Faithful Citizenship in Pa's 1st Congressional District and the Central Garden State: “the people whom I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise.”

“the people whom I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.”

State Concerns

Pro Life and Pro Marriage/Family legislation being championed by the Pa Catholic Conference (2/20/16 Update)


The Bucks County Delegation in Harrisburg			As per the Pa Catholic Conference, “Please respect the concerns of all parties involved in adoption proceedings and vote no on HB 162 in its current form.”	As per the Pa Catholic Conference, "Funding priority should be given to health care facilities that offer comprehensive women's health care, not those that treat women and children as callously as Planned Parenthood…. [include] the language of House Bill 1623 in the Fiscal Code.”	As per the Pa Catholic Conference, “Changing the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) will jeopardize many churches and their charitable outreach if they continue to adhere to their religious beliefs....HB 1510 / SB 974 exposes even more Pennsylvanians to discrimination based solely on their religious beliefs. Simply put, this legislation is intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith.”
R	145	Rep Craig Staats	Voted Yea	NOT a co-sponsor
D	141	Rep Tina Davis	Voted Yea	NOT a co-sponsor	Co-sponsor
R	18	Rep Gene DiGirolamo	Voted Yea	NOT a co-sponsor
R	142	Rep Frank Farry	Voted Yea	NOT a co-sponsor
D	140	Rep John Galloway	Voted Yea	NOT a co-sponsor	Co-sponsor
R	29	Rep Bernie O’Neill	Voted Yea	NOT a co-sponsor
R	178	Rep Scott Petri	------------	NOT a co-sponsor	Co-sponsor
R	143	Rep Marguerite Quinn	Voted Yea	NOT a co-sponsor	Co-sponsor
D	31	Rep Steve Santarsiero	Voted Yea	NOT a co-sponsor	Co-sponsor
R	144	Rep Kathy Watson	Voted Yea	NOT a co-sponsor	Co-sponsor
R	12	Sen Stewart Greenleaf
R	10	Sen Chuck McIlhinney			Co-sponsor
R	24	Sen Bob Mensch
R	6	Sen Robert Tomlinson

Click to Email all of Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg, re: pro life and pro marriage/family concerns.

Click to Email the leadership in Harrisburg., re: pro life and pro marriage/family concerns.

Differences in the parental notification law between NJ and Pa

(For our friends in the Garden State: "Tell your state legislators to vote no on ACR119/SCR78- a bill commemorating Roe v. Wade" (The Catholic Diocese of Trenton); NJ Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.)

Federal Concerns

In addition to its own Action Center alerts, the USCCB has explained that "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment" (i.e., Human Life Action, Action Alerts). How is the Pa Delegation Responding? (3/8/16 Update)

	Support ANDA (Abortion Non Discrimination Act)	Support CWPIA (Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act; HR 1299/ S667)	Support FADA (First Amendment Defense Act; HR2802/ S1598)	“Support Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home!” (Section 1004 of S 2012)	Oppose “confiscation of Christian lands in Cremisan Valley”
1. Bob Brady (D)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	?	?		?
2. Chaka Fattah (D)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	?	?		?
3. Mike Kelly (R)	In 12/15, voted AGAINST Omnibus which lacked ANDA	Sponsor	Co-Sponsor		?
4. Scott Perry (R)	In 12/15, voted AGAINST Omnibus which lacked ANDA	?	Co-Sponsor		?
5. Glenn Thompson (R)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	Co-Sponsor	Co-Sponsor		?
6. Ryan Costello (R)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	?	?		?
7. Pat Meehan (R)	In 12/15, voted AGAINST Omnibus which lacked ANDA	?	?		?
8. Mike Fitzpatrick (R)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	Co-Sponsor	?		?
9. Bill Shuster (R)	In 12/15, voted AGAINST Omnibus which lacked ANDA	?	?		?
10. Tom Marino (R)	In 12/15, voted AGAINST Omnibus which lacked ANDA	Co-Sponsor	Co-Sponsor		?
11. Lou Barletta (R)	In 12/15, voted AGAINST Omnibus which lacked ANDA	Co-Sponsor	?		?
12. Keith Rothfus (R)	In 12/15, voted AGAINST Omnibus which lacked ANDA	Co-Sponsor	Co-Sponsor		?
13. Brendan Boyle (D)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	?	?		?
14. Michael Doyle (D)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	?	?		?
15. Charlie Dent (R)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	?	?		?
16. Joseph Pitts (R)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	Co-Sponsor	Co-Sponsor		?
17. Matthew Cartwright (D)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	?	?		?
18. Tim Murphy (R)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	Co-Sponsor	Co-Sponsor		?
·
· Bob Casey (D)	In 12/15, voted FOR Omnibus without ANDA	?	?	?	?
· Pat Toomey (R)	In 12/15, voted AGAINST Omnibus which lacked ANDA	?	?	?	?

