The object of the "Catholics in Action" page is to keep you apprised of some of the proposed laws making their way through the California Legislature. We support those proposed laws that are in agreement with Catholic teaching and those that are not will be opposed. Your part will be to learn about the proposed legislation and then to write, telephone, e-mail or fax our legislators asking their support or opposition to the proposed laws. If you are interested in helping to pass bills that support Catholic teaching or to reject those that do not, please visit this column often. At times important votes are held on relatively short notice. I will attempt to post a notice about these votes as soon as I learn of them so that you may contact your Senator or Assembly Person. Thank you for your help! If you need to remember the name of your Senator or Assembly Person or if you need a telephone number or address, find your Legislators here.

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You can make a difference on these issues by making your voice heard. Please begin writing, faxing and calling your legislators now!

APRIL 7, 2007

ACTION NEEDED NOW

S 5 Federal Embryonic Stem Cell Funding Bill

The Embryonic Stem Cell Funding bill is likely to come to a vote on APRIL 11th. Action: Ask Senators to oppose S 5 and SIGN PETITION!

Help defeat Embryo Killing Bill. - Call your Senators before Wednesday, April 11.

On Wednesday, April 11, the U.S. Senate will vote on two alternative stem cell research bills. Both advance stem cell science but one, S.5, will actually require the destruction of human beings in their embryonic stage of life. Advocates for the bill are putting substantial pressure on Senators to vote for the bill and are flooding their offices with phone calls. We have to encourage more of our friends and relatives to call and ask for a “NO” vote.

Dianne Feinstein - 202-224-3841

Barbara Boxer - 202-224-3553  

Physician-Assisted Suicide - California Bill Has National Implications

If the largest state in the union adopts physician-assisted suicide for those diagnosed (or misdiagnosed) with six months to live, the pressure will mount in other states. It must be stopped in California. Californians call your Assembly Members. For details: http://www.ccgaction.org/Life/pas/ca/action/update_2007-8_v2Family and Marriage Debate - Put Children's Rights First

The Common Good of Children Takes Precedence

AB 43 -Homosexual Marriage

Deceptively titled "Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act", AB 43 seeks to redefine marriage as being between two people-regardless of gender. Despite the fact that California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 22, which clearly defined traditional marriage as between one man and one woman, homosexual radicals will once again try to subvert the will of the people with homosexual marriage legislation.

AB 43 is scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 10. Ask members to vote NO!

Focusing on the rights of children could resolve some of the ideological debates surrounding the family.

Please contact your Assemblymember and the Assembly Judiciary Committee members and urge a NO vote on AB 43.

Assembly Judiciary Committee

The address and phone number of the Judiciary Committee is 1020 N Street, Room 104. Phone: 319-2334.

AB 1009-Fetal Pain Prevention

This bill would require an abortion doctor to inform a woman he/she can administer anesthesia to the unborn child to alleviate the pain the child would experience during the abortion.

< Big>AB 1511-Government Sex Education for Parents

This arrogant bill would establish the "Family Communication Public Education Campaign," a continuing public education program that "provides parenting adults with the knowledge, understanding, and communication skills necessary to talk with their children about sex and sexuality." It is also extremely arrogant for lawmakers to believe that they know better than parents how to educate children about sex.

AB 1009 and AB 1511 are scheduled for a hearing in the Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday, April 10.

Please contact your Assemblymember, the members of the Assembly Heath Committee and urge a YES vote on AB 1009 and a NO vote on AB 1511.

Assembly Health Committee

To find telephone numbers or addresses of the members please go to health committee here.

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To learn more about other bills concerning your family, visit Capitol Resource Institute, For additional information about the Catholic view of various legislation, go to California Catholic Conference or Catholics_for_the_common_good .