Archive for the ‘HHS Mandate’ Category

Last Ounce of Courage

Thursday, September 13th, 2012





Alan E. Parker, President of the Justice Foundation writes:

An exciting, funny, powerful, important new movie about Religious Liberty and our American heritage is coming out September 14, 2012.

The “Last Ounce of Courage” is family friendly, with an inter-generational message that will appeal to everyone from youth to grandparents.

I have seen it twice and I urge you to invite everyone you know to attend. Take your un-churched friend and they will enjoy it, too!

Enjoy the trailer.

Additional trailers available HERE.

This is where you can make an impact for religious liberty, freedom and a just American future. Check your local listings to find a theatre near you. September 14 will be the first big critical opening weekend in over 1200 theatres.

Another great movie that I have previewed is “Unconditional.” It is produced by Lifeway Films. It is a deeply moving story about forgiveness and very worth supporting. Here is the link: www.unconditionalthemovie.com.

Advancing Life, Liberty, and Justice.

So friends, get out and support this film. The first weekend is always the most critical. Hollywood will make the movies we show them we want to see by our patronage. Let’s show Hollywood we want more family friendly films.






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LiveNews.com: Stupak Admits Obama Violated His Executive Order on Obamacare, Abortion

Thursday, September 6th, 2012





Former Congressman Bart Stupak admitted during a panel discussion at the Democratic National Convention that he may have been hoodwinked by pro-abortion President Barack Obama over Obamacare.

Stupak was the holdout preventing the passage of the bill pro-life groups strenuously opposed because of its abortion-funding provisions. He negotiated what pro-life groups called a phony executive order from Obama that merely restated the bill’s provisions rather than prohibited abortion funding under it.

Now, Stupak, in video captured by the conservative blog Red State, admits the new Obama HHS mandate, that forces religious groups to pay for and refer women for abortion-causing drugs, violates Obamacare and the executive order.

“I am perplexed and disappointed that . . .

Read the full article at LifeNews.com






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Mrs. Obama Almost Makes You Forget That Her Husband Supports Killing Babies and Killing Natural Marriage. Almost…

Wednesday, September 5th, 2012





The First Lady of America took the grandstand last night in a rousing speech. As the emails flooded into my cache, with the pros and cons, I wrote back to one sincere young lady: “She looked beautiful and proves that she’s nearly as much a consummate skilled politician as her husband. She almost makes you forget that her husband supports killing babies and destroying natural marriage. Almost…”

In comparison to Mrs. Romney’s sincere and impassioned speech in support of her husband last week, Mrs. Obama’s speech was more glittering and glamorous. She skillfully moved through the controversial issues of abortion and homosexual marriage by drawing comparisons between the two leading candidates without ever mentioning her husband’s opponent’s name during the subtle attack on his candidacy.

Mrs. Obama’s efforts to pit the rich against the poor also fall short of the mark, when we consider that both candidates and their families are not poor people. The President and First Lady are not poor by a long shot. Both candidates also have humble beginnings in their ancestries. Neither the President nor the Governor have ancestors who have been slaves in America by the way.

What the First Lady didn’t mention is the high number of jobless families, and the astronomical debt her husband has run up in the name of entitlement during his tenure. This debt will fall on the backs of our children, at least those who don’t end up contracepted or aborted or not conceived in the first place.

However, after saying all of this, we can admit that both Mrs. Romney and Mrs. Obama have delivered stunning and memorable speeches in support and defense of their husbands. Women can be proud that two intelligent women are at the forefront of this year’s elections.

Women should also be very wary of an agenda that is very harmful to the female and family populations of America, which is the agenda that Mrs. Michelle Obama, the First Lady of America is promoting. The current administration supports programs and initiatives such as homosexual marriage and the HHS Mandate which delivers harmful chemical and medical procedures that are linked to strokes, heart attacks, breast cancer and a host of other ills that are harmful to the lives of babies and women.

