Conscience Protection Resources

Want to know why the bishops are fighting the HHS insurance mandate? Need more material to help teach others - or prayers so you can join in solidarity with the bishops?

The following resources are available for use in a wide variety of settings, including universities & schools, associations, parishes, RCIA programs, and families.

• Videos
• Bulletin Inserts
• Prayer Resources
• Fact Sheets
• USCCB Testimony, Letters & Statements
• News Releases
• Columns & Commentary
  

Videos

Four courageous plaintiffs appeared at a press conference at the House of Representatives this spring, urging Congress to pass the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940). Watch their stories & join your voices with theirs by writing to your representative today!

• Catherina Cenzon-DeCarlo, RN
  

  Mrs. Cenzon-DeCarlo is a New York State nurse who filed suit after being forced to participate in a 22-week abortion against her deeply held beliefs.
  
  

• Dr. Susan Elliott
  Director & Professor, Biola University Nursing Department
  

  Dr. Elliott represents Biola University, an evangelical Protestant university, suing the federal government to protect their conscience rights.
  
  

• Christine Newland Kettterhagen
  Co-Owner/Board Member of Hercules Industries, Inc.
  

  Hercules Industries, a privately owned company, is suing the federal government to defend their ability to conduct business according to their strong values.
  
  

• Sr. Jane Marie Klein
  Chairperson of the Board, Franciscan Alliance, Inc.
  

  Franciscan Alliance, Inc. is a 13-hospital Catholic health care system suing the federal government to continue caring for the community without sacrificing their mission.
  

  
  
  Bulletin Inserts for Parishes, Schools & Lay Associations  

The USCCB is issuing a series of educational bulletin inserts in English & Spanish throughout 2012 and 2013. As one-page documents, the English & Spanish versions may be photocopied on opposite sides of the same insert.

February/March 2013: Pray, Fast, Act
Catholics across the nation are being encouraged to pray, fast and act for renewed protection of religious liberty and to rebuild a culture favorable to life and marriage.

• Life, Marriage & Religious Liberty: Pray, Fast, Act
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           black-and-white version
  
  
• La vida, el matrimonio y la libertad: Reza, Ayuna, Actúa
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           black-and-white version
  

November 2012: Christ the King
As religious intolerance increases in our own country and throughout the world, we pray that we may not take the gift of religious liberty for granted and remember that Christ the King will reign forever.

• Christ the King: That He Would Reign in Our Hearts 
      
  
• Cristo Rey: Para que reine en nuestros corazones     
  

September/October 2012:  Religious Freedom
Pope Benedict XVI has said "Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted." We are called to pray and act to protect the freedom of religion.

• Religious Freedom: Prayer and Action are Necessary to Keep Our First Freedom First
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            black-and-white version
  
  
• Libertad religiosa: Oración y acción son necesarias para mantener nuestra primera libertad
            color version
            black-and-white-version
  
  

May/June 2012:  Conscience Protection
The freedom of conscience for which we are fighting is the freedom to live our lives according to our faith, without having to compromise that very same faith.

• Protecting Consciences: Why Conscience is Important
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             black-and-white version
  
  
• Proteger la conciencia: por qué la conciencia es importante
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            black-and-white version
  

April/May 2012:  Religious Liberty
If we are not free in our conscience and our practice of religion, all other freedoms are fragile.

• Religious Liberty: The Most Cherished of American Freedoms, Past and Present
             color version
             black-and-white version
  
  
• La libertad religiosa: la mas preciada de las libertades americanas, pasado y presente
            color version
            black-and-white version
  

Prayer Resources

The following prayers may be used in solidarity with the bishops' call to penance and prayer to restore religious freedom & conscience protections.

Please note: No special permissions are required to use these prayers, as long as no modification is made and proper attribution is given as noted on the resources.

