Faithful Citizenship in Pa's 1st Congressional District and the Central Garden State

Please share this UPDATED information with your parishioners, families, friends, and all people of good will....

Health Care Conscience Rights Act - Support HR 940 / S 1204

As per a 9/26/13 letter from Cardinal O'Malley and Archbishop Lori,

"We are writing once again, as Chairmen of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty....We have already urged you to enact the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940/S. 1204). As Congress considers a Continuing Resolution and debt ceiling bill in the days to come, we reaffirm the vital importance of incorporating the policy of this bill into such 'must-pass' legislation"

The Catholic League  has a petition to "urge the Obama administration to withdraw the HHS mandate" (http://www.catholicleague.org/petition-to-withdraw-the-hhs-mandate/). 

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has a special site (https://www.votervoice.net/link/target/nchla/J6FPEN7bN.aspx), to contact Representative Mike Fitzpatrick, Senator Bob Casey, and Senator Pat Toomey, as well as the president and the vice president, in support of HR 940 / S 1204 (While Fitzpatrick is a co-sponsor of HR 940, neither Casey nor Toomey is a co-sponsor of S 1204.).  The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment has a special site (https://www.votervoice.net/NCHLA/Campaigns/30688/Respond), to send a similar message to Fitzpatrick, Casey, and Toomey, as well as to Speaker of the House John Boehner. You may wish to consider adding this to your message:

"In the interest of basic human dignity - particularly the welfare of children - we also need your sponsorship/ support of 

• HR 732 / S 32 / S 369, 
• HR 1091 / S 583
• HR 3133, 
• HJ Res 51, 
• HR 7 / S946, 
• HR 1797 / S 886, 
• HR 301 / S 653, and 
• HR 23."

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(Background)

Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act - Support HR 732 / S 32 / S 369

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."  There are 110 co-sponsors of HR 732 (including Representative Chris Smith), but Mike Fitzpatrick is NOT among them.  Neither Bob Casey nor Pat Toomey are among the 6 co-sponsors of S.32.  However, Pat Toomey is one of the 28 co-sponsors of S.369.



Life at Conception Act - Support HR 1091 / S 583

As per CatholicVote.org, "'The Life at Conception Act'... aims to employ the protections afforded by the 14th amendment in defense of the unborn." Mike Fitzpatrick is not among the 95 co-sponsors of H.R.1091.  Neither Bob Casey nor Pat Toomey are among the 15 co-sponsors of S.583. 



Marriage - Support HR 3133 and HJ Res 51

Virtually lost in discussions about changing marriage/family laws is the social justice truth that children need both a mom and a dad - the authentic rights of children are being ignored.  Opposing traditional marriage, Bob Casey is very publicly supporting the so-called "Respect for Marriage Act (the legislation that repeals the Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA])."   Ever so quietly claiming support for traditional marriage, Fitzpatrick and Toomey bring J.R. Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring to mind:

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”  
To claim support for traditional marriage but to maintain that marriage should simply be treated as a states' issue flies in the face of reality.  The USCCB supports H.R. 3133, the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act.  Mike Fitzpatrick has NOT joined 62 of his colleagues (including Representative Chris Smith) as a co-sponsor of HR 3133, nor has he joined the 55 co-sponsors of H.J. RES. 51 (including Representative Chris Smith).



No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act - Support 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."  HR 7 was introduced by Representative Chris Smith.  There are now 134 co-sponsors of HR 7, but Mike Fitzpatrick is NOT among them.  Neither Casey nor Toomey are among the 23 co-sponsors of senate version S 946.  While Casey is the sponsor of S 142 (without any co-sponsors), it strikes this blogger as inferior to S 946.



Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - Support HR 1797/ S 886

"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" (Fr. Frank Pavone, 5/21/13). Mike Fitzpatrick has yet to join 184 of his colleagues (including Representative Chris Smith) as a co-sponsor of HR 1797. Pat Toomey is among the 33 co-sponsors of S 886, but Bob Casey is not.



Religious Freedom Throughout the World - Support HR 301 / S 653

As per Bishop Pates' 5/20/13 letter to Senators Roy Blunt and Carl Levin, "As Chair of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I commend your tireless efforts to advance religious freedom as evidenced by your sponsorship of S. 653, a bill to establish a Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia." Neither Casey nor Toomey are among the 14 co-sponsors of S.653.  On 9/18/13,   Mike Fitzpatrick voted favorably on the House version, HR 301.



The Sanctity of Human Life Act - Support 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.'"  Fitzpatrick has yet to join 40 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of HR 23.