What's happening to the ideas of religious freedom and defunding Planned Parenthood in the budget?

• "Two foster moms are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the right of a Catholic foster agency in Philadelphia to contract with the city without being required to place children with same-sex couples....Last March, the City of Philadelphia announced that it was experiencing a shortage of foster families, in part due to the opioid crisis, and put out a call for 300 new families to help accept children. A few days later, the city announced that it would no longer refer foster children to agencies that would not place them with same-sex couples" (CNA, 7/23/19).  This is just one of the reasons that we need to oppose the [so called] Equality Act and support the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act.
• All Republicans had to do when they won the election in 2016 was to hold the line on the budget bill they helped pass in 2011 with control of just one branch of government. Instead, first with control of all three branches and now with control of two of the three, they are about to undo the one spending success of the past decade, and with it, pre-empt any leverage they have to pressure Democrats on a single issue....Republicans and even the Trump administration will once again hide behind military spending as excuse for this deal....There’s only one reason why Congress is doing this so quickly and rushing it before the August recess. They know the president is influenced by his conservative base and will reject this plan if it’s allowed to be exposed to the sunlight of the August townhalls held by members of Congress. Where is the outrage from media members who claim the mantle of conservatism? At the precise moment when their voice needs to be heard, they remain silent" (Conservative Review, 7/23/19).
• "Congressional and White House negotiators reached a deal to increase federal spending and raise the government’s borrowing limit, securing a bipartisan compromise to avoid a looming fiscal crisis and pushing the next budget debate past the 2020 election.  The deal for more than $2.7 trillion in spending over two years, which must still pass both chambers of Congress and needs President Trump’s signature, would suspend the debt ceiling until the end of July 2021. It also raises spending by nearly $50 billion next fiscal year above current levels.... Congressional leaders pledged to forgo any 'poison pills,' or measures that lawmakers include in appropriations bills that advance partisan goals. House Democrats have included a number of policy provisions aimed at canceling Trump administration initiatives in the spending bills they advanced in their chamber this year. Those measures were already unlikely to pass in the GOP-controlled Senate" (Wall Street Journal, 7/22/19).
• Senate pro-lifers caution Trump against abortion funding in spending negotiations (CNA, 7/22/19) 
• As per Jim Sedlak of the American Life League, "pro-life organizations should unite on making abortion illegal under all circumstances and always explain why that is the right approach" (OneNewsNow, 7/22/19)
• Trump administration halts enforcement of new abortion rule (The Washington Times, 7/21/19) 
• Jihadists Rape, Stone Christian Woman to Death in Syria (Jerusalem Post, 7/23/19)
• Missionary Priest Says Plight of Iraq’s Christians Continues to Worsen (National Catholic Register, 7/22/19) 





Marriage/Family/Sexuality and God's beautiful plan for human happiness






Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26) - Grandpa and Grandma to Jesus!

https://www.sculpturebytps.com/miniature-sculptures/christian-collection/generations/



Take Action Nationally

• Oppose the Misnamed Equality Act (Human Life Action)
• Support the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act (USCCB)
• Born-Alive Legislation Deserves a Vote in the People's House (USCCB) 
• Tell the Senate to Reject Religion Tests for Judicial Nominees (USCCB)
• Contact your U.S. senators and representatives today and ask them to support the LIFT for Charities Act! (USCCB)

Take Action for Pa

(Pa Catholic Conference Legislative Review and Voter Voice)

• Please contact your Rep, Senator, and the Governor to ask for a religious exemption for Catholic adoptions (Pa Catholic Conf)
• (See also the Pa Family Council link.)
• Call for Funding Increase for Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) (Pa Catholic Conference) 

Take Action for NJ

• Support the NJ Born Alive Survivors Protection Act A5287/S3905 (NJRTL)
• Vote No on A5508/ S3804 (NJ Catholic Conf)
• Protect Viable [New Jersey] Babies in the Womb – Equal rights for children who can survive outside the womb (http://protectviablebabies.com/).
On the right side of the home page, you will find links to email Church leadership about "Catholic" health care, Bucks country representation in DC, Bucks County representation in Harrisburg, Central NJ representation in DC and Central NJ in Trenton.