Religious Liberty

When adoption agencies can turn away gay prospective parents, what happens to the kids?

Religious News Service reporter Bobby Ross, Jr. recently asked this question, “When adoption agencies can turn away gay prospective parents, what happens to the kids?” With conflicts between religious based adoption and foster care agencies and government non-discrimination regulation
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Executive Changes at the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference

There will be a shift at the helm of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference beginning June 1, 2018. Eric A. Failing, PCC’s current social concerns director, will assume the role upon the retirement of Robert J. O’Hara, Jr. after his 21 years as executive director. Prior to joining the P
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U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Chairmen Deeply Disappointed by Congress’s Failure to Enact the Conscience Protection Act

From the USCCB – Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, chair of the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty, reacted with deep d
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Massachusetts Court Upholds Religious Exemption Ruling on HHS Contraceptive Mandate

As reported in LifeNews.com, religious liberty won an initial victory this week. Massachusetts and several other states challenged the Trump administration last year after it provided relief from the Obamacare birth control mandate by granting wider exceptions to religious groups. The
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Announces New Conscience and Religious Freedom Division

On January 18, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the formation of a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Below are excerpts from a press release issued by the HHS. From the HHS – The Conscience and Religious F
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Mid-Session Legislative Wrap Up

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is taking a mid-session break and will resume session late in January 2018. 2017 was a very busy year and more issues are on the horizon for 2018. Here is the status of the several high priority bills that are on the legislative agenda of the Pennsylv
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House Committee Approves Measure Condemning Child Pornography

The Health Committee within the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved a resolution which condemns the free availability of pornography based on the public health hazard that it presents by harming children and families across the Commonwealth. “It’s a public awareness res
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What Legislation Matters Most for Catholics?

The 2017-18 Legislative Session is nearing the halfway point. During each two-year session, thousands of bills are introduced in the Pennsylvania House and Senate. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and the Pennsylvania Catholic Health Association are tracking a number of different
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Pennsylvania Bishops Offer Statements Following Settlement in Federal Religious Liberty Lawsuit

Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik I am grateful to God that we have reached an agreement with the government that secures and reaffirms the constitutional right of religious freedom. The Diocese of Pittsburgh’s 5-year challenge to the HHS mandate provisions of the Affordable Ca
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