Announcements and News

40 Days for Life

Last spring, Fr. White and other pastors spent countless hours praying outside abortion mills during the 40 Days for Life campaign. Yesterday, Fr. Saguto spent at least one and a half hours praying alone outside the Planned Parenthood in Everett. Since these priests are our shepherds, shouldn't we, as their flock, be following their lead?

Additional information about 40 Days for Life can be found below. If you are able, please sign up to pray for at least one hour.

September 24, 2010

Pharmacy Hearing on Conscience Rights

Last Friday's Board of Pharmacy Hearing was packed with women's reproductive rights groups, a few women pastors, professionals, healthcare workers, elderly, and many young college-aged students and teens speaking against the right of conscience. There were only about 10 people present that spoke in protection of the right of conscience in the entire three hour Hearing. Fortunately, the few that did speak, spoke well.

Please pray for the Board and those involved, and make every effort to attend the Board Hearing to submit your comments to the Board and/or testify on Wednesday, September 29. Testimonies are strictly limited to 2 minutes. After hearing the comments made at the meeting, the Board has the option of making a decision to proceed with the rule-making process to re-write their rules that violate conscience (and WA State law) or to keep them and continue to fight the lawsuit that was brought against them.

Our right and our duty to act according to our conscience is a foundational principle of liberty. A society that denies individuals the right to act in accord with their conscience, being forced to either violate one's conscience or abandon one's livelihood is an act of the worst sort of oppression. This is an issue that no Americans can be apathetic about.

Here's how you can help:

1. Provide a written comment on the Pharmacy Board website at fortress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview/AddComment.aspx?ID=647 or email your own comment.  Conscience supporters should “CONCUR” with amending the current rules. (For record-keeping purposes, you must provide your contact information. Comments are anonymous).

2. Attend the last Board hearing on September 29th in Kent. BE SURE TO ARRIVE EARLY TO GET A SEAT. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE TESTIMONY, BUT MAY IF YOU WISH.

3. Consider providing testimony at the hearings that supports the right of pharmacists and pharmacies to conscientiously object to dispensing Plan B and Ella.

It's important to have a strong presence and testimony of the truth at the upcoming Hearing. our presence and testimony can make a difference.  Please read the flyer which has been approved by Sr. Sharon Park. It may be used for church bulletin inserts and can be edited down.

The pro-abortion groups have sent out many emails to their supporters urging them to provide written comments and testimony at the hearings. Whether or not you provide live testimony, it is important for the pro-conscience community to stand up and be counted. We don't want to miss this opportunity.

Please contact Marie for additional information.

September 21, 2010

Board of Pharmacy to Revisit Pharmacist's Right of Conscience

In 2006, the Governor, Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and Northwest Women's Law Center (now Legal Voice) demanded that the Washington Board of Pharmacy pass regulations forcing pharmacists and pharmacies to violate their conscience and dispense Plan B , the morning after pill. Their demands were a part of a national agenda by pro-abortion groups to eliminate conscience rights for these health care professionals and to force private businesses to sell early abortifacients such as Plan B and Ella. Although the Board initially voted to pass a regulation supporting conscience rights, it abruptly reversed its position when the Governor threatened the Board. In 2007, the Board passed the final regulations that require pharmacists and pharmacies to dispense drugs like Plan B and Ella regardless of a pharmacist's religious objection. They prohibit providers from referring patients to nearby providers when the providers have a conscientious objection, but in practice allow providers to refer patients for business and secular reasons.

In a recent turn of events, the Board has re-opened the rulemaking process. The Board is considering amending the anti-conscience regulations to allow providers to refer patients to nearby providers if they have a conscientious objection to dispensing a drug. It is essential that the Board hears the voice of those who support conscience rights. We have a unique opportunity to stand up for life and faith and to change the law.

Our right and our duty to act according to our conscience is a foundational principle of liberty. A society that denies individuals the right to act in accord with their conscience, being forced to either violate one's conscience or abandon one's livelihood is an act of the worst sort of oppression. The right to act according to one's conscience is a right that no American should be apathetic about.

Learn how you can help.

Dan Kennedy
September 15, 2010

Gabriel Project Training

There will be training for anyone interested in becoming a Gabriel Project volunteer on Saturday, September 11, from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at St. Stephen the Martyr parish in Renton.

September 4, 2010

Adoption: The Loving Option

September 2, 2010