N.C. bishops ask for support for federal conscience protection on abortion
Last Updated on Thursday, 08 March 2012 10:25 08 December 2011
CHARLOTTE — On Dec. 8, North Carolina's two Catholic bishops issued an alert through Catholic Voice NC, its public policy arm, asking Catholics to contact their federal legislators about protecting conscience provisions in budget legislation working its way through Congress before the year's end.
The legislation is an Omnibus Appropriations Bill encompassing nine funding bills for the remaining part of the government's 2012 fiscal year. One of those bills, the House bill for the Labor as well as Health and Human Services departments, contains the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA), which protects pro-life health care providers from being forced to participate in and perform abortions or face the risk of losing their jobs.
"ANDA strengthens existing federal conscience protection laws and affirms the principle that no health care entity should be forced by government to perform or participate in abortions," the bishops wrote in their letter. "It is critical that this conscience protection bill remains a part of the omnibus appropriations bill."
Catholic Voice NC operates under the authority of the state's two Catholic bishops. The bishops are kept apprised of legislative matters before the General Assembly and the U.S. Congress. When the situation warrants, the bishops inform Catholic Voice NC participants, via e-mail alert, of an important matter. Participants are often asked to contact their elected representatives to ensure that a Catholic viewpoint is taken into consideration.
To learn more, go online to www.catholicvoicenc.org.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
Below is the text of the bishops' letter that was issued:
December 8, 2011
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Congress is preparing to act on an Omnibus Appropriations Bill that will include the nine remaining fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills. The House version of the Labor/Health and Human Services appropriations bill (not numbered) contains the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA). It is critical that this conscience protection bill remains a part of the omnibus appropriations bill.
ANDA strengthens existing federal conscience protection laws and affirms the principle that no health care entity should be forced by government to perform or participate in abortions.
Please send your messages today!
Thanks for all you do in support of life!
The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis
Bishop of Charlotte
The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
Bishop of Raleigh
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FROM THE PASTORS
Read and listen to homilies posted regularly by pastors at parishes within the Diocese of Charlotte:
- Fr. Frank Cancro at Queen of the Apostles
- Fr. Patrick Earl at St. Peter in Charlotte
- Fr. John Eckert at St. John the Baptist in Tryon
- Fr. Timothy Reid at St. Ann in Charlotte
- Fr. Benjamin Roberts at Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe
- Fr. Patrick Winslow at St. Thomas Aquinas in Charlotte
- Watch full Masses live and on demand, listen to homilies and reflections from Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury
- Listen to homilies from St. William Catholic Church in Murphy