Contact the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and Gang of Eight Members

We need your help. Call or write to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and Gang of Eight members.

NH House Considering End-of-Life Issues

The New Hampshire Senate soon will consider two bills on end-of-life issues:

Catholic Citizenship News Crossover Update

The New Hampshire Legislature recently marked its Crossover Day – the day by which the House and Senate each must complete all hearings and votes. Legislation that has passed the House has been sent to the Senate, and legislation that has passed the Senate has been sent to the House. As we enter the second half of the session, we provide you with a summary of the results of the bills we have been following and a look ahead at the legislation we will be tracking.

New Bill Would Protect Religious Freedom and Rights of Conscience

Ask Congress to Support H.R. 940, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act 

Thanks in large part to your efforts, Rep. Diane Black and fifty other House members introduced a new bill last week called the “Health Care Conscience Rights Act,” H.R. 940, which would protect Americans’ First Amendment rights by providing a full exemption for all those whose religious beliefs run counter to the HHS mandate. The bill would also protect institutions and individuals from forced participation in abortion.

Contact Your Representatives about Two Bills

The New Hampshire House will consider two bills next week:

• HB 316 (Relative to Regulating Alkaline Hydrolysis for the Disposal of Human Remains)

• HB 483 (Relative to Information Regarding Abortion)

HHS Proposal Falls Short in Meeting Church Concerns

Urge Congress to Protect Rights of Conscience and Religious Liberty

On February 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to the mandate that requires coverage for sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortions. The announcement showed some movement by the Administration but fell short of addressing concerns raised by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

New Hampshire Legislature in Session

The New Hampshire Legislature has been busy conducting hearings on the many bills under consideration for this session. Here is a summary of the bills we have been following.

NH House Considering End-of-Life Issues

The New Hampshire House will consider two bills on end-of-life issues in the next few weeks:

• HB 403 (Establishing a Commission to Study Death with Dignity for Persons Suffering from a Terminal Condition)
• HB 316 (Relative to Regulating Alkaline Hydrolysis for the Disposal of Human Remains)

Contact Your State Representative to Support the Education Tax Credit Program

A New Hampshire law allows businesses to make a donation to a scholarship organization in exchange for a tax credit against the state business profits tax and/or business enterprise tax for an amount equal to 85% of the donation. The donations are used by the scholarship organization to grant scholarships to New Hampshire children to attend nonpublic schools, including Catholic schools. Children age 5 to 20 who have not graduated from high school are eligible to apply if their household income does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level (currently $69,150 for a family of four). A bill has been introduced to repeal the education tax program, and the House Ways & Means Committee is expected to consider the bill next week.

A Call for Just and Compassionate Immigration Reform

Ask your United States Senators and Representatives to pass just and compassionate immigration reform legislation in the 113th Congress.

We Need Your Input!

Catholic Citizenship News is conducting a survey to determine how we can best deliver information to you about election resources, legislation, and events. Your feedback is important and will help us as we plan future communications.

Why does the Church take a position on budgets and public assistance programs?

Now that the election is over and the ads have stopped, significant work will begin immediately. Our newly senators and representatives will introduce bills, and you can get involved by learning about the issues, following legislation, and engaging your elected officials.

Prayerfully Consider Your Vote Tomorrow

Many eyes will be turned toward New Hampshire tomorrow. We face great challenges as a nation, but we also are presented with great opportunities to build a future based upon the principles laid forth by Christ. May we take this opportunity seriously, obtain factual information about the candidates and their positions, and get out and vote tomorrow.

Caring for God's Creation

This fall, Catholic Citizenship News features a weekly program to help Catholics learn about the seven key themes of Church teaching as we form our consciences in preparation for the general election. We examine our seventh theme this week – Caring for God’s Creation.

Solidarity

This fall, Catholic Citizenship News features a weekly program to help Catholics learn about the seven key themes of Church teaching as we form our consciences in preparation for the general election. This week, we learn about Solidarity.

Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

This fall, Catholic Citizenship News features a weekly program to help Catholics learn about the seven key themes of Church teaching as we form our consciences in preparation for the general election. In this installment, we focus on the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers.

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

This fall, Catholic Citizenship News features a weekly program to help Catholics learn about the seven key themes of Church teaching as we form our consciences in preparation for the general election. This week, we examine the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.

