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

Sunday, April 30, 2017

P.S.

On the right side of the home page is a link to email the White House and Pa's congressional delegation:

  • Greetings President Trump and  Representatives Brady, Barletta, Boyle, Cartwright, Costello, Dent, Doyle, Evans, Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Marino, Meehan, Murphy, Perry, Smucker, Rothfus, Shuster, and Thompson, and Senators Casey and Toomey:   

    Please immediately defend religious freedom and conscience rights via an explicit Executive Order, as well as passage of the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act, the Civil Rights Uniformity Act, the Conscience Protection Act, and the First Amendment Defense Act.  Please defend the most vulnerable humans, via the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act and the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, as well as cessation of all public funding for Planned Parenthood.    

    I ask that you support the BRIDGE ACT and DACA Youth, and that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extend  Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitians. Please urge Israel to discontinue its Separation Wall in the Cremisan Valley, which drives a wedge between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.     

    We CAN ensure safety for refugees and host communities.  Our noble efforts at international assistance  must NOT be hijacked by those who naively believe provision of abortifacients/contraceptives is assistance!                

    Sincerely,


On the right side of the home page is a link to email to Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg:

  • Greetings: 

    Please expedite passage in the House of SB 3. Please co-sponsor/support SB 300, HB 250, and HB 643. 

    Please oppose Senator Daylin Leach’s bill to repeal Act 122 of 2011, SB 238, SB 361, and HB 111.

    As per the Pa Catholic Conference, please oppose ''proposals which seek to add 'gender identity or expression' and 'sexual orientation' to Pennsylvania's non-discrimination law. Simply put, this legislation is intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith.''  As per the Pa Catholic Conference's analysis, ''The positive, prospective changes in SB 261 will hold more abusers accountable for their crimes and will require all organizations, public and private, to improve their vigilance for keeping the children in their care safe. The Senate determined that amendments to allow retroactive lawsuits to be filed would be unconstitutional in Pennsylvania....Bankrupting my parish, Catholic school, or diocese today penalizes the wrong people for the crimes of the past.''  

    Sincerely,


We need to be authentic witness to the sanctity of human life proclaimed by Catholic medical ethics. 

http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/DzTInf3iLxHfSe


http://faithfulinthe8th.blogspot.com/2017/04/were-not-our-hearts-burning-within-us.html

Saturday, April 29, 2017

"Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way & opened the Scriptures to us?"

Federal Issues of Concern to Our Bishops




"The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Now it will be considered in the Senate....Urge our Senators to support H.R. 7 to permanently protect our tax dollars from paying for or promoting elective abortions."

Urge Congress to Enact the Conscience Protection Act of 2017! 
"The Conscience Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 644) has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Diane Black (R-TN) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and in the Senate (S. 301) by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)" (Urge Congress to Enact the Conscience Protection Act of 2017).

Tell Your Representative to Insist on Changes to the American Health Care Act 
"While the AHCA, laudably, restricts funding which flows to abortion providers and prohibits federal funding for abortion or the purchase of plans that cover abortion, it also makes changes that would result in loss of affordable coverage for those on the margins....[While it acknowledges that we should] "Retain the AHCA's life protections for the unborn"...[it notes that Congress needs to] "Add conscience protections for those who participate in the delivery or coverage of health care services and against mandates like the contraception and sterilization regulatory requirement from the DHS."


Say, Hasn't the Church Already Said a Few Things about Marriage/Family/Sexuality?

 Urge President Trump to Sign Executive Order Respecting Religious Freedom
"Religious freedom in America has suffered years of unprecedented erosion.  President Trump can correct some of this within the executive branch.  He can restore the federal government's respect for the religious freedom of individuals and organizations by signing an Executive Order that establishes a government-wide initiative to respect religious freedom."  The USCCB also supports Civil Rights Uniformity Act and the First Amendment Defense Act (cf., Marriage Unique for a Reason's March 2017 Newsletter,).
  • "The Civil Rights Uniformity Act would stop all references to the words 'sex' or 'gender' from being misinterpreted to mean 'gender identity' in Federal civil rights law" (Heritage Action, 9/16/16
  • "The First Amendment Defense Act...would bar the federal government from discriminating against individuals and organizations based upon their religious beliefs or moral convictions that marriage is the union of one man and one woman or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage" (USCCB)

 "The Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act (CWPIA) protects the religious liberties of child welfare service providers, including adoption and foster care agencies.  The Act would prohibit the federal government and any state that receives certain federal funding from discriminating against child welfare service providers on the basis that they decline to provide a child welfare service that conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions....The Inclusion Act has been introduced in both the House (H.R. 1881) and the Senate (S. 811)."