Current Prayer Initiatives

U.S. Bishops' Call to Prayer for Life, Marriage and Religious Liberty
December 30, 2012 - November 24, 2013

Catholics are encouraged to participate both personally and as a community in prayer, penance, and sacrifice for increased protections of religious liberty and for rebuilding a culture favorable to life and marriage.

Learn more about the Call to Prayer, sign the pledge and sign up for weekly email or text reminders with specific intentions, and join the Facebook event!

Recent Prayer Initiatives
Last spring, the bishops urged an intensification of prayer and fasting for religious freedom in our beloved country. As the Year of Faith began, resources were provided to help the faithful learn more about our courageous forbears in the faith and follow their example.

- Holy Hour for Life and Liberty

- Rosary Novena for Life and Liberty
                2-sided booklet format (English) (en español)
                1-sided format (English) (en español)

- Mass and Pilgrimage for Life and Liberty: Sunday, October 14, started at 12 noon EDT, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. Check out the press release and Facebook page!

Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty

USCCB Publications is currently printing & taking orders for the Mary Immaculate card in English and Spanish card featuring Our Lady of Guadalupe.

There are no plans to sell any of the other four designs at this time.

All six prayer cards may still be downloaded for free from the links below.

• Mary Immaculate - Mary as the Immaculate Conception is the Patroness of the United States of America. Order packages of 100 cards now!
  María Inmaculada - Patrona de Nuestro País
  
  
• Our Lady of Guadalupe - Our Lady is the Patroness of all the Americas -- and also of our unborn brothers and sisters.
  Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe - Order packages of 100 cards now!
  
  
• St. Thomas More - St. Thomas More is the Patron of Religious Freedom.
  Santo Tomás Moro - Patrón de las Libertades Religiosas (not available for sale)
  

Additional English Prayers

• Prayer for Formation of Conscience
• Prayers of the Faithful
• Prayer for Protection of Conscience Rights
• Prayer for Our Nation
• Prayer for Our Leaders
• Prayer for Religious Liberty (text of national prayer card)

Additional Spanish Prayers

• Oración por la formación de conciencia
• Oraciónes de los fieles
• Oración por la protección de los derechos de conciencia
• Oración por nuestra nación
• Oración por el gobierno
• Oración por la libertad religiosa (tarjetas para oración nacional)

Vietnamese Prayer

• Prayer for Religious Liberty: KINH CẦU CHO TỰ DO TÔN GIÁ

Tagalog Prayer

• Prayer for Religious Liberty: Panalangin para sa Malayang Pananampalataya

Fact Sheets

• Check out 4 quick reasons why the Administration’s proposed revisions to the contraceptive mandate do not remove the burden imposed on religious freedom. Comments by the public (both organizations and individuals) are due by Monday, April 8.
  
  
• Find out why we need the Health Care Conscience Rights Act to protect the religious liberty and conscience rights of all Americans. - March 5, 2013
  

• Learn about some of the numerous federal laws and regulations that currently protect rights of conscientious objection. - July 2012
  
  
• Twelve Things Everyone Should Know About the Contraceptive Mandate: The proposed "accommodation" is not current rule, but a promise that comes due beyond the point of public accountability; the original rule was finalized "as is." Find out the rest of the twelve things you should know! - May 17, 2012
  
  
• The New Federal Regulation on Coerced Abortion Payments: Under the new health care reform law, millions of American taxpayers will be forced to support abortion coverage in two ways. Our backgrounder explains how. - April 11, 2012
  
  
• Some are concerned that the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act may be overly expansive. Find out why the Act simply preserves the freedom of conscience that existed prior to the mandate. - March 20, 2012
  
  
• "White House Misrepresents Its Own Contraceptive Mandate"
  February 2, 2012
  The Obama administration, to justify its widely-criticized mandate for contraception and sterilization coverage in private health plans, posted a set of false and misleading claims on the White House blog ("Health Reform, Preventive Services, and Religious Institutions," February 1). This USCCB fact sheet quotes and responds to each claim in turn.

