Bishop David Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh wrote, “It is really hard to believe that it happened. It comes like a slap in the face. The Obama administration has just told the Catholics of the United States, “To Hell with you!” There is no other way to put it.” Read the rest here.

Send a message to congress and President Obama asking them to respect religious liberty by clicking here.

Bishop Joseph McFadden of the Diocese of Harrisburg said, “Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn’t happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights.” Read the entire statement here.

Bishop Joseph Bambera of the Diocese of Scranton wrote, “Simply put, as Catholics, we cannot comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.” Read the entire letter here.

Sister Mary Ann Walsh of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) asks about a Catholic bias, “The government allows other religions to live out their beliefs. The Amish and Christian Scientists have a conscientious objection to health insurance, and so the law exempts them from buying it. The government acknowledges the right of these religious groups to live out their religious convictions in U.S. society. Why are beliefs of Catholics and others dismissed?” Read the rest here.

Here is a video message from New York’s Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the president of the USCCB:

CLICK HERE TO SEND YOUR OWN MESSAGE IN SUPPORT OF A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO KNOW.

Dozens of lawmakers took the stage at a multimedia event to explain The Women’s Right to Know Act (HB 1077). House Bill 1077 would require abortion clinics to perform an ultrasound at least 24 hours before an abortion and inform pregnant women of their right to view the ultrasound.

Via Skype, an online videoconferencing site, Representative Kathy Rapp (R-Warren, Forest, McKean) discussed ultrasound technology with Dr. Joseph Castelli, an ob/gyn with Women’s Healthcare Specialists in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. “As a doctor, you want patients to be as informed as possible to make the best decision (about their medical care),” said Dr. Castelli. “If this medical procedure is used, the woman’s decision may be not to terminate the pregnancy, but it will be her good decision.”

Representative Rapp and Representative Deberah Kula (D-Fayette, Westmoreland) are prime sponsors of HB 1077, along with 111 other bi-partisan co-sponsors.

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC) supports the Women’s Right to Know Act. In 2012, ultrasounds are a common sense and even expected part of many medical evaluations and procedures. Without this bill, a double standard will remain whereby women in their time of need are not given complete information. Women should have the right to view their full medical records, and the technology exists and is already present in abortion clinics. The Women’s Right to Know Act addresses this disparity.

Past abortion laws probably would have included ultrasound access, but the technology didn’t exist as it does today – The Women’s Right to Know Act updates the law to reflect technological advances.

Helen Cindrich of the People Concerned for the Unborn Child organization in Pittsburgh expressed her support for the Women’s Right to Know Act over the telephone while marching on the Mall in Washington, DC. “The reason we’re here is to protect women and children,” said Cindrich during the press conference. She supports the proposal that would help women “at the brink of a very serious decision that could affect them the rest of their lives.”

Francis Viglietta, director of PCC’s Social Concerns Department, notes that “the need to pass legislation giving a pregnant woman the option to view her ultrasound and to see or hear the heartbeat of her unborn child is long overdue in Pennsylvania. It is an idea whose time has come and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference calls upon the state legislature to pass HB 1077 quickly and send it to the governor for his approval.

“Ultimately, no matter one’s position on abortion, we can all agree that it is a serious issue that a woman cannot take back or undo. We have an obligation to give these women, in their moment of need, all of the information necessary to make the right decision so that she does not look back and say, ‘If I had only known…’”

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference urges quick passage of this pro-life bill. Pro-life supporters are encouraged to visit www.pacatholic.org to send a message in support of The Women’s Right to Know Act.

A. B. Hill is Communications Director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference – the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops and the Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania.

Voice your disappointment with the HHS ruling and ask your legislators to support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (HR1179/S 1467).

Many of you sent emails last fall asking the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to respect conscience rights and religious liberty. Unfortunately, Friday’s ruling means that this mandate and the very narrow exemption will not change at all; instead there will only be a delay in enforcement against some employers.

This ruling will force Catholics to decide between violating their consciences and providing the basic right of health care.  At issue is the constitutionally protected freedom that ensures respect for the conscience of Catholics and all other Americans. In this ruling, you and I were told that we can call ourselves Catholic, we just can’t act like we are.

