The Pennsylvania Catholic Health Association (PCHA) supports the Catholic health care ministry in PA through witnessing to Gospel values, advocacy, communication, networking, education and united action. The PCHA monitors legislation and regulatory matters and participates in public p

Thousands of bills are introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly during the two year legislative session. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference  reviews, tracks and takes positions on a few hundred. Ever wonder how the PCC evaluates legislation? Read more in this summer’s V

Helene Paharik, Director of the Department for Human Dignity in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, recently wrote about pro-life developments in Pennsylvania: Do you remember the Pennsylvania license plate slogan that read “America Starts Here?” It recalled that several key activities related

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sharply criticized a new HHS “preventive services” mandate requiring private health plans to cover female surgical sterilization and all drugs and devices approved by the FDA as contraceptives, including drugs which can attac

Mothers of stillborn children endure the unimaginable hardship of carrying a child in pregnancy only to learn that their little boy or girl died before birth. For many parents in Pennsylvania, the devastation over the death of their child is combined with confusion and anger that upon

The start of the 2011-2012 Pennsylvania legislative session saw movement on several pieces of pro-life legislation. Given the fact that Pennsylvania boasts a pro-life governor and a pro-life majority in the House and the Senate, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC) is hopeful th

For the first time in nine years, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the state budget before the June 30 constitutional deadline. The $27.15 billion spending plan holds the line on taxes and represents a 4 percent cut in spending over last year. Governor Tom Corbett signed the b

Both chambers of the legislature have been working to address the fact that current Pennsylvania law favors the abortion industry. We saw this stark reality in the “house of horrors” run by Dr. Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia. In May, the House passed House Bill 574 and earlier this mo

Senate Bill 3 is a proposal that will clearly prohibit abortion coverage in the taxpayer supported insurance plans that will be created in Pennsylvania’s health insurance exchange as we implement the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). It passed the state

Today, the Senate voted 38 to 12 to pass Senate Bill 732, which, thanks to the Mensch Amendment added on Wednesday, June 8, would hold abortion facilities to the same fire and safety standards, personnel and equipment requirements, and quality assurance procedures as other freestandin