     

    Catholic Social Teaching/International Issues
    This blogger believes that communications about "international assistance" MUST specifically state that contraceptives/abortifacients are to be excluded from supposed "assistance."

    "An estimated 58,000 Haitians are at risk of having their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) terminated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). TPS allows these individuals to temporarily remain in the United States and support themselves legally while Haiti is being rebuilt.  Haiti is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Matthew, which struck in October 2016 and is said to be the nation's largest humanitarian emergency since the 2010 earthquake. Additionally, Haiti is plagued with a severe cholera epidemic and food shortages."

    "President Donald Trump has issued an Executive Order that has devastating impacts on refugee resettlement in the United States."

    Please Support the BRIDGE ACT and DACA Youth
    "The BRIDGE (Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy) Act, S.128/H.R. 496, was...introduced in Congress as a bipartisan effort to sustain the temporary relief from deportation and employment eligibility offered to youth through the Department of Homeland Security's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Under the BRIDGE Act, young people who came to the United States as children would maintain their eligibility to work and live in the U.S. without the fear of deportation and family separation so long as they meet certain requirements, such as showing a commitment to education or honorable service in our military and having no history of serious crime."

    Speak up for the 1% that does a world of good.

    "Much of U.S.-funded international poverty-focused humanitarian and development assistance, particularly through the Department of Labor's International Labor Bureau (DOL/ILAB), already combats this modern day slavery and reduces the risk of human trafficking. Therefore, I strongly urge you to oppose any cuts to the foreign aid budget."

    Help People Facing Hunger and Climate Change
    "I strongly urge you to protect poverty-focused international humanitarian relief and development assistance, including the Green Climate Fund."
     http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/mideastr.pdf

    Urge Congress to press Israel to stop confiscation of Christian lands in Cremisan Valley
     "Israelis should not have to live in fear of Hamas' indiscriminate rocket attacks on civilian areas. At the same time, Palestinians should not have to live in fear for their lives from air and ground attacks or to suffer the humiliations of occupation....In August 2015, Israel's Supreme Court granted approval for the building of a separation barrier through the pristine Cremisan Valley. The Cremisan Valley lies in the West Bank on the Palestinian side of the Green Line, adjacent to Beit Jala and Bethlehem. The separation barrier through the Cremisan Valley will have devastating effects for the local community, confiscating Palestinian agricultural and recreational lands of over 50 Christian families. This threatens the livelihoods of the remaining Christian community of Bethlehem....The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has long supported a two-state solution, secure and recognized Israel living in peace alongside a viable and independent Palestinian state. USCCB asks you to urge Congress to press Israeli authorities to stop the work on the Separation Wall in the Cremisan Valley."

    Urge Congress to help Syrian refugees
    "I urge you to protect funding for poverty-focused international humanitarian and development assistance....With more than 21 million refugees around the globe, now is not the time for the United States to retreat from our global leadership to protect and welcome refugees."

    State Issues/Pa Catholic Conference


    Prioritize Funding for Women's Primary Health Care
    "Health care facilities that provide a wide range of women's services should have priority for receiving our limited federal and state tax dollars over those that offer limited services and focus on abortion....Please support Senate Bill 300."

    Support Positive Reform for Sexual Abuse Statutes of Limitation
    "The positive, prospective changes in SB 261 will hold more abusers accountable for their crimes and will require all organizations, public and private, to improve their vigilance for keeping the children in their care safe. The Senate determined that amendments to allow retroactive lawsuits to be filed would be unconstitutional in Pennsylvania.  Regardless, it is definitely unfair to today's individual Catholics. Bankrupting my parish, Catholic school, or diocese today penalizes the wrong people for the crimes of the past."

    Support a Better Life for Human Trafficking Victims
    While the Pa Catholic Conference is supporting SB 554, the  fact that Senator Daylin Leach is one of its prime sponsors suggests that there should be careful assessment of  whether this legislation and its implications are truly consistent with Catholic teaching

    Invest in Success: Expand EITC and OSTC Scholarships

    End Brutal Dismemberment Abortions
    "To the best of my knowledge, all the other pro-life organizations in Pa. also support running S.B.3 in the Pa. House instead of H.B.77.  We wish to prevent another 'pride of authorship' stalemate in which the Senate will not run the pro-life House Bill and the House will not run the pro-life Senate Bill....Please contact the following Pa. House leaders and urge them to run S.B.3 in the House as soon as possible.
    Speaker Mike Turzai
    mturzai@pahousegop.com
    717-772-9943

    Majority Leader Dave Reed
    dreed@pahousegop.com
    717-705-7173

    Health Committee Chairman Matt Baker
    mbaker@pahousegop.com
    717-772-5371" (Pro Life Coalition of Pa, 4/21/17)

    Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Religious Liberty
    "proposals like these expose even more Pennsylvanians to discrimination based solely on their religious beliefs. Simply put, this legislation is intolerant and prejudiced against people of faith."