So what is next? If the Administration will not rescind this violation of the First Amendment, Congress must do so.  Voice your disappointment with the HHS ruling and ask your legislators to support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (HR1179/S 1467).

PS- Another pro-life bill, The Women’s Right to Know Act, is in front of the Pennsylvania House. Please send a message in support of that pro-life legislation as well!

SEND A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY HERE.

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 in virtually all health plans. Today’s announcement means that this mandate and its very narrow exemption will not change at all; instead there will only be a delay in enforcement against some employers.

“In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences,” said Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The cardinal-designate continued, “It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom. Historically this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty.”

The HHS rule requires that sterilization and contraception – including controversial abortifacients – be included among “preventive services” coverage in almost every healthcare plan available to Americans. “The government should not force Americans to act as if pregnancy is a disease to be prevented at all costs,” added Cardinal-designate Dolan.

Read this and other reactions to the HHS ruling here.

SEND A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY HERE.

If you’d like to send a letter, you can use this sample letter to Congress regarding the HHS ruling.

Click here to sign the petition on whitehouse.gov.

The appointment was publicized in Washington, January 19, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

William Skurla was born June 1, 1956, in Duluth, Minnesota, where he attended Catholic and public elementary schools. He attended Columbia University in New York, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1981. He later attended Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, Pennsylvania, where he earned a master of divinity degree in 1986, and a master of theology degree in 1987.

He was professed as a member of the Franciscans in Sybertsville, Pennsylvania, in 1985, and ordained a priest in 1987. In 1996, he was incardinated into the Eparchy of Van Nuys, California, and named bishop of Van Nuys in 2002. In 2007, he was named bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, New Jersey.

The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh includes 58,492 persons, and embraces all Byzantine Ruthenian Rite Catholics in Western Pennsylvania, several counties in Ohio, and the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is one of the two Byzantine Catholic and eight Roman Catholic Dioceses that comprise the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference. Archbishop-elect Skurla will sit on the PCC Board of Governors.

Welcome and Congratulations from the PCC to Archbishop-elect Skurla!

How will you spend your bus ride? Here are three ideas:

1.Call your state reps in support of the Women’s Right to Know Act, which would give women the right to view an ultrasound of their babies. The Women’s Right to Know Act (House Bill 1077) would require abortion clinics to perform an ultrasound at least 24 hours before an abortion or provide a list of other ultrasound providers). Not sure who your state rep is? Use our simple look-up tool to find out.

2. Call your state senator, since the bill will eventually be before him/her for a vote. While the bill starts in the House of Representatives, the legislation will next be sent to the Senate for a vote. In 2012, ultrasounds are a common sense and even expected part of many medical evaluations and procedures.  Without this bill, a double standard will remain whereby women in this time of need are not given complete information.  Women should have the right to view their full medical records, and the technology exists and is already present in abortion clinics. The Women’s Right to Know Act addresses this disparity. If you don’t know who your Senator is, use our simple look-up tool to find out.

3. Pray! Pray for the millions of unborn children who are aborted each year, but also pray for the mothers and fathers who face this difficult situation and believe that abortion is the only way out.  Pray for legislators who have the ability to create a Culture of Life, a society wherein we respect the dignity of even the smallest people. Looking for a patron? St. Thomas More, the patron of politicians and judges, pray for us!

If you can complete these three actions, you will do much to advance the cause of life. And, don’t worry, there is still plenty of time to watch a movie or take a nap on your way home!

Click here to get a printable flyer to take on the bus with you and share! Or, if you’ve got a smartphone, just click on this link to send an email message to your legislator.

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 though abortion clinics do perform ultrasounds to determine the age of the child.

CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE IN SUPPORT OF A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO KNOW.

In 2012, ultrasounds are a common sense and even expected part of many medical evaluations and procedures.  Without this bill, a double standard will remain whereby women in this time of need are not given complete information.  Women should have the right to view their full medical records, and the technology exists and is already present in abortion clinics. The Women’s Right to Know Act addresses this disparity.

Past abortion laws probably would have included ultrasound access, but the technology didn’t exist as it does today – The Women’s Right to Know Act updates the law to reflect technology advances.

