Upcoming Pro Life Legislation

Dear Congressman Fitzpatrick,

When our daughter was a high school student and you were a Bucks County commissioner, I recall your telling the students at your alma mater that the "sanctity of human life" must be the primary concern of a public official. Amen! Via letters from Cardinal DiNardo, chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' committee on pro life activities, the USCCB has specifically urged support for several pieces of legislation.

• Via his January 20, 2011 letter, the USCCB has urged support for the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act. As of May 2, 2011, you ARE a co-sponsor of HR 361. Thank you!


• Via his January 21, 2011 letter, the USCCB urged support for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Thank you for co-sponsoring and voting for H.R. 3!

Your most vulnerable constituents - and the health care workers who serve them - need you to continue standing up for life and truth....

• Via Cardinal DiNardo's January 20, 2011 letter, the USCCB urged support for the Protect Life Act. As of Sunday, May 29, 2011, you have yet to become a co-sponsor of HR 358


• Via Cardinal DiNardo's April 6, 2011 letter, the USCCB has urged support for the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. As of Sunday, May 29, 2011, you have yet to become a co-sponsor of HR 1179.

Priests for Life has indicated support for at least two other pieces of federal legislation.

• The Sanctity of Human Life Act. As of Sunday, May 29, 2011, you have yet to become a co-sponsor of HR 212.


• The Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. As of Sunday, May 29, 2011, you have yet to become a co-sponsor of HR 217.

As per the Susan B. Anthony List,

• "legislation will soon be introduced by Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) to cut funding to the radically pro-abortion United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The Republican Party’s YouCut program, started by pro-life House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), allows Americans to vote for which spending programs they would like to see cut by Congress. This week the pro-life American majority spoke loud and clear with their votes: it’s time to cut funding to the UNFPA. Your SBA List looks forward to keeping you updated on this critical legislation, which would cut the $47 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars designated by the President’s budget to be sent to the UNFPA, which promotes abortion overseas, and even supports China’s one-child policy."

Funding overseas abortion is absolutely no way to make friends with other nations! Upon its introduction, please be a co-sponsor with Rep. Ellmers of this vital legislation.

Sincerely,

Updates from the Pa Catholic Conference on the Mensch Amendment to SB 732 &

Please continue to encourage everyone to contact their state senator, to urge "Yes" votes on the Mensch Amendment to Senate Bill 732 and on Senate Bill 3.

As per today's posting on the web site of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference: "The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has asked its pro-life advocates to support the Mensch Amendment because the state’s abortion industry is currently exempt from commonsense safety standards that apply to other surgery centers....the Mensch Amendment creates vital additions to Senate Bill 732, and would hold abortion facilities to the same fire and safety standards, personnel and equipment requirements, and quality assurance procedures as other freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities."

As per the 5/9/11 notice from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, "Senate Bill 3 would clearly prohibit taxpayer supported insurance plans from covering elective abortions in the insurance exchanges set up under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

Of Bucks County senators, Bob Mensch (24th) should certainly be thanked for his proposed amendment to SB 732 and for co-sponsoring SB 3. Senator Tomlinson (6th) is also a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 3, and Senator Greenleaf (12th) gave it a positive vote vote in the Banking and Insurance Committee....

It is Senator Chuck McIlhinney (10th) who most needs to hear from people of good will and encouraged to vote "Yes" on the Mensch Amendment to Senate Bill 732 and "Yes" on Senate Bill 3.

re: "Restoring Health Care to the 'Catholic Way'" (OSV, 5/22/11)

"Restoring Health Care to the 'Catholic Way'" (OSV, 5/22/11) is a magnificent article! As Ann Carey so accurately and so succinctly explains,

• "Catholic Health Care faces many challenges today: a culture that often is hostile to Catholic values on the dignity of human life; inconsistent interpretation of the U.S. Bishops' Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services; professional pressure on medical personnel to provide immoral services; and the erosion of conscience rights of Catholic health care institutions, health care workers and consumers of health care."

Through her writings on health care, Ann Carey is at the forefront of the noble battle to restore Catholic identity to "Catholic" health care institutions. Her article rightly notes some other noble warriors, including some personal favorites:

• Bishop Robert Vasa


• Dr. John Bruchalski


• Professor Leonard Nelson III, author of "Diagnosis Critical: The Urgent Threats Confronting Catholic Healthcare"

As huge ethical problems remain with regard to health care legislation, such as public abortion funding and conscience protection, we must demand much more from our elected officials - especially those who identify themselves as pro life. Bravo to Ms. Carey for alerting us to federal ProLife legislation, for which Cardinal DiNardo of the USCCB has urged support:

• HR 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
  
• HR 358, the Protect Life Act
  
• HR 361, the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act
  
• HR 1179, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act

I would like to add that Priests for Life is urging support for at least two other pieces of federal legislation:

• HR 212, the Sanctity of Human Life Act


• HR 217, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act

"Important Pro Life Votes - Contact Your Senator Today!"