         

    State Issues/Pa Pro Life Federation

    Let your state Senator know you don't want your right to vote for judges to be taken away (2/16/17)

    Oppose HB 111 (3/6/17

    "House Bill 643, sponsored by state Rep. Matthew Baker (R-Bradford, Potter, Tioga Counties), would ensure that there are no time limits for prosecuting infanticide. The measure would also expand the window of opportunity for prosecuting illegal late-term abortions to five years after the alleged crimes occurred.  The legislation stems from recommendations made by the grand jury in abortionist Kermit Gosnell's 'House of Horrors' case....House Bill 643 is one additional legislative effort to ensure that the horrors of Gosnell are not repeated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" (3/13/17) 

    State Issues / Pro Life Coalition of Pa (4/21/17)

    • "PP's evils include the routine and extensive cover-up of sexual assaults against minors by failing to make legally required reports on the abortions that they commit on minors....our Legislative Director, Ted Meehan, has been attempting to persuade Pa. DOH Secretary Karen Murphy to take the proper corrective actions....A response from an assistant to Sec. Murphy indicated that DOH would not be taking any actions against PP.  So, Ted has led an effort to persuade members of the Pa. General Assembly to request certain records from the DOH that would indicate the extent of the failure of PP (and other abortion committers) to make legally required reports regarding suspected sexual assaults against minors.  Ted's efforts have resulted in a letter from Rep. Matt Baker to Secretary Murphy that requests these reports....Please ask your State House member to add his or her name to this letter....
      "Our organization has scheduled another Stand Up For Life Rally on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 from 11:00 AM-12:00 noon in our State Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg." 

    Additional Alerts

     
    http://faithfulinthe8th.blogspot.com/2017/04/were-not-our-hearts-burning-within-us.html


    Friday, April 28, 2017

    Do not ‘clericalise’ lay people, Pope urges Church (CatholicHerald.co.uk, 4/28/17)

    http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/04/28/do-not-clericalise-lay-people-pope-urges-church/

    Protect International Poverty-Focused Development Assistance! (USCCB Catholics Confront Global Poverty)

    https://secure.crs.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=984&_ga=1.257001293.730088847.1493373636

    Action Alert to DHS: Extend TPS for Haitians (USCCB Justice for Immigrants, 4/24/17)

    https://justiceforimmigrants.org/action-alerts/action-alert-dhs-extend-tps-haitians/

    Support Positive Reform for Sexual Abuse Statutes of Limitation (Pa Catholic Conference)

    https://www.votervoice.net/mobile/PACC/Campaigns/51481/Respond

    Prioritize Funding for Women's Primary Health Care (Pa Catholic Conference)

    https://www.votervoice.net/mobile/PACC/Campaigns/51952/Respond

    Pro-life leader to Trump: ‘Drain the freaking swamp,’ end Obama’s contraception mandate (LifeSiteNews, 4/27/17)

    https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pro-life-leader-trump-must-drain-the-freaking-swamp-to-end-hhs-contraceptio

    Thursday, April 27, 2017

    GOP legislators to Trump: You promised to protect religious liberty. It’s time to deliver (LifeSiteNews, 4/27/17)

    https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/gop-legislators-to-trump-you-promised-to-protect-religious-liberty.-its-tim

    Tell Your Representative to Insist on Changes to the American Health Care Act (USCCB, 4/27/17)

    https://www.votervoice.net/mobile/USCCB/campaigns/51970/respond

    Wednesday, April 26, 2017

    Sanctity of Life and Marriag/Family Update

    • BREAKING: Trump admin keeps Obama rule requiring Little Sisters of the Poor to pay for contraception ... for now (LifeSitNews, 4/25/17)
    •  Freedom Caucus endorses revised ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill (TheHill, 4/26/17) 
    • Freedom Caucus and Pro-Life Groups back Republican Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood, Repeal Obamacare (LifeNews.com, 4/26/17
    •  FW: PA Pro-Life Urges You to Protect Your Right to Vote (4/26/17)  
    • FW: National ProLife Event on Trump's 100th Day 4/29; DefundPP Pray and Protest; Hamilton NJ info (ProLifeEducators, 4/26/17)



    • Legal War Against Catholic, Christian Hospitals In Hands of United States Supreme Court (Thomas More Society)


    Federal Issues of Concern to Our Bishops

    There are current alerts for the White House:

    There are current alerts for our representative and senators in D.C.:

    On the right side of the home page are links to send a combined email to the offices of Pa's congressional delegation and the White House, regarding most of the above positions.