Ultimately, no matter one’s position on abortion, we can all agree that it is a serious issue that a woman cannot take back or undo.  We have an obligation to give these women, in their moment of need, all of the information necessary to make the right decision so that she does not look back and say, “If I had only known…”

CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE IN SUPPORT OF A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO KNOW.

The PCC supports the following legislation:

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Senate Bill 1/ House Bill 1678/ House Bill 1708/ Others – School Choice

Senate Bill 1 or what could be another legislative vehicle is a top priority for the PCC. The proposal will increase the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program and create Opportunity Scholarships, or vouchers, for the poorest students in the worst performing schools. PCC has been waging a full scale grassroots advocacy campaign to generate support for school choice.

School choice advocates were disappointed that a reform package that includes school vouchers and an increase to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) scholarship program was not passed before the legislature adjourned for the Christmas break. It is not too late to send a message to your state legislators urging them to pass school choice in 2012. Use the Catholic Advocacy Network to send one today.

House Bill 1378/ Senate Bill 1154 – Special Education Services

These bills would enhance the level of support to special education students in nonpublic schools.

Senate Bill 1134 – Regulation of Religious Child Care Programs

This bill would place the regulation of religious child care and early childhood development facilities in the Department of Education rather than the Department of Public Welfare. It would also remove the asserted authority of the state to demand that religious teaching ministries obtain a state license before they are allowed to exist, while still maintaining all mandates relating to health and safety.

SOCIAL CONCERNS DEPARTMENT

House Bill 1254 – Prohibited use of Public Assistance Funds

This bill would ban the use of an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card to purchase tobacco products, firearms or ammunition, and bans the use of EBT cards at casinos.

Senate Bill 732 – Abortion Clinic Regulations Bill SIGNED INTO LAW

The new law addresses concerns that stemmed from the tragic deaths of one woman and seven infants that occurred in the Philadelphia abortion clinic of Dr. Kermit Gosnell where a woman died and seven newborn babies were killed by infanticide. Conditions in the clinic were so filthy and unsafe that investigators called it a “house of horrors.” The measure holds abortion facilities to the same fire and safety standards, personnel and equipment requirements, and quality assurance procedures as other freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities.

PENNSYLVANIA CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION

House Bill 1583 – Protective equipment for motorcycle riders

This legislation would repeal the “no helmet” law that was passed in 2006. It would require drivers and passengers of motorcycles to wear protective headgear.

Senate Bill 1099 – Minimum Wage Law

This bill concerns overtime compensation for employees in health care facilities like hospitals and long-term care facilities. If an employee works more than eight hours in any one workday and in excess of 80 hours in 14 days, the employee would be compensated at no less that 1 1/2 times the regular rate.

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference advocates many different issues – Catholic education, religious liberty, life & dignity of the human person, marriage & family, social justice, health care, and faith & politics. To receive action alerts on active issues, join the Pennsylvania Catholic Advocacy Network at www.pacatholic.org/advocacy

Today in Pennsylvania there are 1,200 parishes serving more than 3.3 million Catholics. Pennsylvania Catholics make up 26% of the state’s population. The Church in Pennsylvania provides 52,000 jobs.

But the real legacy of the Church is in how Catholics live out the Gospel in their own communities.

Charitable Outreach

In 1797, the first formal Catholic charitable institution in Pennsylvania was an orphanage and trade school in Philadelphia. More than 200 years later, the Catholic Church continues to minister to people in need.

Catholic Charities agencies are still serving children, although today foster care and adoption services are the norm. Catholic Charities also helps families and individuals with behavioral health, family counseling, and addiction programs. The agencies help refugees and immigrants settle here in the United States.

Catholic Charities agencies provide direct aid to the poor with food pantries and soup kitchens, housing and utilities assistance, and help with clothing and other basic needs.

In 2010, more than 360,000 individuals received services from a Catholic Charities agency in Pennsylvania, and many of them benefit from more than one service.

Education

Catholic schools are another rich part of Pennsylvania’s history. The first parochial school in the United States, St. Mary’s, opened in Philadelphia in 1782. The school is still helping students reach their potential.

Today, Pennsylvania’s approximately 540 Catholic schools are teaching more than 150,000 students. Catholic schools provide jobs for over 10,000 teachers and other professional staff. Most Catholic high schools rightly boast graduation rates at or near 100% for non-transferring students, as well as SAT scores above the state and national averages. Of those graduates, over 90% go on to attend either a two- or four-year institute of higher learning.

