News of the defeat of Amendment 4, an extreme and dangerous proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution that would have radically expanded access to abortion, spread rapidly on Election Night, with the Florida Bishops expressing their relief, while news that a majority of voters supported the amendment remains a concern.
“This is a great victory not only for the protection of full-term babies, but also for the protection of mothers and girls who were placed in danger by the proposed amendment,” Bishop Dewane said. “My thanks and gratitude go out to the many across the Diocese of Venice who stood up to support life and helped to defeat Amendment 4. To all who prayed, put up yard signs, handed out information, spoke to their neighbors, stood on the sidewalks in the public square saying, “NO on 4!” I humbly say: ‘THANK YOU!’”
Amendment 4 required 60% of the vote in Florida for passage, and the Diocese of Venice was blessed that none of the 10 counties which make up the Diocese of Venice reached that threshold. If fact, six of the 10 counties did not ever reach 50% in favor of Amendment 4, a good sign for standing for life moving forward.
The focus of the Catholic Church on abortion is, and has always been, to help women in unexpected or difficult pregnancies to appreciate the gift of life, helping them to make the right choice for life. 
“We must continue in these efforts,” Bishop Dewane said. “Of course, legal protection of the unborn must be accompanied by more care for mothers and their children. The Catholic Church, and the Diocese of Venice, stand ready to help mothers in need. Pregnant women must know that they are not alone.”
Parishes in the Diocese of Venice have redoubled their efforts to accompany women and couples who are facing unexpected or difficult pregnancies, offering them loving and compassionate care, through the “Walking with Moms in Need” program. This program educates the faithful where to send a pregnant woman in need (https://dioceseofvenice.org/walking-with-moms-in-need) with all resources available in both English and Spanish. There are 22 Pregnancy Help Centers and nine residential maternity and after-birth homes within the Diocese, standing ready to help. Importantly, with an expected increase for demand, there are many financial and volunteering opportunities available to support these Pregnancy Help Centers.
While Bishop Dewane, along with the Florida Bishops said that the defeat of Amendment 4 is a time for celebration, there still needs to be a focus on making abortion unthinkable in Florida.
“Though Amendment 4 failed to reach the 60% threshold required to pass, a majority of Floridians voting in the general election supported it,” the Florida Bishops said. “While significant gains to protect women and preborn children in recent years will remain in place, abortion in Florida will continue at a very high rate under our current laws.”
“Much work remains to open hearts and minds to the dignity and goodness of life in the womb and at every stage,” the Florida Bishops statement continued. “We will continue to proclaim in our churches and in the public square the value of every human life and to highlight that there is a better way forward for women, families and society than abortion. Through our many ministries, we will continue to support, encourage and assist pregnant women and young families. For those who regret their abortion or abortions, or their cooperation in one, we reiterate that the Lord is eager to forgive, and the Church is ready to facilitate healing.”
For decades, the Diocese of Venice has supported Pregnancy Help Centers and will continue to do so. Our Mother’s House of Catholic Charities in Venice is one of the programs in the Diocese that supports single mothers and their children, providing not just housing and material needs, but valuable counseling and education.
There is also a support after abortion outreach in the Diocese called Project Rachel. This program is a confidential service where any woman or man who is hurting from an abortion can seek help and find hope and healing. Again, this service is available in both English and Spanish.
“Many people still don’t understand Catholic teaching on abortion and the sanctity of human life,” said Jeanne Berdeaux, Diocese of Venice Respect Life Director. “There are many resources available to help them learn the truth beginning with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and on our Diocesan website. We must all be reminded that in God’s eyes, all human life is sacred, from conception to natural death; this is the teaching of the Catholic Church.”
Bishop Dewane concluded that as we move forward from the defeat of Amendment 4, “Let us all continue to pray for the end to abortion, and the end to taking the lives of an entire category of human beings, the preborn.”
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, along with the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, have been tireless in their efforts to get the word out about just how dangerous Amendment 4 is. The Amendment is misleading, and if passed, would be an immediate danger not only to full-term babies but also to mothers and girls.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane was among the featured speakers who described how the wording of Amendment 4 uses misleading language and if passed, the new law would be an immediate danger not only to full-term babies but also to mothers and girls.
Congratulations to Father Robert R. Cannon who has been named Chaplain to His Holiness with the title Monsignor. Monsignor Cannon, who is a priest of the Diocese of Venice, and a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, has recently retired as the Chancellor of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), where he served for the past eighth years.
Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities hosted its annual Family Fun Day on Oct. 6, 2024, in Immokalee. The events welcomed families for games, fun and food. The games included sack races, hoop tosses and more. Fun consisted of facepainting and playing games for prizes. The food included hot dogs, chips, frozen flavored ice, popcorn and more. For the adults there were also games with prizes. Staff from Catholic Charities and volunteers, such as the women’s lacrosse team from nearby Ave Maria University, helped run the event.
The 2024 Diocesan Rosary Congress, scheduled at more than 50 Parishes between Oct. 5 and 11, 2024, got off to a strong start. At St. Thomas More Parish in Sarasota, the Rosary Congress ran from Oct. 7-8 and included 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration with the hourly praying of the Holy Rosary. Prayer intentions were for the protection of life and the defeat of the dangerous Amendment 4, which, if approved, would radically expand access to abortion in Florida. However, several host Parishes were forced to cancel their participation in the Rosary Congress due to the threat and impacts of Hurricane Milton. For a list of participating Parishes, please visit 
You may have heard some say, “But the Church has no right to talk about political issues!” While it is true that the Church is non-partisan and would never presume to tell you for whom to vote, the Church does have a role to play in encouraging, or discouraging, the support of various amendments and issues that will affect all. The very statement “the separation of Church and State” was first used by Thomas Jefferson, assuring concerned citizens that such a separation was provided by the First Amendment and in fact would protect citizens from government interference in the free practice of religion, not the other way around, as many believe the phrase to mean today.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who use marijuana have almost a 10% higher risk of becoming addicted. Additional research links the use of marijuana by young adults to psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Women who use marijuana while pregnant increase the risk of stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight and impaired development of the baby’s brain.
If you had an abortion, no matter how long ago, are having trouble forgiving yourself or need help dealing with the memories, consider attending a one-day women’s retreat on Saturday, Nov. 9 sponsored by Project Rachel. You are not alone! Call or text Sylvia at 941-412-5860 or email her at 
“The Church has not only a role here, but also a responsibility to its faithful to guide them in the teachings of the Church regarding the important issues of the day,” adds Bishop Dewane. “Every election presents an opportunity to have your voice heard. Make sure that you are voting in good conscience, and that you are doing so with the mind of Christ.”
The fall campaign encompasses October, which is National Respect Life Month, and includes Respect Life Sunday (Oct. 6). Since its inception, 40 Days for Life participants report having saved 24,853 lives from abortion during a campaign. That’s the type of impact that led an ACLU spokesperson to describe 40 Days for Life as the “greatest threat to choice.” 40 Days for Life has contributed to a groundswell of pro-life support worldwide. More than 155 abortion centers, along with numerous referral centers, where campaigns have been hosted, have closed their doors forever.
Keep your eye out for the new VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 4 television ads! View the commercial by clicking here: 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Prayer to Defeat Florida’s Abortion Amendment
