by Fr. Justin Fulton
The Super Bowl is once again upon us. Who are you taking this weekend? Will you be rooting for the Cincinnati Bengals, whose head coach played for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and whose quarterback has family that played for the Huskers?
Or will you be rooting for the Los Angeles Rams, whose situational defense and tempo offense can control games from coin flip to Gatorade bath? It should be a great game, filled with interesting commercials and plenty of calories should you attend a watch party. Enjoy it, or if you would rather nap and count the days for Kansas City Royals baseball (hopefully a season this year...) I can understand.
One item shared last year in this column I will share again... because it must be known to all. Did you know that there is a correlation between Super Bowl Sunday and human trafficking and domestic violence? The theory is that many people participate in high-risk binge drinking, drugging, carousing, and gambling since this is the last football game of the year.
And when all of these ingredients mix, worse things will commence. When someone loses a ton of money and is now drunk and angry, sometimes a woman and children are in the direct line of danger. It is sad, but it is a reality, and it is a reality that St. Gianna Women’s Homes has responded to unfortunately. Abusers take out their frustrations and abuse at a higher rate on Super Bowl Sunday than many other days of the year.
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska is marking the 11th anniversary of St. Gianna Women’s Homes this year. We work for the day that our services are no longer needed but, friends and supporters, those days are very, very long ahead of us. Unfortunately, we always have a need for our services in Lincoln and through our St. Gianna West-Hastings program. Yet, we are proud of our existence and the countless lives we have saved—born and pre-born.
Our work is important, pro-life work. We build up the lives of women and children. We protect them. We help women who are fleeing abortion give birth to miraculous bundles of joy.
Would you do us a favor and mention us to your friend groups and family, not only during the Super Bowl but beyond that as well? Share the good work of Jesus Christ being performed through our services at St. Gianna Women’s Homes.
Enjoy the food. Enjoy the game. But remember that for some out there, experiencing the Super Bowl may not be all that fun.
Pray for our women and children at St. Gianna’s. And thank you for all of your prayers and support of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska!
