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

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has urged support for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act  (HR 7 / S 946), and the Health Care Conscience Rights Act  (HR 940 / S 1204).  In a July 14th letter, Archbishop Lori and Cardinal O'Malley voiced OPPOSITION to the misleadingly-named Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act (HR 5051/S2578).  

Thank you Representative Mike Fitzpatrick for voting "yes" on HR 7 and co-sponsoring HR 940.

Thank you Senator Pat Toomey for co-sponsoring S 1204.  

As per a November 17th letter to Congress on the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA), Archbishop Lori and Cardinal O'Malley of the USCCB, asked Congress "to incorporate ANDA into must-pass funding legislation at your earliest possible opportunity."  As the current continuing resolution expires on December 11th,

please OPPOSE any new continuing resolution, unless they incorporate ANDA, and

defund Planned Parenthood - the nation's largest abortion provider.

At this time of year, it would be difficult to NOT recall a certain young family of 2000 years ago, wandering far from home with difficulty finding a place to stay.  In its emphasis on family preservation, President Obama’s Immigration Accountability Executive Action is a step in the right direction. However, the  IAEA is a tiny, temporary band aid.  As per the U.S. Catholic Bishops, we still need comprehensive reform that 

provides a path to citizenship, 

preserves family unity, 

provides for those with less marketable skills, 

promotes due process in enforcement, and 

addresses root cause of why people are leaving their homelands.

The lack of religious freedom is one reason people choose to leave their homelands.  As per the U.S. Catholic Bishops,

authorization for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom must NOT be allowed to expire on December 11th.

With regard to marriage/family concerns, the U.S. Catholic Bishops have asked support for

the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), 

the State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024), 

the Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 51), and 

the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2014 (HR 5285 / S 2706).  

With regard to Pennsylvania's delegation in Washington, Representatives Mike Kelly, Joe Pitts, Keith Rothfus, and Bill Shuster are each for co-sponsoring HR 3133, HR 3829, HJ Res 51, and HR 5285 (Kelly is the lead sponsor of HR 5285.  Representative Tom Marino is co-sponsoring HR 3133.).  Pa representatives co-sponsoring the anti-life HR 5051 (i.e., Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah, and Allyson Schwartz) are NOT behind any of the pro marriage/family efforts.


Our elected officials should NOT take their leads from Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah, and Allyson Schwartz.  Our elected officials need to stand tall with Representatives Mike Kelly, Joe Pitts, Keith Rothfus, and Bill Shuster.