Defending Conscience Rights Recap (video)

On December 20, the Carolina Family Coalition, C-PLAN’s parent organization, hosted a Defending Conscience Rights Against Vaccine Mandates event at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Charlotte.  The event was organized to help support Catholic workers stand up for their conscience rights against vaccine mandates, which violate Church teaching.  Below is a recap and video of the event. Only the presentations are available (not the Q&A).

Note: If you need to file a religious exemption with your employer, please see our religious exemption page: https://www.prolifecharlotte.org/obtaining-a-religious-exemption/

Alternate link: https://rumble.com/vrd781-defending-conscience-rights-against-mandates-december-20-2021.html

Here are a few takeaways from the event:

Matthew Quinn – Attorney

Mr. Quinn gave an overview* of the legal situation and offered these helpful points:

  • Religious exemption due to the vaccines’ link to abortion is the strongest argument for employees
  • Be reasonable and sincere; keep focus on objection to abortion link
  • Employers don’t want to fire most people – if enough employees resist companies may back down
  • Seek help from an attorney

* As a reminder, the remarks are general assessments of the legal situation regarding vaccine mandates. Individuals should consult with an attorney for specific legal guidance for their particular situation.

Tim Hill – Terminated Radio Host

Mr. Hill shared his inspirational story of how his company mandated the vaccine, denied his religious exemption, and terminated his employment when he declined to receive the vaccine. He shared the following advice:

  • He was not going to choose his job over God
  • God has a plan for everyone, its not up to us to know what it may be
  • He remarked that he has a clear conscience and peace in his decision

Fr. Matthew Codd – Pastor, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Charlotte

Fr. Codd reflected upon the suffering workers and families may endure due to resisting vaccine mandates and offered a reflection on the Passion of Christ:

  • Do not be afraid of things being taken away from us
  • Christ gave everything He loved away – including His Blessed Mother (to St. John)
  • Nothing to be feared with poverty as it is close to God and brings about greater freedom
  • God is close to those who suffer

Connecting Workers and Friendly Employers

One consensus among attendees was an interest in connecting Catholic workers with companies supporting conscience rights.  One such business owner was in attendance and is actually looking for employees.  Sustainable Plumbing, a family-owned local plumbing business in Concord, is looking for workers who don’t mind “digging in the dirt” and have an interest in the plumbing industry.  They also have contacts with other small businesses in various fields who are also seeking employees. Contact Paige Shue with Sustainable Plumbing to see if this might be a good fit, or if they may have contacts in other fields: paige(at)sustainableplumbing.org

What’s Next?

To help connect Catholic workers and friendly employers, the Carolina Family Coalition is forming a small team to try and develop a local directory that can link companies that support conscience rights and prospective employees.  If you happen to be a Catholic employer that supports conscience rights and are in need of employees, or you are just an individual that would like to volunteer on this initiative, please e-mail us at: info(at)carolinafamilycoalition.org

End of the Year Support

We hope to hold more events to help defend the family in 2022 as time and resources allow.  To support the Carolina Family Coalition’s mission to defend families against the secular culture, including vaccine mandates, please consider making a one-time or monthly tax-deductible gift (link).

Photo courtesy of J. Sarkis

Morality, Safety and Efficacy of the COVID-19 Vaccines

On Saturday December 4, St. John the Baptist in Tryon, hosted Pamela Acker, MS, a biologist who worked on vaccines at Catholic University of America, and author of Vaccination: A Catholic Perspective.

She presented a talk entitled, Morality, Efficacy, and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines.  You can watch the video at this link:

Alternate link: https://rumble.com/vqt174-morality-efficacy-and-safety-of-covid-19-vaccines.html

Ms. Acker’s PowerPoint presentation can be viewed as a PDF here: https://www.prolifecharlotte.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Morality-Efficacy-and-Safety.pdf

The December 4 presentation was an extra part of a day-wide seminar presented by the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation, a Catholic apostolate dedicated to promoting the traditional Church teachings of creation and the origins of man.  C-PLAN hosted the Kolbe Center in Charlotte back in 2019 (click here).

