Visit http://leg.wa.gov/ to find your Washington State legislators and their contact information.

/march-for-life
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St. Stephen's Legislative Advocacy Ministry works to provide understanding of Catholic social teachings relative to important legislative matters, at both the state and national levels, and to promote action consistent with church teaching.  Our focus is on issues that most directly impact the family - the "vital cell of society." 

Legislative Advocacy Ministry meets the 2nd Monday of every month at 7:30pm (after 6:30 Mass) in the Parish Office Conference Room.  The next meeting is Monday, September 10th, 2018.   All are welcome.
 

USCCB Call to Prayer for the Legal Protection of Human Life the U.S. bishops are asking Catholics to 'pray a novena' -- from August 3rd thru Sept 28th of 2018 -- for changes to our laws to protect human life  ( http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/take-action-now/call-to-prayer/legal-protection-of-human-life.cfm  ).

Advocacy in Washington, DC

Conscience Protection Act of 2017 (S 301/HR 644) Bill to protect rights of pro-life health care entities and employers from the coercive power of federal and state governments compelling them to participate in abortions.  CONTACT members of Congress RIGHT AWAY (see below)!!!  Click HERE to download the USCCB factsheet for more details.

Enter your zip code in the upper right corner at  http://www.house.gov/
to find your U.S. Congress representative's name and contact information, or https://www.senate.gov/ to contact our U.S. Senators.

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(sample message)

"Dear Senator/Rep _______: 
 
Please support the Conscience Protection Act and work to pass it into law by any possible means in 2018.  Please also communicate your support for the CPA to House and Senate leadership.  Doctors and nurses unwilling to participate in abortions should not be driven from the healing professions.  It is wrong for government to force Americans to violate their deep respect for human life.
 
As your constituent, I will appreciate your written response telling me what you are doing to ensure passage of this Act. "

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Title X (10) funding the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is considering a rule that would eliminate $60M of our federal tax dollars from going to Planned Parenthood for abortions.  Thanks to all who submitted their comments to HHS last month!  Now we await their decision.

U.S. Supreme Court Decisions

NIFLA v. Becerra

National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) case before the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the CA law that would force pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise  & promote abortion.  On June 26, 2018 our U.S. SUPREME COURT decided 5-4 to protect the religious freedom of the pregnancy centers.  The CA law is overturned.  THANKS FOR EVERYONE'S PRAYERS!!!

Masterpiece Cakeshop baker decision
U. S. Supreme Court decision on June 4^th, in a 7 to 2 majority vote, upheld the constitution's First Amendment guarantee to religious freedom.  The Court determined that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission “showed hostility toward the baker when they suggested his claims of religious freedom were made to justify discrimination” against gays, as a Christian.  “The commission’s hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendment’s guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion”, per Justice Anthony Kennedy who wrote the majority decision.  He further wrote…”these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market."

2018 Legislation from Olympia, WA
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Results of the 2018 session, which officially ended on March 8th:

YOUR constitutional right, per the WA state constitution, to religious freedom  (Amendment 4, Article 1, Section 11 "Religious Freedoms"  has been trampled by our state legislature  http://leg.wa.gov/LawsAndAgencyRules/Pages/constitution.aspx )
Amendments introduced during floor votes to protect our constitutional guarantee to freedom of conscience were rejected by the majority.  The link under Downloadable Documents called "2018 Legislator voting tallies" shows how legislators voted in certain Districts on these bills. 

Senate Bill 6219 Abortion mandate - this new law forces ALL health plans in the state to include paid coverage for abortions and contraceptives.

House Bill 1523 Contraceptives Mandate - this new law requires all health plans in the state to provide 'free contraceptives'; the contraceptives covered include those that are abortifacients. This constitutes a direct threat to the life and dignity of the human person,    as well as violates our WA state constitutional rights. 

Senate Bill 6037 "Uniform Parentage Act" - this new law creates a contract-basis for surrogacy ("womb rental") in our state, allowing for the buying and selling of babies strictly for money and outside of the normal court systems that would protect children's rights.  Multiple attempts to amend this unthinkable legislation were rejected by the majority party. 

Senate Bills 6102 & 6105 - did not pass, but would have created a NEW CIVIL RIGHT, forcing employers to provide contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs or face charges of discrimination.  Senate Bill 6105 would have provided FREE CONTRACEPTIVES AND ABORTIONS TO ANYONE IN THE WORLD who came to the state of Washington.  These bills also did not provide protections for religious liberty nor conscience rights.  We can reasonably expect that in the 2019 legislative session, unless the majority party control in Olympia changes in the November 2018 elections, these bills will undoubtedly resurface.

SUPPORT Senate Bill 6052 -  would end the death penalty in our state for 1st degree murder convictions, replaced by life in prison without release or parole.  Passed in the Senate, but not in the House.

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E-mail sstmlegislativeadvocacy@gmail.com to be included in alerts
to legislature activity regarding Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty issues.

See LINKS below to become a better-informed Catholic citizen.