USCCB Testimony, Statements and Letters

• Comments on Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Preventive Services - March 2013
  
  
• Cardinal O'Malley Urges Support for Health Care Conscience Rights Act - March 8, 2013
  "A failure to provide clear and enforceable protection for a right of conscience could undermine Americans’ access to quality health care. Providers of health care, as well as those who offer or purchase insurance, should not face an unacceptable choice between preserving their religious and moral integrity or participating in our health care system." Read the full letter.
  
  
• Archbishop Lori Urges Congress to Include Conscience Provisions in Funding Bills - February 15, 2013
  "The new approach [found in the new notice of proposed rulemaking] even threatens to undermine access to quality health care, by telling providers as well as those who offer or purchase insurance that they need to drop their participation in the health care system if they want to preserve their religious and moral integrity." Read more.
  
  
• Bishops Urge Congress to Act on Religious Liberty Crisis in Health Care Before Year's End - August 3, 2012.
  Cardinal DiNardo called on Congress to address the crisis in health care sparked by the Obama administration's contraceptive/sterilization coverage mandate in an August 3 letter.
  
  
• Bishops Welcome  Inclusion of Conscience Provisions in House Appropriations Bill – July 18, 2012.
  Cardinal DiNardo wrote a letter to the House Subcommittee on Labor/HHS, urging the inclusion of provisions for conscience protection. Read his letter, and learn more about what provisions were included.
  
  
• Comments on Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Preventive Services - May 15, 2012
  
  
• United for Religious Freedom: A Statement of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - March 14, 2012
  
  
• Legal Analysis of the HHS Regulation & Bulletin on Sterilization/Contraception Mandate by the USCCB Office of the General Counsel - March 7, 2012
  
  
• Bishop Lori's written testimony in defense of conscience rights & religious liberty submitted to House Judiciary Committee - Feb 28, 2012.
  His oral testimony delivered before the committee (short form of above comments).
  
  
• “The Parable of the Kosher Deli” - Testimony of Most Reverend William E. Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport, on behalf of the USCCB before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives - February 16, 2012
  
  
• Letter from Cardinal DiNardo to the Senate Regarding the "Respect for Rights of Conscience Act," H.R. 1179 /S. 1467 - February 15, 2012
  
  
• Bishops Renew Call to Legislative Action on Religious Liberty
  On February 10 the Catholic bishops of the United States called for a renewed effort to change the HHS imposed mandate that violates religious liberty.
  
  
• Cardinal DiNardo's Letter to Congress Regarding the "Abortion Non-Discrimination Act," HR 361/S. 165 – December 7, 2011
  
  
• Cardinal DiNardo's Letter to Rep. Pitts, Chair of House Subcommittee on Health, Urging Support for Conscience Rights - November 1, 2011
  
  
• Cardinal DiNardo's Letter to Congress Concerning the "Protect Life Act", HR 358 - October 12, 2011
  
  
• Cardinal DiNardo's Letter to US Congress on Preventive Services" - September 7, 2011
  
  
• Comments on Interim Final Rules Imposing Contraceptive Mandate - August 31, 2011
  
  
• Cardinal DiNardo's Letter to Congress Concerning Respect for Rights of Conscience Act HR-1179 - July 22, 2011
  
  
• Cardinal DiNardo's Letter to Senate Encouraging Support for the "Abortion Non-Discrimination Act," S. 165 – May 18, 2011
  
  
• Cardinal DiNardo's Letter to House Urging Support for "Respect for Rights of Conscience Act," HR-1179 - April 6, 2011
  
  

News Releases

• Religious Liberty Chair Backs Litigants Opposing HHS Mandate - April 8, 2013
  
  
• USCCB Says Administration Mandate Violates First Amendment Freedoms of Religious Organizations and Others - March 20, 2013 (full text of comments)
  
  
• Cardinal O'Malley Urges Support for Health Care Conscience Rights Act - March 11, 2013 (See letter).
  
