Please consider copying/pasting the following into a message to Senator Casey, Senator Toomey, and Congressman Fitzpatrick (https://www.votervoice.net/NCHLA/Campaigns/30688/Respond):
-
"We need you to OPPOSE HR 1755/S815, which the US Conference of
Catholic Bishops is concerned 'could be used to punish as discrimination
what the Catholic Church teaches.' In the interest of basic human dignity - particularly the welfare of children - we also need your CO-SPONSORSHIP/ SUPPORT of
HR 3133,
HJ Res 51,
HR 3279,
HR 732 / S 32 / S 369,
HR 940 / S 1204,
HR 1091 / S 583,
HR 7 / S 946,
HR 1797 / S 886,
HR 301 / S 653, and
HR 23."
Marriage - Oppose HR 1755 / S 815; Support HR 3133 and HJ Res 51
S 815 - Tell Casey and Toomey to Vote NO, next week
On 7/9/13, a letter went to the U.S. Senate's Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions from Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, regarding ENDA, the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 (HR 1755 / S 815):-
"While the Church is ardently opposed to all unjust discrimination on the grounds of sexual inclination, whether homosexual or heterosexual, it does teach that all sexual acts outside of a marriage between one man and one woman are morally wrong and do not serve the good of the person or society....the USCCB continues to oppose 'unjust discrimination' against people with a homosexual inclination....
"ENDA, if enacted, could be used to punish as discrimination what the Catholic Church teaches....
"We are also concerned that ENDA may be invoked by federal courts to support the claim that, as a matter of federal constitutional right, marriage must be redefined to include two persons of the same sex....
"The bill’s treatment of 'gender identity'...would have an adverse effect on privacy and associational rights of others. The bill also lacks an exemption for a 'bona fide occupational qualification' (BFOQ), for those cases where it is neither unjust nor inappropriate to consider an applicant’s sexual inclination.
"While we must oppose ENDA for the above stated reasons, the Conference stands ready to work with leaders and all people of good will to end all forms of unjust discrimination, including against those who experience a homosexual inclination."
HR 3133 and HJ Res 51 - Tell Fitzpatrick to Co-Sponsor and Support
The USCCB supports
H.R. 3133, the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act. Mike Fitzpatrick
has NOT joined 85 of his colleagues (including Representative Chris Smith) as a
co-sponsor of HR 3133, nor has he joined the 56 co-sponsors of H.J.
RES. 51 (including Representative Chris Smith). The National Organization
for Marriage has a special web site to send messages on HR 3133 and HJ Res 51: http://capwiz.com/nationformarriage/home/.
Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2013 - Support HR 3279
"A
bill newly introduced in the House of Representatives would enable individuals
to determine if they are paying a surcharge for abortion under the health care
exchanges available under the Affordable Care Act” (Catholic
New Agency, 10/11/13). Mike Fitzpatrick is NOT one of the 109
co-sponsors of Representative Chris Smith's HR3279,
the Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2013.
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." Kudos go to Mike Fitzpatrick for becoming one of the 111
co-sponsors of HR 732 on 10/9/13. Neither Bob Casey nor Pat Toomey
are among the 6 co-sponsors of S.32.
However, kudos go to Pat Toomey for being one of the 28 co-sponsors of S.369.
Health Care Conscience Rights Act - Support HR 940 / S 1204
The
Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has a special site (https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/campaigns/30694/respond), 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 are among the 15 co-sponsors of S
1204.
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 100 co-sponsors of H.R.1091.
Neither Bob Casey nor Pat Toomey are among the 16 co-sponsors of S.583.
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 138 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 NOT joined
184 of his colleagues (including Representative Chris Smith) as a co-sponsor of
HR 1797. Kudos go to Pat Toomey
for being one of the 33 co-sponsors of S
886 (Bob Casey is NOT a co-sponsor.).
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 17 co-sponsors of S.653.
On 9/18/13, Mike
Fitzpatrick voted favorably on the House version, HR
301 - Bravo.
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 is NOT among
the 40 co-sponsors of HR 23.
Support Admitting Privileges legislation
As per the Pa Pro Life Coalition, "The Republican and Democrat leaders of the Pa. House Pro-Life Caucus...are preparing to re-introduce 'Admitting Privileges' legislation....The lead sponsors of this legislation are seeking to gather additional co-sponsors before introducing it....[It] has the same language as H.B. 1314 in the 2011-2012 term....Please urge your State House members to co-sponsor Admitting Privileges legislation in the 2013-2014 term." Bucks County's own Paul Clymer is already on board as a co-sponsor.
Support Marriage / Family and HB 1349 - Oppose HB1647/SB719
The Pa Pro Life Coalition asks us to urge our representatives to have their leaders intervene on behalf of Pa's own DOMA, in the ACLU lawsuit.
On 5/8/13, Bucks County's own Paul Clymer joined Daryl Metcalfe and 25 others, in introducing HB 1349, which seeks to strengthen Pennsylvania's Constitution, by adding this: "Marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."
In a 7/12/13 memo, Representative Mark Cohen announced that he was "introducing a bill to repeal the Pennsylvania Defense of Marriage Act and to recognize all same sex marriages made in other states and other countries" [HB 1647]. HB 1647 and its companion SB 719 would negate the fundamental right of children to both a mom and a dad!
Quoting the U.S. Bishops, the Pa Catholic Conference reminds us that, “The common good of all, especially our children, depends upon a society that strives to uphold the truth of marriage. Now is the time to redouble our efforts in witness to this truth.”
Oppose HB300/SB300
The Pa Catholic Conference has a special web site to ask your representative and senator to oppose HB300/SB300: https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/33451/Respond.
Oppose SB 872
In contrast to SB 872, "Prohibiting mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual under 18 years of age," Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons maintains that "Youth have the right to be provided informed consent about the serious medical and psychiatric illnesses, and risks, of the homosexual lifestyle. Pediatricians, mental health professionals, physicians, nurses and school counselors have a clear legal responsibility to do so, and parents, family members, educators, and clergy a grave moral responsibility" (Same-Sex Attractions in Youth and Their Right to Informed Consent, 5/21/12).
Support Vic Stabile
-
"The Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation Political Action Committee has
announced that it is recommending candidate Vic Stabile for Superior
Court. Meanwhile, none of the current judges running for retention on
the PA Supreme Court and Superior Court have been recommended by the
PAC" (http://www.paprolife.org/2013GeneralElection.html).
No comments:
Post a Comment