United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 FOURTH STREET NE WASHINGTON DC 20017-1194 202-541-3100 FAX 202-541-3166 USCCB NATIONWIDE BULLETIN INSERT Tell Congress: Remove Abortion Funding & Mandates from Needed Health Care Reform Congress is preparing to debate health care reform legislation on the House and Senate floors. Genuine health care reform should protect the life and dignity of all people from the moment of conception until natural death. The U.S. bishops’ conference has concluded that all committeeapproved bills are seriously deficient on the issues of abortion and conscience, and do not provide adequate access to health care for immigrants and the poor. The bills will have to change or the bishops have pledged to oppose them. Our nation is at a crossroads. Policies adopted in health care reform will have an impact for good or ill for years to come. None of the bills retains longstanding current policies against abortion funding or abortion coverage mandates, and none fully protects conscience rights in health care. As the U.S. bishops’ letter of October 8 states: “No one should be required to pay for or participate in abortion. It is essential that the legislation clearly apply to this new program longstanding and widely supported federal restrictions on abortion funding and mandates, and protections for rights of conscience. No current bill meets this test…. If acceptable language in these areas cannot be found, we will have to oppose the health care bill vigorously.” For the full text of this letter and more information on proposed legislation and the bishops’ advocacy for authentic health care reform, visit: www.usccb.org/healthcare. Congressional leaders are attempting to put together final bills for floor consideration. Please contact your Representative and Senators today and urge them to fix these bills with the pro-life amendments noted below. Otherwise much needed health care reform will have to be opposed. Health care reform should be about saving lives, not destroying them. ACTION: Contact Members through e-mail, phone calls or FAX letters. To send a pre-written, instant e-mail to Congress go to www.usccb.org/action. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at: 202-224-3121, or call your Members’ local offices. Full contact info can be found on Members’ web sites at www.house.gov & www.senate.gov. MESSAGE to SENATE: “During floor debate on the health care reform bill, please support an amendment to incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights. If these serious concerns are not addressed, the final bill should be opposed.” MESSAGE to HOUSE: “Please support the Stupak Amendment that addresses essential pro-life concerns on abortion funding and conscience rights in the health care reform bill. Help ensure that the Rule for the bill allows a vote on this amendment. If these serious concerns are not addressed, the final bill should be opposed.” WHEN: Both House and Senate are preparing for floor votes now. Act today! Thank you.. Now is the time to take action! We need everyone’s help. Please forward this e-mail to your family and friends across the country. If massive numbers of people contact their legislators, there is hope of preventing an abortion mandate and taxpayer funding of abortion in the bills being proposed in Washington. Otherwise many more unborn children will surely die and we will pay for it. Everyone needs health care, but not at the expense of innocent human beings. Abortion is not health care! Please take the time to pick up the phone and call your legislator in addition to sending an e-mail or fax. Electronic communications could be ignored; phone calls will carry more weight. Even if you have already called in the past, please call again with the specific message as noted on the attachment. There are several ways to find your representative’s contact information: www.dovrespectlife.org/dovcongressionalcontactinfo.pdf (Diocese of Venice area only) For anyone you know who isn’t sure where they stand on this issue, please recommend that they educate themselves on what abortion really is. An excellent way to do so is by reviewing the information at http://www.caseforlife.com/. If you have any questions, please contact me. Thank you for doing your part to make a difference! Jeanne Berdeaux Director Respect Life Department Diocese of Venice in Florida
UUSCCB UPDATE
Please go to to www.usccb.org/healthcare. It has the latest from USCCB and is regularly updated. Their most recent item is a letter from three committee chairs to the Senate on September 30. It lays out where the bishops are: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/2009-09-30-healthcare-letter-senate.pdf.
Throughout this debate, the US bishops have been consistent and united. The last letter, signed by chairs of three rather disparate committees demonstrates their unity.
Of bishops’ conferences and individual bishops who have commented on reform, as far as I know, all have cited the same priorities.
FCC plans to issue a new alert in about one week (possibly as early as this Friday, as late as the middle of next week) through FCC advocacy network.
Also, this is Respect Life month, the month of the rosary (October 7 we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary). Please pray the rosary for the interests of the bishops in reform and to focus intention on a floor vote on House Rules that will determine if there will be an actual vote on amendments to address concerns over abortion and conscience protection.
Thank you for your interest and collaboration.
What Are the Bishops Saying About
Health Care Reform?
Visit the USCCB health care reform website today!
War in the Womb
The Culture War is now at a dire crossroads. Peter Kreeft in his book, How to Win the Culture War, notes that “To win any war” one of “the three most necessary things we must know is “that we are at war.” This has been a huge problem for the always struggling pro-life movement. Most principled moral people still do not realize that this great war is going on, has been for about 40 years and they cannot avoid being affected by it. Too many are intellectually opposed but are not emotionally outraged. We need to help people connect their heads to their hearts.
Kreeft said, “If you are surprised to be told that our entire civilization is in crisis, welcome back from your nice vacation on the moon.” The renowned Catholic philosopher continues, “Many minds do seem moonstruck, puttering happily around the Titanic, blandly arranging the deck chairs.” Kreeft explains that there is a deeper more ominous dimension to the Culture War. He says, “Eternal souls will die-- billions of Ramones and
- Please join the battle. Take a half hour or so on Mondays between
- Thank you for your vote to support Life through the Knights of Columbus. Additional donations may be made to Naples Pro-Life Council a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization. Please note on the check that it is for the benefit of Collier County Pro Life Association or FBO-CCPLA. Checks may be mailed to Naples Pro-Life Council,
- Last call: we still need a volunteer to help with the Run for Life in February.
- February, First: Bishop Frank Dwaine will celebrate Mass at St. Williams and later lead prayers in front of Naples Planned Parenthood. Details will be e–mailed to all Knights.
- February 17: our 40 Days for life in
Remember
“The taking of innocent human life is so heinous, so horribly evil, and so absolutely opposite to the law of God that abortion must take precedence over every other issue.” (Bishop James Timlin, D.D., Bishop of
Vivat Jesus
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