"Marriage Champions," HR2802/S1598, and Defunding Planned Parenthood

"Marriage Champions," HR2802/S1598

"The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today identified four Republican presidential candidates they have dubbed 'Marriage Champions' for having pledged to the American people that they will take several specific actions as president to restore marriage to the law and protect people of faith from discrimination because of their support for traditional marriage....NOM's presidential pledge that has been signed by candidates Cruz, Santorum, Jindal and Carson makes several specific commitments to preserve marriage and restore a thriving marriage culture, including:

1. Support a federal constitutional amendment that protects marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
2. Work to overturn the US Supreme Court's Obergefell decision that illegitimately imposed same-sex 'marriage' on every state in the nation, including nominating to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal bench judges who are committed to restraint and applying the original meaning of the Constitution, and appointing an attorney general similarly committed.
3. Conduct a review of actions taken by the Obama Administration that have undermined marriage and work to restore our policies to be consistent with the proper understanding of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Consistent with this, prevent the promotion of a redefined version of marriage in public schools and other government entities.
4. Support the First Amendment Defense Act and other legislation that recognizes the right of organizations and individuals to act in the public square consistent with their belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman without fear of retaliation from the government.
5. Direct the Department of Justice to investigate, document and publicize cases of Americans who have been harassed or threatened for exercising key civil rights to organize, to speak, to donate or to vote for marriage and to propose new protections, if needed....

"several candidates have issued strong statements in support of marriage but have decided not to sign any pledges as a candidate. Governor Mike Huckabee covered marriage in his own pledge to the American people and Gov. Scott Walker has promised to support a constitutional amendment restoring true marriage" (8/25/15)

As per the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,

• "The First Amendment Defense Act (H.R. 2802, S. 1598) would bar the federal government from discriminating against individuals and organizations based upon their religious beliefs or moral convictions that marriage is the union of one man and one woman or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage. The Act provides broad protections against adverse federal actions directed toward individuals and organizations that act on such beliefs." 

As of this past Thursday, Representative Fitzpatrick was NOT among the 145 co-sponsors of HR2802; NEITHER Senator Casey NOR Senator Toomey were among the 36 co-sponsors of S1598.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has an alert* for contacts to Fitzpatrick, Casey, and Toomey, re: the First Amendment Defense Act (HR2802 / S1598): http://cqrcengage.com/catholicbishops/app/make-a-call?0&engagementId=113753

 *You can find "alerts" about federal concerns at the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "alerts" and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' "ALERTS CENTRAL."  The USCCB also notes that "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the "National Committee for the Human Life Amendment" (NCHLA), and that "Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition, "Justice for Immigrants." 

Defunding Planned Parenthood

•  As per the Family Research Council, "Voters must demand that at a minimum the House Republican leadership attach a funding moratorium to must-pass legislation in order to build momentum for the Senate to halt the federal complicity in this organization’s inhumane practices.  Please urge Congress to take whatever steps necessary in September to defund this abortion giant. We should not be spending our tax dollars to fund this organization engaged in late-term abortion, organ harvesting and possibly illegal partial birth and born alive abortion."  Email Representative Fitzpatrick, Senator Casey, and Senator Toomey, asking if they will commit to such a moratorium.  

• As per the Pennsylvania Family Institute, "the Administration, following what can only be described as a cursory review of Planned Parenthood abortion sites in Pennsylvania, stated that the organization’s hands are clean in the burgeoning nationwide scandal involving the gruesome procurement and trafficking in the remains of unborn children aborted in Planned Parenthood clinics....the taxpayers of Pennsylvania can have no confidence that Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration can or did conduct a fair and thorough probe, given his close ties with Planned Parenthood before, during and after his campaign for Pennsylvania Governor."  Email Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg, asking for a moratorium on all state funding of Planned Parenthood.

 

"for all those young people who, thirsty for happiness, seek it in mistaken ways and get lost in dead ends"