Updates from the Pa Catholic Conference on Life and Marriage/Family

• In the United States House of Representatives, Mike Fitzpatrick is NOT one of the 112 co-sponsors of  H.R. 940, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act of 2013 (See http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php.).  The Pa Catholic Conference provides an easy way for you to email Fitzpatrick, Sen Casey, Sen Toomey, VP Biden, and President Obama, asking: "please represent me by supporting this measure, which ensures that the rights of conscience of all participants in our nation's health care system will be respected. I am extremely disappointed in the decision of the Department of Health and Human Services to continue to demand coverage of sterilization, contraception and abortifacients" (Accommodation Falls Short: HHS Edict Still Violates Conscience; https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/30694/Respond).

• Quoting Deirdre McQuade of the USCCB regarding emergency (so-called) contraceptives, "The court has acted irresponsibly by making this powerful drug available without a prescription to minor children. Plan B does not prevent or treat any disease, but makes young adolescent girls more available to sexual predators. The court’s action undermines parents’ ability to protect their daughters from such exploitation and from the adverse effects of the drug itself" (Ruling that Lifts Age Limits on Emergency Contraceptives Should Be Overturned).

• In Harrisburg, we need our representatives, senators, and governor to act according to the pro life principles they claim, stop dragging their feet, and expedite HB 818/SB3.  "As the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Affordable Care Act and Pennsylvania has chosen not to set up a state exchange, Pennsylvania must take steps to prevent abortion coverage in the federal insurance exchanges used in PA. Please send a message to your legislators requesting that this important pro-life issue be addressed as soon as possible!" (Vote "Yes" on Abortion Opt-Out Legislation; https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/25554/Respond)

• In response to Senator Casey's diavowing the sanctity of marriage, Bishop Bambera of Scranton released this statement, "On April 1, 2013, Pennsylvania’s senior United States Senator, Robert Casey issued a statement supporting marriage equality for same-sex couples and asserting his belief that the Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed.  In so doing, Senator Casey has unfortunately and disappointingly set aside the Catholic belief and teaching that the sacrament of marriage, rooted in the natural law, is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong, loving union of a man and a woman open to the transmission of human life....Senator Casey’s position is contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church" (The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton – Response to Senator Casey’s Statement Regarding Marriage Equality).