in Pennsylvania's First Congressional District
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania's_1st_congressional_district http://archphila.org/pastplan/MAPS/Arch.pdf
and the Central Garden State

Monday, April 28, 2014

Candidates for the Pa Assembly from Bucks County

Dear Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Lippolis, Mr. Webb, and Mr. Kline:

According to Ballotpedia, you are running for the Pennsylvania Assembly from a district which includes parts of Bucks County:
  • District 18: No Democratic candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Gene DiGirolamo.
  • District 29: No Democratic candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Bernard O'Neill.
  • Distict 31: Republican candidate David William Gibbon (gibbon2014@gmail.com) is looking to challenge Democratic incumbent Steve Santarsiero.
  • District 140: No Republican candidate to challenge Democratic incumbent John Galloway.
  • District 141: Republican candidate Joseph Lippolis (soondg@hotmail.com) is looking to challenge Democratic incumbent Tina Davis.
  • District 142: Democratic candidates Ritchie Webb (WebbForPA@gmail.com) and Gina Kiley (email?) are vying for the chance to challenge Republican incumbent Frank Farry.
  • District 143: As Charles B. Young is reported to have withdrawn, there is no Democratic candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Marguerite Quinn.
  • District 144: No Democratic candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Katherine Watson.
  • District 145: Democratic candidates Karen Chellew (email?), Jonathan McCartney (email?), and Brian Kline (bkline145@gmail.com) are vying for the chance to challenge Republican candidate Craig Staats (email?; Paul Clymer is NOT running for re-election.).
  • District 178: No Democratic candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Scott Petri.

May I ask,
Thank you.

Where the Incumbents Stand:

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Admitting Privileges, Pa's DOMA, "The Manhattan Declaration in Philadelphia", Rally for Religious Freedom, Pa Primaries, "The Pill Kills", "March for Marriage"

April 29, 1PM - Show Support for HB 1762 on the Main Capitol Steps in Harrisburg


Kudos to Bucks County's Rep Paul Clymer, who joined in introducing H.B. 1762Click to Email a request that Representatives DiGirolamo, Galloway, and Watson (who are believed to be pro life) join Representative Clymer (& DiGirolamo?) as co-sponsors of HB 1762, and that they reintroduce Ultrasound Legislation.  While supporting HB 1762, our Catholic hospitals must disassociate themselves from those who market in abortifacients/ contraceptives, IVF specialists, and specialists in "selective reduction" (a euphemism for abortion).  

"I Support Marriage and Pennsylvania's DOMA."

"Gov. Tom Corbett on Monday night filed a request in federal court asking U.S. Middle District Judge John Jones to hand down a summary judgment in lieu of a trial, which had been set for June 9.  Corbett's motion, filed by attorney William Lamb, who is representing the Commonwealth in the case, concludes that the 1996 Pennsylvania Marriage Law passes constitutional muster under the applicable rational basis review, and for that reason, Jones should rule in favor of the state.  Corbett’s request came just hours after attorneys for the 11 couples challenging the state Defense of Marriage Act on Monday filed a similar motion. Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union are among those representing the plaintiffs.  Jones is not expected to decide on whether he will rule on the case without a trial until after May 12" (Ivey DeJesus, pennlive.com, 4/22/14).  The Pennsylania Catholic Conference has a special site, to facilitate messages to Governor Corbett: "I Support Marriage and Pennsylvania's DOMA."

May 2, 5:30PM - "The Manhattan Declaration in Philadelphia"

"Join His Excellency, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia...an interfaith prayer service, and a religious liberty forum" (See http://www.cvent.com/events/the-manhattan-declaration-in-philadelphia/event-summary-c6058bc5b5df4eb1bf97f6c060f505d9.aspx.).

