Groups urge House leaders to vote on conscience bill

Conscience-supporting organizations have sent the letter below to the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives urging a vote on a strong conscience-protecting bill, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179). Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry introduced the bill, which has already garnered 223 co-sponsors in the House. To add your voice and urge a vote on this bill, click here for an easy-to-use form.

July 23, 2012

The Honorable John A. Boehner

Speaker of the House H-232, The Capitol Washington DC 20515

The Honorable Eric Cantor Majority Leader

H-329, The Capitol

Washington DC 20515

Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Cantor:

We strongly support enactment of the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179) to support religious liberty and freedom of conscience. We strongly urge House leadership to take whatever steps are necessary to work toward the enactment of Congressman Fortenberry’s bill.

A vital First Amendment right is threatened by the HHS mandate. In addition, those likely to suffer the most are the poorest and neediest.

A large portion of the nation’s social services is provided by religious organizations which are not recognized as “religious” under the terms of the mandate. The mandate contains no exemption for these organizations with moral and religious objections. Either such charities will shut down altogether rather than violate their moral principles, or they will be compelled to use scarce resources to pay punitive fines, thus diverting funds intended to serve the poor.

The shutdown of religious organizations and services could also, both directly and indirectly, lead to job loss.

We urge you to exercise your leadership in working for the passage of the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act as soon as possible to add conscience protections to PPACA.

Respectfully,

Julaine K. Appling                                                        Joan Bell

President, Wisconsin Family Action                              Apostles of Dei Gloriam

Christopher Bell                                                           Father Shenan J. Boquet

Good Counsel Homes                                                   President , Human Life International

Dr. John F. Brehany                                                     Joseph A. Brinck

Executive Director, Catholic Medical Association          President, Sanctity of Life Foundation

James C. Capretta                                                         Samuel B. Casey

Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center                         Managing Director

Jubilee Campaign, Law of Life Project

Larry Cirignano

Director, Faithful Catholic Citizens                               Victoria Cobb

President, The Family Foundation, Virginia

Dana Cody

Life Legal Defense Foundation                                      Thomas Cronquist

Vitae Caring Foundation

Carroll L. Conley, Jr.

Executive Director                                                        Len Deo

Christian Civic League of Maine                                   Founder & President

New Jersey Family Policy Council

Deryl Edwards

President, Liberty Counsel Action                                 Maureen Ferguson

Senior Policy Advisor, The Catholic Association

David Fowler, Esq.

President, Family Action of Tennessee                          Tom D. Freier

President & Executive Director

Dr. Jim Garlow                                                             North Dakota Family Alliance Action
Renewing American Leadership Action

Michael Geer

Millie Lace, SE, LPC                                                    President, Pennsylvania Family Policy Council
Director, Concepts of Truth

Colin Hanna

Thomas A. Glessner                                                      President, Let Freedom Ring
President, National Institute of Family & Life Advocates

John Helmberger

Cathi Herrod                                                                 CEO, Minnesota Family Council & Institute
President, Center for Arizona Policy

Dr. Charles Kenny

Kathleen Gilbert                                                           President, The Right Brain People

Kristan Hawkins                                                           Yuval Levin

Executive Director                                                        Hartog Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Medical Students for Life/Students for Life of America

Julie Lynde                                                                   Gary Marx

Executive Director, Cornerstone Family Council Idaho Executive Director, Faith and Freedom Coalition

Dr. Patricia McEwen                                                     Tom McClusky

President, Doctors for Life International                        Senior Vice President

Family Research Council Action

Rev. Jason J. McGuire

Executive Director                                                        Gene Mills

New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms                     Louisiana Family Forum

Dr. Richard Land                                                          Edward Whelan

President                                                                      President, Ethics and Public Policy Center*

Southern Baptist Ethics

and Religious Liberty Commission                                Penny Nance

President, Concerned Women for America

Jim Minnery

President, Alaska Family Council                                  Kent Ostrander

The Family Foundation, Kentucky

Michael O'Dea

Executive Director, Christus Medicus Foundation          Ron Prentice

California Family Council

Fr. Frank Pavone

CEO, Priests for Life                                                     Paul S. Rondeau

Executive Director, American Life League

Won Kyu Rim

Executive Director, New Jersey Family First                  Curt Smith

Indiana Family Institute

Matt Smith

President, Catholic Advocate                                         David E. Smith

President, Illinois Family Institute

Kris Mineau

Massachusetts Family Institute                                     John Stemberger

President, Florida Family Policy Council

Matthew Staver

Founder & Chairman, Liberty Counsel                          Nicole Theis

President, Delaware Family Policy Council

Dr. David Stevens

CEO, Christian Medical Association                              Christen M. Varley

Executive Director, Conscience Cause

P. George Tryfiates

Director, Government Affairs                                        Dr. Keith Wiebe

Association of Christian Schools International               President

American Association of Christian Schools

Randall Wenger,Esq.

Chief Counsel, Independence Law Center                      Bill Donohue

President

Peter Wolfgang                                                             Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
President, Family Institute of Connecticut Action

cc:

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, Majority Whip

The Honorable Fred Upton, Chairman, House Energy and Commerce Committee

To add your voice and urge a vote on this bill, click here for an easy-to-use form.