Click to Email Pa's Congressional Delegation, asking for Co-Sponsorship/Support of legislation backed by the USCCB and/or the NCHLA.

H. Con. Res. 75 and Bacha Bazi

"How an anti-discrimination bill could end up discriminating" (Catholic News Agency)
"The Scalia Seat: Let the People Speak" (Sen Ted Cruz, Wall Street Journal)
"Statement Calling for Constitutional Resistance to Obergefell v. Hodges" (American Principles Project) and "Judge upholds true marriage in Puerto Rico, says SCOTUS decision doesn’t apply" (LifeSiteNews)

What can we glean about the positions on the sanctity of human life and marriage/family from those who would like to represent us in the 8th Congressional District? (3/8/16 Update)

		Marriage and Family	The Sanctity of Human Life
	REPUBLICANS
Marc Duome http:// www. duome for congress. com/			“I believe that our government must….Ensure religious freedom and recognize that life begins at conception” (http://www.duomeforcongress.com/home). He “agreed… that no federal tax money should go to Planned Parenthood” (http://www.theintell.com/news/local/election/forum-hosts-gop-candidates-for-th-district/article_6bb4a13e-df0c-11e5-864a-4f70f93002ad.html#user-comment)
Brian Fitzpatrick http:// www. brian fitz patrick. com/			He “agreed… that no federal tax money should go to Planned Parenthood” (http://www.theintell.com/news/local/election/forum-hosts-gop-candidates-for-th-district/article_6bb4a13e-df0c-11e5-864a-4f70f93002ad.html#user-comment)
Andrew Warren andy warren for congress. com/			“On abortion, Warren said he was ‘100 percent in favor of a woman's right to choose’” (Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/11/06) He “agreed… that no federal tax money should go to Planned Parenthood” (http://www.theintell.com/news/local/election/forum-hosts-gop-candidates-for-th-district/article_6bb4a13e-df0c-11e5-864a-4f70f93002ad.html#user-comment)
		DEMOCRATS
Shaugh nessy Naugh ton http:// shaugh nessy for congress. com/		“A judge just threw out Pennsylvania's ban on gay marriage! This is wonderful news for families in the 8th District and across the state, and a big win for civil equality….in Congress I will continue to fight for equal rights” (https://www.facebook.com/ShaughnessyForCongress/posts/461783367301267)	“When elected to Congress I will fight to: • Keep politicians out of women’s private healthcare decisions • Ensure access to quality, affordable health care, including reproductive health care” (http://shaughnessyforcongress.com/issues/) Emily’s List endorsee (cf, http://shaughnessyforcongress.com/issues/)
Steve Santar siero (Pa State Rep) http:// santar siero for congress.com/		“In the legislature he co-sponsored HB 300, which protects Pennsylvanians from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. He fought for marriage equality long before it was popular and called on the Supreme Court to rule in favor of equal rights” (http://santarsieroforcongress.com/issues/equal-rights/). Co-sponsor of HB 1510, which has been called “intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith” (Pa Catholic Conference).	“He has also stood up for the reproductive rights of women. Time and again, Steve has had to stand up to attempts to limit women’s access to reproductive care, shut down women’s health organizations, and the Corbett Administration’s proposed invasive ultrasound bill” (http://santarsieroforcongress.com/issues/equal-rights/). Planned Parenthood rated his “Position on Reproductive Rights” as “supports” and his “Position on Preventative Healthcare” as “supports” (http://www.plannedparenthoodpa.org/legislature/legislative-scorecard/).
		SOCIALISTS
Eli Sadoff http:// sadoff 2016. com

