"Labor Day gives us the chance to see how work in America matches up to the lofty ideals of our Catholic tradition" (USCCB Labor Day Statement, 2014)

The USCCB's "Alerts Central" (http://cqrcengage.com/catholicbishops/action) invites and facilitates action in support of the

• Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 51),
• Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), 
• State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024),  
• No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 7 / S 946),
• Health Care Conscience Rights Act (HR 940 / S 1204;
  the Pa Catholic Conference also facilitates action on the Health Care Conscience Rights Act .),
• Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2014 (HR 5285 / S 2706), and the
• U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act (HR 4653)
  "With 75% of the world’s population living in countries where governments or societies restrict religious freedom, the need to protect this vital human right is greater than ever. What is happening to Christians and religious minorities in Iraq is evidence of the dire circumstances facing many because of their faith. USCCB supports having the Senate pass H.R. 4653 as it represents the best option for extending the mandate of USCIRF for 5 years since it enjoyed strong bipartisan support when it passed the House on July 8, 2014. Since USCIRF’s mandate expires September 30, 2014, your Senator needs to hear from you to urge them to advance the bill to the full Senate for a vote. Tell your senator on the Committee to support quick passage of H.R. 4653. H.R. 4653 will strengthen USCIRF’s work to advance religious freedom by encouraging rapid appointments of Commissioners, increased access to relevant information, and further integration of religious freedom into U.S. foreign policy development and training. In response to the call of Pope Francis to promote the religious freedom of all, urge the Senate to pass H.R. 4653 so that USCIRF can continue its vital work to protect religious freedom around the world."
  

As per the USCCB, "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment....Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition, Justice for Immigrants."

• OPPOSE the so-called Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act (HR 5051/S2578)
• SUPPORT "just and compassionate immigration reform"  (The Pa Catholic Conference also facilitates support for immigration reform.)

Please contact Rep. Fitzpatrick, Sen. Casey, and Sen. Toomey, in support of HJRes51, HR3133/S1808, HR3829/S2024, HR 7/S946, HR940/S1204, HR 5285/S 2706, and HR4653 - as well as to OPPOSE HR 5051/S2578. 

On a state level, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "Current Alerts" facilitate messages of gratitude for the  

• Down Syndrome Prenatal and Postnatal Education Act (HB 2111/SB 1339) and 
• SB 75 (for battling human trafficking).   

It facilitates messages in support of  

• equal education funding,  and of 
• Marriage (This forms a message of encouragement to Theresa Gaffney, Clerk of the Orphan's Court of Schuylkill County, who is trying to defend marriage in Pa.  It would seem that sponsors of HB 1349. also merit our encouragement.)

It also facilitates message to OPPOSE  

• HB 162 (NOTE: While ostensibly about giving adoptees full access to information about their birth parents, this blogger has noticed that HB 162 says NOTHING about giving access to information, when one biological parent was a so-called "egg donor" or a so-called "sperm donor."  Privacy rights of biological parents who chose life could be overridden, while those playing God continue to have absolute protection!)
• HB300/SB300 (NOTE: The Pa Catholic Conference describes this legislation as "intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith." It should be noted that Governor Corbett (a Catholic) supports this legislation (cf., Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/19/13).  Also, both HB 300 and SB 300 count Catholics among their co-sponsors.), and the
• death penalty (i.e., contact to Gov. Corbett).
  

Please contact Gov Corbett, Lt Gov Cawley and all of Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg, to OPPOSE HB162, to OPPOSE HB300/SB300 and to SUPPORT Marriage.

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect" (Second Reading)  

(August 31, 2014: Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Didn't it all really begin with the ready acceptance of divorce?

As per Hillary White of LifeSiteNews,

"a brief glance at history will show that the frenzy of sexual disorderliness that so characterises our times did not start in the 20^th century at all. The first legal steps in creating the destruction we see today was the loosening of the divorce laws in the 19^th century....

"Pope Leo XIII, one of the towering figures of Catholic history, published the encyclical 'Arcanum divinae sapientia' (The Mystery of Divine Wisdom) on marriage in 1880....

"Paragraph 29 can perhaps give us a hint about the origin of the social catastrophe we currently find ourselves in. Leo clearly equates the protection of the family with the protection both of women and children and of the state. He writes, 'Truly, it is hardly possible to describe how great are the evils that flow from divorce'....

