Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
As Catholic citizens, we are committed to upholding the dignity of human life across the entire life span, for those not yet born, the newborn, the elderly and infirm, the terminally ill, and every stage in between. In doing so, we give particular attention to defending the rights of the unborn, who are especially vulnerable. While our concern for human rights and the dignity of human life for those already born is also crucial, this concern is rendered moot if we do not place first concern on the right of that person to be born.
Unfortunately, as a new presidential administration begins and the new Congress convenes, many hard-fought protections obtained in recent years to protect the unborn will be subject to attack and reversal. The new administration and many members of Congress are seeking to expand “abortion rights” by making abortion a federal entitlement that the government must fund and promote through the “Freedom of Choice Act,” commonly known as FOCA.
The new administration and members of the new Congress have vowed to make passage of this legislation a priority in the years ahead, a priority that actually would expand Roe v. Wade and reverse even modest limits on abortion. The Freedom of Choice Act, the most radical and divisive pro-abortion bill ever introduced in Congress, would create a “fundamental right” to abortion that government could not limit but would have to support. FOCA would overturn many existing and widely supported policies, including laws protecting parental involvement and conscience rights and those preventing the barbaric “partial-birth” abortion and taxpayer funding of abortion. FOCA is extreme and immoral legislation.
Given our concern for the dignity of human life, every Catholic citizen has the grave obligation to oppose FOCA and any law that attacks human life and to promote the few protections that currently exist to protect the unborn. As such, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in cooperation with state bishops’ conferences, including the New Jersey Catholic Conference, and our diocesan Respect Life offices, are working to raise awareness about FOCA and the efforts now underway to erode protections for the unborn. As part of this effort, a national postcard campaign later this month will send a forceful message to Congress that we will not tolerate new attacks on the unborn and will work to oppose any laws and policies that would harm the unborn.
During the weekend of January 24-January 25, postcards will be available in each parish of the Diocese of Camden. Each postcard strip has three cards, one for your U.S. Representative and two for your U.S. Senators. I am urging you to sign the postcards, address them to your Senators and U.S. Representative (see below) and mail them at your earliest convenience.
U.S. SENATORS
- The Honorable Frank Lautenberg
- The Honorable Robert Menendez
U.S. HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES
(Choose one based on your district)
- The Honorable Robert E. Andrews (Congressional District 1)
- The Honorable Frank A. LoBiondo (Congressional District 2)
- The Honorable John Adler (Congressional District 3)
I also encourage you to visit www.464edee1fa.nxcli.io to find out more about the campaign to oppose FOCA and other threats to human life. With this effort and your prayerful support, we can give strong witness to our unshakable convictions regarding the inviolability and God-given dignity of human life.
May God continue to guide you and bless you.
Fraternally,
Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, D.D., J.C.D.
Bishop of Camden