Rev. Msgr. Charles Hagan, pastor
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
235 East State Street
Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901

Dear Monsignor Hagan,

Joining the Pennsylvania Family Council and the Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is asking us to urge our state senators to vote

• "Yes" on the Mensch Amendment to Senate Bill 732 &


• "Yes" on Senate Bill 3.

Of Bucks County senators, Bob Mensch (24th) is to be thanked for his proposed amendment to SB 732 and for co-sponsoring Senate Bill 3. Senator Tomlinson (6th) is also a co-sponsor of SB 3, and Senator Greenleaf (12th) gave SB 3 a positive vote vote in the Banking and Insurance Committee.

Though he tries to act coy about his pro abortion efforts, the record of your parishioner, Senator Chuck McIlhinney (10th), is shameful. In fact, he was listed by Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania PAC as one of their "pro choice endorsed candidates" in the 2010 elections.

Senator McIlhinney certainly needs to hear from the Catholic laity and all people of good will....

Doesn't Senator McIlhinney especially need to hear from his pastor and from all of our pastors?

"Yes" on the Mensch Amendment to SB 732 & "Yes" on SB 3!

Dear Fathers and Monsignors,

The Pennsylvania Family Council and the Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation are asking us to contact our state senators, to urge them to vote "Yes" on the Mensch Amendment to SB 732 and "Yes" on SB 3. As the Pennsylvania Family Council explains, "The Mensch Amendment is almost identical to HB 574 which passed the House by close to a 3:1 margin last week and would require abortion facilities to abide by the same standards as other ambulatory surgical facilities." Please share this information with your parishioners.

As per the 5/9/11 notice from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference,

• "House Bill 574 would hold abortion clinics to the same fire and safety standards, personnel and equipment requirements, and quality assurance procedures as other freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities."



• "Senate Bill 3 would clearly prohibit taxpayer supported insurance plans from covering elective abortions in the insurance exchanges set up under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

Of Bucks County senators, Bob Mensch (24th) is to be thanked for his proposed amendment to SB 732 and for co-sponsoring SB 3. Senator Tomlinson (6th) is also a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 3, and Senator Greenleaf (12th) gave it a positive vote vote in the Banking and Insurance Committee.

Though Senator Chuck McIlhinney (10th) is a parishioner of Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Doylestown & a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, his priorities lay elsewhere. Shamefully, he has been listed by Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania PAC as one of their "pro choice endorsed candidates."

In addition to all people of good will, Senator McIlhinney particularly needs to hear from his pastor. In fact, he needs to hear from all of our pastors.

Tomorrow's Judicial Elections

Tomorrow, we will have the opportunity to vote for

• one Judge of the Superior Court,


• one Judge of the Commonwealth Court, and


• one Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

Judge of the Superior Court
The Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation is recommending Vic Stabile and Paula Patrick. Yet according to voter information from the Pennsylvania Family Institute information, only Paula Patrick appears to have answered questions in a manner consistent with Catholic Teaching (i.e., There are no responses from Stabile & the third candidate.).

Judge of the Commonwealth Court
The Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation is recommending Paul Panepinto and Anne Covey. As per the voter information from the Pennsylvania Family Institute, both Anne Covey & Paul Panepinto answered posed questions in manners consistent with Catholic Teaching.

Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
According to the Pennsylvania Family Institute information, neither candidate answered their posed questions. However, James McMaster is known to be Pro-Life.

Why Isn't the 5/2/11 Metcalfe Announcement & the 5/17/11 Judicial Elections Even Mentioned on the Pa Catholic Conference Website?

While the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has given support to Pennsylvania HB 574 & Pennsylvania SB 3, it appears that the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference continues to see its role primarily as a conduit for information about "School Choice" initiatives. Worthy as they are, without the defense of the sanctity of life and marriage/family, there will be no need to worry about school choice initiatives!

On the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference web site, I find nothing about Tuesday's judicial elections; there does not appear to have been an update on Marriage & Family, since 2/24/11. Seemingly passing under the radar was the 5/2/2011 notice that

• "Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Chairman State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) announced today the introduction of a Constitutional amendment to allow the citizens of Pennsylvania to precisely define marriage as a union between one man and one woman....


• "Once House Bill 1434 is approved in two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly, Pennsylvanians would then have the choice, through voter referendum, to amend the state Constitution to include a provision containing the following language: 'Marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized'....


• "To date, voters in 30 states have ratified similar amendments to their state constitutions."
  
  

Robert Casey, Jr as Villanova's Commencement Speaker

Rev. Peter Donohue, OSA, President
Villanova University

Dear Father Donohue,

At the time of his December 2004 death, my uncle was Ireland's oldest Augustinian

and the Irish Augustinian to have served longest in Australia. Several years earlier, he had likely been the oldest Augustinian in active ministry in the United States.

As a parish priest in Australia, California, Colorado, Ireland, and Massachusetts, my uncle was particularly interested in spreading the Faith through the Legion of Mary, which was founded by fellow Dubliner Frank Duff - a man way ahead of his time with regard to a proper understanding of the apostolate of the laity and Catholic Social Teaching.