"Divorce, he said, supplies 'deplorable inducements to unfaithfulness' and harms the education and training of children, allows the 'breaking up of homes' and sows 'seeds of dissension' in families. With divorce, '“the dignity of womanhood is lessened and brought low, and women run the risk of being deserted after having ministered to the pleasures of men'.

"Because 'nothing has such power to lay waste families and destroy the mainstay of kingdoms as the corruption of morals,' divorce is 'in the highest degree hostile to the prosperity of families and States'....

"Given our current struggles with hyper-secularisation, it is interesting to note also that  Leo firmly attributed the attacks on marriage as a way of asserting the ultimate authority of the secular state against that of the Church....





“'Not only, in strict truth, was marriage instituted for the propagation of the human race, but also that the lives of husbands and wives might be made better and happier,' Leo XIII wrote in 1880. From such unions, he said, 'the State may rightly expect a race of citizens animated by a good spirit and filled with reverence and love for God, recognizing it their duty to obey those who rule justly and lawfully, to love all, and to injure no one'"

SOCIETY ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THE SANCTITY AND INDISSOLUBILITY OF MARRIAGE!

To a very large and tragic extent, we long ago - in practice - succumbed to

• treating marriage as though it were NOT indissoluble,
• separating the unitive and procreative dimensions of the marital act, and
• looking the other way from couples living in sin.

Our de facto acceptance of contraception, divorce/remarriage, and cohabitation set the table for Pennsylvania's surrender on the civil definition of "marriage."

By the way, aren't Catholic spouses - even with just cause - supposed to obtain the bishop's approval to separate?

In 2009, Mary's Advocates asked the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts "whether it was correct for the Church in America to continue ignoring Canons 1151-1155 and 1692 from the Code of Canon Law....Essentially, they say that before a husband or wife heads to the divorce court, they first need to head to their bishop. It's then up to the bishop to say whether a legitimate cause for separation exists" (Should couples get bishop's permission to separate?, Our Sunday Visitor, 5/13/09).  While I am unclear as to whether a response was received, it appears that - in practice - we have the cart before the horse.  In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, people are told that

• "Divorce is a reality for all people, even for Roman Catholics. The Catholic Church respects the validity of all marriages, not just Catholic marriages. There are divorced persons who seek to remarry in the Catholic Church. In such cases, the Church will consider the divorced marriage to see if someone entered the marriage with an understanding, ability or intention contrary to the Church’s teaching on marriage. This process, called a Declaration of Nullity, enables people to marry in the Catholic Church and enables Catholics to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church.
• "Before anyone can initiate a Process for a Declaration of Nullity, civil divorce for the marriage in question must be obtained and finalized. This completed civil document demonstrates for the Church that the marriage in fact has been definitively broken and is unable to be reconciled."

 

"How to start an annulment"!!!

What about reconciliation? 

As per Rev. Charles Zmudzinski, C.P.M., J.C.L., "[A]s a priest who has some pastoral experience with spouses in difficult marriages and some experience working in a marriage Tribunal, I do know that it is easy for a pastor or Tribunal official to succumb to a mindset that emphasizes the subjective happiness of the spouse who wants out of a marriage over and above the objective value of marriage for society and the Church and forget there is another spouse and in many cases children whose rights might be violated by resorting to the divorce-annulment option too quickly."  I am NOT a canon lawyer, but I have read each of the addresses to the Roman Rota by Saint Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, as well as Dignitas Connubii.  Especially with the relatively miniscule attention to marriage preparation and NFP instruction, I struggle to understand how advertising the possibility of annulments is in any way in keeping with authentic respect for marriage

If it were a good idea to have and to advertise annulment information sessions, why aren't there similar sessions on laicization and dispensation from religious vows?  Is there a subtle disrespect for the Sacrament of Marriage?   

The Vatican's Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage: presenting Catholic teaching in an unapologetic manner with  obvious belief that the Church has Good News for couples! 

If priests, deacons, and pastoral workers truly believe this Good News, they will refuse to shy away from presenting any "uncomfortable" truths. about marriage/family.  "The prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is reminding the faithful that the indissolubility of marriage is a dogma of the Church....With regard to the possibility of allowing spouses to 'start life over again' as the love between two persons 'can die,' he responded, 'these theories are radically mistaken'" (Cardinal Mueller Stresses Need to Correct Misunderstanding of Church's Teachings on Marriage, Family, 8/7/14).

