and so, this year, on Earth Day, April 22, the Coalition will launch a new initiative, A Catholic Climate Covenant: the St Francis Pledge to Protect Creation and the Poor, in honor of the patron saint of the environment (website  -  www.catholicsandclimatechange.org), and

WHEREAS. As a member of the steering committee of the CCC, the NCCW has already taken the St. Francis pledge as an organization, in advance of the April 22^nd launch date and will, over the next year or so, examine ways in which it can, as an organization, be part of the solution to climate change, be it

RESOLVED, That ODCCW encourage every member to take the pledge with her family and her Council and encourage her entire parish to take it so that, together in prayer and action, we can halt and reverse this great threat to our earth and our children's survival, and be it further

RESOLVED, That members are encouraged to Go-Green, doing what they can to save energy, such as  using plants in the landscape that are native to the area, using compost, using cold water for doing laundry, using cloth
napkins and grocery bags, and recycling as much as possible.