Fri, 01/20/12 – 15:21

Administration, HHS defy freedom of conscience, freedom of religion
The Catholic bishops of the United States called “literally unconscionable” a decision by the Obama Administration to continue to demand that sterilization, abortifacients and contraception be included …

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The bill for our failure to pass school choice over the past decade has come due
Fri, 01/27/12 – 9:13

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, who also serves as Chairman of the PCC, wrote about the action necessary to pass school choice in his weekly column,

 

“In the coming week I’ll be writing every state senator and representative in the territory of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to press them to support school vouchers. And I’ll continue doing it until vouchers pass. I hope my brother bishops and pastors across the state will do the same. More importantly: Our Catholic people need to do the same. Elected officials do listen, and they act when the noise gets loud enough. If nothing else, the crisis of Philadelphia’s Catholic schools is an unpleasant but finally very healthy wake up call. The bill for our failure to pass school choice over the past decade has come due. Now we’re paying for it.

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“To Hell With You”, “Anybody But Catholics” and other Reactions to HHS Mandate
Wed, 01/25/12 – 13:37

There has been much reaction to the recent HHS edict that will force Catholics to violate their conscience.
Bishop David Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh wrote, “It is really hard to believe that it …

Women’s Right to Know Act: Informed Pregnancy Decisions
Mon, 01/23/12 – 15:26
Women’s Right to Know Act: Informed Pregnancy Decisions

On the same day that thousands of pro-life supporters were marking the anniversary of Roe v. Wade by marching in Washington, DC, state legislators in Harrisburg were urging their colleagues to support life here in …

HHS Denies Rights of Conscience
Mon, 01/23/12 – 9:14

Thousands of our fellow Pennsylvanians are travelling to Washington, D.C., today to mark the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.  On Friday, the Obama Administration announced that it would not honor the request of millions of …

Pope Names Bishop Skurla Head Of Pittsburgh Archeparchy
Fri, 01/20/12 – 15:02
Pope Names Bishop Skurla Head Of Pittsburgh Archeparchy

Pope Benedict XVI has named 55-year-old Bishop William Skurla of the Byzantine Eparchy of Passaic, New Jersey, as Archbishop of the Byzantine Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.

Marching for Life? Three Ways to Pass Time on the Bus
Wed, 01/18/12 – 15:54

On Monday, tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians will head to Washington, DC for the 29th annual March for Life, marking the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.
How will you spend your bus ride? Here are three …

Say YES to a Woman’s Right to Know
Wed, 01/18/12 – 12:59
Say YES to a Woman’s Right to Know

The Women’s Right to Know Act (HB 1077), introduced in the Pennsylvania House, would give women the right to view an ultrasound of their babies. Women in Pennsylvania are not currently given this right, even …

School Choice: The Time Is Now
Thu, 01/12/12 – 11:45
School Choice: The Time Is Now

The recent announcements of the Blue Ribbon Commission in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are truly painful.  As those of you who have been working to pass school choice know so well, vouchers and an increase to the …

PCC Legislative Update – Fall 2011
Wed, 01/11/12 – 9:26
PCC Legislative Update – Fall 2011

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC) publishes its Viewpoint newsletter four times per year. This is the Legislative Update from the Fall 2011 issue.
The PCC supports the following legislation:

A Footprint of Faith: The Catholic Church in Pennsylvania
Mon, 01/9/12 – 16:53
A Footprint of Faith: The Catholic Church in Pennsylvania

Catholics have been living and worshipping in Pennsylvania since William Penn launched his “Holy Experiment” here in the 18th century. Every small town and large city bears the influence of Catholic culture. Cathedral spires are …

Abortion Statistics Released – Where’s the Outrage?
Thu, 01/5/12 – 13:14
Abortion Statistics Released – Where’s the Outrage?

About a year ago, when news was released about the Philadelphia abortion clinic of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, words like “house of horrors”, “shocking”, “murder”, and “intentional killing of babies” graced the headlines. The stories told …