The "Faith and Family Left"

The Pew Research Center's Beyond Red vs. Blue describes political types into which people fall, reminding us that voters do NOT fit into neat boxes: "Even in an increasingly Red vs. Blue nation, the public’s political attitudes and values come in many shades and hues" (See Political Typology Quiz.).  Now, if we assume that most candidates who identify themselves as pro-life and pro-marriage/family are Republican, one political type would seem to have great potential for crossing party lines to vote for those who are pro-life and pro-marriage/family:

• "The Faith and Family Left lean Democratic, based on their confidence in government and support for federal programs to address the nation’s problems. But this very religious, racially and ethnically diverse group is uncomfortable with the pace of societal change, including the acceptance of homosexuality and non-traditional family structures" (Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology, Pew Research Center, 6/26/14).

If "Faith and Family Left" voters do indeed cross party lines, what happens when candidates - once elected - fail to defend the sanctity of life and/or the sanctity of marriage/family?  

Our Elected Officials in Harrisburg: What They Have Failed to Do on Marriage/Family.

• As per the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "PA-Statewide-2010-Bulletin-Insert", Governor Corbett (R) supported "amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to define marriage as the union between one man and one woman."  At that time, Bucks County state Representatives Clymer (R), DiGirolamo (R), and Galloway (D) told the Catholic Standard and Times that they supported a marriage amendment.  






Fast forward to 2014, and Governor Corbett (R) balked at defending Pa's Defense of Marriage Act.  Clymer (R) is Bucks County's only representative co-sponsoring the Marriage Protection Amendment (HB 1349).

• As per the Pa Catholic Conference, "HB/SB 300...seeks to add 'gender identity or expression' and 'sexual orientation' to Pennsylvania's non-discrimination law....this legislation is intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith.  Changing the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) to protect people based on sexual attraction and behavior will jeopardize many churches and their charitable outreach....the law could also cause conflicts for private business owners with legitimate religious and moral concerns."





Of state representatives co-sponsoring HB 300, at least 27 were described by the Pa Pro Life Federation in 2012 as "pro-life" or ""leans pro-life" - including Galloway (D), Petri (R), Quinn (R), and Watson (R) from Bucks County. 

Of state senators co-sponsoring SB 300 (including McIlhinney (R) from Bucks County), Costa (D) and Stack (D) were up for election in 2012 and described by the Pa Pro Life Federation as "pro-life."

Governor Corbett has now indicated that he would sign HB 300/ SB 300.

Our Elected Officials in D.C.: What They Have Failed to Do on Marriage/Family.

• As per the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "PA-Statewide-2010-Bulletin-Insert" and the 2010 Catholic Standard and Times, Bucks County Congressman Fitzpatrick (R) and Senator Pat Toomey (R) were thought to support DOMA.  In 2012, Congressmen Fitzpatrick (R), Gerlach (R), and Meehan (R) were believed to support "pro family-life policies" (cf., 2012 General Voter Guide, Pro Life Union of Greater Philadelphia; 2012 Candidate Results, Knights of Columbus from the 8th Pennsylvania Congressional District).  Yet across Pennsylvania, at this time, only Congressmen Kelly (R), Pitts (R),  Rothfus (R), and Shuster (R) are co-sponsoring marriage legislation backed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

• As per the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "PA-Statewide-2010-Bulletin-Insert", Senator Toomey said that he opposed legislation to "make sexual orientation and gender identity or expression protected classes...equivalent to other protected classes." The USCCB later expressed concern that "ENDA [i.e., HR 1755 / S 815, the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act], if enacted, 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).  Senator Toomey as well as Senator Casey, voted for S 815!  Pa Catholics Bob Brady and Mike Doyle are co-sponsoring HR 1755!

Come November, some candidates who have betrayed marriage/family issues might very well remain  our best choices.  We may need to hold our noses and vote for them.  However, this is August, and betrayals of marriage/family have received exceedingly inadequate attention.  

To groups like the Faith and Family Left, it could easily appear that promises about marriage/family were merely "wedges" to snag votes.  When someone feels that they have been deceived / exploited, it is extremely difficult to regain credibility.

HR 4653 and the USCCB

As per the USCCB, "Protect International Religious Freedom by Passing H.R. 4653."

The USCCB's "Alerts Central" facilitates action on behalf of the Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 51), the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), and the State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024), as well as the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 7 / S 946), the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940 / S. 1204) and the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2014 (HR 5285/ S2706).

As per the USCCB, "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment" (NCHLA).  NCHLA is facilitating action to OPPOSE the so-called Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act (HR 5051 / S 2578).

