To those residing in Pennsylvania:
We wanted to share the following “Action Alert” with you. (It applies to more than PA residents, but the link we're providing is a link for PA residents.)
The recent “preventive services” mandate from the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would require health plans to cover female surgical sterilization and all drugs and devices approved by the FDA as contraceptives, including drugs which can kill an unborn child before and after implantation in the mother’s womb. Under the mandate, employers will have to pay for contraceptives and drugs that can cause abortions, even if it violates their deeply and dearly held moral and religious convictions.
The rule allows an exemption for “religious employers,” but this definition is quite narrow and would exclude most Catholic social service agencies and healthcare providers. Religious exemption would only apply to an employer that “1) has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose; (2) primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets; (3) primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets; and (4) is a non-profit organization…”
We hope that you can see how this definition of “religious employer” is a dangerous one in terms of allowing for religious exemptions. Clearly, Catholic social service agencies and hospitals do not fulfill items 1 through 3 of the definition above.
All concerned citizens are invited to visit, call, fax, or e-mail their members of Congress urging them to co-sponsor and support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act – H.R. 1179 (House Bill) or S. 1467 (Senate Bill).
Click on this link http://www.votervoice.net/core.aspx?aid=718&issueid=25994&siteid=0&app=GAC&ftfrecipientemail=&isvisited=true to be directed to the site of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, where you can e-mail your Representatives and Senators. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to click on “Take Action.” Please share this link with others you know in Pennsylvania.
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