Catholic support for HB 818, HR 1797/S 886, HR 7/S 946, HR 732, HR 23, HR 61, and HR 217

HB 818 

HB 818 is now in the hands of the Pennsylvania Senate and Governor Corbett.  As per the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference,

"The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) specifically allows states to prohibit providers that participate in the insurance marketplace from covering elective abortions. To assure that elective abortion is not included in the federal exchange in Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth must affirmatively opt out by passing a state law. House Bill 818 – without amendments- will clearly prohibit the taxpayer supported insurance plans from covering elective abortions. HB 818 does not eliminate coverage of abortions in taxpayer supported plans in the cases of rape, incest or to avert the death of the mother....

"Voting 'yes' on HB 818 without amendments is the only genuine pro-life vote.  Click here to send a message in support of HB 818 without amendment [https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/25554/Respond].

Of the four state senators from Bucks,

• only Bob Mensch "bmensch@pasen.gov" receives a very unfavorable rating from pro-abortion Planned Parenthood. Bucks County should be rightfully proud of Bob Mensch! 
• Pro-abortion Planned Parenthood gives mixed ratings to both Stewart Greenleaf "sgreenleaf@pasen.gov" and Tommy Tomlinson "rtomlinson@pasen.gov." Senators Greenleaf and Tomlinson need strong pro life feedback from Bucks Countians! 
• Pro-abortion Planned Parenthood sees Senator Chuck McIlhinney "cmcilhinney@pasen.gov" as one of its own! Since McIlhinney identifies himself as a Catholic, this is absolutely scandalous and needs to be made clear as such by ALL of Bucks County's clergy!

HR 1797, S 886

As per a 5/21/13 statement by Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life:

"This week, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-08) will hold a press conference on the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, announcing that its provisions, to protect children in the womb from 20 weeks of development forward....

"Priests for Life believes this is the most significant legislative effort to date in bringing protection to unborn children. We have therefore already alerted every parish in America to inform and mobilize its congregation in support of this bill. We are also calling upon pro-life organizations large and small to give it their full support."

Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) to join with 127 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 1797.  Kudos to Senator Pat Toomey (http://www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=contact) for being one of the 32 co-sponsors of the Senate version, S 886.  Please ask Senator Bob Casey (http://www.casey.senate.gov/contact/) to also co-sponsor S 886.

HR 7, S 946

As per Priests for Life, "The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would prohibit the federal funding of abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or life of the mother."  Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) to join with 120 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 7.  Please ask Senators Pat Toomey (http://www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=contact) and Bob Casey (http://www.casey.senate.gov/contact/) to join 23 of their colleagues as co-sponsors of S 946 (Note: Casey introduced his own S 142, which appears to this blogger to be a weakened version and which has no co-sponsors.). 

HR 732

As per Priests for Life, "The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA) would make it illegal to take a minor across a state line to evade the requirements of a pre-abortion parental involvement law in the girl’s home state." Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) to join with 123 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 732.

HR 23

As per Priests for Life, "The Sanctity of Human Life Act would declare that the right to life guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution vests in each human being at 'fertilization, cloning, or its functional equivalent, irrespective of sex, health, function or disability, defect, stage of biological development, or condition of dependency.'
Further, the measure states that 'the Congress affirms that the Congress, each State, the District of Columbia, and all United States territories have the authority to protect the lives of all human beings residing in its respective jurisdictions.'"  Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) to join with 37 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 23.

HR 61

As per Priests for Life, "HR 61 would require any entity receiving taxpayer funds through the federal Title X family planning program to certify in writing that it will not perform abortions and will not provide funds to any entity that performs abortions. The bill would allow funding to go to organizations that perform abortions only in cases to save the mother’s life or where a pregnancy results from rape or incest.  The measure would deny Planned Parenthood and any other abortion providers a major source of their federal funding."  Kudos to Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) for being one of the 91 co-sponsors of HR 61.

HR 217

As per Priests for Life, "HR 217, like HR 61, would require any entity receiving federal funds from the Title X family planning program to certify that it will not perform abortions and will not provide any money to another entity that performs abortions.  The bill would effectively bar Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from participating in the Title X program."  Please ask Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com) to join with 175 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 217.