As per the USCCB, "Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition, Justice for Immigrants."  You can send an "electronic postcard [to] your U.S. Senators and Representatives asking that they pass just and compassionate immigration reform legislation in the 113th Congress."

In addition to its "staggering loss of military lives," "8.9 million civilian casualties," and "50 million fatalities resulting from the influenza pandemic largely unleashed by the war,"  Jonah Goldberg recently maintained that World War I also led to

the Bolsheviks coming to power,
World War II,
mass murder by the Soviet Union,
the long enslavement of Eastern Europe,
the Cold War,
the career of Vladimir Putin,
problems in the Middle East from the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, and
"domestic spying, censorship, violent political intimidation of opponents and economic statism" in our own country.

Whatever the merits and deficits of Goldberg's perspective, we certainly live in a volatile world that seems to place increasingly little value on human life.  How do we bring the light of Christ to this troubled world?  "The persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq and Syria by the Islamic State has pushed Vatican diplomacy to add strong calls for international humanitarian intervention to its prayers for the situation.  The past week has seen the appointment of a papal enjoy to Iraq, a strongly worded open letter from the Vatican's dicastery for interrreligious dialogue, and an urgent appeal from Pope Francis himself to the head of the United Nations.  The Pope's decision to send an envoy to Iraq, in addition to its nuncio, shows the Holy See's desire to play a key diplomatic role in the region” (Vatican diplomacy focuses on humanitarian intervention in Iraq, CNA/EWTN News, 8/13/14)

[In response to whether he approved American bombing in Iraq, "to prevent a genocide, to protect minorities, including Catholics":] "In these cases where there is an unjust aggression, I can only say this: it is licit to stop the unjust aggressor. I underline the verb: stop. I do not say bomb, make war, I say stop by some means. With what means can they be stopped? These have to be evaluated. To stop the unjust aggressor is licit.  But we must also have memory. How many times under this excuse of stopping an unjust aggressor the powers [that intervened] have taken control of peoples, and have made a true war of conquest.  One nation alone cannot judge how to stop an unjust aggressor. After the Second World War there was the idea of the United Nations. It is there that this should be discussed. Is there an unjust aggressor? It would seem there is. How do we stop him? Only that, nothing more.  Secondly, you mentioned the minorities. Thanks for that word because they talk to me about the Christians, the poor Christians. It’s true, they suffer. The martyrs, there are many martyrs. But here there are men and women, religious minorities, not all of them Christian, and they are all equal before God.  To stop the unjust aggressor is a right that humanity has, but it is also a right that the aggressor has to be stopped so that he does not do evil" (Pope Francis, 8/18/14).

[In response to whether he was "ready to support a military intervention in Iraq to stop the Jihadists" and whether he would go to Iraq:] "I have responded to the first question. I am only in the agreement in the fact that when there is an unjust aggressor he is to be stopped....I am willing [to go there]. At the moment it is not the best thing to do, but I am ready for this" (Pope Francis, 8/18/14).

The Pa Catholic Conference's "Current Alerts"

Pass Immigration Reform [This forms a letter to the user's U.S. representative, asking that she or he "support a path to citizenship and to oppose the SAFE Act."  As the Library of Congress web site has numerous responses when you search "SAFE Act," it is unclear as to which "SAFE Act" is referred.]

Support Marriage [This forms a message of encouragement to Theresa Gaffney, Clerk of the Orphan's Court of Schuylkill County, who is trying to defend marriage in Pa.  Also meriting messages of encouragement are sponsors of HB 1349.  The USCCB has "Action Alerts" on the Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 51), the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), and the State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024)?  Of the Pa delegation to the U.S. House and Senate, Mike Kelly and Keith Rothfus are alone among Catholics in defending marriage (Click for details.).]

Thank You for Supporting Expectant Parents [This forms a message of gratitude to the governor for signing the Down Syndrome Prenatal and Postnatal Education Act.]

Support Equal Education Funding in Pennsylvania [This forms a message to the governor, as well as the user's state senator and representative: "....Please represent me by returning the nonpublic school textbook and auxiliary services line items to equal that of the public schools in the state budget."]

Respect All Parties in Adoption [This forms a message to the user's state senator to OPPOSE HB 162.  This bill is ostensibly about giving adoptees full access to information about their birth parents, but HB 162 says NOTHING about giving access to information, when one of the adult's biological parents was a so-called "egg donor" or a so-called "sperm donor."  Privacy rights of biological parents who chose life could be overridden, while those playing God continue to have absolute protection.]

