December 17, 2008

Pro-life post card campaign to fight FOCA

By John Gleason

A postcard campaign, implemented to fight the Freedom of Choice Act and champion its defeat in Congress, will go into full swing beginning the final weekend of January.  Churches in every diocese in the country are encouraging their parishioners to send a message to their national representatives that abortion must come to an end.

The Freedom of Choice Act would, for the first time, allow abortion to become an entitlement the government must condone and promote.  It could also eliminate laws that currently allow society to limit or regulate abortion.

A letter from Tom Grenchik, executive director for Pro-Life Activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, notes, “The bishops voted unanimously… to mobilize the resources of the conference … to prevent either the passage of FOCA or the elimination of current pro-life laws and policies.”

Since 1973, when the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade made abortion legal, abortion advocates have tried repeatedly through the court system to establish abortion as a right on statutory grounds.  The Fight FOCA postcard campaign sends a message to Congress that radical polices of FOCA are out of step with the most basic values of the American people.

Mimi Eckstein, director of the Respect Life Office for the Archdiocese of Denver, said the campaign is fully supported by Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

“The archbishop told us to put our energies and resources behind this measure,” she said, “because the campaign itself will bring to the floor messages from Catholics and other people of goodwill about the life issues before our newly elected officials in Washington, D.C.”

Eckstein added that she didn’t know how quickly the new Congress will vote on the Freedom of Choice Act but, given that President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to sign such legislation should it pass, elected officials should be put on notice.

“The purpose of the campaign is to let them all know that they are being watched,” she said.

In a letter sent out to parishes, Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley encouraged everyone to support and participate in the post card campaign.

“Our postcards … will give a clear and strong message to Congress in January 2009 that pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans,” he said, “and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion.”

The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment Inc. has organized a postcard campaign and has set up a Web site where parishes can order materials.

Program materials include postcards for one’s legislators, which are preaddressed to Capitol Hill; educational material and a parish instruction manual.  All materials are available in English and Spanish.  Forms are available at nchla.org/datasource/idocuments/FOCAorder.08.pdf.

Materials should begin to arrive at parish’s right after the first of the year.

Those wishing more information on the Fight FOCA Postcard Campaign can contact the Respect Life Office at 303-715-3205.