May 8 - Rally for Religious Freedom -- US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, 333 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 

Please see materials from Priests for Life: http://www.priestsforlife.org/hhsmandate/rally-talking-points.pdf

May 20 - Primaries in Pennsylvania


In addition to Gov. Corbett / Lt. Gov. Cawley and all senators / representatives representing Bucks County in Harrisburg, Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick is up for re-election in 2014 (See More on the May 20th primaries....).  What can you do to advocate for the sanctity of human life and marriage/family among our incumbents?   
  1. The Pa Catholic Conference supports SB 75 [to stop Human Trafficking], as well as Marriage and Pennsylvania's DOMA.  The Pa Catholic Conference has also described how the Pa ''House of Representatives passed House Bill 587 to increase the penalty for those who commit the crime of impersonating a doctor of medicine.'' The Pa Catholic Conference OPPOSES HB 162 and HB 300 / SB 300. You can click to Email Gov. Corbett and all of Bucks County's incumbent representatives and senators (i.e., Rep. Clymer, Rep. Davis, Rep. DiGirolomo, Rep. Farry, Rep. Galloway, Rep. O'Neill, Rep. Petri, Rep. Quinn, Rep. Santarsiero, Rep. Watson, Sen. Greenleaf, Sen. McIlhinney, Sen. Mensch, and Sen. Tomlinson) on these matters.
  2. As mentioned earlier, you can Click to Email a request that Representatives DiGirolamo, Galloway, and Watson (who are believed to be pro life) join Representative Clymer (and Rep DiGirolamo???) as co-sponsors of Admitting Privileges Legislation (HB 1762), and that they reintroduce Ultrasound Legislation.
  3. As per the Pennsylvania Family Council, "Tell Your State Lawmakers: 'Please do NOT support Planned Parenthood.'"
  4. Click to Email Gov. Corbett and all of Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg, asking that they support Chloe's Law and OPPOSE SB 872.  Chloe's Law is meant to battle the silent genocide of pre-born children with Down Syndrome (http://tinyurl.com/HelpChloe).  SB 872 would mirror poorly advised legislation from California (which the U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to review) and New Jersey. 
  5. As per the 4/25/14 Philadelphia Inquirer, Mike "Fitzpatrick says this will be his last run for Congress." We need Mike Fitzpatrick to unapologetically co-sponsor/support HR 3279, HJRes51, HR3133, HR3829, and HR 1091.  We need him to clearly OPPOSE HR1755, HR2278, and Planned Parenthood!  We need him to stand tall and come out in defense of marriage/family.  Click to Email Rep. Fitzpatrick on these and related matters. 
 

June 7 - "The Pill Kills"

Even dedicated pro life people make the mistake of hugely underestimating abortion numbers. When you count abortions from chemical and mechanical methods, there have been 308,000,000 in the United States, since Roe v. Wade (cf, Pharmacists for Life International )!  Oftentimes, products that are marketed as "contraceptives" can work in abortifacient manners.  For example, all hormonal "contraceptives" can work as abortifacients - not just Plan B. On June 7, the American Life League's STOPP International, is urging law-abiding, peaceful, prayerful local efforts to focus "on the death and damage heaped upon women and babies by [so-called] contraceptives" (cf., http://www.stopp.org/article.php?id=13684). In addition to all those local pharmacies (including those in department stores and supermarkets) selling abortifacients/contraceptives, 2 of the world's "leading" manufacturers of "the Pill" are headquartered in our own backyard: Teva of North Wales and Wyeth of St. Davids (See http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search and www.thepill.com.).


June 19 - March for Marriage

The Catholic Church proclaims the truth, that "The origin of human life has its authentic context in marriage and the family, where it is generated in an act which expresses the reciprocal love between a man and a woman" (Dignitas Personae, 9/8/08).  The rights of kids to a mom and dad (married to each other) was also the message of the 2013 March for Marriage.  This is a social justice issue - a civil rights issue.  It takes nothing away from the heroic struggle of "single parents" abandoned by spouses, to acknowledge that:

  1. children have the right to both a mom and a dad, and 
  2. children have the right for their mom and dad to be married to each other
Info about the 2014 March for Marriage is available from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/march-for-marriage#home.  Info from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is available at www.marriagemarch.orgPope Francis has continued to proclaim the timeless truth about marriage and family.


Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Gov. Corbett and DOMA

"Gov. Tom Corbett on Monday night filed a request in federal court asking U.S. Middle District Judge John Jones to hand down a summary judgment in lieu of a trial, which had been set for June 9.  Corbett's motion, filed by attorney William Lamb, who is representing the Commonwealth in the case, concludes that the 1996 Pennsylvania Marriage Law passes constitutional muster under the applicable rational basis review, and for that reason, Jones should rule in favor of the state.  Corbett’s request came just hours after attorneys for the 11 couples challenging the state Defense of Marriage Act on Monday filed a similar motion. Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union are among those representing the plaintiffs.  Jones is not expected to decide on whether he will rule on the case without a trial until after May 12" (Ivey DeJesus, pennlive.com, 4/22/14).

The Pennsylania Catholic Conference has a special site, to facilitate messages to Governor Corbett: "I Support Marriage and Pennsylvania's DOMA."





Monday, April 21, 2014

"Go back to Galilee, without fear!"

As per the Holy Father's Easter Vigil homily,

"The Gospel of the resurrection of Jesus Christ begins with the journey of the women to the tomb at dawn on the day after the Sabbath.  They go to the tomb to honour the body of the Lord, but they find it open and empty.  A mighty angel says to them: 'Do not be afraid!' (Mt 28:5) and orders them to go and tell the disciples: 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee' (v. 7).  The women quickly depart and on the way Jesus himself meets them and says: 'Do not fear; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me' (v. 10). 'Do not be afraid', 'do not fear':  these are words that encourage us to open our hearts to receive the message.

"After the death of the Master, the disciples had scattered; their faith had been utterly shaken, everything seemed over, all their certainties had crumbled and their hopes had died.  But now that message of the women, incredible as it was, came to them like a ray of light in the darkness.  The news spread: Jesus is risen as he said.  And then there was his command to go to Galilee; the women had heard it twice, first from the angel and then from Jesus himself: 'Let them go to Galilee; there they will see me'. 'Do not fear' and 'go to Galilee'....
"each of us can ask: What is my Galilee?  I need to remind myself, to go back and remember.  Where is my Galilee?....

"The Gospel is very clear: we need to go back there, to see Jesus risen, and to become witnesses of his resurrection.  This is not to go back in time; it is not a kind of nostalgia.  It is returning to our first love, in order to receive the fire which Jesus has kindled in the world and to bring that fire to all people, to the very ends of the earth.  Go back to Galilee, without fear!"


So, of what are we afraid?


Jesus' ressurection - the most important event in history - went underreported 2000 years ago and continues to be underreported, denied, and misunderstood.  God became man, died on a cross, and rose on the third day.   He tells us to announce His good news to the world.  We should be afraid of nothing!!!


No reasonable person can deny that Jesus was an historical figure – a great moral figure, to say the absolute least. Yet, He made the incredible claim to be God!  Now, to claim to be God – if you are not God – disqualifies you as a great moral figure - it means that you are a charlatan or delusional. Jesus backed up his claim of Divinity with predictions – and fulfillment – of His resurrection from the dead (While the Church has not made a judgement, there are compelling reasons to think that the burial clothes described in yesterday gospel remain as a photographic love letter to us.). 

After Roman authorities killed Jesus, they did not want His followers to snatch up His body and immortalize Him. They fortified His tomb and stationed a guard, but it was empty on Sunday morning. To posit that Jesus' sheepish pals – most of whom went MIA on Friday – could have stolen and forever hidden His body makes no sense.

While estimates of U.S. abortions since 1973 frequently hover around 57 million (cf, www.numberofabortions.com/), Pharmacists for Life International reports 308 million (when chemical and mechanical means are properly counted).  Jesus' love abounds for each and every one of us - and for each and every one of those 308 million.  We need to go to Galilee and scream that from the rooftops!

Saturday, April 19, 2014

April 29, May 2, May 8, May 20, June 7, June 19

April 29, 1PM - Show Support for HB 1762 on the Main Capitol Steps in Harrisburg

As per the Pro Life Coalition of Pennsylvania, H.B. 1762 would require "abortionists to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion facility where they plan to commit abortions. Such a requirement provides some minimal assurance of the medical competence of a physician intending to commit abortions....Because of the medically incompetent background of many abortionists, such legislation has resulted in the closure of abortion facilities in other states" (NOTE: While supporting HB 1762, we should also demand that our Catholic hospitals disassociate themselves from those who market in abortifacients/ contraceptives, IVF specialists, and specialists in "selective reduction.").  Kudos to Bucks County's Rep Paul Clymer, who joined in introducing H.B. 1762!

