Denver Catholic

RESPECT LIFE I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I OCTOBER 1, 2014 BY NISSA LAPOINT Colorado's attorney gener- al will share with faithful the sticky, legal issues surround- ing religious freedom during a conference this month. At the Gospel of Life Confer- ence Oct. 25, John Suthers will deliver part two of a speech to a Catholic audience explaining the court battles and finer de- tails of religious liberty issues in the United States. "We've got some very 'thorny' free exercise of reli- gion issues in this country that will be ironed out case-by-case over the next several years— the Hobby Lobby Case is a prime example," Suthers told the Denver Catholic Register Sept. 17. For-profit and nonprofit businesses fighting the feder- al Health and Human Services (HHS) contraceptive mandate, as required by the Affordable Care Act, is one of several topics he will address during the conference. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 June 30 that Hobby Lobby cannot be forced under the act to provide em - ployers with morally-objec- tionable contraceptives. Battles over religious liberty are not confined to the court room. Keynote speaker Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College, will address the tactics of winning a battle that's cultural. Kreeft has authored more than 75 books, including one on the topic of his speech, "How to Win the Culture War." He once said it's important to acknowledge society is at war and to know the enemy and how to defeat him. The purpose of the confer- ence is to educate, encourage and equip faithful who are in the midst of such battles. It starts with a White Mass at Risen Christ Church to honor health care professionals, cele- brated by Bishop Paul Etienne of the Cheyenne Diocese. Suthers, who is concluding a 10-year term as state attorney general, will follow with his speech "Dissecting Obamacare II." In part one, he shared with an audience at Holy Ghost Church how the underlying issue in HHS mandate cases rests in the U.S. Constitution's Commerce Clause. "This was the first time ever that Congress had suggested that they had power to order individual Americans to buy a product or service and that power was based on the Com- merce Clause," he explained about the HHS mandate. He will give an update on the Little Sisters of the Poor and their case that nonprofits should not be required to pro- vide contraceptives in health insurance. "For the most part the non- profit entities have been suc- ceeding in litigation in the lower courts, and I have every reason to believe that they will succeed in the Supreme Court," Suthers said. Religious expression bat- tles are also being fought by Catholic Charities in certain states over its refusal to adopt children to same-sex couples. "I'll talk about the Colorado law and some of the tensions that came about at the time of the passage of the domestic or civil union law that bears upon some of the activities of Catho- lic Charities," he added. Battles are also being fought among local businesses. The Lakewood Masterpiece cake shop owner is undergoing lit- igation for refusal to bake a cake for a same-sex couple's wedding. Suthers said he will discuss how public accommo- dation laws will likely prevail in such cases. He will also discuss land use disputes between the city of Boulder and churches related to construction projects. While he has his own Cath- olic beliefs about these issues, he said his job is to defend the law. "I think my job, regardless of my personal beliefs, is to be the best lawyer I can be and make sure my public law of- fice is comprised of the best lawyers (it) can be," Suthers said. "These are tough issues. I certainly have personal beliefs about them but what positions we take as an office and I take as the attorney general are re- ally dictated by the law." Suthers announced he is running for mayor in Colorado Springs after he leaves the of- fice of attorney general in Jan- uary. He has a home with his wife in Colorado Springs. Nissa LaPoint: 303-715-3138; nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www. twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa Young mother credits support from family, Church for her current success BY ERIKA LEON October is Respect Life Month. The following testimonial was adapted from a paper written for a senior class high school as- signment in March. Erika Leon is now 19 and a student at the Colorado Institute of Art. Her daughter Sofia is 3. It's 3 a.m. and I am in a deep sleep, but I hear cries grow- ing louder and louder. It's my daughter Sofia. I feel so tired. The thought about getting up in three more hours to go to school isn't helping. I pick her up and start feeding her and she calms down. As I hold her she looks straight into my eyes and I look into hers, then I remem - ber that she is my inspiration to keep going. She is the reason for me to stay strong. Many teen mothers struggle to balance work, school and parenting. Due to a lack of sup- port, many teen mothers drop out of school. Organizations like Catholic Charities' Gabri- el House offer needed help to young and single mothers. It is critical for families, society and schools to support teen moth- ers by giving them the right tools, so they can better them- selves and their lives. Drop-outs and finances The average drop-out can expect $10,386 less than the typical high school graduate and $36,424 less than someone with a bachelor's degree. For the last 20 years in Colorado, just 75 percent of high school students graduated. Teen mothers grad- uated at an even lower rate. Teen pregnancy is a major reason for school drop-outs, according to a report by the nonprofit National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. The report notes, "nearly one-third of teen girls who have dropped out of high school cite early pregnancy or parenthood as a key reason." Just 40 percent of teen moms finish high school. When I told my parents I was going to have a baby around the same time I would turn 16, they were shocked and disappoint- ed. However, in about a week, they became very supportive and helped me face my new reality. Because of their help, I knew that I was going to contin- ue my education and provide the best for my daughter. Family and Church support Because of the strong sup- port from my family and their beliefs, I was fortunate enough to get the help I needed to continue with my education. Unfortunately, my coworker Alex, was not that lucky. She would call in to work constant- ly to say she couldn't come in because she couldn't find any- one to take care of her son. She was always struggling to find a place to call home. Her sons' father was in jail and she didn't get along with her mother, so she was on her own. The Gabriel House is a Cath- olic outreach program com- mitted to supporting pregnant women, single mothers, and children up to the age of 5 who are in need of resources. The mission of Gabriel House is to "provide basic living ne- cessities, along with health/ hygiene and social services, baby supplies, spiritual sup- port and emotional support," according to executive direc- tor Mimi Eckstein. The Gabri- el House provides friendship and encouragement to women throughout their pregnancy and afterward. According to Eckstein, it helps with "baby items, health care, referral, adoption referral, friendship and prayer; and when neces- sary (Gabriel House) can also refer those in need to other community resources and public assistance programs." Eight-month pregnant Crys- tal told Eckstein, "Sometimes I like to just come and sit (here)." Single mother Anna asked for prayers and the "angels"— Gabriel House volunteers— provided them. Anna then felt "there was a glimmer of hope." The experience for Anna is that Gabriel House is a place of open doors and open hearts. Gabriel House also referred her to a professional counselor, who works with her on a week- ly basis. The future with hope As a teen mother, I struggled to balance being a mom, going to school, and working, but with support from my family, school and Church, I am succeeding. Having support has helped me to prosper. Sofia turned 3 in August. She sees what I do and learns from it. When I get ready to go to school, she quickly runs to her room and grabs her Do- ra the Explorer backpack and walks toward me. I tell her she can't come with me and she just looks at me and wonders when she will be able to go to school like mommy. I'm a teen mom with a future Attorney general to talk finer points of religious liberty cases PHOTO BY TODD WOLLAM/DCR ERIKA LEON, 19, snuggles with her daughter, Sofia, 3. GOSPEL OF LIFE CONFERENCE This year's conference "Mis- sion Possible: Battle Plan for a Society in Crisis" will include keynote speakers Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Bos- ton College, and John Suthers, Colorado attorney general. When: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 a.m. Oct. 25 Where: Risen Christ Church, 3060 S. Monaco Parkway Tickets: $35 online, $40 at door Email: ameyer@ccdenver.org or 303-742-0828 RESPECT LIFE MONTH October is Respect Life month as designated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bish- ops. Throughout the month, Catholics are called to renew their commitment to defend all human life through liturgies, prayer vigils and other events. STATE OF COLORADO PHOTO ATTORNEY General John Suthers

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