  
• Archbishop Lori Welcomes Introduction of "Health Care Conscience Rights Act" - March 5, 2013
  
  
• Archbishop Lori Urges Congress to Include Conscience Provisions in Funding Bills - February 15, 2013 (See letter).
  
  
• HHS Proposal Falls Short in Meeting Church Concerns; Bishops Look Forward to Addressing Issues With Administration (en español) - February 7, 2013
  
  
• Bishops Welcome Opportunity to Study New HHS Regulations - February 1, 2013
  
  
• Bishops Urge Catholics to Pray for Life, Marriage, Religious Liberty (en español) - December 6, 2013
  
  
• USCCB Responds to Inaccurate Statement of Fact on HHS Mandate Made During Vice Presidential Debate - October 12, 2012
  
  
• Mass, Pilgrimage for Life, Liberty Set for October 14 at National Shrine - September 20, 2012
  


• Bishops Urge Congress to Act on Religious Liberty Crisis in Health Care Before Year's End - August 3, 2012.
  Cardinal DiNardo called on Congress to address the crisis in health care sparked by the Obama administration's contraceptive/sterilization coverage mandate in an August 3 letter.
  
  
• Bishops Welcome Inclusion of Conscience Provisions in House Appropriations Bill – July 18, 2012.
  Cardinal DiNardo wrote a letter to the House Subcommittee on Labor/HHS, urging the inclusion of provisions for conscience protection. Read his letter, and learn more about what provisions were included.
  
  
• Bishops Renew Plea to Congress and Administration to Repair Affordable Care Act - June 28, 2012
  
  
• Actions in House Appropriations Committee Cause for Celebration - June 21, 2012
  
  
• Cardinal Dolan Applauds Church Agencies as They Challenge HHS for Violating Religious Freedom - May 21, 2012
  


• Dioceses Gear Up For Fortnight For Freedom, June 21-July 4 - June 11, 2012
  
  
• Baltimore, Washington Liturgies To Bookend National Celebration Of Fortnight For Freedom - May 18, 2012
  
• USCCB Submits Comments on Proposed HHS Rulemaking, Urges Re-Opening of Final Rule Defining Mandate, Exemption - May 15, 2012 {Full Text of Comments}
  
  
• Bishops Appeal Federal Decision That U.S. Constitution Forbids Religious Accommodation, Requires Abortion, Contraception Funding in Anti-Trafficking Service Contract - April 17, 2012
  
  
• Bishops Issue Call to Action to Defend Religious Liberty - April 12, 2012
  
  
• Bishops Promise to Continue 'Vigorous Efforts' Against HHS Violations of Religious Freedom in Health Care Reform Mandate - March 14, 2012
  
  
• Cardinal Dolan Voices Dismay at Handling by White House in Letter Updating Bishops on HHS Mandate Controversy - March 2, 2012
  
  
• Senate Vote to Set Aside Conscience Act Marks Chance to Build Bipartisan Support, Seek Judicial Remedies for Religious Freedom- March 1, 2012
  
  
• HHS Mandate Creates Absurd Results, Bishop Lori Tells House Judiciary Committee - February 28, 2012
  
  • 'Without change' suddenly means 'with change'
    
  • ‘Choice’ means ‘force’
  • Liberalism becomes illiberal
    
  • Sterilization, contraception, abortifacients treated as if essential; but 'essential health benefits' are not
    
    
• Bishop Lori Tells Parable of the Kosher Deli and the Pork Mandate in Congressional Testimony - February 16, 2012
  
  
• Cardinal Urges Senate Support of "Respect for Rights of Conscience Act" - February 15, 2012
  
  
• Bishop Blaire Refutes White House Press Secretary's Claim that Bishops Never Supported Heath Care Reform - February 14, 2012
  
