The PCC Social Concerns Department monitors pro-life, social justice, and family-life issues and helps diocesan Catholic Charities agencies by monitoring legislation and regulations that affect them and the services they offer. It advocates on behalf of low-income and other needy population groups. The department expects to track these and other issues in the 2011-2012 legislative session:
- Oppose attempts to weaken Pennsylvania’s Abortion Control Act.
- Support positive pro-life initiatives intended to provide additional protections for unborn children, especially passage of a bill prohibiting the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortion.
- Continue to oppose embryonic stem cell research while advocating in support of using adult stem cells for treatment purposes.
- Support state/federal funding for Real Alternatives, Inc.
- Support appropriate capital punishment legislation.
- Support a moratorium on the death penalty in Pennsylvania.
- Oppose efforts to weaken or eliminate access to confidential birth records in adoption proceedings.
- Monitor legislation and regulations governing adoption services.
- Monitor legislation, regulations and policies affecting Catholic social service agencies.
- Continue to review and support as needed legislation intended to help low-income Pennsylvanians, those in need, and the disabled.
- Support an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution banning same-sex marriage.
- Review legislation providing protections under law based upon one’s sexual orientation.
- Continue to work with the statewide Coalition for Low Income Pennsylvanians (CLIP).
- Review legislation dealing with immigration reform.
- Monitor welfare reform legislation.
- Continue to support the Homeowner’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP).
- Monitor threats to the exercise of religious liberty in our Commonwealth.
- Support efforts to strengthen Pennsylvania’s existing laws regulating obscenity.
- Review criminal justice issues as needed.
- Address child welfare issues as needed.
