"Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life."

In 2012, the Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation contrasted candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.  Of eventual winners whose districts included parts of the Archdiocese, Jim Gerlach, Patrick Meehan, Mike Fitzpatrick, and Joseph Pitts were described as "Pro Life":

Marriage/Family is a Human Life Issue!  Human Life is a Marriage/Family Issue!  However, the "Pro Life" label has not necessarily translated into defense of marriage/family.  

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, chairman of the USCCB's Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, has called for support and co-sponsorship of

• the Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (HJ Res 51),
• the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), and
• the State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024)

The response from those who represent us in Washington has been underwhelming, to say the least - particularly from those who identify themselves as Catholic:

In 2012, the Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation contrasted candidates for the 10 State House races from Bucks County:

•   18: Rep Gene DiGirolamo: Pro Life and running unopposed.
•   29: Rep Bernie O'Neill: leans Pro Life, while challenger Brian Munroe is Pro Abortion.
•   31: Rep Steve Santarsiero: Pro Abortion, while challenger Anne Chapman is Pro Life.
• 140: Rep John Galloway: Pro Life, while challenger Eric David did not respond.
• 141: Rep Tina Davis: Pro Abortion, while challenger Anthony Sposato is Pro Life
• 142: Rep Frank Farry: Pro Abortion but unopposed.
• 143: Rep Marguerite Quinn: leans Pro Life, while challenger Joseph Frederick is Pro Abortion.
• 144: Rep Katharine Watson: Pro Life and running unopposed.
• 145: Rep Paul Clymer: Pro Life, while challenger Mary Whitesell is Pro Abortion.
• 178: Rep Scott Petri: leans Pro Life and running unopposed.

So, the Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation described DiGirolamo, O'Neill, Galloway, Quinn, Watson, Clymer, and Petri as either "Pro Life" or "leans Pro Life", among the eventual winners.  Clymer certainly distinguished himself as Bucks County's only co-sponsor of HB 818 and HB 1349.  BRAVO!  How have our remaining "allies" been treating marriage/family and human life issues?

• DiGirolamo voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 818.
• DiGirolamo voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 587.
• DiGirolamo voted against the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 162.

• O'Neill voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 818.
• O'Neill voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 587.
• O'Neill voted against the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 162.

• Galloway voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 818.
• Galloway voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 587.
• Galloway voted against the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 162.
• Galloway is a co-sponsor of HB 300, which the Pa Catholic Conf calls "intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith." 

• Quinn voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 818.
• Quinn voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 587.
• Quinn voted against the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 162.
• Quinn is a co-sponsor of HB 300, which the Pa Catholic Conf calls "intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith." 

• Watson voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 818.
• Watson voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 587.
• Watson voted against the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 162.
• Watson is a co-sponsor of HB 300, which the Pa Catholic Conf calls "intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith."

• Petri voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 818.
• Petri voted with the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 587.
• Petri voted against the Pa Catholic Conf position on HB 162.
• Petri is a co-sponsor of HB 300, which the Pa Catholic Conf calls "intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith." 

NOTE: The Pa Catholic Conf opposition to HB 162 may very well NOT have been known at the time of the vote.

Why have we been asking for so little from our elected officials?  With "Pro Life" majorities in both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature, as well as a "Pro Life" governor and a "Pro Life" lieutenant governor, we should be seeing ENORMOUS gains for the Pro Life movement - to say nothing of the defense of marriage/family!  Fear appears to very much be at play, we need to remind ourselves and those who represent us of Who is truly in charge!

Marriage/Family is a Human Life Issue!  Human Life is a Marriage/Family Issue!

• The USCCB's "Alerts Central" invites action on the Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 51) , the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), and the State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024), as well as the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 7 / S 946), and the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940 / S. 1204).

• The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "Current Alerts" facilitates messages of gratitude for passage of  the Down Syndrome Prenatal and Postnatal Education Act (HB 2111/SB 1339) and SB 75 (for battling human trafficking).  It facilitates messages in support of Marriage, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940 / S. 1204), equal education funding.  It facilitates message to OPPOSE HB 162, HB300/SB300, and the death penalty.  It also facilitates letters to local newspaper editors.