Casey Bohan October 4 - October 10

Reunion planned for Holy Rosary Class of 1960

<p>Our local members of Congress offered comments on Pope Francis&#8217; speech to the joint session of Congress Wednesday on Capitol Hill.</p><p><strong>U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton</strong></p><p>&#8220;Today, Pope Francis delivered an inclusive and affirming message to Congress about the basic obligations we have to one another and our common home &#8212; earth.</p><p>&#8220;He also urged members of both parties to work in cooperation for the common good. His message of service goes beyond one faith and has appealed to both Catholics and non-Catholics alike.</p><p>&#8220;Pope Francis also made clear that one of the best steps we can take to help those struggling is to work for an economy that works for all. Justice cannot abide an economy where those who are working can&#8217;t make ends meet for their families and where children don&#8217;t have enough to eat.</p><p>&#8220;Pope Francis shared his excitement about visiting a nation that was built by immigrants. There&#8217;s no doubt our future as a beacon of freedom and opportunity depends on an immigration system that is fair, just and underwritten with a sense of compassion.</p><p>&#8220;Pope Francis has also reminded our nation and the world about the need to take substantial steps to confront climate change.</p><p>&#8220;Pope Francis also made clear that what under-girds the success of our nation is a society in which all citizens can worship freely and one&#8217;s faith isn&#8217;t a barrier to fully participating in the life of our nation. It&#8217;s that inclusive nature of free societies across the globe that has led so many refugees to risk their lives to seek better futures for their families.&#8221;</p><p><strong>U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton</strong></p><p>&#8220;These are very troubling times in which we live, and the pope&#8217;s message of peace is something that people of all faiths &#8211; or no faith at all &#8211; can benefit from. We should be greeting the Holy Father as Americans, not as Republicans or Democrats, and check our politics at the door as we do so.</p><p>&#8220;As a Catholic, I revere the pope as the leader of my church, the Vicar of Jesus Christ, and I am glad to have him open conversations about secular policy, which we may consider and discuss freely. His speech was a call for us to be better caretakers of each other and our world. As matters of public policy, members of Congress may disagree on the pathway to achieving certain goals, but his overall message is something we can all embrace.</p><p>&#8220;I agree with Pope Francis that we must be good stewards of the environment, and appreciate his embrace of new technologies as a means to that end.</p><p>&#8220;His view that prosperous nations such as ours should welcome new citizens is well taken, as is the church&#8217;s Catechism that those new arrivals must respect the laws of their new host countries.</p><p>&#8220;Finally, he was unequivocal about the sanctity of life, and that we must cherish and protect life in all of its stages.</p><p>&#8220;When the pope speaks of caring for the poor, the sick, and the unborn, he is speaking to what many of us believe.&#8221;</p><p><strong>U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic</strong></p><p>&#8220;I am struck by the historical significance of His Holiness Pope Francis&#8217; visit to the United States, and honored to have witnessed Pope Francis address a Joint Session of Congress this morning.</p><p>&#8220;I share key public policy priorities and commitments set forward by Pope Francis during his tenure. Specifically, I was pleased and inspired that His Holiness discussed the caring for the marginalized and the poor, advancing economic opportunity for all, and serving as good stewards of the environment.</p><p>&#8220;I am very much moved by the presence of the Holy Father and my hope is that his message will stir policy makers to make the world a better place for all of its citizens.&#8221;</p><p><strong>U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Zionsville</strong></p><p>&#8220;Today, Pope Francis became the first leader of the Holy See to address a joint meeting of Congress. It was an historic visit and I am so pleased that Monsignor Schlert of the Allentown Diocese could be my guest for this special occasion.</p><p>&#8220;Like many Pennsylvanians, I also am very proud that Pope Francis has decided to visit Philadelphia this weekend for the World Meeting of Families Conference.</p><p>&#8220;It is fitting that the Holy Father will visit the Commonwealth. Our founder, William Penn, saw our colony as a place where those of any faith could plant roots, raise families, and prosper in the light of both personal liberty and God&#8217;s plan.</p><p>&#8220;It is my hope that all of Pennsylvania will be enriched by the presence of the Holy Father whose humility and compassion have provided a marvelous example for all of us.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_casey1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Casey </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_casey1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Casey </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Barletta1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Barletta </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Barletta1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Barletta </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Cartwright-Matt1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cartwright </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Cartwright-Matt1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Cartwright </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Toomey2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Toomey </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Toomey2.jpg</photo3><caption3>Toomey </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div></div>

Northeast Pennsylvania Congressmen comment on Pope Francis’ speech to joint session