 

54 Day Rosary Novena for Our Nation

C-PLAN is joining the annual 54-day Rosary Novena for Our Nation is inviting all Catholics in the diocese of Charlotte to participate.

The Rosary begins Tuesday August 15 (feast of the Assumption) and concludes on Saturday October 7 (feast of the Holy Rosary).  To participate, please pray 1 Rosary daily from Tuesday August 15 through Saturday October 7 (following the specific mystery calendar below).

If one already prays a daily Rosary, please pray an additional Rosary, specifically for this novena/intention: To heal our country and return it to faithfulness and holiness in God.

 

54-Day Rosary FAQs

How do I pray the Rosary?

To learn how to pray the Rosary please click here.

What is a 54-day Rosary novena?

It’s a series of 6 novenas of Rosaries (each novena 9 days) first introduced by Our Lady in 1884 to a young girl in Italy. The first 27 days are done for the petition, followed by another 27 days in thanksgiving.  Please see Fr. Richard Heilman’s website for more background/explanation on the 54-Day Rosary novena (click here).

How do I pray a 54-day Rosary novena?

It’s simple, begin the 1st day of the novena with the Joyful Mysteries, 2nd day, Sorrowful mysteries, and the 3rd day the Glorious Mysteries. Then on the 4th day, repeat sequence again. See chart below.

Download the chart by clicking on this image below:

54DAYCHART
Chart courtesy of www.romancatholicman.com
Per Fr. Heilman: People have asked over time about the Luminous Mysteries — this novena was given by Our Lady as noted above in 1884 and only allows for the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries.

January Respect Life Events

Although Roe vs. Wade has been overturned, North Carolina is an abortion destination state, and January is still a month commemorating the victims of abortion and working to build a culture of life. Below are a list of Respect Life events across North Carolina and in Washington, DC.

Friday January 13: March for Life Charlotte

  • 7pm Evening Prior (Thursday January 12): Latin Mass for the unborn, 7pm St. Thomas Aquinas parish, Charlotte
  • 9am January 13 – Mass for the Unborn (English), 9am, St. Vincent de Paul parish, Charlotte
  • 12 noon – March for Life Charlotte begins (gather starting at 11am in the parking lot across the street from the Pastoral Center at 1123 S. Church Street, Charlotte). Rally and speakers at Trade and Tryon.Keynote speaker: Fr. Aaron Huber and will also feature testimonies of two former abortion clinic workers from Charlotte, with a special guest introduction by former abortion director Abby Johnson who assists abortion clinic workers in leaving the industry through her group, And Then There Were None.

For questions visit March for Life Charlotte or e-mail: marchforlifecharlotte@fidei.email or visit: https://www.marchforlifecharlotte.com/

Friday Evening January 13: 6:30pm – ***Film Premiere With Abby Johnson (In person)***

  • Location: Charlotte Catholic High School Fine Arts Center, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte

 

Former abortion clinic director Abby Johnson will be visiting Charlotte to premiere her new short film, She Was Stronger, about former abortion clinic workers who left their jobs at an abortion clinic. Johnson is the co-founder of And Then There Were None, a group which helps abortion clinic workers leave the abortion industry.

For questions visit March for Life Charlotte or e-mail: marchforlifecharlotte@fidei.email or visit: https://www.marchforlifecharlotte.com/

 

 

 

 

Saturday January 14 – North Carolina March for Life, Raleigh

Friday January 20 – March for Life DC

Thursday January 26 – Pro-Life Doctor Panel Discussion Women’s Healthcare

  • 7pm – 8:30pm, St. Ann parish, Charlotte (Allen Center). Registration required.

Please join the Office of Family Life and Catholic Health Professionals of Charlotte for a discussion on women’s healthcare and the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. A panel of local physicians will discuss caring for both mother and child during pregnancy and beyond, including how they address challenges to the mother’s health during pregnancy.

Presented by the Office of Family Life of the Diocese of Charlotte and Catholic Health Professionals of Charlotte (an affiliate group of C-PLAN).