As per his web site biography, Senator Casey "graduated from The College of the Holy Cross in 1982 and spent the following year teaching fifth grade and coaching eighth grade basketball in inner city Philadelphia for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps." With the name "Robert Casey" and such experiences in his background, many Pennsylvania Catholics seem to have thought that Casey Jr was committed to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Yet his repeated betrayals of the most vulnerable human beings reveal either utter ignorance of Catholic teaching or rejection of such. How unfortunate it is that historically Catholic institutions like Villanova are willing to give him cover!

Father, I encourage you to read the "Casey on Killing of Bin Laden" statement on Senator Casey's web site. I speak as a Pennsylvania to New York commuter, who was at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Casey's immediate and unqualified endorsement of "killing" Bin Laden reveals absolutely no reflection on what the Church teaches, re: "Just War Theory." As the Just War Theory is part of the great intellectual heritage of Saint Augustine, Villanova is making itself look particularly foolish by honoring Casey.

I last wrote to you in 2007, to object to Villanova's choice of Cable TV host Chris Matthews as a commencement speaker. Your choice of Robert Casey, Jr as this year's commencement speaker appears to be another slap in the face to the memory of countless Augustinians like my uncle.

Sincerely,

HB 574, SB 3, & Judicial Elections

Dear Fathers and Monsignors,

With God's help, House Bill 574 passed the Pennsylvania house. As per the 5/9/11 notice from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference,

• "House Bill 574 would hold abortion clinics to the same fire and safety standards, personnel and equipment requirements, and quality assurance procedures as other freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities."

In the final tally in the Pennsylvania house, Bucks County representatives Clymer (145th), Galloway (140th), Quinn (143rd), & Watson (144th) voted in favor of HB 574, as did Representatives DiGirolamo (18th), Farry (142nd), O'Neill (29th), and Petri (178th). Despite their Catholic educations, two Bucks County represenatives scandalously voted against HB 574:

• Davis (141st; graduate of Cardinal Dougherty & LaSalle)


• Santarsiero (31st; M. Ed. from Holy Family)

To those following these matters, those repugnant votes by Davis & Santarsiero certainly came as no surprise. Planned Parenthood is our nations's "leading" abortion provider. In the 2010 elections, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania PAC listed both Davis & Santarsiero as "pro choice endorsed candidates."

As per the aforementioned 5/9/11 notice from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference,

• "Senate Bill 3 would clearly prohibit taxpayer supported insurance plans from covering elective abortions in the insurance exchanges set up under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

Of Bucks County senators, Mensch (24th) and Tomlinson (6th) are among the co-sponsors of Senate Bill 3; Greenleaf (12th) gave it a positive vote vote in the Banking and Insurance Committee. Like Representatives Davis & Santarsiero, however, Senator Chuck McIlhinney (10th; parishioner of Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Doylestown & member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians) was listed by Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania PAC as one of their "pro choice endorsed candidates."

Looking at McIlhinney's abysmal record on life and marriage/family issues, we can count on his continued betrayal with Senate Bill 3 - unless the clergy, the laity, & all people of good will speak up! We owe this support to the children and parents victimized by abortion, as well as to the concern which we must have for our brother's eternal salvation. In 2004, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (who subsequently got a promotion!) reminded us that "Apart from an individual's judgment about his worthiness to present himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, the minister of Holy Communion may find himself in the situation where he must refuse to distribute Holy Communion to someone, such as in cases of a declared excommunication, a declared interdict, or an obstinate persistence in manifest grave sin (cf. can. 915)."

This Tuesday, we will have the opportunity to vote for

• one Judge of the Superior Court,


• one Judge of the Commonwealth Court, and


• one Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

According to the Pennsylvania Family Institute information on candidates for Judge of the Superior Court, only Paula Patrick answered the posed questions in a manner consistent with Catholic Teaching.

According to the Pennsylvania Family Institute information on candidates for Judge of the Commonwealth Court, both Anne Covey & Paul Panepinto answered the posed questions in manners consistent with Catholic Teaching.

According to the Pennsylvania Family Institute information on candidates for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Bucks County, neither James McMaster nor Michael Rubin answered the posed questions.

Online Judicial Voters' Guide Now Available!

Next Tuesday, May 17th, we will have the opportunity to cast votes for

• one Judge of the Superior Court,


• one Judge of the Commonwealth Court, and


• one Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

According to the Pennsylvania Family Institute information on candidates for Judge of the Superior Court, only Paula Patrick has answered the posed questions in a manner consistent with Catholic Teaching.

According to the Pennsylvania Family Institute information on candidates for Judge of the Commonwealth Court, both Anne Covey & Paul Panepinto have answered the posed questions in manners consistent with Catholic Teaching.

According to the Pennsylvania Family Institute information on candidates for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Bucks County, neither James McMaster nor Michael Rubin have answered the posed questions.