Protect religious liberty and rights of conscience [Similar in intent to the USCCB's Protect Conscience Rights and Religious Liberty, this facilitates message to the president, vice president, Senator Casey, Senator Toomey, and the user's U.S. representative, in support of the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (HR 940/S 1204).  Of the Pa delegation to the U.S. House, only Lou Barletta, Mike Fitzpatrick, Mike Kelly, Tom Marino, Tim Murphy, Scott Perry, Keith Rothfus, Bill Schuster, and Glenn Thompson are co-sponsors of HR 940 (Those who have NOT signed on include four Catholics: Bob Brady, Matt Cartwright, Mike Doyle, and Pat Meehan.).  While both Senator Casey and Senator Toomey are Catholic, only Toomey is co-sponsoring S 1204 (cf., Library of Congress web site).] 

Thank You For Your Vote Against Human Trafficking [This facilitates a message of gratitude to the governor, as well as the user's state senator and representative.]

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Religious Liberty [This forms a message to OPPOSE HB300/SB300, which is described as "intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith." The message goes to the governor (a Catholic), who supports this legislation (cf., Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/19/13).  It also goes to the lt. governor (a Catholic), as well as the user's state senator and representative.  In addition to the governor's support, both HB 300 and SB 300 count Catholics among their co-sponsors.]

Death Penalty: Choose Life [This link facilitates a message to the governor to OPPOSE the death penalty.]

Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper

The Holy Father on today's return flight from Korea: "it is licit to stop the unjust aggressor. I underline the verb: stop. I do not say bomb, make war"

From the text of Pope Francis' Press Conference on today's return flight from Korea (as translated/reported by America Magazine)....

Q. You know that recently the U.S. forces have started bombing the terrorists in Iraq, to prevent a genocide, to protect minorities, including Catholics who are under your guidance. My question is this: do you approve the American bombing?

A. Thanks for such a clear question. In these cases where there is an unjust aggression, I can only say this: it is licit to stop the unjust aggressor. I underline the verb: stop. I do not say bomb, make war, I say stop by some means. With what means can they be stopped? These have to be evaluated. To stop the unjust aggressor is licit.

But we must also have memory. How many times under this excuse of stopping an unjust aggressor the powers [that intervened] have taken control of peoples, and have made a true war of conquest.

One nation alone cannot judge how to stop an unjust aggressor. After the Second World War there was the idea of the United Nations. It is there that this should be discussed. Is there an unjust aggressor? It would seem there is. How do we stop him? Only that, nothing more.

Secondly, you mentioned the minorities. Thanks for that word because they talk to me about the Christians, the poor Christians. It’s true, they suffer. The martyrs, there are many martyrs. But here there are men and women, religious minorities, not all of them Christian, and they are all equal before God.

To stop the unjust aggressor is a right that humanity has, but it is also a right that the aggressor has to be stopped so that he does not do evil.

Q.  To return to Iraq. Like Cardinal Filoni and the head of the Dominicans, would you be ready to support a military intervention in Iraq to stop the Jihadists? And I have another question: do you think of going one day to Iraq, perhaps to Kurdistan to sustain the Christian refugees who wait for you, and to pray with them in this land where they have lived for 2,000 years?

A.  Not long ago I was with the Governor of Kurdistan, Minister Nechirvan Barzani. He had very clear ideas about the situation and how to find solutions, but that was before this unjust aggression.

I have responded to the first question. I am only in the agreement in the fact that when there is an unjust aggressor he is to be stopped.

Yes, I am willing [to go there]. But I think I can say this, when we heard with my collaborators about the killings of the religious minorities, the problem at that moment in Kurdistan was that they could not receive so many people. It’s a problem that one can understand. What can be done? We thought about many things. First  of all a communique was issued by Fr. Lombardi in my name.  Afterwards that communique was sent to all the nunciatures so that it be communicated to governments. Then we wrote a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations. Many things …. And at the end we decided to send our personal envoy—Cardinal Filoni,  and I said if it were necessary when we return from Korea we can go there. It was one of the possibilities. This is my answer. I am willing [to go there]. At the moment it is not the best thing to do, but I am ready for this.

pro marriage/family and pro life

It was recently noted that even "Churchgoing Christians who support same-sex marriage are more likely to think pornography, cohabitation, hook-ups, adultery, polyamory, and abortion are acceptable."  Being pro marriage/family and being pro life go hand-in-hand.  As per their "Alerts Central", the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops support the: 

• Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 51), 
• Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), and
• State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024).