The event is free, but registration is required. To register please email: FamilyLife@rcdoc.org

Novena for the Consecration of Russia (March 16 – 24)

As many have heard, Pope Francis is going to consecrate Russia (and Ukraine) to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the feast of the Annunciation Friday March 25, at 12 noon Eastern time (5pm Rome). This is after the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops asked him to do so, due to the conflict in that region. This consecration is connected to Our Lady of Fatima’s request that Russia be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart, otherwise Russia will spread her “errors” throughout the world.

One of those errors happens to be abortion, as the Soviet Union was one of the first countries to introduce widespread abortion around 1920, just three years after Our Lady of Fatima appeared in Portugal.

To support Pope Francis’ consecration (and to mitigate any spiritual obstacles in doing so), faithful are being asked to pray a novena for this intention. It begins tonight Wednesday March 16 and concludes Thursday March 24 If you see this e-mail after March 16, you are welcome to join in, or and even finish the novena on March 25.  The novena was written by Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Kazakhstan, near Russia (who visited our diocese a few years ago):

Prayer for the Holy Father to Consecrate Russia

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the holy Mother of God and our tender Mother. Look upon the distress in which the Church and the whole of humanity are living because of the spread of materialism and the persecution of the Church. In Fatima, you warned against these errors, as you spoke about the errors of Russia.

You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Implore your Divine Son to grant this special grace for the Pope: that he might consecrate Russia to your Immaculate Heart, so that Russia will be converted, a period of peace will be granted to the world, and your Immaculate Heart will triumph, through an authentic renewal of the Church in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, of the sacredness of Divine worship and of the holiness of the Christian life.

O Queen of the Holy Rosary and our sweet Mother, turn your merciful eyes to us and graciously hear this our trusting prayer. Amen.   

+ Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana

Attached is a copy, but one can also find it on Bishop Schneider’s Confraternity of Fatima website: https://www.livefatima.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PrayerCard_09.pdf

One of the reasons C-PLAN organizes the Vigil of the Two Hearts each month is to allow faithful to practice the first Saturday devotions as request by Our Lady of Fatima. We invite all our readers and Vigil of the Two Hearts attendees to join us in this novena.

A Pro-Life Warning About COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies

In December, C-PLAN shared an informative presentation given by Catholic biologist Pamela Acker about the morality, safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, and the tragic link between abortion and these treatments.

Subsequently and sadly, we have learned that another COVID-19 treatment, monoclonal antibodies (depending on the manufacturer) are also connected to abortion (though some are not).  This is disheartening as many who have declined the COVID-19 vaccines, due to its link to abortion, may have hoped that monoclonal antibody treatments were an ethical alternative to abortion-linked vaccines.

This hope was also encouraged by some popular COVID-19 doctors and even pro-life elected officials who touted the antibodies’ benefits in helping to reduce severity of COVID-19 symptoms and perhaps save lives.

Regretfully, for most monoclonal antibody treatments there is a link to abortion, although there is at least one ethical version, and possibly others in development.

In a helpful and sobering article on January 11, Children of God for Life, the pro-life organization focused on ending aborted fetal cell research, provided documentation that sadly confirms most monoclonal antibody treatments could not exist without aborted fetal cells – just like the COVID-19 vaccines.

We encourage everyone to read their article and share with family and friends:

Children of God for Life notes that their list is not exhaustive and there are more antibody treatments in development (both with and hopefully without links to abortion).

 

Are there any ethical treatments for COVID-19?

With the ethical controversy surrounding COVID-19 vaccines and monoclonal antibodies continuing, this begs the question: Are there any ethical and early treatments for COVID-19?

In addressing the issue, C-PLAN should acknowledge that there is a vigorous (and often) heated debate or even divide currently occurring within the medical and scientific community over effective and early treatment for COVID-19.  Many healthcare facilities and professionals adhere to, and have confidence in, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) approved treatments and Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) recommendations to treat COVID-19, including vaccines.  However, many of these treatments while holding promise may still be experimental and have ethical concerns (e.g. link to aborted fetal research).

