Great Things Happen When They Come Together!

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Catholic Family Fun Club (CFFC) announce more than 530 individual members from almost 100 families in the new Catholic family group in less than a month since its launch.  This new initiative was formed by local Catholic families as a way to build locally networked communities with others so that all might grow in their faith together. While administered independently, it is a grass roots outgrowth of the World Meeting of Families—Philadelphia 2015 (WMOF).

CFFC was founded by Dr. Mary Beth Yount, an Assistant Professor of Theology at Neumann University, who served as Director of Content and Programming for WMOF. She wanted to develop an organic and simple way to find out about already-existing Catholic family events and share them with other Catholic families in the five-county region. 

“I was looking forward to members posting events like rosary campfires, saint movie nights, and catechism quiz tournaments. These are things that I love to do with my children,” said Dr. Yount.

Using a crowd-sourced calendar, the CFFC allows families from throughout the Archdiocese to attend and create Catholic catechetical and social activities together and learn about other local events and organizations connected to the Catholic faith.

“We are all learning a lot about local events and organizations connected to our Catholic faith tradition that we would never hear about otherwise,” said Dr. Yount.  “For example, a post letting people know about an adoptive family picnic taught me about some of the needs of adoptive families and a network that is meeting those needs. There was another post inviting people to join the Interfaith Hospitality Network in feeding and being present to families that are in transition between homes, an event for families struggling with infertility, multiple events that describe particular levels of accessibility for those with special needs, and more. The new group has exceeded my expectations.”

To join the group, go to www.meetup.com and type in “Catholic Family” or navigate directly to http://www.meetup.com/Catholic-Family-Fun-Club. You can also download the Meetup app on a digital device and then enter “Catholic Family” to find the new CFFC.

Note:  Named one of “Philadelphia’s Most Interesting People” by NBC-10 and a two-time Catholic Press Association 2016 awardee, Dr. Mary Beth Yount has given hundreds of presentations and published numerous book contributions and articles on topics that range from the philosophy of dating to the importance of interfaith action. Her work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets, from TIME to Rome Reports. With her husband, James, and their four children, the Younts are members of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Media, Pennsylvania (Delaware County).

We'll Let YOU Be The Judge Of This . . .

Could THIS Be Summer's Only Movie Mega Hit?

The Two Sides Of The Biased Mainstream Media (MSM)

Have You Forgotten About THIS? Huh?

It Just Doesn't Seem Reasonable, Does It?

New Jersey State Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) said that he will not be able to support a 23 cent per gallon gas tax increase if the proposal is posted for a full Senate vote. Sen. Kip Bateman said that he will not be able to support a 23 cent per gallon gas tax increase. (Flickr) “Most reasonable people accept that there is a cost associated with the upkeep, maintenance and expansion of our critical transportation infrastructure,” said Bateman. “What doesn’t seem reasonable, however, is to say that traffic across the state will suddenly grind to a halt if we don’t raise the gas tax by more than 150 percent. There’s a lot of rhetoric and hyperbole, but little real discussion about why the proposed tax increase is necessary.” The current proposal by Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Prieto would raise the gas tax by approximately 23 cents per gallon, yielding an expected $1.2 billion in new revenues annually that would support $2 billion in Transportation Trust Fund program spending when borrowing is included. “Nobody has explained why $2 billion is the magic number that meets our transportation needs,” said Bateman. “Is that the cost of what we actually need to keep the state moving efficiently, or is that the price tag of a wish list of projects? We shouldn’t allow our roads to fall into disrepair, but we also shouldn’t ask drivers to fund extravagances at the gas pump.” Bateman pointed to new light rail projects that have been proposed for funding through the TTF as examples of projects that might not be critical. “We have flood-damaged bridges throughout my district that are in need of repair and replacement,” added Bateman. “It feels like a bait and switch, however, to say that 23 cents is what’s needed to fix those bridges when plans are already being made to divert billions to new light rail projects that are more luxury than necessity.” Related Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/kipbateman/posts/10155039110803625 Related Tweet: https://twitter.com/KipBateman/status/759071987176058880 Website Post: http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/bateman/bateman-23-centgallon-gas-tax-increase-not-reasonable/27882

No Matter How You Look At It, It's A LOSER!

State Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) reiterated his opposition to increasing New Jersey’s gas tax, calling the proposal a “loser” for New Jersey. Sen. Jennifer Beck and Sen. Mike Doherty held a press conference to oppose a gas tax increase proposal at the New Jersey State House on June 15, 2016. (SenateNJ.com) “I say the gas tax plan is a ‘loser’ because we would lose so much should it be enacted,” said Doherty. “We’d lose the incentive to study our highest-in-the-nation road construction costs. We’d lose business at gas stations and throughout communities along our borders with Pennsylvania and New York. Most important, overtaxed New Jersey drivers would lose more of their hard-earned income to fund projects that have nothing to do with roads.” Doherty has long-called for a study to examine excessive state transportation costs as the starting point of any transportation funding discussion. He is the sponsor of S-1888, which would create the “State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force.” “It’s inconceivable that we’re not looking for ways to make our transportation spending more efficient,” said Doherty. “How can we ask drivers to pay even a penny more at the pump if we can’t demonstrate that we’re using the money they already send us wisely?” The Senator highlighted how New Jersey businesses and border communities currently benefit due to our state’s low gas tax relative to that of neighboring states. “There’s a tremendous amount of commerce that occurs along our side of the Delaware that’ll be put at risk should this massive gas tax increase pass,” said Doherty. “If you take away a big incentive for Pennsylvanians to cross the river, it’ll hurt a host of local businesses that they visit after filling their tanks. This could be disastrous for many New Jersey towns.” Finally, Doherty noted that while “safe roads and bridges” is the oft-repeated line recited by gas tax proponents, they’re not being honest about how the new gas taxes collected from drivers would actually be spent. “Nobody is telling the public the truth that the special interests are already lining up with their hands out to fund multi-billion light rail lines in the corners of the state,” added Doherty. “Tell me again how that’ll keep drivers in Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties safe. No matter how you look at it, the gas tax plan is a loser for New Jersey.” Related Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/mikedohertynj/posts/10154361846487748 Related Tweet: https://twitter.com/mikedohertynj/status/758760653423161344 Website Post: http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/doherty/doherty-gas-tax-increase-a-loser-for-new-jersey/27872

Extending Help When They Most Need It . . .

New Jersey Governor Christie has signed the “Madison Holleran Suicide Prevention Act,” legislation sponsored by Senator Kevin O’Toole (R-40) to prevent suicide on college campuses. The law, S-557, would provide students with greater access to professionals and services designed to aid college students in crisis. Gov. Christie signed Sen. Kevin O’Toole’s “Madison Holleran Suicide Prevention Act.” to prevent suicide on college campuses. (In Memory of Madison Holleran/Facebook) “Although we cannot erase the pain of losing a child to suicide, we can prevent the future loss of life by providing college students who are struggling right now with access to lifesaving support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Senator O’Toole said. “That is why we worked for years to pass the Madison Holleran Suicide Prevention Act. I am truly grateful to the Holleran family for their invaluable input and to Governor Christie for recognizing the critical need for this legislation.” The “Madison Holleran Suicide Prevention Act” (S-557) calls for health care professionals, with training in mental health and reducing suicides, to be available 24 hours a day remotely or on college campuses to assist students in crises. Students must receive information about these resources via electronic mail, no later than 15 days following the beginning of each semester. Suicide is the second-most common cause of death among college students, accounting for more deaths than all medical illnesses combined. In New Jersey, 72 percent of youth suicides were committed by college-age young adults, according to the most recent data available. The law is named after Madison Holleran, a Bergen County Native who committed suicide while attending the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. Related Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/kevinotoolenj/posts/10154438655679901 Related Tweet: https://twitter.com/kevinjotoole/status/760171764915707904 Website Post: http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/otoole/now-law-otooles-madison-holleran-suicide-prevention-act/27899

Keeping Them With Those They Truly Love . . .

Legislation sponsored by New Jersey State Senator Anthony Bucco (R-Morris, Somerset) to allow disabled persons to keep their retired service animals passed the New Jersey Senate by a vote of 38-0. Sen. Bucco’s bill prevents disabled persons from being separated from their retired service animal by guaranteeing equal access housing. (Flickr) “People spend years forging a relationship with their service animals. They shouldn’t be separated simply because the animal has to retire from its service duties,” Senator Bucco said. “This legislation will keep them together without putting the person’s access to housing in jeopardy.” Under current law, a person with a disability who has a guide dog is entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations and must not be required to pay extra compensation to have their service dog. Once an animal who retires from its service responsibilities, it is considered a pet. That change in status can make it difficult for an owner who wants to keep them as a pet if they live in housing that puts restrictions on pets or the number the tenant is allowed to have.  This legislation, S-1359, grants the person equal access to any housing accommodation even if they keep their retired pet in addition their current service animal. They would not have to pay any additional cost for having the pet in their house. “We never want to separate a disabled person from their service animal,” Senator Bucco said. “They deserve to live out their years as pets in a home where they know they are loved and cherished.” Related Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/tonybucco/posts/10153575417006441 Related Tweet: https://twitter.com/tonybucco/status/760204619041484800 Website Post: http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/bucco/passed-bucco-bill-to-guarantee-housing-access-for-disabled-persons-and-their-service-animals/27889

Well, HE'S The One Who Said It . . . Watch, Listen

Tim Kaine states one "can't take classified information and give it to someone with no consequence" on Meet the Press 6/26/16