In the House and in the Senate - whether Republican or Democrat - only Mike Kelly and Keith Rothfus are distinguishing themselves as Pennsylvania Catholics defending marriage:

"the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable"

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "Current Alerts" (http://www.pacatholic.org/) facilitate messages of gratitude for the  

• Down Syndrome Prenatal and Postnatal Education Act (HB 2111/SB 1339) and 
• SB 75 (for battling human trafficking).   

It facilitates messages in support of  

• equal education funding,  
• immigration reform, and of 
• Marriage.   

It also facilitates message to OPPOSE  

• HB 162,  
• HB300/SB300, and the 
• death penalty.   

The USCCB's "Alerts Central" (http://cqrcengage.com/catholicbishops/action) invites and facilitates action in support of the

• Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 51), 
• Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), 
• State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024), 
• No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 7 / S 946), and
• Health Care Conscience Rights Act (HR 940 / S 1204). 

"Three chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gave their strong support for the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2014" (USCCB, 7/31/14).  You can click a National Organization for Marriage link, in support of the

• Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2014 (HR 5285 / S 2706). 

As per the USCCB, "Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition, Justice for Immigrants."  You can send an

• "electronic postcard [to] your U.S. Senators and Representatives asking that they pass just and compassionate immigration reform legislation in the 113th Congress." 

As per the USCCB, "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment"  NCHLA is facilitating action to OPPOSE the so-called

• Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act (S 2578).

As per the Holy Father's 8/9/14 letter to the U.N. Secretary General:

• "It is with a heavy and anguished heart that I have been following the dramatic events of these past few days in Northern Iraq where Christians and other religious minorities have been forced to flee from their homes and witness the destruction of their places of worship and religious patrimony....I write to you, Mr Secretary-General, and place before you the tears, the suffering and the heartfelt cries of despair of Christians and other religious minorities of the beloved land of Iraq. In renewing my urgent appeal to the international community to take action to end the humanitarian tragedy now underway, I encourage all the competent organs of the United Nations, in particular those responsible for security, peace, humanitarian law and assistance to refugees, to continue their efforts in accordance with the Preamble and relevant Articles of the United Nations Charter.  The violent attacks that are sweeping across Northern Iraq cannot but awaken the consciences of all men and women of goodwill to concrete acts of solidarity by protecting those affected or threatened by violence and assuring the necessary and urgent assistance for the many displaced people as well as their safe return to their cities and their homes"

As per the Holy Father's 8/16/14 address to the Korean laity (Zenit translation):

• "Today, as ever, the Church needs credible lay witnesses to the saving truth of the Gospel, its power to purify and transform human hearts, and its fruitfulness for building up the human family in unity, justice and peace....all that you do is meant to advance the Church’s mission by ensuring that the temporal order is permeated and perfected by Christ’s Spirit and ordered to the coming of his Kingdom....At a time of great crisis for family life, which we all know, our Christian communities are called to support married couples and families in fulfilling their proper mission in the life of the Church and society. The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable them to be a beacon of goodness, integrity and justice in our communities....May you draw constant inspiration and strength for your apostolates from the Eucharistic sacrifice, wherein 'that love of God and of humanity which is the soul of the apostolate is communicated and nourished' (Lumen Gentium, 33)."

As per the Holy Father's 8/17/14 homily at the closing Mass of the 6th Asian Youth Day:

• "The martyrs of Korea – and innumerable others throughout Asia – handed over their bodies to their persecutors; to us they have handed on a perennial witness that the light of Christ’s truth dispels all darkness, and the love of Christ is gloriously triumphant....Do not be afraid to bring the wisdom of faith to every aspect of social life!....You are...able to discern what is incompatible with your Catholic faith, what is contrary to the life of grace bestowed in Baptism, and what aspects of contemporary culture are sinful, corrupt, and lead to death.....Let Christ turn your natural optimism into Christian hope, your energy into moral virtue, your good will into genuine self-sacrificing love!....It is by His mercy that we are saved."

From the Pa Catholic Conf, the USCCB, and the Holy Father....

