In Harrisburg....
Support Admitting Privileges legislation
As per the Pa Pro Life Coalition, "The
Republican and Democrat leaders of the Pa. House Pro-Life Caucus...are
preparing to re-introduce 'Admitting Privileges' legislation....The lead
sponsors of this legislation are seeking to gather additional co-sponsors
before introducing it....[It] has the same language as H.B. 1314 in the 2011-2012 term....Please urge
your State House members to co-sponsor Admitting Privileges legislation in the
2013-2014 term." While Bucks County's own Paul Clymer is already on
board as a co-sponsor, it appears that Bucks
County's John Galloway has yet to return as a co-sponsor.
Support Marriage / Family and HB 1349 - Oppose HB1647/SB719
The Pa Pro Life Coalition reminds us that on
6/26/13, "The U.S. Supreme Court...declared unconstitutional [only] part
[emphasis added] of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Thus, the
federal government now recognizes same gender marriages in states that have
legalized these arrangements....Justice Kennedy's majority opinion, while
denying a constitutional right to same-gender marriage, declared that the only
reason for opposition to such 'marriages' is 'invidious discrimination' (i.e.
hatred)....This reasoning is being used to attack state DOMAs, including Pa.'s
law."
"As Ryan T. Anderson, Sherif Girgis and Robert P. George ask in their brilliantly argued polemic 'What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense,' 'If marriage is primarily about emotional union, why privilege two-person unions, or permanently committed ones? What is it about emotional union that requires these limits?' Personal happiness and fulfillment are frequent benefits of marriage, but they are not its purpose. Marriage is the institution that provides social stability because it attempts to ensure, insofar as possible, that the mother and father who create a new life commit to caring for that child until adulthood. No other adult arrangement has ever been shown to benefit children as much....And if sexual complementarity is dispensable, by what logic are the other aspects of traditional marriage — exclusivity and permanence — to be maintained?" (Mona Charen, Jewish World Review, 10/25/13).
"As Ryan T. Anderson, Sherif Girgis and Robert P. George ask in their brilliantly argued polemic 'What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense,' 'If marriage is primarily about emotional union, why privilege two-person unions, or permanently committed ones? What is it about emotional union that requires these limits?' Personal happiness and fulfillment are frequent benefits of marriage, but they are not its purpose. Marriage is the institution that provides social stability because it attempts to ensure, insofar as possible, that the mother and father who create a new life commit to caring for that child until adulthood. No other adult arrangement has ever been shown to benefit children as much....And if sexual complementarity is dispensable, by what logic are the other aspects of traditional marriage — exclusivity and permanence — to be maintained?" (Mona Charen, Jewish World Review, 10/25/13).
The Pa Pro Life Coalition asks us to urge
our representatives to have their leaders intervene on behalf of Pa's own DOMA,
in the ACLU lawsuit.
On 5/8/13, Bucks County's own Paul Clymer joined Daryl Metcalfe and 25 others,
in introducing HB 1349, which absolutely deserves our support.
HB 1349 seeks to strengthen Pennsylvania's
Constitution, by adding this: "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."
In a 7/12/13 memo, Representative Mark Cohen announced that he was "introducing
a bill to repeal the Pennsylvania Defense of Marriage Act and to recognize all
same sex marriages made in other states and other countries" [HB 1647]. While
he may argue that HB 1647 (as well as the Senate's SB 719) is about civil rights, HB 1647 and SB 719 would negate the fundamental right of
children to both a mom and a dad! Quoting
the U.S. Bishops, the Pa Catholic Conference reminds us that, “The
common good of all, especially our children, depends upon a society that
strives to uphold the truth of marriage. Now is the time to redouble our
efforts in witness to this truth.” We
need our state representatives and senators to oppose HB1647 / SB719.
