Action Alerts

Action Alerts are brief statements from the Justice, Peace and Human Development Office of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and other select official Catholic organizations asking you to act on important, timely policy and advocacy issues of justice and peace, both international and domestic, under consideration at the federal level. They describe the basic issue in question, relevant Catholic principles, and what you can do to shape decision-making.

Click on the links below and read the latest ACTION ALERTS for information and what you can do to help.

Arizona's Anti-Immigration Law

Dear Clergy, Pastoral Administrators and All:

You have no doubt heard about the anti-immigrant law passed last week in Arizona. Below are three articles that I believe you will find helpful.

This first covers the basics about the law. I thought it very important to make sure all of us are aware of this action in Arizona as many of our people travel there.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/21/arizonan-boycott-state-over-immigration-bill/

The second links to a recent article published by Zenit about this extremely troubling legislation. While the article was written before the legislation was signed by Gov. Brewer, it clearly indicates the Church's reaction to the final legislation.
http://www.zenit.org/article-29059?l=english

The third links to another article by The Catholic Sun.
http://www.catholicsun.org/2010/april/25/Immigration-fight.html

I would encourage you to strongly consider taking any action possible (letter writing, local protests, prayer vigils, etc.) to support the Arizona Catholic Conference's position on this legislation, which is incredibly harmful and to encourage Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Working toward Comprehensive Immigration Reform has been a primary agenda of the USCCB for many years now.
http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/

I will send out further information as more becomes available on this very damaging legislation or on its consequences.

Thank you for your help on this very matter.
Father Wayne

Bishops Call for Bipartisan Action to Advance Health Care Reform That Protects Human Life and Dignity

USCCB News Release

10-035
February 24, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON — On the eve of the White House Health Care Summit, the U.S. Bishops urged Congressional leaders “to commit themselves to enacting genuine health care reform that will protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.” In their February 24 letter to Congressional leadership, the bishops also cited their longtime support of adequate and affordable health care for all, calling health care a basic human right.

The letter was signed by Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City, chairs of the bishops’ committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Pro-Life Activities and Migration, respectively.

The bishops urged the House and Senate to adopt legislation that ensures access to quality, affordable, life-giving health care for all; retains longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them; effectively protects conscience rights; and protects the access to health care that immigrants currently have and removes current barriers to access.

“We hope and pray that the Congress and the country will come together around genuine health care reform that protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all,” said the bishops.

For more information about the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ teaching on health care reform, visit www.usccb.org/healthcare.

Full text of the bishops’ letter follows.

February 24, 2010

The Honorable Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader

Dear Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:

On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), we strongly urge the congressional leaders from both parties meeting on February 25, 2010 to commit themselves to enacting genuine health care reform that will protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all. It is time to set aside partisan divisions and special interest pressures to find ways to enact genuine reform. We encourage the Administration and Congress to work in a bipartisan manner marked by political courage, vision and leadership.

The Catholic bishops have long supported adequate and affordable health care for all, because health care is a basic human right. As pastors and teachers, we believe genuine health care reform must protect human life and dignity from conception to natural death, not threaten them, especially for the voiceless and vulnerable. We believe health care legislation must respect the consciences of providers, taxpayers, purchasers of insurance and others, not violate them. We believe universal coverage should be truly universal and should not be denied to those in need because of their condition, age, where they come from or when they arrive here. Providing affordable and accessible health care that clearly reflects these fundamental principles is a public good, moral imperative and urgent national priority.

The U.S. Catholic bishops continue to urge the House and Senate to adopt legislation that:

Ensures access to quality, affordable, life-giving health care for all;
Retains longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protects conscience rights; and,
Protects the access to health care that immigrants currently have and removes current barriers to access.

For details on the bishops’ positions on health care, please visit www.usccb.org/healthcare.

We will continue to work vigorously to advance true health care reform that ensures affordability and access, keeps longstanding prohibitions on abortion funding, upholds conscience rights, and addresses the health needs of immigrants. Dialogue should continue and no legislation should be finalized until and unless these basic moral criteria are met. Without commenting on specific proposals that may be brought to the summit, we will work to ensure that legislation meets these criteria and will oppose legislation that does not meet them. We hope and pray that the Congress and the country will come together around genuine health care reform that protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.

Sincerely,

Bishop William F. Murphy
Diocese of Rockville Centre
Chairman
Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Chairman
Committee on Pro-life Activities

Bishop John Wester
Diocese of Salt Lake City
Chairman
Committee on Migration