The question that is continually being asked is: “What diseases do abortion and unnatural contraceptives cure?” Pregnancy and childbirth are not diseases, so how can abortion and harmful contraceptives help women? Who is on guard for the civil rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for women and babies who are being hurt, maimed and slaughtered in the name of birth control and abortion?

Of course, Mrs. Obama stayed away from these issues as much as she possibly could during her speech. It would be amazing if the women of America, if the voters of America could step away from the glory and the hype for a moment and put some of these questions before the First Lady and the President of the United States.

I’ll end with this one… All that glitters ain’t gold.






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The Mandate is In Effect: Stand With Us!

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 1, 2012

Contact: Andre Kim
347-286-7277

A Message from Fr. Frank Pavone

Dear Friends,

The unjust and unconstitutional HHS mandate, against which Priests for Life and 57 other plaintiffs have sued the federal government, takes effect today. We at Priests for Life do not qualify for the year that the government has offered certain groups to “adapt” to the mandate. And we are not “religious” enough for this Administration.

But regardless of all that, we do not adapt to injustice; we oppose it.

Therefore today, on behalf of our organization and on behalf of myself personally, I announce our conscientious objection to this mandate.

Priests for Life has the highest respect for civil government and advocates the observance of all just laws. But this policy is unjust, and today I reaffirm our intention to disobey it.

I issued the following memo this morning at 12:01am to all our employees, consultants and prospective employees:

August 1, 2012

Dear Priests for Life Staff and Consultants,

The HHS mandate, about which we have been educating people since January and against which we have launched a federal lawsuit, goes into effect for Priests for Life today.

Whether or not the government decides to eventually impose fines on us when our health insurance policy is renewed in a few months is not the issue. The issue is that as of today, as far as the government is concerned, we have to provide health insurance coverage for practices that are morally objectionable.

In order to avoid the slightest semblance of scandal, or compromise of our principles, and lest any employee should imagine that we would ever consent to provide coverage for actions that destroy human life, I want to make it clear to you today that we will disobey this mandate. Neither Priests for Life as an organization, nor any one of our administrative team or Board of Directors, nor I personally, consent to provide, pay for, advocate, counsel, refer, or in any way tolerate or cooperate with any process, plan, exchange of money or services, or any other activity that would enable a person to engage in the use of abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, or sterilization.

We reaffirm that our mission is precisely to eliminate abortion in every form, and we reaffirm our trust in you that you share that mission and are likewise offended by this mandate. We will therefore stand together in resisting it, and in our confidence that we will prevail, by persevering in prayer and action, in our lawsuit.

Thank you,
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director

Having officially communicated this memo to our staff, I likewise invite all our supporters across the country and around the world to stand with us, and let their voices be heard by joining our Citizens’ Amicus Brief and by doubling their commitment to help our many initiatives succeed, especially those related to fostering the political responsibility of citizens.

Today is also the filing deadline for the Administration to introduce its motion to dismiss our case against the HHS, Priests for Life vs. Sebelius, as they have already indicated their intention to do. Our lead counsel in the case has advised us that he is confident our case has addressed the issues in such a way that we will prevail against this motion.

Sincerely,
Fr. Frank Pavone

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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Priests for Life and Fr. Pavone declare “Beginning of the End” of the HHS Mandate

Monday, July 30th, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 30, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, released the following statement today regarding the preliminary injunction issued in a lawsuit filed by a private company against the Health and Human Services contraception mandate. The ruling marks the first legal victory over the mandate.

“This decision marks the beginning of the end of the unjust and unconstitutional HHS mandate. Even though the Aug. 1 deadline for compliance is still in effect for organizations like Priests for Life, it’s good news that the suit filed by the owners of Hercules Industries has been successful in holding off, at least temporarily, this mandate that is so clearly a violation of the religious freedom guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and the laws of our country. This gives us reason to be optimistic as our own lawsuit progresses.

“But no matter what happens, there is no way we will comply with a law that calls for us to violate our consciences by paying for contraception, abortifacient drugs and sterilization services.”

