Dear friends of life and family:
As is well documented (here, here and here) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) fails to contain a conscience clause that prevents Catholics and other persons of good will from having their rights and freedoms impinged upon by the many problematic provisions enacted under PPACA.
To ameliorate the fundamental flaws of PPACA, Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Dan Boren (D-OK) have introduced the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179). If enacted, this bill would ensure that the fundamental religious and ethical commitments of sponsors, purchasers, and providers of health care are protected. More information about the act can be found here.
Just this week, the situation has become even more perilous and urgent. In the wake of the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to mandate free coverage of contraception, surgical sterilization, and known abortion-inducing drugs, healthcare professionals and taxpayers face a grave risk of having their moral and religious convictions trampled upon. HHS has made it urgent that we as citizens of the United States act to protect our fundamental liberties. Though the window is closing soon, there are two ways that we may act to protect our authentic human rights and the common good of society.
First, HLI America joins the Bishops of the United States and calls upon all friends of life and the family to support Cardinal DiNardo's request that we urge our elected representatives to support rights of conscience. We encourage our supporters to contact their elected representative and request that they cosponsor and otherwise support the Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179), which will provide reasonable protections for both providers and purchasers of health care. Contact your legislator here.
Second, we encourage you to contact HHS by email at: E-OHPSCA2713.EBSA@dol.gov. Public comments are welcomed before September 30, 2011 by HHS. Please respectfully make it known that pregnancy is not a disease and that reasonable and robust conscience protections should be enacted for all Americans, not just "religious employers."
It is important that we each contact HHS and garner support for H.R. 1179, as the citizens of our fine nation should not be forced to cooperate in immoral acts in order to provide for the health of their families.
Swift action is even more critical in light of the fact that Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and many other pro-abortion groups are encouraging their supporters to ask our political leaders to offend the conscience rights of Catholics in the name of "choice" and "women's health."
For the good of life and of the family, please act now!
St. John Vianney, Pray For Us.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Arland K. Nichols
National Director, HLI America
