Mississippi launches MAMA program to support moms, families, and pro-life values
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The Mississippi state capitol building. The Mississippi Access to Maternal Assistance (MAMA) program connects mothers and families with assistance from state and faith-based organizations like Catholic Charities. / Credit: Paul Brady Photography/ShutterstockWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 22, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).Mississippi is promoting family, motherhood, and pro-life policies through its Mississippi Access to Maternal Assistance (MAMA) program. Established under Senate Bill 2781 in 2023, the MAMA program leverages state funds to connect women and families with resources that support motherhood and family stability. Mississippi prohibits state funds from going to abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, following the Dobbs decision. Faith-based organizations, however, play a strong role in the network of listed services. Catholic Charities of Southern Mississippi, Catholic Charities of Jackson, and Embrace Grace Ministry at Trinity Wesleyan Church are among...
The Mississippi state capitol building. The Mississippi Access to Maternal Assistance (MAMA) program connects mothers and families with assistance from state and faith-based organizations like Catholic Charities. / Credit: Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 22, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Mississippi is promoting family, motherhood, and pro-life policies through its Mississippi Access to Maternal Assistance (MAMA) program.
Established under Senate Bill 2781 in 2023, the MAMA program leverages state funds to connect women and families with resources that support motherhood and family stability. Mississippi prohibits state funds from going to abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, following the Dobbs decision.
Faith-based organizations, however, play a strong role in the network of listed services. Catholic Charities of Southern Mississippi, Catholic Charities of Jackson, and Embrace Grace Ministry at Trinity Wesleyan Church are among the organizations that provide both spiritual and material assistance.
"The most important part about the MAMA program is it is comprised of public, private, and faith-based resources," said Attorney General Lynn Fitch in a recent interview on "EWTN Pro-Life Weekly." Fitch oversees the program and played a prominent role in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case.
A key component of the program is its mobile-friendly platform, mama.ms.gov, which centralizes information and referrals for essential services.
The platform allows users to search for resources in their geographical area and is organized by categories that include health care, housing, parenting, mental health providers, and employment.
"What a God thing to have this available technology," Fitch told "EWTN Pro-Life Weekly."
Since its launch, the site has received "over 56,000 hits" and "served 23,000 women with their particular needs."
In addition to medical and mental health services, MAMA also connects users with providers of material support like diapers and car seats.
The Bare Needs Diaper Bank Warehouse, for instance, distributes diapers, menstrual supplies, and adult incontinence products to families in mid-south Mississippi. Employment services and job training programs are also featured on the platform.
For parents in crisis, the platform provides information about Mississippi's Safe Haven law, including a list of Safe Haven Baby Box locations where infants under 45 days old can be safely and anonymously surrendered for adoption.
The platform continues to grow its partner list and resource categories, helping ensure that families across Mississippi can locate and receive critical support at every stage of parenthood.
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Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family who was wounded in a recent strike on the church, stands before the altar during a Sunday morning Mass held by the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem at the church in Gaza City on July 20, 2025. / Credit: OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty ImagesACI Prensa Staff, Jul 21, 2025 / 16:43 pm (CNA).The pastor of the only Catholic church in Gaza, Argentine priest Father Gabriel Romanelli, on Sunday described the current situation after the church was hit by Israeli fire on July 17, leaving three people dead and several injured, including a 19-year-old postulant who remains hospitalized.In a video posted July 20 on his YouTube channel, Romanelli, a priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, began by sharing the bad news: "Unfortunately, the war continues," he said. "Today there were many deaths, people who were even waiting in the north, where there is a great need for humanitarian aid. The numbers are terr...
