Positions/Legislation advocated by the USCCB and the Pa Catholic Conf (Sunday, 9/21/14)

But first, an aside:  On Wednesday, pro-abortion and anti marriage/family Congresswoman Grace Meng introduced Father Joe Holcomb as the guest chaplain: 

"May our deliberations in this, the United States House of Representatives, bring about understanding, tolerance, and peace in our great nation and the world."  

Tragically, the House proceeded that day to pass a continuing resolution, keeping Planned Parenthood's pockets extremely well lined (cf, Breitbart News, 9/19/14)!

Is this what happens, when we fail to demand that our elected officials be true to their pro life / pro family words?  See http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2014/roll509.xml for the extremely disappointing votes of "pro life" representatives from the Philly area....

Positions/Legislation advocated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference

 (Click for an interactive chart on how public officials representing the Archdiocese are doing in D.C. and how public officials representing Bucks County are doing in Harrisburg, regarding  these positions/legislation.) 

• No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 7 / S 946) and
• Health Care Conscience Rights Act (HR 940 / S 1204;
  the Pa Catholic Conference also facilitates action on the Health Care Conscience Rights Act .),

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":

• OPPOSE the so-called Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act (HR 5051/S2578)

The USCCB urges us to advocate for support/sponsorship 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),  
• Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2014 (HR 5285 / S 2706),

The USCCB is

• OPPOSED to the misleadingly named Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S 815/ HR 1755, HRES 639, HRES 678).  

 The USCCB urges us to advocate for support/sponsorship of the

• Second Chance Act (HR 3465/S 1690), and the
• U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act (HR 4653)

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

• SUPPORT "just and compassionate immigration reform"  (The Pa Catholic Conference also facilitates support for immigration reform; No specific legislation is cited.)

 
With regard to state-level issues in Harrisburg, the Pa Catholic Conference OPPOSES

• HB 162 (NOTE: While ostensibly about giving adoptees full access to info about their birth parents, this blogger has noticed that HB 162 says NOTHING about access to info, 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!),
• the death penalty, and
• HB300/SB300 (The Pa Catholic Conference describes this legislation as "intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith." Governor Corbett (a Catholic) supports this legislation (cf., Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/19/13).  Scandalously, both HB 300 and SB 300 count Catholics among their co-sponsors!).

The Pa Catholic Conference SUPPORTS 

• 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.) and
• equal education funding. 

Other Positions/ Legislation of Great Concern:

Pa's SB 872, ''Prohibiting mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual under 18 years of age"

• The American College of Pediatricians and the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality are opposed to legislation like Pa's SB 872.  Montgomery County's Rick Fitzgibbons, M.D. has noted that "well-organized attempts are under way to attempt to block youth from being given both the appropriate scientific knowledge, and informed consent about: same-sex attractions, gender identity disorder, transsexual issues, the psychological needs of a child for father and mother, and marriage" (2/16/11).  On 9/11/14, a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld New Jersey's mirror legislation (cf., Associated Press, 9/12/14).