WASHINGTON—A few days before the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the rights of states to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, more than 30 religious leaders representing diverse faith communities throughout the United States have reaffirmed their shared commitment to marriage and religious freedom. An open letter entitled "The Defense of Marriage and the Right of Religious Freedom: Reaffirming a Shared Witness" was issued to all in positions of public service on April 23.

Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone and the Office of Pro-Life Activities invite all to participate in prayer for a culture of life at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the Rosary Novena for Life Mass at St. Rose of Lima Parish, 500 Parker Ave., Buffalo. All priests and deacons are invited to concelebrate and vest for Mass.

Washington D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) - The U.S. Supreme Court has continued its trend of decisions stopping enforcement of a federal contraception mandate against religious employers with moral objections.

New York is facing three bills that could allow physician-assisted suicide to take place in the Empire State. The New York bishops are urging voters to prevent these bills from becoming law.

My brother bishops and I are sorely disappointed in all of our political leaders in Albany, who again assured us of their strong personal support, but again could not deliver for the children of our state. Yet we have no alternative but to turn to them again and implore them to please pass this legislation once and for all before the close of the legislative session.

In recognition of the changing nature of public policy advocacy and communication, and in an effort to use the Church's resources in these areas most effectively, the bishops of New York state have determined that the "Catholics at the Capitol" lobby day in Albany will not be held this year and is not likely to be held in subsequent years.

The diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities held its fourth annual banquet to support the St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center on Feb. 11. The dinner gathered those who work in the pro-life ministries throughout the diocese to hear the testimonies of people affected by the center. Bishop Richard J. Malone led a prayer for those in attendance.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named Kevin A. Keenan as diocesan representative to the New York State Public Policy Committee. In this role Keenan will serve as a voice for Bishop Malone and the Diocese of Buffalo to Albany legislators.

WASHINGTON—Two recently enacted laws in the District of Columbia are "unprecedented assaults upon our organizations" and "violate the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of association protected by the First Amendment and other federal law," said representatives of a number of national and local organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), in a February 5 letter to Congress.

Pro-life activists from across the country, including a delegation of representatives from the Diocese of Buffalo, assembled at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the March for Life 2015 on Jan. 22. Before the event, Vicki Thorn, original founder of Project Rachel, the Catholic Church's official ministry for post-abortive women, discussed the work she has done.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo included the Education Investment Tax Credit in his 2015 budget proposal Wednesday, pleasing many Catholic leaders who have been advocating for the bill for years. The New York Senate passed the tax credit bill, which allows taxpayers to claim credits for donations to public schools or private scholarships for students attending parochial schools.

Administrators in the Department of Catholic Schools are asking supporters to contact New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to support the Education Tax Credit proposal in his 2015 executive budget. The tax credit would help encourage donations to private scholarship funds, which officials believe would generation an additional $150 in awards for students and families.

A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) "confirms the U.S. bishops' longstanding concern about abortion coverage" in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), said Cardinal Seán O'Malley of Boston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Soon we will go to the polls to cast our votes for the president and vice president of the United States, congressional representatives, and state and local officials. When exercising our voting rights, we are not only acting as good citizens. We are also putting our faith into concrete action. Catholics, by virtue of our baptism, are called to be salt to the earth and light to the world. We must not hide our light under a bushel basket, but rather courageously defend our moral principles and promote human dignity and the common good in the public square.