In Newland vs. Sebelius, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado ruled on July 27 that the constitutional and statutory rights of the plaintiffs – siblings who own a heating and air conditioning company – would be harmed by enforcement of the HHS mandate. Judge John L. Kane also found that Hercules likely would prevail in its claim that the mandate is a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

In his ruling, the judge noted that Hercules’ owners, William Newland, Paul Newland, James Newland, and Christine Ketterhagen, run their company according to Catholic principles and teachings, even when those religious, ethical and moral teachings impact their profits.

Fr. Pavone added, “Priests for Life is proud to be in the company of the Newlands and so many others who are not willing to set aside their deeply held beliefs, or their legal rights, even when threatened with economic catastrophe. We are confident that our lawsuit, filed Feb. 15, will protect us from the imposition of more than $1 million a year in fines.

“In addition to pressing on with our legal action, Priests for Life will also help once again to organize nationwide rallies for religious freedom, to take place on Saturday, October 20.”

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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Father Pavone hails House vote to repeal Affordable Care Act

Thursday, July 12th, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 11, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, issued the following statement today following the House vote to repeal the federal Affordable Care Act.

“The health care law that President Obama signed two years ago and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld last month presents grave threats to unborn babies and imposes intolerable burdens on every citizen who values human life. I commend the House of Representatives for voting for repeal.”

“As it stands now,” Father Pavone continued, “Americans in 34 states will have to pay an abortion premium if they are enrolled in insurance plans through their state exchange. Also, thanks to a secrecy clause in the law, insurance plans and state exchanges cannot disclose the monthly cost of the abortion premium. This is an injustice that every American should oppose, whether they are pro-life or not. This is not the American way.”

The Affordable Care Act also includes the Health and Human Services mandate that employers, including faith-based organizations like Priests for Life, provide contraception, abortifacient drugs and sterilization services to their employees free of charge. Priests for Life in February filed one of the first lawsuits against this unjust mandate, and that suit is continuing.

“I am and always have been in favor of health care reform,” Father Pavone said. “But the concerns that Priests for Life has voiced from the beginning about the law in its current form, particularly regarding abortion and the HHS mandate, override everything. “

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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“Our government pays no heed to the Constitution”

Thursday, June 28th, 2012





Priests for Life lawsuit against HHS mandate will continue

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 28, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, issued the following statement today following the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“The Supreme Court today officially declared that our current government pays no heed to the Constitution. Neither the President, nor Congress, nor the Supreme Court appears willing to protect life or liberty.

“If ever there were a time in history when the American people needed to be informed voters on Election Day, this is it.”

Priests for Life filed a lawsuit in February against the Health and Human Services mandate that all employers provide contraception to their employees free of charge. Legal experts have said the mandate has now been validated along with the entire law.

“Priests for Life will remain vigilant on the issue of contraception,” Father Pavone said. “The mandate is a brazen attack on our religious liberty. Today’s ruling on Obamacare was a setback, but it is not the end of the battle.”

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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The Decision That Will Affect Generations To Come

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012





As we await the Supreme Court’s decision on Obamacare, a few things come to mind.

I was thinking about the various outcomes and the ramifications they will have. Will the Supreme Court strike down the whole law as unconstitutional leaving our healthcare system in dire need of some type of reform. Will they strike down only parts of the bill, and if so, what parts will they strike down. Will abortion funding still be a part of the bill that stands. And what if they decide that the law is constitutional as it stands, trampling on our religious liberties and our conscious rights.

Whatever the decision is, it will affect every American in one way or another. For me and the ministry that God has called me to, the main part of the bill that concerns me is the funding of abortion, the HHS mandate to provide insurance coverage of reproductive health services to all employees, and any part that infringes on my ability to exercise my conscience and first amendment rights.

I knew we were in trouble when Rep. Pelosi said, “we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” To this day we are still finding out “what is in it” and most of it is not good.

LifeNews had an article that explained some of the provisions in the bill that, if not struck down completely, would still be of concern to pro-lifers and would continue funneling money to the abortion industry, taxpayer money and your own personal money through insurance regulations.

