Archives for December 2015

 Members of our Youth Group participated in a “Live Nativity”  on December 23rd at Fallsington’s United Methodist Church .  Thank you to those who participated, as well as the many supporters that came out in the rain!

You can view the rest of the photos HERE

The following is an update on the ANDA(  Abortion Non-Discrimination Act ) by Amy McInerny, Exceutive Director of the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment

Dear Friends,

I write today with a word of heartfelt appreciation and encouragement. Thank you for taking action on our alert on protecting the rights of pro-life health care providers.

As you may have learned, while the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA) came very close to the finish line, it was not included in Congress’s end-of-year funding legislation. However, our recent efforts to enact conscience protections demonstrated, through the record-breaking number of grassroots messages sent to Capitol Hill, that the American people care deeply about our cherished right of conscience. We are not discouraged. The fight is not over. I anticipate sending more news to you shortly on how we might follow up with our elected officials about their epic failure. Our information is that strongest opposition to ANDA came from Democratic leaders in the Senate, who threatened a filibuster, and President Obama, who threatened to veto the entire funding bill over this issue.

We will never stop looking for opportunities to make progress until everyone is protected in law. Let’s resolve to keep this issue before our legislators. Let’s make a New Year’s resolution to continue in our mission to protect the vulnerable and to invite even more people of good will to join us in this vital work. Thank you for continuing to stand with us.

Together we will be heard!

Amy McInerny
Executive Director

Below are photos from the Advent Taize’ Prayer Service that took place on December 9th at 7:30 PM.  Thank you Jean Madden and Regina Leidy for the beautiful experience and to all who were in attendance.

The following is a message from Amy McInerny, Executive Director of the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment:

I know this is one of the most hectic seasons of the year, but I am writing because I know you are never too busy to take a stand in defense of life and liberty. Even if you have recently sent a message, please urge Congress again to protect conscience rights for pro-life health care providers. Click here.

Congress has to pass funding for the 2016 Fiscal Year very soon. So our time to advocate for protections is limited. The Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA) will close loopholes in existing law and provide a private right of action, so that health care providers, whose freedom of conscience is denied, can defend their rights in court. It is now part of the House of Representatives’ appropriations bill for funding HHS. The policy of ANDA has long had bi-partisan support and ANDA’s enactment will simply mean that existing law will be made stronger and easier to use in defense of conscience rights.

Please urge your members of Congress to make sure ANDA is enacted into law as part of the 2016 Fiscal Year funding legislation. Government must not force Americans to violate their religious and moral beliefs about respect for life when they provide health services.

Today, please

• Take action and then share this call to action
• Repost the alert across your social media platforms
• Follow us on Twitter @NCHLA then repost our tweets using #StandWithCathy
• Personalize your message. It will stand out if you add a phrase or sentence to personalize your email, i.e. As a medical professional; As a woman and a physician/nurse; As a patient who relies on a pro-life medical provider…

Remember, more detailed information is available on our website, NCHLA.org. Also, you can learn more about the real people and services whose freedoms have been denied by going to theConscience page of the USCCB.

We must speak up now to protect our cherished right of conscience.  Thank you for acting in defense of life and liberty. Tell everyone you know to join us in raising our voices. Together we will be heard!

Amy McInerny
Executive Director

As you may have seen in news reports, an act of desecration was committed against the Al Aqsa mosque in North Philadelphia earlier this week. Yesterday, the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia, of which Archbishop Chaput is a Co-Convener, released a statement regarding this matter.

The full text is provided for you here. As we continue our Advent journey, please pray for an end to acts of persecution and hatred in all forms and for the protection of religious liberty for all. Thank you.

Holy Family Regional Catholic School was featured on the front page of the Bucks County Courier Times.  You can view it HERE

Victory for Local Ministry Allows Them to Continue Sharing the Gospel to School Children

Joy El Ministries was within weeks of being forced to completely shutdown their ministry to over 3,000 children in Pennsylvania they serve every week through released time educational programming. But a court ruling this week changed everything.

Thanks to a favorable ruling by a Federal District Judge, Joy El Ministries can now continue to have its volunteer drivers and buses back on the road.

The Independence Law Center, the pro-bono legal ministry of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, is grateful for their partnership with the Smith Law Group in this matter.

“This ruling not only benefits Joy El and the children they serve, but we all benefit when our freedoms are protected.” – Randall Wenger, Chief Counsel – Independence Law Center. Full story.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

U.S. Senate votes to redirect funds away from Planned Parenthood – Toomey supports; Casey opposes

It’s evident that our elected officials are listening to us regarding Planned Parenthood and the plea to end taxpayer funding of the abortion giant. Last night, the U.S. Senate voted to defund Planned Parenthood – action the U.S. House of Representatives already agreed upon; making it the first time in history both chambers have agreed to defund Planned Parenthood.

This action redirects Federal money to women’s health care organizations that provide far greater health benefits to women than Planned Parenthood does.

Thousands of Pennsylvanians used our Citizen Action Center through pafamily.orgto tell both Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey to redirect funds away from Planned Parenthood.

Senator Toomey listened to those contacts and voted to defund Planned Parenthood. Please contact him to express your thanks: Phone: (202) 224-4254 | Email: Click here | Twitter: @SenToomey

Sadly, Senator Casey continued to side with abortion by voting with Planned Parenthood and to keep our taxdollars funding the abortion giant. Please contact him to express your disappointment with his vote: Phone: 202-224-6324 | Email: Click here | Twitter: @SenBobCasey

***The state of Pennsylvania should redirect State money away from Planned Parenthood as well. Several states have already taken action to stop state funding to Planned Parenthood. Pennsylvania has an opportunity to shift taxdollars away from the abortion giant and to give it to more comprehensive health care providers.

– Contact your state officials about redirecting our taxdollars away from Planned Parenthood by supporting the Whole Women’s Health Funding Priorities Act (HB 1623).

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To read the complete FAMILY UPDATE from the Pennsylvania Family Institute and Council , Click HERE.