      • In addition, as per the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment/Human Life Action (an affiliate agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops), "the Senate passed the resolution of disapproval to override a rule change made late in the Obama Administration that prevented states from redirecting Title X family planning funding away from abortion providers like Planned Parenthood to community health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care. The House passed it in mid-February.... it is important to say, 'thank you' when a member votes for life as they often only hear criticism after a courageous vote. It is equally important that those who did not vote with us be aware that we are paying attention and that we expect better in the future" (https://www.humanlifeactioncenter.org/take-action).

    State Issues of Concern to the Pa Catholic Conference, the Pro Life Coalition of Pa, and/or the Pa Pro Life Federation

    • On the right side of the home page is a link to send a combined email to all of Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg:
      • In addition, as per the Pa Pro Life Federation,
        • Let your state Senator know you don't want your right to vote for judges to be taken away (2/16/17)
        • Oppose HB 111 (3/6/17
        • "House Bill 643, sponsored by state Rep. Matthew Baker (R-Bradford, Potter, Tioga Counties), would ensure that there are no time limits for prosecuting infanticide. The measure would also expand the window of opportunity for prosecuting illegal late-term abortions to five years after the alleged crimes occurred.  The legislation stems from recommendations made by the grand jury in abortionist Kermit Gosnell's 'House of Horrors' case....House Bill 643 is one additional legislative effort to ensure that the horrors of Gosnell are not repeated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" (3/13/17) 
    • Please also note that the Pro Life Coalition of Pa (4/21/17) supports 
      defunding PP in Pa. through the passage of S.B.300 in the 2017-2018 term.  The Pa. Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a vote on S.B.300 at its 10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 26, 2017 meeting.  The members of this Committee are

      Republican
      Scott Hutchinson (Chairman)
      John DiSanto (Vice-Chairman)
      David Argall
      Ryan Aument
      Patrick Browne
      John Eichelberger
      Kim Ward
      Joe Scarnati (ex‑officio)

      Democrat
      John Blake (Ranking Member)
      Jay Costa
      Art Haywood
      Vincent Hughes.

      Please urge constituents of these Senators to contact them and request that they vote for S.B.300....

      [Regarding the Dismemberment Abortion Ban, already passed by both chambers:]  To the best of my knowledge, all the other pro-life organizations in Pa. also support running S.B.3 in the Pa. House instead of H.B.77.  We wish to prevent another 'pride of authorship' stalemate in which the Senate will not run the pro-life House Bill and the House will not run the pro-life Senate Bill....
      Please contact the following Pa. House leaders and urge them to run S.B.3 in the House as soon as possible.
      Speaker Mike Turzai
      mturzai@pahousegop.com
      717-772-9943

      Majority Leader Dave Reed
      dreed@pahousegop.com
      717-705-7173

      Health Committee Chairman Matt Baker
      mbaker@pahousegop.com
      717-772-5371....
      PP's evils include the routine and extensive cover-up of sexual assaults against minors by failing to make legally required reports on the abortions that they commit on minors....our Legislative Director, Ted Meehan, has been attempting to persuade Pa. DOH Secretary Karen Murphy to take the proper corrective actions....A response from an assistant to Sec. Murphy indicated that DOH would not be taking any actions against PP.  So, Ted has led an effort to persuade members of the Pa. General Assembly to request certain records from the DOH that would indicate the extent of the failure of PP (and other abortion committers) to make legally required reports regarding suspected sexual assaults against minors.  Ted's efforts have resulted in a letter from Rep. Matt Baker to Secretary Murphy that requests these reports....Please ask your State House member to add his or her name to this letter....
      Our organization has scheduled another Stand Up For Life Rally on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 from 11:00 AM-12:00 noon in our State Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg." 

    Additional Alerts

     

    We need to be authentic witness to the sanctity of human life proclaimed by Catholic medical ethics. 

    http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/DzTInf3iLxHfSe

    Say, Hasn't the Church Already Said a Few Things about Marriage/Family/Sexuality?

