Social Concerns Department
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 2009-2010 legislative session:
- Oppose attempts to weaken Pennsylvania’s Abortion Control Act
- Support positive pro-life initiatives intended to provide additional protections for unborn children
- 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 and functionally equivalent relationships
- Review legislation providing protections under law based upon one’s sexual orientation
- Continue to work with the statewide Welfare Coalition
- Review legislation dealing with immigration reform
- Oppose attempts to weaken Pennsylvania’s Seasonal Farm Labor Act (ACT 93-1978)
- Continue to support the Homeowner’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP)
- Support state funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Work with others in support of increasing federal funding for programs that assist victims of violence and their families
- 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
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