- "The Obama administration is getting ready to issue new rules requiring charities to provide abortions to child refugees entering the US without their parents....The public has until Monday to comment on the fast-tracked new rules....people can send comments to the Obama administration that the requirement[s] to perform, partner or refer for abortion or contraception are a violation of conscience rights."
The USCCB* and/or the Pa Catholic Conference facilitate requests for our leaders in Washington, to....
- Oppose the so-called Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act (S 2578)
- Support the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (S 946)
- Support the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (HR 940). As per Archbishop Lori and Cardinal O'Malley, "The 'Abortion Non-Discrimination' section of H.R. 940 would...[give] the Weldon amendment a firmer legal basis....H.R. 940 also incorporates a long-overdue conscience clause into the Affordable Care Act" (2/13/15). Contact Representative Mike Fitzpatrick (mikefitzpatrickpa08@live.com/)
- Support the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act
- Support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36).
- Support "just and compassionate immigration reform" (Tell Pres. Obama to Oppose use of "family detention." Ask Fitzpatrick to Support “a path to citizenship and to oppose repealing or undoing laws that protect vulnerable children, families and refugees.”)
- Support the Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 32). "With 29 cosponsors [including Pennsylvania Representatives Joe Pitts, Keith Rothfus, and Mike Kelly], Rep. Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) has reintroduced the Marriage Protection Amendment...,to affirm marriage as the union between one man and one woman for all federal and state purposes" (2/13/15 press release). In light of Archbishop Cordileone's support of a Marriage Protecion Amendment in the last Congrees, it is anticipated that there will soon be an alert for HJ Res 32. As he voted AGAINST a marriage amendment in 2006, Mike Fitzpatrick particularly needs to be reminded that co-sponsorship / support of the Marriage Protection Amendment is imperative!
- Support the State Marriage Defense Act of 2015 (HR 824, S 435). – In light of Archbishop Cordileone strong letters of support to the House and Senate, it is anticipated that there will soon be an alert for HR 824/ S 435. As of this writing, Representatives Joe Pitts and Keith Rothfus are Pennsylvania's only co-sponsors! As in the days of England of Henry VIII, hordes of public officials have either joined the abandonment of marriage or are looking for good places to hide! As Mike Fitzpatrick has repeatedly maintained that marriage is an "an issue for states to decide", his own sitting on the sidelines is particularly inexcusable. We must remind Fitz, Casey, and Toomey that co-sponsorship / support of the State Marriage Defense Act is imperative!
Mention of HJ Res 32, HR 824/S 435, and the upcoming March for Marriage are not only absent in the secular media, but they are absent from our pulpits and our parish bulletins!!! The well kept "secret" is that it will start at 10 am , near the Capitol in DC:
"The March for Marriage is set for Saturday, April 25th which is within days of when the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral argument on the cases before them that will decide the legal status of marriage. This case could prove to be the Roe of marriage, or it could be a great win for us" (Brian Brown, National Organization for Marriage).In a personal communication, this blogger was advised that the Archdiocese WILL be organizing buses to the March, and that information will be posted on www.phillycatholiclife.org. If that does not happen, keep this in mind: From the Amtrak Station in Trenton, it's 2.5 hours to DC's Union Station. From there, it's walking distance to the activities. Pastors should be attending; parishes should pick up train fares (i.e., about $52, each way) for any who find it burdensome.
*In addition to "ALERTS CENTRAL" the USCCB notes that "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment" and "Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition, Justice for Immigrants."
On a state level, the Pa Catholic Conference facilitates requests for our leaders in Harrisburg, to....
- Support equal education funding
- Oppose the death penalty (Thank the governor for the death penalty moratorium.)
- Oppose HB 300 / SB 300 (“In other states, this law has shuttered Catholic adoption agencies and trampled religious liberty….Simply put, this legislation is intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith" (Pa Catholic Conference, 10/3/13. As of 12/20/14, Representatives Davis, Galloway, Petri, Quinn, Santarsiero, and Watson - as well as Senators McIllhinney and Tomlinson were actually co-sponsoring HB 300/SB 300! As per the Pennsylvania Family Institute, "if we don’t see the persecution happening across this country and if Pennsylvania families sit idle, out state government is going to force us to conform our beliefs or face the consequences")
- "Urge Your State Lawmakers Not to Co-Sponsor Assisted Suicide Bills" (i.e., Rep. Mark Rozzi's so-called CARE Act and Senator Daylin Leach's so-called Death with Dignity Act).
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