Saint Patrick, please intercede for us....

4th Sunday of Lent (3/22/20)

As of the early morning of Saint Patrick's Day (3/17/20), there have been 85 deaths attributed to Coronavirus in the U.S. and 4661 confirmed cases (cf, Johns Hopkins, 3/16/20).  As of yesterday morning, "At least 29 deaths have occurred from an outbreak at just one nursing home — the Life Care Center senior-living facility in Seattle.... At least 24 of those who have died had an underlying medical condition....

Deaths	State	Avg Age of Death
42	Washington	80.21
7	New York	76.33
6	California	75.60
3	Florida	75.00
2	Louisiana	55.50
2	New Jersey	61.75
1	Colorado	84.50
1	Georgia	67.00
1	Kansas	74.50
1	Oregon	70.00
1	South Dakota	65.00
1	Virginia	74.50 "

By way of comparison, "Between April 12, 2009, and April 10, 2010, the CDC estimates swine flu caused...12,469 deaths in the U.S. (Becker's Hospital Review, 3/12/20).  With God's help, the vast majority of the 4661 with Coronavirus will fully recover.

We can follow sensible guidelines and maintain perspective.  It strikes this blogger as over the top that any U.S. diocese would be canceling Masses (cf, Catholic News Agency, 3/16/20).  In a related context, Father Yoannis Lahzi Gaid has warned fellow priests of those "... who will certainly abandon the Church, when this nightmare is over, because the Church abandoned them when they were in need'" (Crux, 3/15/20)

PETITION:Puberty is Not a Disease! Ban transgender drugs and surgeries for minors.

Free Christian Pastor John Cao

International Concerns

• Protect Nigeria's Christians from Persecution.

National Concerns 

• STRIKE DOWN the "Abortion on Demand Act" [aka, the deceptively named “Women’s Health Protection Act of 2019”] (Susan B Anthony List) 

• URGE Pres. Trump: Enforce EXISTING Obscenity Laws (America Needs Fatima)

• Support the Heartbeat Bill, HR 3985 (cf, LifeSite)

• Give feedback to Senate on Born-Alive Survivors' Protection and Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act votes (Human Life Action)

• Support the Life at Conception Act

• Support the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act (cf, USCCB)

• Support S. 2590/HR 4934 The Dignity for Aborted Children Act (Human Life Action)

• Oppose the Misnamed Equality Act (Human Life Action)

• Opppose the Misnamed International Violence Against Women Act (cf, C-Fam)

• Oppose the Misnamed Do No Harm Act (cf, American Life League)

• Oppose HJ Res 79, as it is "intended to insert language into the U.S. Constitution that could invalidate any limits whatsoever on abortion, including late abortions, and require government funding of abortion"  (cf, NRLC) 
• "Reach out to your Senators and ask them to oppose the ERA[HJ Res 79]" (Family Policy Alliance 2/15/20 email). 

• Oppose the Misleadingly Named Medicare for All Act (cf., Politico)

• Urge the President and Congress to Maintain the Refugee Resettlement Program (Pa Catholic Conference) 

• Support S. 874, the Dream Act of 2019 (USCCB Justice for Immigrants) 

• Support S. 2394/HR2529, the New START Nuclear Weapons Treaty (USCCB) 

• NO to "the Shaheen amendment...[in] the Senate’s State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations bill" (Human Life Action).

The Commonwealth of Pa

(Pa Catholic Conference Legislative Review and Voter Voice)

• Act Now: Wolf's Budget Sends Taxdollars to Planned Parenthood (Pa Family Council)

• Support the Telemedicine Bill (SB 857) as passed by the Pa House (Pa Catholic Conf)

• Support the Perinatal Hospice Care Act (Pa Catholic Conference)

• Support the "Buyer Beware Act" (SB 60) to fight human trafficking (Pa Catholic Conference)

• Support the Fetal Remains Bill, HB 1890 (Pa Catholic Conference) 

• Support the "Heartbeat" Bill (Pa Catholic Conference) 

• Support the Down Syndrome Protection Act (Pa Catholic Conference)

• Please ask the governor, Pa Senate and Pa Assembly for a religious exemption for adoptions (Pa Catholic Conference) (See also the Pa Family Council link.)

• Call for Funding Increase for Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) (Pa Catholic Conference)  
• Please ask Governor Wolf to SIGN House Bill 800 on the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) (Pa Catholic Conference)

• Support school choice in the Harrisburg School district (Pa Catholic Conference), and ask for co-sponsorship of Speaker Turzai's bill (Pa Catholic Conference) 

• Oppose SB 614, SB 224, and HB 1404 (Pa Family Institute).

Pennsylvania March for Life [Harrisburg, 5/18/20] 

Pa ProLife Federation petition

The Garden State

• Support the NJ Pain Capable Unborn child Protection Act, A 1686/ S537 (http://protectviablebabies.com/take-action/)

• "Legislation (S2173/A3818) to remove a religious exemption and mandate immunizations for children....this legislation undermines parental rights and should be vigorously opposed" (NJRTL email, 1/10/20).