"I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides Me" (October 19th, 1st reading)

"Give the Lord glory and honor" (October 19th Responsorial Psalm): Positions/ Legislation advocated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference:  

The USCCB urges us to advocate, so that our legislators in Washington....

• Support/Co-Sponsor the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 7 / S 946 (and S1848)),
• Support/Co-Sponsor the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (HR 940 / S 1204;
  the Pa Catholic Conf also facilitates action on the Health Care Conscience Rights Act .),
• Support/Co-Sponsor the Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 51),
• Support/Co-Sponsor the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), 
• Support/Co-Sponsor the State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024),  
• Support/Co-Sponsor the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act (HR 5285 / S 2706), 
• Support/Co-Sponsor the Second Chance Act (HR 3465/S 1690),
• Support/Co-Sponsor the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act (HR 4653).

As per the USCCB, "Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition, Justice for Immigrants." 

• Support "just and compassionate immigration reform"  (The Pa Catholic Conference also facilitates support for immigration reform; No specific legislation is cited.). 
• Tell President Obama that you Oppose the use of "family detention." 

The USCCB has shown clear 

• Opposition to the misleadingly named Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S 815/ HR 1755, HRES 639, HRES 678). 

As per the USCCB, "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment":

• Oppose the so-called so-called Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act (HR 5051/S2578) .
• Oppose the Contraceptive Mandate: "Deadlines are fast approaching for sending in comments on two new rules issued by the Administration [i.e., “'interim final rules' (IFR)" and “proposed rules” (PR)]....Comments on the PR are due October 21 and on the IFR October 27. Please act immediately!....The Administration’s contraceptive mandate presents serious threats to conscience rights and religious freedom."

 

With regard to advocacy on state level issues:

 The Pa Catholic Conference  

• Supports Marriage (This forms a message of encouragement to Theresa Gaffney, Clerk of the Orphan's Court of Schuylkill County, who is trying to defend marriage in Pa.  It would seem that sponsors of HB 1349. also merit our encouragement.),  
• Supports equal education funding.

The Pa Catholic Conference urges us to

• Oppose the death penalty,
• Oppose  HB300/SB300 (The Pa Catholic Conference describes this legislation as "intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith." Scandalously, both HB 300 and SB 300 count Catholics among their co-sponsors!).

 

See the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "Meet the 2014 Candidates for Governor."

"For our gospel did not come to you in word alone,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction" (October 19th, Second Reading)

Click for an enlarged, interactive chart on how public officials representing the Archdiocese are doing in D.C. and how public officials representing Bucks County are doing in Harrisburg.... 

"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God" (October 19th, Gospel Reading)

Other Positions/ Legislation of Great Concern:

Oppose Pa's SB 872, ''Prohibiting mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual under 18 years of age"  The American College of Pediatricians and the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality are opposed to legislation like Pa's SB 872.  Montgomery County's Rick Fitzgibbons, M.D. has noted that "well-organized attempts are under way to attempt to block youth from being given both the appropriate scientific knowledge, and informed consent about: same-sex attractions, gender identity disorder, transsexual issues, the psychological needs of a child for father and mother, and marriage" (2/16/11).  On 9/11/14, a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld New Jersey's mirror legislation (cf., Associated Press, 9/12/14)!  On 10/9/14, President Obama campaigned for the champion of California's mirror legislation   (LifeSiteNews, 10/13/14)!
 
Oppose HB2303/SB1456, Pa's anti-life, anti-woman and misleadingly named "Patient Trust Act."  As per Maria Gallagher of Pa Pro Life, "Women deserve to know the facts. We cannot turn back the clock to the days when women did not receive vital information before making life-altering medical decisions." 

And in the News: 

• American Life League Supports Ebola Vaccine Call to Action
• Defend the Family Campaign
• Hidden STD Epidemic: 110 Million Infections in the US  
• Houston carries out 'witch hunt' on pastors opposing 'bathroom bill'
• Instead of voting for a pro-abortion politician, write in Mother Teresa: Bishop Tobin 
• Know the Facts about A2270: ‘Aid in Dying’ Bill Riddled with Flaws
• Marriage Experts Send Open Letter to Pope, Synod Members
• Mike Huckabee: "I'm utterly disgusted with fellow Republicans who want to walk away from the issue of judicial supremacy just because it's politcally volatile.  Here's my advice: grow a spine!"
• PAFAMILYVOTER.COM 
• Rev. Billy Graham: ‘America is Just as Wicked as Sodom and Gomorrah Ever Were’
• Speaking of Breast Cancer Awareness Month... 
• "The more that Catholic universities or hospitals mute their religious identity, the more that Catholic social ministries weaken their religious character, the less 'Catholic' they are, and the less useful to the Gospel they become"
• Women's health omitted from the contraception debate