If tens of thousands of Pennsylvania children died needlessly one year, you would want to know why their parents let that happen, right? You would be saddened and outraged to learn that there are many programs to help these parents if they only had the courage to ask.According to a re

I admit it. I read obituaries in the newspaper, not out of morbid curiosity, but because I’m reminded that every single human life matters. Some died tragically in their youth; others lived lengthy and apparently fulfilling lives, including a remarkable number who make it past 1

Each year in July, we get a day off to celebrate our country – the land of the free and home of the brave; but what is freedom? In particular, what is religious freedom? When asked this question, most of us think of the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights of the United States

Never say “never.” We’ve all heard that one before. Religious liberty was once sacrosanct in the public policy debate. Many laws included a conscience exception to preserve constitutional integrity. It was absurd to think a law would compel a person to do something a

by Francis J. Viglietta and Rev. Sandra Strauss It’s time to re-examine the death penalty in Pennsylvania. Fifteen diverse, faith-based, legal, and civil rights organizations, including the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, form the Pennsylvani

Last month, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) published its required annual report on abortions in the Commonwealth. The report shows in 2005 there were 34,909 abortions performed in Pennsylvania, a decrease of 3.1% from 2004. The statistics report when the abortions were pe

Another two-year legislative session is ending in Harrisburg. Hundreds of public policy proposals were discussed and done, or left undone by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC) and the Pennsylvania Catholic Health Association (PCHA) tracked an

In Harrisburg, a legislative mandate for hospitals to provide emergency contraception (EC) to victims of sexual assault is being considered. This drug treatment is confusing. How does it work? Where does the Catholic Church stand? Why should citizens care? EC is a high dose of birth c

Stem cells are in the news again. In July, President George Bush vetoed a bill that would have provided federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Proponents of this controversial research will now pressure state government to support their efforts. Rep. Tom Tangretti (D-Westmo

After serving 19 years behind bars, Thomas Doswell was released after DNA evidence clearly proved his innocence in a brutal rape case. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Nationally, 175 people have been exonerated through post-conviction DNA testing. At least eight invol