Alternatively however, a growing minority of healthcare professionals such as those affiliated with America’s Frontline Doctors, Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, Truth for Health Foundation, or North Carolina Physicians for Freedom, have expressed concern over the government’s limited options for early COVID-19 treatments as well as its efficacy.  Instead, these healthcare professionals have opted to prescribe long existing, generally safe and inexpensive medications on an off-label basis to try and treat COVID-19 patients in an early, outpatient setting to prevent severity or hospitalization.  Some of these medications such as Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin were developed without the use of aborted fetal research.

Critics of this alternative approach argue that there is a lack of extensive studies on these medications in successfully treating COVID-19.  Supporters however have noted there is ample anecdotal and field evidence that these medications can and have been helpful in early treatment of COVID-19, preventing hospitalizations and even saving lives.

This has led to a clash, with some healthcare workers even being fired by hospitals or practices, or face losing professional privileges as a doctor in Houston recently encountered.  This clash garnered the attention of U.S. Senator Ron Johnson who held an extensive 6-hour panel discussion in late January on the matter.

This divide among the medical and scientific communities is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

While C-PLAN does not provide healthcare guidance, nor does it endorse medical treatments, individuals may wish to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified healthcare professional to learn more on this matter.

 

Questions to Ask

With COVID-19 vaccines, most monoclonal antibodies, and potentially new medical treatments tainted by aborted fetal research, it raises an important discussion point as well as questions for Catholics.

In her 1988 book, Beyond Abortion: A Chronicle of Fetal Experimentation, Suzanne Rini documented the pervasive and gruesome practice of aborted fetal cell research by the scientific community during the 1930s – 1980s.  These barbaric practices which continue today often use “aborted” babies who are born alive and have their organs harvested while alive and without anesthetic.  They die not from the abortion procedure but from having their organs removed. We can only imagine the horror these precious little ones felt in their first and only moments of life.

Considering this practice has been ongoing for 80-plus years and the financial incentives that drive it, barring a miracle, the situation is unlikely to change.

In closing, C-PLAN offers a few questions:

  • What will it take for a local Catholic community and other people of goodwill to pressure the medical and scientific community to cease this barbaric practice and develop ethical medical treatments? 
  • Are writing protest letters to pharmaceutical companies – who engage in and profit from barbarism – really the only and effective option to convince these businesses to change course? 
  • Has the Catholic Church and her members truly leveraged everything they possibly have to put an end to this practice?

 

 

CCHD: Morally problematic 2nd collection this Sunday November 21st

At many parishes this weekend is the annual 2nd collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). The campaign is funded by parishioners across the U.S. and administered by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, which gives out grants to local organizations who help the poor and needy (some of them quite worthy recipients). While normally a 2nd collection goes towards important Catholic or Christian based programs, ministries, or causes, the CCHD sadly is not one of them.

As pro-lifers have known for decades, the CCHD has been found awarding grants to pro-abortion, and pro-homosexual organizations across the globe that undermine the Catholic faith.

Despite a 2009 review by U.S. Bishops, the problems remain…

Because of this, some parishes in our diocese refrain from this 2nd collection and instead choose other ways to help the poor.

Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland Eliminates the CCHD in His Diocese

In the diocese of Tyler, Texas, Bishop Joseph Strickland announced he has ended the CCHD collection in his diocese due to the corruption and continued unanswered questions:

“You may notice in the Diocese of Tyler we have ceased to collect for Campaign for Human Development and for (Catholic Relief Services) CRS. You may not have even noticed, but I made that decision because there are too many allegations of corruption, of those Catholic entities promoting evil contrary to the Catholic faith. They are allegations, I don’t know, but they are significant enough that I have said our dollars will go to our local Catholic Charities that receives no funding from anyone except you.

That corruption must be addressed. If the allegations are false, I will be the first to say the bishops of the USCCB need to sue those making false allegations, but the only response to 150 pages in some cases of allegations of deep corruption is a one-page letter saying, ‘Trust us.’

Too many don’t. We need proof. We need truth!”

