We Must Fight FOCA

Dear Brother Knights and Families,

Do you know what FOCA is? Have you taken the time to educate yourself on the Freedom of Choice Act? This is a very real threat to the sanctity of life. Please take some time to learn about FOCA. Here is the U.S. bishops’ summary of FOCA:

• It creates a “fundamental right” to abortion throughout the nine months of pregnancy. No governmental body at any level would be able to “deny or interfere with” this right, or to “discriminate” against the exercise of this right “in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information.” For the first time, abortion would become an entitlement the government must condone and promote.

• Some states require that women be told about the risks of abortion. FOCA would erase all informed-consent laws states have enacted.

• Many states require that parents be informed and sign off on their daughters’ abortions, just as they are informed and involved in every other surgical procedure. FOCA would override and end all parental-involvement laws.

• Some states have laws promoting maternal health. Obama’s FOCA wouldn’t allow them.

• Regulation on abortion “clinics” helps keep these businesses responding to health and safety concerns. FOCA would end these regulations.

• FOCA would disallow “government programs and facilities that pay for or promote childbirth and other health care without subsidizing abortion,” say the U.S. bishops.

• Conscience-protection laws would end. These currently allow Catholic and other pro-life hospitals, doctors, medical students and health-care workers to opt out of participating in abortion in many places.

• After FOCA, any laws that prohibit a particular abortion procedure, such as partial-birth abortion, will no longer be in force.

• FOCA would also strike laws requiring that abortions only be performed by a licensed physician.

Here is a link to the US Bishops statement: Click Here

The Diocese of Scranton will participate in the “Fight FOCA Postcard Campaign” on the weekend of Jan. 24-25. Mass attendees will be asked to sign postcards. The postcards will be collected and sent on parishioners’ behalf to the members of Congress who represent districts in the Diocese.
Through the postcard campaign, the Bishop Martino noted, Catholics throughout the country will have the opportunity to let our representatives know that we do not support FOCA and its anti-life policies.

I ask that all Brother Knights and their families do their part through both prayer and citizen action.

Fraternally Yours,

Robert G. Joyce

Grand Knight