  
• Bishops Renew Call to Legislative Action on Religious Liberty - February 10
  
  • Regulatory changes limited and unclear
    
  • Rescission of mandate only complete solution
    
  • Continue urging passage of Respect for Rights of Conscience Act
    
    
• White House Misrepresents Its Own Contraceptive Mandate - February 3, 2012
  
  
• Bishops Decry HHS Rule, Urge Catholics to Stand Up for Religious Liberty and Conscience Rights in Homilies at Vigil for Life - January 23, 2012
  
  
• Cardinal-Designate Dolan Speaks Out Against HHS Rule, Calls For Action In New Web Video - January 20, 2012
  
  
• U.S. Bishops Vow to Fight HHS Edict - January 20, 2012
  
  
• U.S. Bishops Welcome Pope's Reaffirmation of Religious Liberty During Ad Limina Visit - January 19, 2012
  
  
• Bishops Hail Court Decision Upholding Religious Liberty - January 11, 2011
  
  
• Bishop Lori to Brief Bishops on Religious Liberty Issues; Names Members, Consultants of Ad Hoc Committee - November 10, 2011
  
  
• Cardinal Calls For Greater Conscience Protection In Health Care Reform On Eve Of Subcommittee Hearing - November 1, 2011
  
  
• Bishops' Pro-Life Official Hails House Passage of 'Protect Life Act' - October 14, 2011
  
  
• Catholic Organizations to Congress, Administration: Protect Conscience Rights - October 12, 2011
  
  
• Cardinal Reaffirms Support for Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, Cites HHS Mandate as Cause for Urgency - September 7, 2011
  
  
• USCCB Urges Rescission of HHS Contraceptive Mandate, Criticizes 'Inexplicably Narrow' Definition of Religious Freedom - August 31, 2011
  
  
• USCCB: HHS Mandate for Contraceptive and Abortifacient Drugs Violates Conscience Rights - August 1, 2011
  
  
• Bishops' Pro-Life Chair Strongly Opposes Recommended Mandate for Birth Control, Sterilization in Private Health Plans - July 19, 2011
  
  
• Pro-Life Spokesperson Urges Institute of Medicine Committee to Focus on Life-Saving Preventive Health Services for Women, Exclude Contraception, Sterilization - November 16, 2010
  
  

Columns and Commentary

• Keeping Politics Out of Church? by Richard M. Doerflinger - January 18, 2013 (en español)
  
  
• Conscientious Abortions? We Don't Need New Laws Protecting Abortionists by Richard M. Doerflinger - January 16, 2013
  
  
• After the Election: Life, Marriage and Freedom by Richard Doerflinger - November 19, 2012 (en español)
  
  
• Suing the Administration by Tom Grenchik - October 12, 2012 (en español)
  
  
• Praying for Life & Liberty by Deirdre A. McQuade - October 1, 2012
  
  
• Letter in Response to NY Times Article of June 6, 2012, "No Abortion Role Seen for Morning-After Pill" by Richard M. Doerflinger - June 7, 2012
  
  
• Fortnight 4 Freedom: Prayers, Witness and Action by Deirdre McQuade - June 6, 2012
  
  
• Commentary Is Conscience Partisan? A Look at the Clinton, Moynihan, and Kennedy Records by Richard M. Doerflinger in Public Discourse, a publication of the Witherspoon Institute at Princeton University - April 30, 2012
  
  
• The High Cost of Conscience by Tom Grenchik - February 03, 2012
  
  
• On Conscience Rights: There Oughta Be a Law by Richard Doerflinger - December 09, 2011
  
  
• Standing Together for Conscience Rights by Deirdre McQuade - October 17, 2011
  
  
• Stop the New Attack on Conscience Rights by Richard Doerflinger - September 16, 2011
  
  
• The High Costs of 'Free' Birth Control by Richard Doerflinger - July 28, 2011
  
  
• "Preventive Services" that Carry a High Human Cost by Susan E. Wills - September 17, 2010
  
  

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