May 2, 5:30PM - "The Manhattan Declaration in Philadelphia"

"Join His Excellency, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia...an interfaith prayer service, and a religious liberty forum" (See http://www.cvent.com/events/the-manhattan-declaration-in-philadelphia/event-summary-c6058bc5b5df4eb1bf97f6c060f505d9.aspx.).

May 8 - Rally for Religious Freedom -- US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, 333 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 

Please see materials from Priests for Life: http://www.priestsforlife.org/hhsmandate/rally-talking-points.pdf


May 20 - Primaries in Pennsylvania


In addition to Gov. Corbett / Lt. Gov. Cawley and all senators / representatives representing Bucks County in Harrisburg, Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick is up for re-election in 2014 (See More on the May 20th primaries....).  What can you do to advocate for the sanctity of human life and marriage/family among our incumbents?   
  1. The Pa Catholic Conference supports SB 75 [to stop Human Trafficking], as well as Marriage and Pennsylvania's DOMA.  The Pa Catholic Conference has also described how the Pa ''House of Representatives passed House Bill 587 to increase the penalty for those who commit the crime of impersonating a doctor of medicine.'' The Pa Catholic Conference OPPOSES HB 162 and HB 300 / SB 300. You can click to Email Gov. Corbett and all of Bucks County's incumbent representatives and senators (i.e., Rep. Clymer, Rep. Davis, Rep. DiGirolomo, Rep. Farry, Rep. Galloway, Rep. O'Neill, Rep. Petri, Rep. Quinn, Rep. Santarsiero, Rep. Watson, Sen. Greenleaf, Sen. McIlhinney, Sen. Mensch, and Sen. Tomlinson) on these matters.
  2. Click to Email a request that Representatives DiGirolamo, Galloway, and Watson (who are believed to be pro life) join Representative Clymer (and Rep DiGirolamo???) as co-sponsors of Admitting Privileges Legislation (HB 1762), and that they reintroduce Ultrasound Legislation.
  3. Click to Email Gov. Corbett and all of Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg, asking that they support Chloe's Law and OPPOSE SB 872.  Chloe's Law is meant to battle the silent genocide of pre-born children with Down Syndrome (http://tinyurl.com/HelpChloe).  SB 872 would mirror poorly advised legislation from California and New Jersey. 
  4. We need Mike Fitzpatrick to unapologetically co-sponsor/support HR 3279, HJRes51, HR3133, HR3829, and HR 1091.  We need him to clearly OPPOSE HR1755, HR2278, and Planned Parenthood!  We need him to stand tall and come out in defense of marriage/family.  Click to Email Rep. Fitzpatrick on these and related matters. 
 

June 7 - "The Pill Kills"

Even dedicated pro life people make the mistake of hugely underestimating abortion numbers. When you count abortions from chemical and mechanical methods, there have been 308,000,000 in the United States, since Roe v. Wade (cf, Pharmacists for Life International )!  Oftentimes, products that are marketed as "contraceptives" can work in abortifacient manners.  For example, all hormonal "contraceptives" can work as abortifacients - not just Plan B. On June 7, the American Life League's STOPP International, is urging law-abiding, peaceful, prayerful local efforts to focus "on the death and damage heaped upon women and babies by [so-called] contraceptives" (cf., http://www.stopp.org/article.php?id=13684). In addition to all those local pharmacies (including those in department stores and supermarkets) selling abortifacients/contraceptives, 2 of the world's "leading" manufacturers of "the Pill" are headquartered in our own backyard: Teva of North Wales and Wyeth of St. Davids (See http://contraceptive.ippf.org/search and www.thepill.com.).