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "Current Alerts" (http://www.pacatholic.org/) facilitate messages of gratitude for the Down Syndrome Prenatal and Postnatal Education Act (HB 2111/SB 1339) and SB 75 (for battling human trafficking).  It facilitates messages in support of equal education funding, immigration reform, and of Marriage.  It also facilitates message to OPPOSE HB 162, HB300/SB300, and the death penalty.  

(You can also Email Gov Corbett, Lt Gov Cawley and all of Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg, requesting OPPOSITION to HB162 and HB300/SB300, as well as support for marriage.)

The USCCB's "Alerts Central" (http://cqrcengage.com/catholicbishops/action) invites and facilitates action on behalf of the Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 51), the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), and the State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024), as well as the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 7 / S 946), and the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940 / S. 1204).   Also, "Three chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gave their strong support for the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2014" (USCCB, 7/31/14).  You can click a National Organization for Marriage link, on behalf of HR 5285 / S 2706. 

As per the USCCB, "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment" (NCHLA).  NCHLA is facilitating action to OPPOSE the so-called Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act (HR 5051 / S 2578). 

As per the USCCB, "Action alerts for issues related to immigration reform can be found through the USCCB-led Catholic coalition, Justice for Immigrants."  You can send an "electronic postcard [to] your U.S. Senators and Representatives asking that they pass just and compassionate immigration reform legislation in the 113th Congress."

You can also Email Rep. Fitzpatrick, Sen. Casey, and Sen. Toomey, requesting support/co-sponsorship on  HR3133/S1808, S946, HR3829/S2024, HJRes51, HR940/S1204, HR 5285/S 2706, as well as opposition to HR1755, HR 5051/S2578, and Planned Parenthood.

As per the Holy Father's message to the first Latin American Congress of Pastoral Care of the Family (8/4/14 to 8/9/14):

• "the family is a 'centre of love', where the law of respect and communion reigns and is able to resist the pressure of manipulation and domination from the world’s 'power centres'....the family constitutes a great and 'rich social resource' (cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, n. 44)....I would like to highlight two primary factors: stability and fruitfulness....In it [the family] is reflected the image of God, who in his most profound mystery is a family and, in this manner, He allows human love to be seen as a sign and presence of divine love (Encyclical Letter Lumen Fidei, n. 52). Within the family, faith is absorbed together with mother’s milk. For example, that simple and spontaneous gesture of requesting a blessing, which is cherished in many of our nations, perfectly reflects the biblical conviction according to which God’s blessing is passed on from father to son....May Our Lady of Guadalupe obtain abundant blessings from God for America’s families and make them fonts of life, harmony and robust faith, nourished by the Gospel and by good works."

As per the Holy Father's 8/9/14 letter to the U.N. Secretary General:

• "It is with a heavy and anguished heart that I have been following the dramatic events of these past few days in Northern Iraq where Christians and other religious minorities have been forced to flee from their homes and witness the destruction of their places of worship and religious patrimony....I write to you, Mr Secretary-General, and place before you the tears, the suffering and the heartfelt cries of despair of Christians and other religious minorities of the beloved land of Iraq. In renewing my urgent appeal to the international community to take action to end the humanitarian tragedy now underway, I encourage all the competent organs of the United Nations, in particular those responsible for security, peace, humanitarian law and assistance to refugees, to continue their efforts in accordance with the Preamble and relevant Articles of the United Nations Charter.  The violent attacks that are sweeping across Northern Iraq cannot but awaken the consciences of all men and women of goodwill to concrete acts of solidarity by protecting those affected or threatened by violence and assuring the necessary and urgent assistance for the many displaced people as well as their safe return to their cities and their homes"

As per the Holy Father's 8/16/14 address to the Korean laity (Zenit translation):

• "Today, as ever, the Church needs credible lay witnesses to the saving truth of the Gospel, its power to purify and transform human hearts, and its fruitfulness for building up the human family in unity, justice and peace....all that you do is meant to advance the Church’s mission by ensuring that the temporal order is permeated and perfected by Christ’s Spirit and ordered to the coming of his Kingdom....At a time of great crisis for family life, which we all know, our Christian communities are called to support married couples and families in fulfilling their proper mission in the life of the Church and society. The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable them to be a beacon of goodness, integrity and justice in our communities....May you draw constant inspiration and strength for your apostolates from the Eucharistic sacrifice, wherein 'that love of God and of humanity which is the soul of the apostolate is communicated and nourished' (Lumen Gentium, 33)."