Rights and Responsibilities

This fall, Catholic Citizenship News features a weekly program to help Catholics learn about the seven key themes of Church teaching as we form our consciences in preparation for the general election. This week, we focus on Rights and Responsibilities.

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

This fall, Catholic Citizenship News features a weekly program to help Catholics learn about the seven key themes of Church teaching as we form our consciences in preparation for the general election. This week, we examine the Call to Family, Community, and Participation.

The Right to Life and the Dignity of the Human Person

This fall, Catholic Citizenship News features a weekly program to help Catholics learn about the seven key themes of Church teaching as we form our consciences in preparation for the general election. In this issue, we begin with the Right to Life and the Dignity of the Human Person.

Catholic Citizenship News Launches Fall Education Campaign

In preparation for the fall elections, we are proud to announce the launch of Conscience and Your Vote, an education and awareness drive dedicated to encouraging Catholics in New Hampshire to learn about Church teaching on today’s pressing issues, pray as we form our consciences, and get out and vote. This year, we face great challenges as a nation, but also are presented with great opportunities to build a future based upon the principles laid forth by Christ.

Starting this week, Catholic Citizenship News will feature a weekly program to help Catholics learn about Church teaching.

School Choice and Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bills Become Law

Thanks to your efforts this session, key measures will become law in New Hampshire including Education Tax Credits, Partial-Birth Abortion and End-of-Life Decisions.

New Hampshire Session Ending – Your Help Needed

The New Hampshire Legislature ended its session, and bills that passed both the House and Senate have been heading to Governor Lynch. Your advocacy made a difference this session, and now we need your help on the remaining bills to be considered by the Governor and those returning to the Legislature for veto override votes. Here is a summary of the bills we tracked in the second half of the session...

The Senate is about to start votes on the Farm Bill!

Urge your Senators to support a Farm Bill that feeds hungry people, promotes stewardship of creation, supports small family farmers, and helps rural America thrive.

Vote on Fetal Homicide Bill Expected on May 30

In 2009, the New Hampshire Supreme Court heard the Lamy case, a criminal case concerning an intoxicated driver who struck a car driven by a woman who was pregnant. The child was delivered prematurely and died two weeks later as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. The Court overturned the conviction of the driver for causing the death of the child because current New Hampshire law does not support a conviction for the child’s death. In the Lamy decision, Justice James Duggan wrote, “Should the legislature find this result in this case as unfortunate as we do, it should follow the lead of many other states and revisit the homicide statutes as they pertain to the fetus.” HB 217 was introduced to include unborn children in the current homicide laws.

Votes on Education Tax Credit Bills Expected this Week

Bills were introduced in both the House and Senate this session to establish tax credits for businesses and offer scholarships to students who attend nonpublic schools. The education tax credit program would allow low- and middle-income students to receive an average of $2,500 per year if they choose to attend a nonpublic school. Businesses would fund the scholarships and receive an 85% tax credit in return on either the business profits tax or the business enterprise tax. The House and Senate passed the respective bills (HB 1607 and SB 372), and a group has coordinate the two bills to create one framework. Both the House and Senate are expected to vote on the bills this week.

Send Messages to HHS and Congress

Please click on the link below to send messages to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Congress telling them to stand up for religious liberty and conscience rights.

New Hampshire Legislature Marks Crossover Day

Just before Holy Week, the New Hampshire Legislature marked its Crossover Day – the day when legislation that passed the House is sent to the Senate and legislation that passed the Senate goes to the House. As we enter the second half of the session, we provide you with a summary of the results of the bills we have been following and a look ahead at the legislation we will be tracking.

Presentation - What is Faithful Citizenship?

Have you ever wondered why the Catholic Church is involved in bills before the state and federal legislatures? Do you want to learn more about the Church’s teachings on social issues? Then come find out about Faithful Citizenship at an informational meeting with Meredith Cook, Director of the Office of Public Policy on April 26 at 7:00 p.m.

New Hampshire House Votes on Marriage and Casinos

The New Hampshire House will vote on two important bills in the near future:

Oppose Payday Loans by Supporting Governor's Veto of SB 160

SB 160, which was passed by the Legislature and vetoed by the Governor, would create a new small loan product in New Hampshire known as payday loans. The bill also overturns the interest rate cap for these lenders and would allow them to charge interest rates in excess of 400 percent APR. SB 160 was strongly opposed in the legislature by the Attorney General’s office, the local Welfare Administrator’s Association, and a coalition of churches, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester.