Oppose HB300/SB300
Pennsylvania's HB300/SB300 has been likened to California's AB 1266 (cf., Brandon McGinley, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/21/13). "NOM California has joined the coalition of Privacy For All Students
to qualify a referendum to overturn this law" [AB 1266] (National Organization for Marriage, 10/24/13). The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's
statement on HB300/SB300 describes it as "intolerant and
prejudiced against people of faith." Yet from Bucks County, HB300/SB300 is being co-sponsored
by
·
Cardinal Dougherty/LaSalle
University alumnus Tina Davis,
Bishop Egan alumnus John
Galloway,
·
OLMC parishioner Chuck
McIlhinney,
·
Bishop Conwell/St Joseph's
Univ. alumnus Marguerite Quinn,
·
Holy Family alumnus Steve
Santarsiero, and
·
Villanova alumnus Scott
Petri.
The Pa Catholic Conference has a special web site to ask your representative
and senator to oppose HB300/SB300: https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/33451/Respond.
Oppose SB 872
To the best of this blogger's knowledge, none
of those co-sponsoring SB 872, "Prohibiting
mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts
with an individual under 18 years of age," is a qualified
mental health professional. Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons of Montgomery County is a
psychiatrist, member of the Pediatric Psychosocial Development Committee of the
American College of Pediatricians, and director of the Institute for Marital
Healing. Contrary to SB 872, Dr. Fitzgibbons
maintains that "Youth have the right to be provided informed consent
about the serious medical and psychiatric illnesses, and risks, of the
homosexual lifestyle. Pediatricians, mental health professionals,
physicians, nurses and school counselors have a clear legal responsibility to
do so, and parents, family members, educators, and clergy a grave moral
responsibility" (Same-Sex Attractions in Youth and
Their Right to Informed Consent, 5/21/12).
ACTION NEEDED: Contact Our Elected Officials in Harrisburg....
In
Washington, D.C….
Abortion
Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2013 - Support HR 3279
"A bill newly introduced in the House of
Representatives would enable individuals to determine if they are paying a
surcharge for abortion under the health care exchanges available under the
Affordable Care Act” (Catholic New Agency, 10/11/13). Mike
Fitzpatrick is NOT one of the 104 co-sponsors of Representative Chris
Smith's HR3279, the Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2013.
Child
Interstate Abortion Notification Act - Support HR 732 / S 32 / S 369
As per Priests for Life, "The Child Interstate
Abortion Notification Act (CIANA) would make it illegal to take a minor across
a state line to evade the requirements of a pre-abortion parental involvement
law in the girl’s home state." Kudos go to Mike Fitzpatrick for
becoming one of the 111 co-sponsors of HR 732 on 10/9/13. Neither
Bob Casey nor Pat Toomey are among the 6 co-sponsors of S.32. However, kudos go to Pat Toomey for
being one of the 28 co-sponsors of S.369.
Health
Care Conscience Rights Act - Support HR 940 / S 1204
The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has a
special site (https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/campaigns/30694/respond),
to contact Representative Mike Fitzpatrick, Senator Bob Casey, and Senator Pat
Toomey, as well as the president and the vice president, in support of HR 940 / S 1204. While Fitzpatrick is a
co-sponsor of HR 940, neither Casey nor Toomey
are among the 15 co-sponsors of S 1204.
Life
at Conception Act - Support HR 1091 / S 583
As per CatholicVote.org, "'The Life at Conception
Act'... aims to employ the protections afforded by the 14th amendment in
defense of the unborn." Mike Fitzpatrick is NOT among the 97
co-sponsors of H.R.1091. Neither Bob Casey nor
Pat Toomey are among the 16 co-sponsors of S.583.
Marriage
- Support HR 3133 and HJ Res 51
While Bob Casey openly opposes traditional marriage, (cf, "Respect for Marriage Act (the
legislation that repeals the Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA])"),
Mike Fitzpatrick and Pat Toomey are NOT strong advocates for traditional
marriage. The USCCB supports H.R. 3133, the Marriage
and Religious Freedom Act. Mike Fitzpatrick has NOT
joined 85 of his colleagues (including Representative Chris Smith) as a
co-sponsor of HR 3133, nor has he
joined the 56 co-sponsors of H.J. RES. 51 (including Representative Chris
Smith). The National Organization for Marriage has a special web site to send
messages on HR 3133 and HJ Res 51: http://capwiz.com/nationformarriage/home/.
