Archives for December 2017

Americans are sick and tired of liberal judges dictating the “law of the land” from the bench, and President Trump promised to appoint conservative judges to address this very issue. For this reason, many people voted for President Trump, and he began to make good on that promise by first appointing Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.

The president has nominated a significant number of conservative judges, but Senate Democrats continue to stall the confirmation process of his judicial nominees. Democrats have blocked more of his nominees using cloture (a procedure used to block a vote) than during first year terms of the past four presidents combined.

TAKE ACTION: Tell Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to end the democratic obstruction of judicial nominations.

Republicans have majority control of the Senate. They have the authority and power to advance President Trump’s nominees out of committee and to the floor for a Senate vote.

Yet, under the leadership of Sens. Grassley and McConnell, the Senate has confirmed the fewest nominees compared to the first year terms of the past four administrations.

Tell Sens. Grassley and McConnell it’s time for them to govern like they are in charge, and put an end to this Democratic obstruction.

If our mission resonates with you, please consider supporting our work financially with a tax-deductible donation. The easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure.

Tim Wildmon, President
American Family Association

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Were You Born at Misericordia Hospital??? 

Mercy Philadelphia Hospital, formally Misericordia Hospital, is celebrating 100 years of service. We invite those born at Misericordia to discover their birthplace and our proud heritage. Join us on Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 2PM to 4PM for an open house tour and reception, including cake and a birthday toast to celebrate our centennial. RSVP required: Call Mercy Philadelphia Hospital Administration at 215-748-9300 by January 21, 2018. Free parking is available in our parking garage. 501 South 54th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19143

Margaret (Maggie) Fullmer

Board Chair

Mercy Catholic Medical Center

267-250-7160 cell

We have a second chance in the State Senate to stop your tax dollars from being used to fund harmful and irreversible “sex change” surgery on children in 2018.

While we informed you earlier this week about efforts in the House to end this funding, the State Senate will again be voting on the renewal of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which in its current form would continue Governor Wolf’s additional coverage of “sex change” surgery for children.

The Latest on CHIP Funding for “Sex Change” Surgery:

Recently, the House had a timely opportunity to end the current practice of paying for controversial, irreversible “sex change” surgeries on kids. They were set to vote on a bill to reauthorize CHIP – HB 1388 – that was already amended by the state Senate with language that would reverse the current policy to include such coverage, something Gov. Wolf unilaterally added to the program last year.

We are sorry to report that the House Republican Leader, Rep. Dave Reed, removed that prohibition in the House Rules Committee before sending HB 1388 to the House floor for a vote to reauthorize CHIP, but without ending taxpayer coverage of these surgeries.

This left House members with a choice of voting to fund the CHIP program as presented to them without the opportunity to reverse the Wolf administration policy – or the untenable position of voting against providing insurance for needy children. The weakened bill passed unanimously and was sent back to the Senate, where it awaits action.

The time is short – CHIP must be renewed by December 31st  and the Senate is only in session for one more week — but we need your help to get the Senate to restore the language to end the Wolf administration’s coverage for “gender reassignment” surgery on children.

ACTION. WE NEED YOU TO TAKE 2 STEPS:

1. Contact your own State Senator. Tell your Senator that you do not want your tax dollars paying for sex change surgeries on children through the CHIP program. The time to end that practice is now, before year’s end. To email, use our Citizen Action Center at tinyurl.com/stopharmingchildren.

2. Contact the Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Jake Corman.Ask him to restore the language of HB 1388 that would remove CHIP coverage of controversial, harmful “sex change” surgeries. His phone number is (717) 787-1377. He will also receive your email through our Citizen Action Center so be sure to take that action.

Thank you for making these contacts. I’ll keep you updated on the latest developments.

Sincerely,

Tom Shaheen, Vice President for Policy

Pennsylvania Family Council

Your State Representative will be voting as early as today (Tuesday, December 5th) on a new bill that would end tax dollars paying for irreversible and harmful “sex change” surgery.

Last year, Governor Tom Wolf unilaterally mandated the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to cover children’s “sex change” surgery and related services. And your tax dollars are also paying for these irreversible surgeries on adults through Medicaid.

House Bill 1933 (HB1933) – led by State Representative Jesse Topper (R-78th District) – would end taxpayer funding for this harmful and costly surgery and related services.