NH State Legislators to Vote on Religious Exemption for Contraception Coverage

There has been much press surrounding the mandate issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requiring contraceptive and sterilization coverage in almost all private health plans nationwide. Here, in New Hampshire, a state law also mandates contraception coverage without regard for whether such coverage violates the rights of citizens to practice their faith. An amendment to HB 1546 provides that employers with a religious objection will not be required to provide contraceptive coverage. A vote on this amendment is expected to be held March 7, 2012.

Urge Your State Representatives to Support Traditional Marriage

In 2009, by the narrowest of margins, the New Hampshire Legislature passed a law that overturned thousands of years of Western civilization by redefining marriage as the union of any two adults. In 2011, HB 437 was introduced to repeal that law and restore the definition of “marriage” as the union between one man and one woman. The Legislature is expected to vote on an amended version of HB 437 within the next two weeks.

HHS Mandate an Attack on Religious Liberty and Conscience Rights

Support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act

On January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed a rule that virtually all private health care plans must cover sterilization, abortifacients, and contraception. The rule is set to take effect August 1, 2012. The exemption provided for "religious employers" is so narrow that it fails to cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations, including Catholic hospitals, universities, and service organizations that help millions every year. Non-profit religious employers that do not now provide such coverage, and are not exempt under the rule’s extremely narrow definition of religious employer, will be given one year—until August 1, 2013—to comply.

Pope Benedict XVI reaffirmed the Church's right to offer public moral witness

In the face of the threats posed by radical secularism, Benedict XVI reaffirmed the Church's right to offer public moral witness. The Pope said this during his meeting with the Bishops of the United States of America, who he received on Thursday morning, 19 January, on the occasion of their visit "ad limina Apostolorum."

Urge your Senator to Support Catholic and Other Independent Schools

SB 372 would provide tax incentives to businesses that donate scholarship money to independent schools. We support SB 372 but seek clarification in the bill to ensure that the bill would apply to religious schools.

For Family and Marriage

On the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Family, Bishop Peter A. Libasci shares his reflections on family and marriage.

Contact your Representatives and ask them to say no to expanded gambling.

HB 593, which would legalize two casinos and 10,000 slot machines in New Hampshire, will be considered by the Legislature in January. 

Contact your Legislators to Express Opposition to Expansion of the Death Penalty

On January 4, 2012, the New Hampshire House of Representatives will consider a bill that would dramatically expand the death penalty in New Hampshire. While under current law, only specific categories of homicide can be prosecuted as capital murder, HB 162 would make the death penalty applicable to anyone who commits “purposeful” murder.  According to the NH Department of Justice, eight murders in 2008, ten murders in 2009, and five murders in 2010 would likely have been charged as capital murders had HB 162 been in effect.  

New Hampshire currently has one person in prison with a death sentence.  His case, still on appeal, has already cost New Hampshire taxpayers over $5 million, more than it would cost to jail him for 100 years.

Show Support for our Immigrant Brothers and Sisters

Contact the Executive Council before Wednesday, December 14 and ask them to support federal funding for critical services for refugees and their families.

"Protect Life Act" Passes House - Your Help Needed for Senate

WASHINGTON-The USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities welcomed passage in the House of the "Protect Life Act". Attention now shifts to the Senate, where Senators should be urged to support and co-sponsor S. 877. Voice your support at NCHLA's Action Center.

Urge the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to Vote “No” on Repealing DOMA

The Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate has scheduled a hearing on November 3, 2011, to vote on a bill that would repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act (known as “DOMA”).

Famine grips East Africa, floods ravage South Asia

Urge Congress, Administration not to abandon our brothers and sisters now! Our Catholic faith calls us to protect people who are hungry, thirsty, seeking refuge and care. Life-saving poverty-focused international assistance, which fights hunger and disease and makes communities facing natural disasters such as those in East Africa and South Asia, more resilient, makes up less than 1% of the U.S. federal budget. However, Congress is considering proposals right now that would drastically cut assistance to people in dire need.