    Catholic Social Teaching

    Legal War Against Catholic, Christian Hospitals In Hands of United States Supreme Court (Thomas More Society)

    https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/legal-war-against-catholic-christian-hospitals-in-hands-of-united-states-supreme-court/

    Freedom Caucus endorses revised ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill (TheHill, 4/26/17)

    http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/330681-freedom-caucus-endorses-revised-obamacare-repeal-bill

    Obergefell and the Apotheosis of Judicial Will (Crisis Magazine, 4/26/17)

    http://www.crisismagazine.com/2017/obergefell-apotheosis-judicial-will

    Freedom Caucus and Pro-Life Groups back Republican Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood, Repeal Obamacare (LifeNews.com, 4/26/17)

    http://www.lifenews.com/2017/04/26/freedom-caucus-and-pro-life-groups-back-republican-bill-to-defund-planned-parenthood-repeal-obamacare/

    FW: PA Pro-Life Urges You to Protect Your Right to Vote (4/26/17)


    From: Maria
    Sent: ‎4/‎26/‎2017 12:02 PM
    To: gallagher@paprolife.org
    Subject: PA Pro-Life Urges You to Protect Your Right to Vote

    Dear Pro-Life Leaders,

     

    The Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation urges you to protect your right to vote for appellate judges in Pennsylvania! House Bill 111 would take away that right and allow our pro-abortion Governor, counseled by a small, elite group of people, to appoint these judges rather than having them elected by a vote by the people.

     

    House Bill 111 could come up for a vote in the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee soon. Therefore, we ask you to contact the following pro-life members of the committee and urge them to oppose House Bill 111 because you don't want your right to vote for judges to be taken away!  

     

    Chairman Ron Marsico (R )-- rmarsico@pahousegop.com; (717) 783-2014

     

    Rep. Joseph Petrarca (D)-- jpetrarc@pahouse.net; (717) 787-5142

     

    Rep. Becky Corbin (R )-- bcorbin@pahousegop.com; (717) 783-2520

     

    Rep. Harold English (R )-- henglish@pahousegop.com; (717) 260-6407

     

    Rep. Barry Jozwiak (R )-- bjozwiak@pahousegop.com; (717) 772-9940

     

    Rep. Kate Klunk (R )-- kklunk@pahousegop.com; (717) 787-4790

     

    Rep. Jerry Knowles (R )-- jknowles@pahousegop.com;  (717) 787-9029

     

    Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R )-- TNesbit@pahousegop.com; (717) 783-6438

     

    Rep. Jeff Pyle (R )-- jpyle@pahousegop.com; (717) 783-5327

     

    Rep. Rick Saccone (R )-- Rsaccone@pahousegop.com; (717) 260-6122

     

    Rep. Paul Schemel (R )-- pschemel@pahousegop.com; (717) 783-5218

     

    Rep. Tarah Toohil (R )-- ttoohil@pahousegop.com; (717) 260-6136

     

    Rep. Jesse Topper (R )-- jtopper@pahousegop.com; (717) 787-7076

     

    Rep. Martina White (R )-- mwhite@pahousegop.com; (717) 787-6740

     

    Thank you for making these critical calls and sending these important emails!

     

    All the best,

     

    Maria V. Gallagher

    Legislative Director

    Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation

    www.paprolife.org

    717-541-0034

     

     

    FW: National ProLife Event on Trump's 100th Day 4/29; DefundPP Pray&Protest; Hamilton NJ info

    Pp

    From: prolifeeducators@aol.com
    Sent: ‎4/‎26/‎2017 2:27 PM
    To: prolifeeducators@aol.com
    Subject: National ProLife Event on Trump's 100th Day 4/29; DefundPP Pray&Protest; Hamilton NJ info

    Pro-Lifers of Central NJ (Mercer, Burlco) & Nearby PA (Bucks):
    Come to the National Day of Prayer & Protest to DefundPP
    Saturday, April 29, 10:00AM - 12:00 PM
    Hamilton Planned Parenthood @ 2279 Hwy 33, Hamilton, NJ 08690
    (Golden Crest Corp Center; across 33 from Saint Gregory the Great Church; near Foxmoor Shopping Ctr; wide sidewalks; lawn.)
    As of this mailing: DefundPP events happening at PPs in 148 cities -- including 5 here in New Jersey. <LIFE><

    NOTE: April 29 is Pres. Trump's 100th Day in office. This national Pro-Life Event serves to lobby Congress & the President to Defund PP in the Federal Budget... and any "Continuing Resolutions."
    It is also possible that there will be a "government shut-down" on April 29 unless Congress passes a Continuing Resolution.

    Okay to bring your own signs, flags, banners, etc -- or borrow one on location.
    Chairs & strollers okay. Line up Life Chain style along 33. :-)

    PLEASE: FORWARD this e-mail to your Pro-Life contacts in central NJ or nearby PA. Post basic info on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
    Hamilton Contact: Bob Pawson e-mail: ProLifeEducators@aol.com   National Info at protestpp.com

    NOTE: To UNSUBSCRIBE from this e-mail list, please REPLY with the word UNSUBSCRIBE inserted at beginning of Subject Line.