In another article written by Kristan Hawkins, Executive Director, Students for Life of America, talks of the pro-life generation and as Kristan writes, “.. Students for Life is here [Supreme Court steps], ready to go to make sure, that regardless of the outcome, our voice is heard. We want to be the first pro-lifers at the Supreme Court when this decision is announced to show the nation that this generation is pro-life, and we are ready for whatever the Supreme Court decides. Students for Life never stops, whether it’s mobilizing at the Supreme Court or starting and training over 720 pro-life groups on college campuses across the country. We’re there, every day at every hour, ensuring that the next generation is truly the pro-life generation.” It’s great to see the youth of our nations to be so energized and ready to stand up for the least among us.

As we wait for the decision, let’s continue to pray for the members of the Supreme Court and for the decision that this bill be struck down as unconstitutional. Let’s pray for the Obama administration, that they will start listening to the people of this country and stop trampling all over our rights. Let’s pray for the defunding of Planned Parenthood. Let’s pray for equal protection for all Americans regardless of their developmental stage or size. Let’s pray for those that have had abortions or have participated in an abortion, that they will find healing, forgiveness, and repentance.

Our country has gone down a dark road for so long and our eyes have adjusted to the lack of light in this dark place that we find ourselves in that many can’t see the truth for the lack of light in their lives. In John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” We need to turn back to God and away from the darkness.






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Open Letter: Fortnight For Freedom

Monday, June 18th, 2012





Come out and join us in Atlanta at the Stand Up For Religious Freedom as part of the 14 days of prayer in support of our religious liberties.

When: Friday, June 22

Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Where: Marist High School, 3790 Ashford-Dunwoody Rd., Atlanta, GA






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Stand Up for Freedom at NYC site where Bill of Rights was adopted

Thursday, June 7th, 2012





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 7, 2012

Contact: Leslie Palma
347-286-7277

NEW YORK, NY — Students of American history know that on April 30, 1789, at the site of what is now the Federal Hall National Memorial, George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the United States. But this Wall Street monument to liberty is famous for much more.

In 1735, newspaper editor John Peter Zenger was tried and acquitted there on charges of sedition after exposing government corruption in his paper, the New York Weekly Journal.

In 1765, the Stamp Act Congress was assembled there to protest taxation without representation.

And on Sept. 25, 1789, the First Congress met there to adopt the Bill of Rights, the first Ten Amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

On Friday, June 8, a cross-section of Americans who cherish their First Amendment rights will gather at noon outside Federal Hall to protest a blatant attempt by the Obama administration to curtail religious liberty.

The Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally will be one of 150 such rallies to take place simultaneously across the country in protest of a Health and Human Services mandate that would force employers to include coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortifacient drugs in the health insurance plans they offer. The mandate is in direct violation of the moral law.

“This is an assault on the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech granted to all Americans by the First Amendment,” said Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life. The Staten Island-based ministry is organizing the New York City event.

“The Administration is offering some groups a year to ‘adapt’ to the rule. But you don’t ‘adapt’ to injustice. You oppose it. We are opposing it in the courts, because Priests for Life launched the fourth lawsuit against this mandate back in February,” Father Pavone said. “This Friday, we will oppose it also in the streets, as we help to organize and promote these rallies nationwide.”

Friday’s NY City rally is the second one at the site. More than 1,200 people attended the first Stand up Rally on March 23.

Speakers on Friday will include Dr. Alveda King, full-time director of African-American Outreach for Priests for Life and the niece of Martin Luther King Jr.; Father Agustino Torres of the Franciscan Friars; Chris Bell, founder of Good Counsel Homes, and Dr. Anne Nolte of the St. Gianna Center for Women’s Health.

“Anyone who cares about the rights that my Uncle Martin died for should make time to come to this rally,” Dr. King said. “What’s at stake here goes way beyond contraception.”

Federal Hall National Memorial is at 26 Wall St. To find a rally elsewhere in the country, please send an email to rally@priestsforlife.org or call 347-286-7250.

Priests for Life is the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit Priests for Life.






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