LAKE CHARLES – The Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Lake Charles still have the opportunity to participate in a massive nationwide postcard campaign underway to inform our U.S. Senators and Represenataives about their feelings regarding the "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA).
The campaign began on the weekend of Jan. 24-25 through the Office of Pro-Life of the Diocese. According to Kathy Owen, Director of the Office 26,000 postcards were provided to every Catholic Church in the Diocese for distribution and completion. "I have ordered more because many parishes had a need for more," Owen said. "There is still time to get your opinion out about FOCA."
For information about the campaign and how you can participate, contact your parish pro-life director or call Owen at the Office of Pro-Life, 337-439-7400.
With the approval of the U.S. Bishops at their 2008 general meeting, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops and the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment co-sponsored this "FOCA Postcard Campaign.”
People are being asked to send the signed postcards to the their U.S. Senators and Representatives asking them to defeat FOCA, a bill which would create a right to abortion the government could not limit and bring about a national abortion policy far worse than the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v Wade decision. For the first time, abortion would become an entitlement the government must fund and promote. Citizens would lose the freedom they now have to enact even modest regulation of the abortion industry.
In asking for the help of the people of the Diocese of Lake Charles Bishop Glen John Provost said, “The threat is serious. I firmly believe that failure to voice an objection and concern would be morally delinquent. I ask also for your prayers in support of life.”
The campaign will send the message to Congress that the radical policies of FOCA are out of step with the most basic values of the American people and should not become a part of our nation’s laws in any way.
The postcard-signing event gives parishioners as individuals and as a body, an opportunity to give public witness to their belief in the sanctity of human life.
Bishop Glen John Provost has sent a special message to the people of the Diocese detailing the urgency of the situation and how they can help.
"The work for pro-life is the responsibility of everyone but particularly us as Catholics who consistently preach a Gospel of Life,” Bishop Provost said. The Bishop noted that the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Francis Cardinal George of Chicago, reminded everyone of this fact in a statement, which was unanimously endorsed by all the bishops of the country at their November meeting in Baltimore.
“One serious threat facing us is what is called the Freedom of Choice Act or FOCA,” Bishop Provost continued. “Cardinal George outlined a number of consequences adverse to life which would occur if FOCA, as it is presently proposed, becomes law.”
Those consequences as outlined in Cardinal George’s statement “include removing any ‘interference’ to abortion at will; depriving the states of the freedom to enact regulations on the abortion industry; outlawing parental notification and informed consent precautions; deregulating abortion clinics; abrogating the Hyde Amendment that restricts federal funding for abortions; compromising the consciences of doctors, nurses, and health care workers whose personal convictions do not permit them to cooperate in the killing of unborn children; and threatening Catholic health care institutions and Catholic Charities.”
