More than 300 people from across the Diocese of Charlotte marched on uptown Charlotte recently to demonstrate public witness to the sanctity of all human life. (Photo by Patricial Guilfoyle, Catholic News Herald)CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis is joining with fellow bishops in urging the faithful of the Diocese of Charlotte to speak out against the proposed “Women’s Health Protection Act” (H.R. 3755).
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued an action alert regarding the federal legislation, which the U.S. Senate is expected to consider Monday, Feb. 28. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives last September in a party-line vote, 217-207.
According to research by the USCCB, the bill would impose abortion-on-demand on every state in the union. It would effectively ban the passage of pro-life laws protecting the unborn child at the federal, state and local levels. It would eliminate common-sense health regulations specific to abortion facilities. It would also create a statutory “right” to abortion nationwide that could force health care providers to participate in or refer for abortion against their deeply held beliefs.
This deceptively named bill is an attack on innocent human beings in the earliest stages of life, said Baltimore Archbishop William Lori and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, chairmen of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Committee for Religious Liberty, respectively, in a Feb. 23 joint letter to senators.
In his statement, Bishop Jugis noted, “Pope Francis has reminded us that ‘Our defense of the innocent unborn… must be clear, firm and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life, which is always sacred and demands love for each person, regardless of his or her stage of development’ (“Gaudete et Exsultate,” 101).”
“As Catholics we are called to support and embrace both mother and child and to reject the ideologies which pit their interests against one another,” Bishop Jugis said. “Let us speak up firmly and passionately today for the innocent unborn and renew our commitment to supporting mothers and families at every stage of life.”
— Catholic News Herald
Alert your Senators: https://www.votervoice.net/USCCB/Campaigns/92175/Respond or call:
- Sen. Thom Tillis: (202) 224-6342
- Sen. Richard Burr (202) 224-3154
Get more information from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops about the proposed act: hhttps://www.usccb.org/resources/Fact%20Sheet%20WHPA%202021%20revised.pdf