Bishop Strickland’s Homily: https://cogforlife.org/2021/11/14/bishop-stricklands-homily-mandates-are-evil/

As always, know what you are giving toward. 

You may also want to discuss with your pastor about refraining from this 2nd collection and instead find more direct and local means to assist the poor (without a middleman).

Western NC Group With LGBT Ties Receives Money from CCHD

The Lepanto Institute has also found that a social justice group in Western North Carolina, has received a CCHD grant. Learn more at this website:

Charlotte Helpers Procession

Our next Helpers of God’s Precious Infants Procession for Life:

Saturday, August 21,2021  @ the Cathedral of St. Patrick Catholic Church (1621 Dilworth Rd. East, Charlotte NC)

Fr. Matthew Kauth and the Seminarians leading us in a Procession

 Mass at 8:00am  followed by  Procession for Life at “A Preferred Women’s Health” abortion facility (3220 Latrobe Dr., Charlotte, NC 28211)

  • We will begin with 8:00am Mass, and followed by one decade of the Holy Rosary. We will then process by car to the abortion facility.
  • After parking, please line up behind the banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe, then we will all process together. We will stand in front of the abortion mill and Fr. Matthew Kauth will lead us in prayers.
  • Please note that parking will be tight since another group called Love Life Charlotte will be there; carpooling is recommended.

Please join us and spread the word!

Filing a Religious Exemption from the COVID-19 Vaccines

(For additional information – please see our Defending Conscience Rights event)

August 11, 2021 – Carolina Family Coalition

Many corporations, starting with the healthcare industry, are now mandating the abortion-linked COVID-19 vaccines employees.  The Catholic Church has stated clearly that as a rule vaccines are always voluntary, and never mandatory.

An individual has a right to discern with an informed conscience whether or not to accept any medical treatment such as vaccines. As such, vaccine mandates are against the moral law.

As a disclaimer, while the following information comes from the guidance of attorneys, this should not constitute, or intended to be, formal legal advice, nor does it guarantee success in obtaining a legal exemption. Individuals who are unsure of how to proceed or are denied an exemption should consult with an attorney.

The Carolina Family Coalition, a non-profit dedicated to promoting the traditional teachings of life, family, and culture, is willing to help put workers in the Carolinas in contact with an attorney if the need arises.  For more information please contact us at: info(at)carolinafamilycoalition.org

Filing for a Religious Exemption

If your employer is trying to mandate COVID-19 vaccines, most companies are required to provide religious exemptions or accommodations unless the company would face an undue burden.  Employees can file a religious exemption with their company.

Based on informal guidance of attorneys familiar with religious freedom and conscience rights, the strongest religious exemption request would be an objection to abortion connected to the COVID-19 vaccines. A strong religious exemption would contain the following:

  • A request to your company to exempt one from the vaccination requirement based on a sincere religious belief.
  • A particularized objection based on one’s own belief.  For example, a short explanation why one believes abortion is wrong and therefore taking a vaccine connected to abortion violates ones religious beliefs.
  • If objecting based on a sincere religious belief avoid extraneous objections based on medical or practical concerns.
  • Avoid inflammatory or confrontational language.
  • Make sure the appropriate parties at one’s company are notified and company deadlines are met.
  • Make sure records are kept of one’s objection and the company’s response.

Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious freedom public interest law firm, has also published helpful guidance on vaccine mandates and obtaining a religious exemption: https://adflegal.org/resources/covid19-vaccine-mandate

Pastor Letter

To accompany an employee’s exemption request, some pastors are willing to provide a letter attesting the Church’s teaching based on the National Catholic Bioethics Center.  If you need an exemption support letter which states the Church’s teaching on conscience rights, please contact your pastor and share with him the attached template (click on link to download). Some pastors in our diocese are already aware of this template, but not all, so one may have to provide him background on this matter.

National Catholic Bioethics Center Vaccine Letter
https://www.ncbcenter.org/ncbc-news/vaccineletter

Colorado Catholic Bishops Conference Statement on Vaccine Mandates
https://denvercatholic.org/a-letter-from-the-bishops-of-colorado-on-covid-19-vaccine-mandates/

South Dakota Catholic Bishops Conference Statement on Vaccine Mandates
https://sdcatholicconference.org/covid-19-vaccination-requirements/

Wisconsin Catholic Bishops Conference Statement on Vaccine Mandates
https://www.wisconsincatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WI-Catholic-Bishops-Statement-on-COVID-19-Vaccination-and-Protection-of-Conscience-8-20-2021.pdf

Archdiocese of Kansas City Statement on Vaccine Mandates
https://archkck.org/archbishop-naumann-on-covid-vaccine-mandates/

Archdiocese of Phoenix Statement on Vaccine Mandates
https://dphx.org/bishop-thomas-j-olmsteds-letter-to-the-faithful-regarding-covid-19-vaccinations-and-individual-decisions-based-on-a-well-formed-conscience/

U.S. Military Archdiocese Statement on Vaccine Mandates
https://www.prolifecharlotte.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/abp-statement-on-covid19-vaccines-and-conscience-12oct2021.pdf

Catholic Medical Association Statement on Vaccine Mandates
https://www.cathmed.org/catholic-medical-association-opposes-vaccine-mandates-without-conscience-and-religious-exemptions/

Christ Medicus Statement on Vaccine Mandates
https://christmedicus.org/consent-and-vaccine-mandates/

Lastly, if one is denied a religious exemption by their employer please keep the Carolina Family Coalition informed and we can refer you to an attorney for individual legal assistance.

We may have more updates as needs arise.

Catholic Church statements on Vaccine Mandates:

  • Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii encyclical (On Christian Marriage) #70, December 31, 1930: “Public magistrates have no direct power over the bodies of their subjects; therefore, where no crime has taken place and there is no cause present for grave punishment, they can never directly harm, or tamper with the integrity of the body, either for the reasons of eugenics or for any other reason.”
  • Catechism of the Catholic Church #1730: God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions. “God willed that man should be ‘left in the hand of his own counsel,’ so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him.” Man is rational and therefore like God; he is created with free will and is master over his acts.
  • Catechism of the Catholic Church #2295: Research or experimentation on the human being cannot legitimate acts that are in themselves contrary to the dignity of persons and to the moral law. the subjects’ potential consent does not justify such acts. Experimentation on human beings is not morally legitimate if it exposes the subject’s life or physical and psychological integrity to disproportionate or avoidable risks. Experimentation on human beings does not conform to the dignity of the person if it takes place without the informed consent of the subject or those who legitimately speak for him.
  • Cardinal Raymond Burke – address to the Rome Life Forum, May 22, 2020: “[I]t must be clear that vaccination itself cannot be imposed, in a totalitarian manner, on citizens. When the State takes on such a practice, it violates the integrity of its citizens. While the State can provide reasonable regulations for the safeguarding of health, it is not the ultimate provider of health. God is. Whatever the State proposes must respect God and His Law.”
  • Congregation of Doctrine and Faith, Morality of COVID-19 Vaccines, #5, December 17, 2020: “[P]ractical reason makes evident that vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation and that, therefore, it must be voluntary.”
  • Bishop Paprocki Offers Analysis on Notre Dame’s COVID Vaccine Mandate
  • Bishop Joseph Strickland: COVID shot mandates are ‘tyranny’ and should be resisted

Clearing up the truth: Was Tylenol and other commonly medications actually developed or tested from aborted fetal cells?

Some employers are denying religious exemptions, or creating an extra burden on employees, due to the misleading statements by some individuals who claim that certain commonly used medications were tested on aborted fetal cells as they were created, thereby rendering them unethical or immoral just like the the COVID-19 vaccines which were developed using aborted fetal cells. This assertion is simply untrue as these three articles, providing extensive research, explain:

 

Charlotte to debate SOGI ordinance on Monday August 9th

August 4th update:

On August 9, the Charlotte City Council is considering a non-discrimination that would adversely affect the religious liberty of faithful Catholics.  To learn more and to voice your concerns to City Council please read the NC Values Coalition webpage on this matter:

https://www.ncvalues.org/charlotte-sogi