No
Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act - Support HR 7 / S 946
No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act - Support HR 7 / S 946
As per Priests for Life, "The No Taxpayer Funding
for Abortion Act would prohibit the federal funding of abortion, except in
cases of rape, incest, or life of the mother." HR 7 was introduced
by Representative Chris Smith. There are now 138 co-sponsors of HR 7, but Mike Fitzpatrick
is NOT among them. Neither Casey nor Toomey are among the 23
co-sponsors of senate version S 946. While Casey is the sponsor of S 142 (without any co-sponsors), it strikes this
blogger as inferior to S 946.
Pain
Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - Support HR 1797/ S 886
"Priests for Life believes this is the most significant
legislative effort to date in bringing protection to unborn children. We have
therefore already alerted every parish in America to inform and mobilize its
congregation in support of this bill. We are also calling upon pro-life
organizations large and small to give it their full support" (Fr. Frank Pavone, 5/21/13).
Mike Fitzpatrick has NOT joined 184 of his colleagues (including
Representative Chris Smith) as a co-sponsor of HR 1797. Kudos go to Pat
Toomey for being one of the 33 co-sponsors of S 886 (Bob Casey is NOT a co-sponsor.).
Religious
Freedom Throughout the World - Support HR 301 / S 653
As per Bishop Pates' 5/20/13 letter to
Senators Roy Blunt and Carl Levin, "As Chair of the Committee
on International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops, I commend your tireless efforts to advance religious freedom as
evidenced by your sponsorship of S. 653, a bill to establish a Special Envoy to
Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South
Central Asia." Neither Casey nor Toomey are among the 16 co-sponsors of S.653. On 9/18/13, Mike
Fitzpatrick voted favorably on the House version, HR 301 - Bravo.
The
Sanctity of Human Life Act - Support HR 23
As per Priests for Life, "The Sanctity of Human
Life Act would declare that the right to life guaranteed by the U.S.
Constitution vests in each human being at 'fertilization, cloning, or its
functional equivalent, irrespective of sex, health, function or disability,
defect, stage of biological development, or condition of dependency.'
Further, the measure states that 'the Congress affirms that the Congress, each
State, the District of Columbia, and all United States territories have the
authority to protect the lives of all human beings residing in its respective
jurisdictions.'" Fitzpatrick is NOT among the 40 co-sponsors of HR 23.
HR
1755 and S 815 - Oppose
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
has expressed concern that HR 1755 and S 815 "could be used to punish as
discrimination what the Catholic Church teaches" (letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions from Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Archbishop
William E. Lori, and Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone). To his credit, Mike
Fitzpatrick is NOT a co-sponsor of HR 1755; to his credit, Pat Toomey is NOT a co-sponsor
of S. 815. Bob Casey has been a co-sponsor of S. 815, since 5/16/13.
ACTION NEEDED: Contact Our Elected Officials in Washington, D.C.....
The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment has a special HR 940 /
S 1204 web site (https://www.votervoice.net/NCHLA/Campaigns/30688/Respond),
to contact Fitzpatrick, Casey, and Toomey, as well as Speaker of the House John
Boehner. Please consider adding this to your message:
"In the interest of basic human dignity - particularly the
welfare of children - we also need your sponsorship/ support of
- HR 3279
- HR 732 / S 32 / S 369,
- HR 1091 / S 583
- HR 3133,
- HJ Res 51,
- HR 7 / S946,
- HR 1797 / S 886,
- HR 301 / S 653, and
- HR 23."
We need you to OPPOSE HR 1755/S815, which the US Conference of
Catholic Bishops is concerned 'could be used to punish as discrimination what
the Catholic Church teaches'"