Please contact your State Representative and ask them to end taxpayer funding for “sex change” surgery by supporting HB1933. To email your State Representative, use our Citizen Action Center at tinyurl.com/SupportHB1933.

And please encourage friends and family to do the same – click here to forward this email.

Thanks for your contacting your State Representative about HB1933 and we will be sure to keep you posted on the latest developments.

Sincerely,

Thomas Shaheen, Vice President for Policy

Pennsylvania Family Council

Please remember in your prayers the soul of Monsignor John J. Miller, who died on Friday, December 1, 2017.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, at the James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, 2200 Trenton Road, Levittown, PA .

Reception of the Body will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 9AM in the Chapel of St. Martin of Tours at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. A viewing will follow until his 12 noon Funeral Mass.

Condolences may be sent to:

Mrs. Elizabeth Leonard

1654 Dogwood Drive

Garnet Valley, Pa 19060

Saint Hilary of Poitiers Rectory

The House Health Committee is expected to vote TODAY on Senate Bill 3 (SB3) – finally updating our state law to end late-term and dismemberment abortion. If passed, the full PA House may vote on this as early as tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec, 5th).

Would you please do two things:

1. Contact your State Representative in support of SB3.

• Our records show that your State Representative is John T. Galloway (717) 787-1292.

• To email your State Representative, use our Citizen Action Center – tinyurl.com/YESonSB3) 

2. Recruit three others to do the same.

• To forward this email – click here.

Senate Bill 3 (SB3) was passed by the Senate in February and is now coming up for an expected vote in the House. Planned Parenthood and other extreme abortion activists are pushing hard against this legislation so we need your help on this bill now more than ever.

It is utterly absurd that Pennsylvania abortion law, which was last changed nearly 30 years ago, still permits late-term abortion.

• “In the United States, most pediatrics and obstetrics societies agree that 22 weeks of gestation is the lower threshold of viability…” (CNN – 11/11/17)

• Emma, Leah, Will, Callie, Sofia, Jackson….all children born at 24 weeks and earlier that are now thriving. Thirty years ago, babies born at 24 weeks were very unlikely to survive. Today, the majority of babies born at 24 weeks are now saved. (See their stories: pafamily.org/life)

• Only 7 nations out of 198 allows elective abortion past 20 weeks – a list that includes Communist China, North Korea and the United States. “It seemed extreme for just seven countries out of 198 to allow elective abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. But upon further digging, the data back up the claim.” (Washington Post 10/9/17)

To note, here in the United States, there are now 21 states that have already updated their abortion law to end late-term abortion.

Not only would SB3 update state law to end late-term abortion but would also ban the barbaric practice of dismemberment abortion.

• “The fetus, in many cases, dies just as a human adult or child would: It bleeds to death as it is torn apart limb by limb. The fetus can be alive at the beginning of the dismemberment process and can survive for a time while its limbs are being torn off.” – Justice Anthony Kennedy

• A former abortion doctor, who performed over 1,200 abortion, describes a form of dismemberment abortion called Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) in a video interview (Warning: Disturbing animation).

Please contact your State Representative in support of SB3. Hundreds of both late-term & dismemberment abortions happen in Pennsylvania every year. With your help, we can change that.

Thank you for taking action and for your help in ultimately working to save lives here in Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,

Congratulations to the Saint Frances Cabrini community on exceeding your Catholic Charities Appeal (CCA) Parish Goal of $21,591, by raising $22,118 to date!

We express our gratitude for your continued generosity. By meeting your goal, you have shared in the collective efforts of the Catholic Church in “Giving Hope to All.”  Your kindness will support tens of thousands of people through countless organizations and ministries throughout the greater Philadelphia area.

While your generous call to love and action is greatly appreciated, we encourage you to remain involved in the Catholic Charities Appeal. Through your generosity, help us to inspire others to fulfill the needs of our larger community. Together, we can be the tangible expression of Christ’s message of love and unity.

Again, thank you for your support of the Catholic Charities Appeal!

To learn more about the CCA, please visit https://www.catholiccharitiesappeal.org/, like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/catholiccharitiesappeal/, and follow us on Twitter (@catholicappeal).

In gratitude and prayers,

David Ripsom