"Observe what is right, do what is just" (8/17/14)

"Churchgoing Christians who support same-sex marriage are more likely to think pornography, cohabitation, hook-ups, adultery, polyamory, and abortion are acceptable. And it’s reasonable to expect continued change in more permissive directions"
 (http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2014/08/13667/)

"I've spent most of the day today reading all the tidal wave of apologetics for suicide that this has sponsored. Even in the feeds of people, pro-life activists, who should decidedly know better. I'm more than ready to give Robin the benefit of the doubt. The guy was clearly troubled, and it's not up to me to decide who's in hell. But Catholics need to understand that they also don't get to decide who isn't" (http://anglocath.blogspot.com/?m=1).

"Though Christians in the Middle East may die of martyrdom Christians in the US will have their own heavy price to pay... it is only love will conquer the tyranny built on the sexual gone wrong. Every wronged spouse knows that. Every former porn addict knows that. America will learn it all over again … but only from those who love... a new type of soldier is emerging: the one pledged to chaste love. How medieval. Maybe history is about to repeat itself"
(http://frcblog.com/2014/08/roof-falling/).

Pope Francis to UN Secretary General

"It is with a heavy and anguished heart that I have been following the dramatic events of these past few days in Northern Iraq where Christians and other religious minorities have been forced to flee from their homes and witness the destruction of their places of worship and religious patrimony. Moved by their plight, I have asked His Eminence Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, who served as the Representative of my predecessors, Pope St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, to the people in Iraq, to manifest my spiritual closeness and to express my concern, and that of the entire Catholic Church, for the intolerable suffering of those who only wish to live in peace, harmony and freedom in the land of their forefathers.

"In the same spirit, I write to you, Mr Secretary-General, and place before you the tears, the suffering and the heartfelt cries of despair of Christians and other religious minorities of the beloved land of Iraq. In renewing my urgent appeal to the international community to take action to end the humanitarian tragedy now underway, I encourage all the competent organs of the United Nations, in particular those responsible for security, peace, humanitarian law and assistance to refugees, to continue their efforts in accordance with the Preamble and relevant Articles of the United Nations Charter.

"The violent attacks that are sweeping across Northern Iraq cannot but awaken the consciences of all men and women of goodwill to concrete acts of solidarity by protecting those affected or threatened by violence and assuring the necessary and urgent assistance for the many displaced people as well as their safe return to their cities and their homes. The tragic experiences of the Twentieth Century, and the most basic understanding of human dignity, compels the international community, particularly through the norms and mechanisms of international law, to do all that it can to stop and to prevent further systematic violence against ethnic and religious minorities.

"Confident that my appeal, which I unite with those of the Oriental Patriarchs and other religious leaders, will meet with a positive reply, I take this opportunity to renew to your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration. "

(http://m.vatican.va/content/francescomobile/en/letters/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140809_lettera-ban-ki-moon-iraq.html
).

Support Federal and State Protections for Marriage, Human Life, and Conscience Rights.

The USCCB's "Alerts Central" (http://cqrcengage.com/catholicbishops/action) invites and facilitates action on behalf of the Marriage Protection Amendment (HJ Res 51), the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (HR 3133 / S 1808), and the State Marriage Defense Act (HR 3829 / S 2024), as well as the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 7 / S 946), and the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940 / S. 1204).   Also, "Three chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gave their strong support for the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2014" (USCCB, 7/31/14).  You can click a National Organization for Marriage link, on behalf of HR 5285 / S 2706. 

As per the USCCB, "Action alerts for pro-life issues can also be found through our partner organization, the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment" (NCHLA).  NCHLA is facilitating action to OPPOSE the so-called Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act (HR 5051 / S 2578). 

You can also Email Rep. Fitzpatrick, Sen. Casey, and Sen. Toomey, requesting support/co-sponsorship on  HR3133/S1808, S946, HR3829/S2024, HJRes51, HR940/S1204, HR 5285/S 2706, as well as opposition to HR1755, HR 5051/S2578, and Planned Parenthood.


The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference's "Current Alerts" (http://www.pacatholic.org/) facilitates messages of gratitude for the Down Syndrome Prenatal and Postnatal Education Act (HB 2111/SB 1339) and SB 75 (for battling human trafficking).  It also facilitates message to OPPOSE HB 162, HB300/SB300, and the death penalty.  It facilitates messages in support of equal education funding and of Marriage.  

You can also Email Gov Corbett, Lt Gov Cawley and all of Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg, requesting OPPOSITION to HB162 and HB300/SB300, as well as support for marriage.