“God has visited his people.”

June 5, 2016 (Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

“God has visited his people.”

	The 2016 Omnibus spending bill FAILED to include the Abortion Non-Discri-mina-tion Act, but passed  the   House and  Senate.	As per the USCCB’s “partner organi-zation,” Support the Con-science Protec-tion Act  (HR 4828/S 2927)	As per the USCCB, Support CWPIA (Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act; HR 1299/ S667)	“If passed, the [Maloney] amendments could infringe upon religious liberty of federal contractors, critics say” (CNA / EWTN News, 5/27/16).		As per the USCCB, Support FADA (First Amend-ment Defense Act; HR2802/ S1598)	As per the USCCB, Oppose “confi-scation of Christian lands in Cremisan Valley”	As per the USCCB, Oppose HR 4731
				See Final Vote Results for Roll Call 226	See Final Vote Results for Roll Call 258
1.    Bob Brady (D)	Voted Yea			Voted Yea	Voted Yea
2.    Chaka Fattah (D)	Voted Yea
3.    Mike Kelly (R)	Voted Noe		Sponsor	Voted Noe	Voted Noe	Co- Sponsor
4.    Scott Perry (R)	Voted Noe			Voted Noe	Voted Noe	Co- Sponsor
5.    Glenn Thompson (R)	Voted Yea		Co-Sponsor	Voted Noe	Voted Noe	Co- Sponsor
6.    Ryan Costello (R)	Voted Yea			Voted Yea	Voted Yea
7.    Pat Meehan  (R)	Voted Noe			Voted Yea	Voted Yea
8.    Mike  Fitzpatrick (R)	Voted Yea	Co- Sponsor	Co-Sponsor	Voted Yea	Voted Yea
9.    Bill Shuster (R)	Voted Noe			Voted Noe	Voted Noe
10.  Tom Marino  (R)	Voted Noe		Co-Sponsor	Voted Noe	Voted Noe	Co- Sponsor
11.  Lou Barletta  (R)	Voted Noe		Co-Sponsor	Voted Noe	Voted Noe
12.  Keith Rothfus (R)	Voted Noe	Co- Sponsor	Co-Sponsor	Voted Noe	Voted Noe	Co- Sponsor
13.  Brendan Boyle (D)	Voted Yea			Voted Yea	Voted Yea
14.  Michael Doyle (D)	Voted Yea			Voted Yea	Voted Yea
15.  Charlie Dent  (R)	Voted Yea			Voted Yea	Voted Yea
16.  Joseph Pitts   (R)	Voted Yea	Co- Sponsor	Co-Sponsor	Voted Noe	Voted Noe	Co- Sponsor
17.  Matthew Cartwright (D)	Voted Yea			Voted Yea	Voted Yea
18.  Tim Murphy  (R)	Voted Yea		Co-Sponsor	Voted Noe	Voted Noe	Co- Sponsor
·     Bob Casey (D)	Voted Yea
·     Pat Toomey   (R)	Voted Noe

• Click to Email Pa's Congressional Delegation, asking for Co-Sponsorship/Support of legislation backed by the U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops and/or its affiliate, the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment.

A Closer Look: The First Amendment Defense Act

"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" (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Action Alert).  If passed, legislation with amendments proposed by U.S. Representative Sean Maloney to enhance a 2014 executive order could have done the opposite.

The Maloney amendments "could infringe upon religious liberty of federal contractors, critics say.... President Obama’s 2014 executive order was staunchly opposed by leading U.S. bishops who said it would infringe upon the rights of religious contractors to make employment decisions consistent with their religious beliefs" (CNA / EWTN News, 5/27/16). 

Three Pennsylvania Republicans twice crossed party lines to vote in manners which were seemingly tantamount to votes against religious freedom (See Final Vote Results for Roll Call 226 on HR 4974; See Final Vote Results for Roll Call 258 on HR 5055.)

• Click to Email U.S. Representatives Ryan Costello, Patrick Meehan, Mike Fitzpatrick, and Charlie Dent, expressing dismay at their ''Maloney Amendment'' votes and asking for Co-Sponsorship/Support of the First Amendment Defense Act.

• "A state representative is planning to introduce a bill that would threaten your tax dollars. Representative Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks County) is circulating a co-sponsorship memo for a bill that would repeal Act 13 of 2013....Act 13 is the common sense law that ensures that no taxpayer funding of abortion will occur in the health insurance exchange created in Pennsylvania under Obamacare. We must safeguard this important law!  Please call and email your state representative with this urgent message: 'Please do not co-sponsor Rep. Santarsiero's bill to repeal Act 13 of 2013. I don't want my tax dollars to pay for abortion.'" (Pa Pro Life OnLine News, 6/1/16) 

• FW: Please call your representative to stop this dangerous bill [i.e., HB 1336]

• FW: Come to Harrisburg for the Rally for Life - June 7 - Bring a Friend!(Spread the Word)

• Click to Email all of Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg, asking for opposition to ANY funding for Planned Parenthood and co-sponsorship/support of HB 1623 and HB 1948.  Ask for opposition to HB 162,  HB1510/SB974, HB 1947, and doctor prescribed suicide.