International Concerns

"C-Fam Launches Campaign Against UN Global Abortion Tax"

"Cardinal Turkson’s Address to Seminar on Health and Sexuality"

"The Fight over Abortion in the UN’s New International Development Agenda" (Public Discourse)

"Honoring the 'Martyrs of Charity'" (USCCB)

"New proposal to 'rethink' maternal health aims to leave mothers behind" (C-Fam)

"'Unconscionable' That World Is Silent in Face of Christian 'Genocide,' Archbishop Laments" (Aletia)

Catholic Identity

"Boston Catholics demanding the name of 'St. Patrick' be removed from upcoming 'St. Patrick’s Day Parade'...." (Mass Resistance)

"Around 400 A.D., a 16 year old of Roman heritage was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Though he escaped six years later, a love for the people of his captive land was planted in his heart. A few decades later, Patrick returned as a bishop to Ireland - to what was then considered the outskirts of Western Civilization - intent on converting her to Catholicism. He left a lasting impression. Soon after Patrick, Anita McSorley tells us that Ireland saw an end to the slave trade and an end to human sacrifice; Patrick followed Christ's great commission to bring the Gospel to what was then considered the ends of the earth.

"Fast forward through Catholic Ireland's hay day of monasteries and shrines (cf, Thomas Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe, 1996), through the suppression of Catholicism after King Henry VII (cf., Christopher Check, The Great Divorce: The Evil Fruits of Henry VIII's Adultery, 2007), and to the early 19th century, we find that religious practice in Ireland had greatly waned. Center City's Irish Memorial also reminds us of "Ireland's Great Hunger of 1845 - 1850 when more than one million Irish were starved to death and another million forced to emigrate" (So many of the "sons and daughters" of Saint Patrick now call America their home.).

"Less well known than Patrick or the Great Hunger is Cardinal Paul Cullen's mid to late 19th century religious revival, returning Irish religious practice to what was intended by Saint Patrick. In 1972, University of Chicago historian Emmet Larkin coined the term, "Devotional Revolution," to explain this Cullen-led revival, which resulted in the vast majority of Catholic Ireland going to Sunday Mass for more than 100 years!

"Fast forward through mid 20th Century Ireland, we find that religious practice has again greatly waned in the early 21st Century....there is now an anti-Catholicism frequently exhibited by people of Catholic heritage. Early 19th Century apathy has been replaced by early 21st Century hostility.

"Ireland saw an economic hay day in the 1990s, which seemed to usher in a secularization of the society. At the same time, it is undeniable that scandals of clerical sexual abuse and institutional abuse have also led to diminished religious practice among Irish Catholics and their Irish-American Catholic cousins (cf, How Catholicism Fell from Grace in Ireland, Chicago Tribune, 7/9/06; John P. McCarthy, What Happened to Catholic Ireland, Homiletic and Pastoral Review, 3/6/14). Father Tom Forde, OFM Cap suggests that what has happened goes deeper than rejecting miscreants and hypocrites. He points to the earlier beginnings of a rejection of moral teaching, which was to result in a loosening of Ireland's restrictions on contraception (and later to divorce and abortion): "faith does not thrive under disobedience"....

"isn't it hypocritical to pretend to 'celebrate' Saint Patrick's Day with activities that have either nothing to do with the saint or which run counter to that for which he stood? For example: For many, inebriation is what first comes to mind, when Saint Patrick's Day is mentioned. How can adults think that Saint Patrick is honored by lifting far too many pints of Guiness?

"If we are not embracing (or trying to embrace) that for which Saint Patrick stood, shouldn't we be more honest than to claim to be 'celebrating' Saint Patrick's Day. Wouldn't it be more honest to just choose a different name, if we are celebrating things opposed to that for which Patrick stood?" (B.C. Courier Times, 3/11/15)