Our Church needs our help. Under the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly called ObamaCare) the government is mandating that the Catholic church violate its religious beliefs by requiring that nearly all insurance plans include coverage of contraception, sterilization and abortifacient drugs. You as a Catholic will be required to pay for this coverage even though it violates your faith. What's more, Catholic institutions, such as schools, hospitals and other non-profit charities, will be required to provide this coverage to their employees under threat of enormous fines. Our Bishops are calling us to action. They are asking us to do the following:
- Get informed.
- Contact your Representatives in Congress and President Obama.
- Contact Secretary Kathleen Sebilius at HHS and submit your comments regarding the proposed final rules.
- Spread the Word. Let others know about this unjust mandate.
- Pray for conscience rights and religious freedom!
Please take a stand with the Bishops today! Do not stand silently by while the Government runs over our beliefs.
Get Informed
Bishop Nickless addresses HHS mandate
Bishops Decry HHS Rule, Urge Catholics To Stand Up For Religious Liberty And Conscience Rights In Homilies At Vigil For Life
United States Catholic Conference of Bishops
Stand with the US Bishops against the HHS - on Facebook
Contact the Government
Stop HHS - Petition and Resources
Women Speak for Themselves - Petition
Call, Write, Fax or Email Your Congressmen
Guidelines for Calling the Switchboard
Congressional Switchboard Telephone Number (202)224-3121
Iowa Senators
Tom Harkin
731 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Dist. of Columbia 20510-1502
Phone: (202) 224-3254
Fax: (202) 224-9369
website
Charles Grassley
135 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Dist. of Columbia 20510-1501
Phone: (202) 224-3744
Fax: (202) 224-6020
website
Iowa Representatives
Steve King (5th District)
1131 Longworth House Office Bldg
District of Columbia 20515-1505
Phone: (202) 225-4426
Fax: (202) 225-3193
Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid
522 Hart Senate Office BldgDist. of Columbia 20510-2803
Phone: (202) 224-3242
Fax: (202) 224-7327
website
House Majority Leader
John Boehner
1011 Longworth House Office Bldg
District of Columbia 20515-3508
Phone: (202) 225-6205
Fax: (202) 225-0704
websiteWrite, Call or Email President Obama
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
website
Write or Call the Department of Health and Human Services
Kathleen Sebilius, Secretary
The Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave NW
Washington, DC 20201
1-877-696-6775
Comments on the proposed rules will be published on 3/21/2012 and there will be a 90 day comment period. Please read the proposed HHS mandate and send comment to:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Department of Health and Human Services
Attention: CMS-9968-ANPRM
P.O. Box 8016
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
Spread the Word
- Tell a friend (or anyone who will listen) about the mandate, ask them to help.
- Mail, email, fax or handout the USCCB's Bulletin Insert or their Six Things Everyone Should Know About the Mandate.
- Post to Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites.
- Write Letters to the Editor of your local paper.
Pray!
Prayer For Protection Of Conscience Rights In Health Care
Father, in Jesus our Lord, we praise and thank you for your most precious gift of human life and for forming us in your divine image. Keep us, the dwelling place of your most Holy Spirit, ever healthy in body and soul.
Jesus, Divine Healer, pour your grace upon all those afflicted with illness or disease. Protect from all harm those who are vulnerable due to sickness, suffering, frailty, poverty or age, whether elderly or unborn.
Holy Spirit, touch the hearts of all who serve human life in medicine and science, so they will protect the dignity of each person, from conception to natural death, and remain faithful advocates of all entrusted to their care.
Grant those who are called to serve as health care providers renewed conviction in their ministry, and increased wisdom to treat the whole person, and not merely the illness.
Protect the right of health care providers to serve their patients without being forced to violate their moral and religious convictions. Guard them against discrimination, that they might be free to follow you faithfully while fulfilling their professional duties.
Grant our lawmakers the wisdom and courage to uphold conscience rights for those called to the ministry of healing, and help them resist the pressure to become collaborators in the culture of death.
Give us strength to be bold and joyful witnesses to the truth that every human life is sacred.
In your goodness, guard our freedom to live out our faith and to follow you in all that we do.
Father, we ask this in Jesus’ name, through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
