Pro-Life Activities
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
MEMORANDUM
DATE: July 30, 2021
TO: Diocesan Pro-Life DirectorsState Catholic Conference Directors
FROM: Greg Schleppenbach, Associate Director
RE: Recent Hyde votes in the U.S. House of Representatives
Dear Director:
This week, members of the U.S. House of Representatives cast three key votes related to the Hyde Amendment and other critical pro-life protections.
On Wednesday, the House voted 217 to 212 to pass H.R. 4373, the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs) appropriations bill. H.R. 4373 expands taxpayer funding of abortion by excluding the Helms Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion as part of foreign assistance.
On Thursday, the House rejected a “motion to recommit” that would have restored the Hyde Amendment and other longstanding pro-life policies to H.R. 4502, another package of appropriations bills. The motion to restore pro-life protections failed by a vote of 208 – 217.
Also on Thursday, the House voted 219 to 208 to pass H.R. 4502 without the 46-year-old Hyde Amendment and other longstanding, bipartisan provisions like the Weldon Amendment.
Eliminating these provisions would force taxpayers to pay for elective abortions and would have the effect of forcing health care providers and professionals to perform and refer for abortion against their deeply-held beliefs, as well as forcing employers and insurers to cover and pay for abortion.
With the exception of three Democrats who voted against H.R. 4373 for reasons unrelated to the Helms Amendment, all House Democrats present rejected the addition of pro-life protections and voted to advance the appropriations bills without the Hyde Amendment, Helms Amendment, and other pro-life protections included. To see how your members of Congress voted, click on each of the vote links above.
These two pieces of legislation now advance to the Senate for further consideration. We expect that the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold markups on several of their own draft appropriations bills before any bills go to the Senate floor.
In light of these developments, we ask you to:- Contact your members of Congress to express your disagreement if he or she voted to advance these bills without pro-life protections.
- Write your senators in support of the Hyde Amendment if you have not done so already (A sample letter to senators can be found here.)
- Continue promoting the USCCB’s petition in support of the Hyde Amendment at NoTaxpayerAbortion.com.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for all you do to promote a culture of life.
God bless you!Greg
Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities | prolife@usccb.org | www.usccb.org/prolife
WASHINGTON D.C. ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE
The March for Life is an inspiring, peaceful. Vibrant, and joy-filled rally of women, men, young people, and children from all across the country. Every year, tens of thousands of pro-lifers converge on the National Mall and march on Capitol Hill on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling which legalized abortion in all 50 states. It’s the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world. For more information and regular updates go to https://marchforlife.org/
For all those who are unable to attend the March for Life in Washington DC this year, you are invited to celebrate Mass on Friday, January 29th at 10 am with Archbishop Pérez at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Philadelphia. For more information: http://phillycatholiclife.org/.
WEEKLY
Respect Holy Hour - Chapel 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Mondays - Holy Rosary with meditations of Mother Theresa.
MONTHLY
Mass at St. Agnes Church 8:00 AM, First Saturday, every month with Rosary Pilgrimage to Planned Parenthood. Short meeting follows with coffee and donuts. Under auspice of God's Precious Infants
Chester County Pro-Life Coalition Board Meeting 7:00 PM - welcome to attend 592 Snyder Avenue, Coalition Board Meeting Room
ANNUAL EVENTS
Chester County Pro-Life March - January, St. Agnes Church and March to Old Court House and then to Knights of Columbus for refreshments.
National March for Life - bus to Washington, DC - January
Respect Life Sunday and Life Chain-West Chester Borough 1st Sunday, October
Mothers' Day Rose sale and literature distribution at SSS) all Masses, May
National Night of Prayer for Life - December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception -
SSJ Chapel - 8:00 PM to Midnight - Adoration and communal prayersPERIODIC
Witnessing with Crosses - set up at Churches; marching through borough
Restaurant Festival - exhibition table, witnessing-West Chester Borough
Super Sunday - exhibition table, witnessing-West Chester Borough
40 Days for Life - Spring and Fall; prayers commit to an hour of prayer at Planned Parenthood
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