Catholic parochial and diocesan schools educate students by establishing high goals and standards as well as strong motivation and effective discipline, all within a nurturing atmosphere. Catholic schools aim to develop each student as a “whole person” – academically, of course, but also spiritually, physically and emotionally.

In two centuries, Pennsylvania’s Catholic schools have educated countless leaders, entrepreneurs, inventors, and even a saint or two.

Both Catholic and non-Catholic students attend parochial and diocesan schools, but the thousands of Catholic students who attend Pennsylvania public schools are also well-formed in our rich faith. They learn and grow in their Catholic identity through parish ministries. In all, approximately 440,000 students receive Catholic instruction every year.

Health Care

Catholic hospitals are another fixture on the Pennsylvania landscape. Generations of Catholics, often women and men in religious orders, came to the Pennsylvania with a mission to care for the sick, the aged and the dying.

In 2010, Catholic health care served more than 3.3 million people in Pennsylvania.

There are Catholic hospitals, long-term care facilities, multi-facility health systems, special providers or other related entities in every community. The Catholic health care system provides healing and comfort through many programs and facilities, ranging from large, state-of-the-art hospitals and emergency rooms to small neighborhood personal-care homes and mobile clinics.

Catholic providers are an integral part of our health care system. They operate with a fundamental commitment to the sanctity and dignity of human life and demonstrate a special concern for the poor and most vulnerable members of society. Often Catholic facilities are the provider of last resort for those who are very poor and very sick.

Forward in Faith

As we consider this strong and vibrant Catholic presence in Pennsylvania, it is easy to feel proud, but we should not feel content. As those of you familiar with the work of the PCC know, threats to religious liberty, the dignity of the human person and other issues of importance to Catholics have become frequent. We also have opportunities to make advancements that would benefit Catholic health care and education, would strengthen our service to the poor and would better enable us to live out our Gospel values. Complacency would not have been tolerated by those who laid this solid foundation over the past 200-plus years, and it should not be tolerated today. And so, as we look to the public policy issues that will face us in 2012, let us be inspired by knowing that our family of faith extends across our entire state and reaches our brothers and sisters in every walk of life.

This article appeared in the Fall 2011 issue of the Viewpoint

In response, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Senate Bill 732, which holds abortion facilities to the same fire and safety standards, personnel and equipment requirements, and quality assurance procedures as other freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities. Governor Tom Corbett signed the bill into law before Christmas.

Senate Bill 732 does not put an end to abortion, but it does correct a situation that allowed Pennsylvania law to favor the abortion industry, not women’s health.

Sometimes the debate about abortion seems to overlook the very real women and children who are affected by it. Talk in the public square tends to reduce the issue to political ideology. The news about the Gosnell clinic shined a spotlight on the reality of abortion. The debate about SB 732 provided an opportunity to speak the truth and open people’s eyes about what goes on in abortion clinics every day. Abortion is not merely a routine medical procedure.

In the last week of 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Health released its annual report of abortion statistics: 36,778 abortions were performed in Pennsylvania in 2010, a 1.4 percent decrease from 2009.

Sadly, there were no headlines reporting this year-long tragedy. The deaths of these 36,778 children and the wounds left in the hearts of their mothers and fathers are no less important than those of the victims in Gosnell’s clinic. The Pennsylvania Department of Health, in releasing the 2010 abortion statistics, notified us of 36,778 lives will not be lived in our community, nor will their deaths be mourned publically. Within these statistics, we were also told of 36,778 women – and in some cases couples – in our community who are experiencing the pain and hurt that comes with deciding to abort. We must be filled with the compassion of Christ and pray for genuine healing and peace for these women and men.

Throughout the coming year, several other bills intended to provide additional protections for women and children will be considered in the state legislature. Keep up with the latest pro-life news and action alerts with the Pennsylvania Catholic Advocacy Network.

Senate Bill 732 is now Pennsylvania law; but the pro-life community has much more work to do. We cannot rest until the annual report of abortions in Pennsylvania is zero.

January 2012. A. B. Hill is Communications Director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference – the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops and the Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania.