Will You Defend the Rights of Conscience? Yes or No?

Dear Senator Casey, Representative Fitzpatrick, and Senator Toomey,


Citing a 7/22/11 letter to Congress from Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, I recently requested that Representative Fitzpatrick support and co-sponsor the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (HR 1179); I requested that Senator Casey and Senator Toomey introduce legislation in the Senate, comparable to HR 1179. Those requests were in anticipation of Health and Human Services'

• so-called "'preventive services' mandate requiring private health plans to cover female surgical sterilization and all drugs and devices approved by the FDA as contraceptives, including drugs which can attack a developing unborn child before and after implantation in the mother’s womb" (USCCB press release, 8/1/11).

Preventative services! Fertility and pregnancy are not diseases! This mandate will violate the conscience rights of Catholics and others with moral objections to paying for such poisons. As per Cardinal DiNardo,

• "Although this new rule gives the agency the discretion to authorize a 'religious' exemption, it is so narrow as to exclude most Catholic social service agencies and healthcare providers....For example, under the new rule our institutions would be free to act in accord with Catholic teaching on life and procreation only if they were to stop hiring and serving non-Catholics....Could the federal government possibly intend to pressure Catholic institutions to cease providing health care, education and charitable services to the general public? Health care reform should expand access to basic health care for all, not undermine that goal....


• "Catholics are not alone in conscientiously objecting to this mandate. The drugs that Americans would be forced to subsidize under the new rule include Ella, which was approved by the FDA as an ‘emergency contraceptive’ but can act like the abortion drug RU-486. It can abort an established pregnancy weeks after conception. The pro-life majority of Americans – Catholics and others – would be outraged to learn that their premiums must be used for this purpose.


• "HHS says the intent of its 'preventive services' mandate is to help 'stop health problems before they start'....But pregnancy is not a disease, and children are not a 'health problem' – they are the next generation of Americans. It’s now more vital than ever that Congress pass the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act"

In addtion to the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (HR 1179), I have also requested that Representative Fitzpatrick support and co-sponsor

• the Protect Life Act (HR 358),


• the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act (HR 217), &


• the Sanctity of Human Life Act (HR 212).

I requested that Senator Casey and Senator Toomey support and co-sponsor

• the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (S 165).

I have received no replies to my correspondences. Gentlemen, each of you ran for office identifying yourself as "Pro Life." It's time to step up to the plate.