June 19 - March for Marriage

The Catholic Church proclaims the truth, that "The origin of human life has its authentic context in marriage and the family, where it is generated in an act which expresses the reciprocal love between a man and a woman" (Dignitas Personae, 9/8/08).  The rights of kids to a mom and dad (married to each other) was also the message of the 2013 March for Marriage.  This is a social justice issue - a civil rights issue.  It takes nothing away from the heroic struggle of "single parents" abandoned by spouses, to acknowledge that:

  1. children have the right to both a mom and a dad, and 
  2. children have the right for their mom and dad to be married to each other
Info about the 2014 March for Marriage is available from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/march-for-marriage#home.  Info from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is available at www.marriagemarch.orgPope Francis has continued to proclaim the timeless truth about marriage and family.


While supporting HB 1762, we should also demand that our Catholic hospitals disassociate themselves from those who market in abortifacients/ contraceptives, IVF specialists, and specialists in "selective reduction."

Some are concerned that legislation such as HB 1762 would "force" Catholic hospitals to provide admitting privileges to abortionists.  Tragically, HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE physicians already have admitting privileges in many places (See Catholic Hospital Crisis.).  Did Catholic hospitals open themselves up to such situations by accepting federal funding

"In a similar vein to the way many churches have let the government buy their silence with tax-exempt status, federal statute makes hospitals’ compliance the price of receiving cash....religious hospitals will have to make a choice: take the money and admit the abortionists, or stand on principle and let the chips fall where they may" (In Admitting Privileges Fight, Wisconsin Churches Discover the Flip Side of Federal Funding, Live Action News, 8/15/13.).
Currently, there do not appear to be acknowledged abortionists with privileges at any hospital in the Archdiocese.  Yet even without acknowledged abortionists, it is scandalous as to who gets privileges at our hospitals:
    1) among OBGYNs with privileges, only one is on One More Soul's list of NFP only OBGYNs!

To recapture and retain Catholic identity, don't hospitals need to push themselves away from any funding trough that puts their ethics into compromising positions?  While supporting HB 1762, we should also demand that our Catholic hospitals disassociate themselves from those who market in abortifacients/ contraceptives, IVF specialists, and specialists in "selective reduction."  

Our Lord's Passion and "Cooperation"

How does the Pontifical Academy for Life explain "cooperation"?


The Pontifical Academy for Life goes on to remind us that "cooperation" does not only involve "what I have done" but it also involves "what I have failed to do":

It should also be noted that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services voices concern about scandal:

 

Friday, April 18, 2014

More on the May 20th Primaries....

Pa Governor Candidates (as per Ballotpedia):

Pa Lt. Governor Candidates (as per Ballotpedia):




http://www.buckscounty.org/docs/boe/reapportionmentsenatorgeneralassemblymap.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Pa Senate Candidates (as per Ballotpedia):


District 6

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:
  • Robert Tomlinson- Incumbent Tomlinson was first elected to the chamber in 1994.

District 10

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:

District 12

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:

District 24

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
  • No candidates filed for election.
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:
  • Bob Mensch- Incumbent Mensch was first elected to the chamber after he won a special election on September 29, 2009.


http://www.buckscounty.org/docs/boe/reapportionmentrepresentativegeneralassemblymap.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Pa Assembly Candidates (as per Ballotpedia):

District 18

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
  • No candidates filed for election.
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:
  • Gene DiGirolamo- Incumbent DiGirolamo was first elected to the chamber in 1994.

District 29

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
  • No candidates filed for election.
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:
  • Bernard O'Neill- Incumbent O'Neill was first elected to the chamber in 2002.

District 31

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:

District 140

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
  • John Galloway- Incumbent Galloway was first elected to the chamber in 2000.
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:
  • No candidates filed for election.

District 141

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
  • Tina Davis- Incumbent Davis was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:

District 142

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:
  • Frank Farry- Incumbent Farry was first elected to the chamber in 2008.

District 143

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:

District 144

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
  • No candidates filed for election.
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:

District 145

Note: Incumbent Paul Clymer (R) is not running for re-election.
Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:

District 178

Democratic Party May 20 Democratic primary candidates:
  • No candidates filed for election.
Republican Party May 20 Republican primary candidates:
  • Scott Petri- Incumbent Petri was first elected to the chamber in 2002.

Track Records for the Harrisburg Incumbents:













8th Congressional District (as per Ballotpedia):


Track Record for Mike Fitzpatrick

 




 

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