    Free to Serve (USCCB, 4/26/17)

    http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1100920568270&ca=c8591860-103e-4b7f-877a-daaed2c59835

    Trump admin keeps Obama rule requiring Little Sisters of the Poor to pay for contraception ... for now (LifeSiteNews, 4/25/17)

    https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-trump-administration-is-defending-obamas-hhs-contraception-mandate?utm_source=LifePetitions+petition+signers&utm_campaign=f4640ec9dd-Catholic_1_171_17_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c5c75ce940-f4640ec9dd-398671369

    Sunday, April 23, 2017

    Divine Mercy Sunday & the Sanctity of Human Life and Marriage/Family

    Federal Issues of Concern to Our Bishops

    There are current alerts for the White House:

    There are current alerts for our representative and senators in D.C.:

    On the right side of the home page are links to send a combined email to the offices of Pa's congressional delegation and the White House, regarding most of the above positions.

      • In addition, as per the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment/Human Life Action (an affiliate agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops), "the Senate passed the resolution of disapproval to override a rule change made late in the Obama Administration that prevented states from redirecting Title X family planning funding away from abortion providers like Planned Parenthood to community health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventive health care. The House passed it in mid-February.... it is important to say, 'thank you' when a member votes for life as they often only hear criticism after a courageous vote. It is equally important that those who did not vote with us be aware that we are paying attention and that we expect better in the future" (https://www.humanlifeactioncenter.org/take-action).

    State Issues of Concern to the Pa Catholic Conference, the Pro Life Coalition of Pa, and/or the Pa Pro Life Federation

    • On the right side of the home page is a link to send a combined email to all of Bucks County's representatives and senators in Harrisburg:
      • In addition, as per the Pa Pro Life Federation,
        • Let your state Senator know you don't want your right to vote for judges to be taken away (2/16/17)
        • Oppose HB 111 (3/6/17
        • "House Bill 643, sponsored by state Rep. Matthew Baker (R-Bradford, Potter, Tioga Counties), would ensure that there are no time limits for prosecuting infanticide. The measure would also expand the window of opportunity for prosecuting illegal late-term abortions to five years after the alleged crimes occurred.  The legislation stems from recommendations made by the grand jury in abortionist Kermit Gosnell's 'House of Horrors' case....House Bill 643 is one additional legislative effort to ensure that the horrors of Gosnell are not repeated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" (3/13/17) 
    • Please also note that the Pro Life Coalition of Pa (4/21/17) supports 
      defunding PP in Pa. through the passage of S.B.300 in the 2017-2018 term.  The Pa. Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a vote on S.B.300 at its 10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 26, 2017 meeting.  The members of this Committee are

      Republican
      Scott Hutchinson (Chairman)
      John DiSanto (Vice-Chairman)
      David Argall
      Ryan Aument
      Patrick Browne
      John Eichelberger
      Kim Ward
      Joe Scarnati (ex‑officio)

      Democrat
      John Blake (Ranking Member)
      Jay Costa
      Art Haywood
      Vincent Hughes.

      Please urge constituents of these Senators to contact them and request that they vote for S.B.300....

      [Regarding the Dismemberment Abortion Ban, already passed by both chambers:]  To the best of my knowledge, all the other pro-life organizations in Pa. also support running S.B.3 in the Pa. House instead of H.B.77.  We wish to prevent another 'pride of authorship' stalemate in which the Senate will not run the pro-life House Bill and the House will not run the pro-life Senate Bill....
      Please contact the following Pa. House leaders and urge them to run S.B.3 in the House as soon as possible.
      Speaker Mike Turzai
      mturzai@pahousegop.com
      717-772-9943

      Majority Leader Dave Reed
      dreed@pahousegop.com
      717-705-7173

      Health Committee Chairman Matt Baker
      mbaker@pahousegop.com
      717-772-5371....

      "PP's evils include the routine and extensive cover-up of sexual assaults against minors by failing to make legally required reports on the abortions that they commit on minors....our Legislative Director, Ted Meehan, has been attempting to persuade Pa. DOH Secretary Karen Murphy to take the proper corrective actions....A response from an assistant to Sec. Murphy indicated that DOH would not be taking any actions against PP.  So, Ted has led an effort to persuade members of the Pa. General Assembly to request certain records from the DOH that would indicate the extent of the failure of PP (and other abortion committers) to make legally required reports regarding suspected sexual assaults against minors.  Ted's efforts have resulted in a letter from Rep. Matt Baker to Secretary Murphy that requests these reports....Please ask your State House member to add his or her name to this letter....
      "Our organization has scheduled another Stand Up For Life Rally on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 from 11:00 AM-12:00 noon in our State Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg." 

    Additional Alerts

     

    We need to be authentic witness to the sanctity of human life proclaimed by Catholic medical ethics. 

    http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/DzTInf3iLxHfSe

    Say, Hasn't the Church Already Said a Few Things about Marriage/Family/Sexuality?

    Catholic Social Teaching

    Saturday, April 22, 2017

    FW: Pro-Life Mercer: DefundPP Sat April 29 10am-12pm Hamilton 2279 Hwy 33 (Pro Life Educators, 4/21/17)


    From: prolifeeducators@aol.com
    Sent: ‎4/‎21/‎2017 7:32 PM
    To: prolifeeducators@aol.com
    Subject: Pro-Life Mercer: DefundPP Sat April 29 10am-12pm Hamilton 2279 Hwy 33

    Pro-Lifers of Mercer County & Central NJ:
    Come to the National Day of Prayer & Protest to Defund PP
    Saturday, April 29, 10:00AM - 12:00 PM
    Planned Parenthood @ 2279 Hwy 33, Hamilton, NJ 08690
    (Golden Crest Corp Center; across 33 from Saint Gregory the Great Church; near Foxmoor Shopping Ctr; wide sidewalks; lawn.)

    PLEASE: Make copies of the attached INSERT / FLYER to hand out to friends at church or other occasions this week.
    FORWARD this e-mail to your Pro-Life contacts in central NJ or nearby PA. Post basic info on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
    ANNOUNCE at your church this Sunday 4/23.

    Hamilton Info: Bob Pawson e-mail: ProLifeEducators@aol.com
     
    Christian/Pro-Life Americans will once again gather at Planned Parenthood locations across America to call upon Congress & the President to "DEFUND Planned Parenthood" – and redirect taxpayer funding to comprehensive health centers which do not engage in aborting babies or harvesting & selling their body parts.
     
    In the wake of the horrific videos exposing these practices— and the recent filing by California's new Attorney General of vindictive, politically motivated FELONY CHARGES against the pro-life journalists whose undercover investigation exposed PP— Christians are standing up for LIFE and JUSTICE.

    FW: Help Fight PP in Pa; June 6 Rally (Pro Life Coalition of Pa, 4/21/17)


    From: Michael McMonagle
    Sent: ‎4/‎21/‎2017 7:01 PM
    To: Mike McMonagle
    Subject: Help Fight PP in Pa; June 6 Rally

    Dear Pro-Life Friends:

    I provide updates and calls to action on several topics, most of which concern resisting Planned Parenthood (PP) at the local and state levels.


    Obama's States-Must-Fund-Planned Parenthood Order Reversed

    On April 10, 2017, President Donald Trump signed H.J.Res.43 into law.  On February 16, the U.S. House of Representatives passed this legislation by a 230 - 188 vote.  On March 30, the U.S. Senate passed this legislation by a 51-50 vote with Vice-President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote.

    H.J.Res.43 reverses President Obama's order that prohibited States from defunding PP through the Medicaid program, which is the primary source of state and federal funding for PP.  President Barack Obama took this action in December 2016 in response to approximately 15 states passing such a prohibition.


    Please Help Defund Planned Parenthood in Pennsylvania

    I request your support for defunding PP in Pa. through the passage of S.B.300 in the 2017-2018 term.  The Pa. Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a vote on S.B.300 at its 10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 26, 2017 meeting.  The members of this Committee are

    Republican
    Scott Hutchinson (Chairman)
    John DiSanto (Vice-Chairman)
    David Argall
    Ryan Aument
    Patrick Browne
    John Eichelberger
    Kim Ward
    Joe Scarnati (ex‑officio)

    Democrat
    John Blake (Ranking Member)
    Jay Costa
    Art Haywood
    Vincent Hughes.

    Please urge constituents of these Senators to contact them and request that they vote for S.B.300.

    Reps. Paul Schemel and Judy Ward are planning to introduce similar legislation in the Pa. House.


    Please Join Local Protests of Planned Parenthood on Saturday, April 29, 2017

    Along with our public officials, we citizens also have a duty to engage in efforts to expose and defund this thoroughly evil organization.  We can fulfill this obligation by participating in the next Protest PP Day at a local PP.  www.protestpp.com provides the locations and schedule of these protests.


    The Status of S.B.3

    This legislation expands Pa.'s ban on abortion from 24-weeks gestation to 20-weeks gestation and bans dismemberment abortions with the same exceptions as Pa.'s current Abortion Control Act.  The Pa. Senate passed this legislation on February 8, 2017 by a 32-18 vote.

    S.B.3 is now in the Pa. House Health Committee along with H.B.77, which is a very similar bill.  Pa. House leaders will soon decide whether to run S.B.3 or H.B.77.

    To the best of my knowledge, all the other pro-life organizations in Pa. also support running S.B.3 in the Pa. House instead of H.B.77.  We wish to prevent another "pride of authorship" stalemate in which the Senate will not run the pro-life House Bill and the House will not run the pro-life Senate Bill.  Such a stalemate prevented the passage of Obamacare abortion opt-out legislation during the 2011-2012 term.

    Please contact the following Pa. House leaders and urge them to run S.B.3 in the House as soon as possible.

    Speaker Mike Turzai
    mturzai@pahousegop.com
    717-772-9943

    Majority Leader Dave Reed
    dreed@pahousegop.com
    717-705-7173

    Health Committee Chairman Matt Baker
    mbaker@pahousegop.com
    717-772-5371


    Planned Parenthood Expresses Concern Regarding Pennsylvania General Assembly

    An encouraging sign in our pro-life legislative efforts in Harrisburg is that PP, their abortionists, other Culture of Death representatives and their allies in the Pa. House and Senate held a rally on the steps of the Pa. Capitol on April 18, 2017 to promote opposition to S.B.3, H.B.77 and S.B.300.

    The speakers expressed the usual lies, distortions, embrace of deadly violence and abandonment of justice.  However, I believe that we can learn and apply two lessons from this Rally by our opponents.

    They expressed their advocacy for child killing with passion and without apology.  They also urged their supporters to engage in the most effective form of lobbying, i.e., meeting with and contacting their state legislators in their District Offices.

    Another encouraging sign was the visit of PP National President Cecile Richards and Gov. Tom Wolf to Warminster PP on April 20, 2017 to oppose "the attacks on women's health."  We should pray and work that 2018 Election results in a Pa. Governor with at least as much zeal for protecting children in the womb as Gov. Wolf currently demonstrates for killing children in the womb.


    Help Stop Planned Parenthood's Cover-Up of Sexual Assaults on Minors

    PP's evils include the routine and extensive cover-up of sexual assaults against minors by failing to make legally required reports on the abortions that they commit on minors.  A November 2013 Pa. Department of Health (DOH) inspection report of PP's center-city Philadelphia abortion chamber noted this deficiency.  I am attaching a copy of this report.

    Since then, PP has continued this non-reporting.  Thus, our Legislative Director, Ted Meehan, has been attempting to persuade Pa. DOH Secretary Karen Murphy to take the proper corrective actions.  These actions could include revoking PP's abortion license temporarily or permanently.

    A response from an assistant to Sec. Murphy indicated that DOH would not be taking any actions against PP.  So, Ted has led an effort to persuade members of the Pa. General Assembly to request certain records from the DOH that would indicate the extent of the failure of PP (and other abortion committers) to make legally required reports regarding suspected sexual assaults against minors.

    Ted's efforts have resulted in a letter from Rep. Matt Baker to Secretary Murphy that requests these reports.  I am attaching a copy of this letter.  Ted and I are assisting Rep. Baker in persuading other Pa. House members to add their names to this letter within the next week.

    Please ask your State House member to add his or her name to this letter.


    Tuesday, June 6, 2017 Stand Up For Life Rally in Harrisburg

    Our organization has scheduled another Stand Up For Life Rally on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 from 11:00 AM-12:00 noon in our State Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.

    Our June 7, 2016 Rally proved well attended and highly effective.

    Please attend and promote attendance at this Rally to advance its purposes, which are


    1. to promote participation in pro-life public policy advocacy by citizens throughout Pa.;


    2. to renew the zeal and effectiveness of those already involved in the pro-life movement in Pa.; and


    3. to persuade the Pa. General Assembly to pass the current pro-life legislative proposals.

    We have invited several prominent Pennsylvanians in law, medicine, disability rights and the clergy to speak along with leading pro-life members of the Pa. General Assembly.  Christine Flowers, Esq. has agreed to serve as our featured speaker.  Christine is an immigration attorney, radio talk show hostess, television panelist and newspaper columnist from Philadelphia who is an articulate, courageous and consistent advocate for protecting the sanctity of all human life.

    I expect that promotional materials for this Rally will be available within two weeks.


    Conclusion

    Thank you for reading this email and its attachments, and please take the requested actions.

    Best wishes,

    Mike McMonagle
    President
    Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania
    215-393-3610

    P.S.
    These requested actions are.


    1. Contact Pa. Senators on the Finance Committee and urge them to support S.B.300 to defund PP and other abortion committers in Pa.


    2. Contact the three identified Pa. House leaders and urge them to run S.B.3 in the Pa. House as soon as possible.


    3. Urge your Pa. House member to add his or her name to Rep. Matt Baker's letter to DOH Secretary Karen Murphy.


    4. Promote attendance at the Stand Up For Life Rally in the Pa. Capitol at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 6, 2017.

    Thank you,

    Mike McMonagle

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