Action alert: H.R 940 Health Care Conscience Rights

Ask Congress to Support H.R. 940, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act! Take Action! New bill would protect religious freedom and rights of conscience Dear Friend of Religious Liberty: Thanks in large part to your efforts, this week, Rep. Diane Black and fifty other House members introduced a new bill 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. Here’s a video highlighting a few stories of people this bill would help. Also, check out Archbishop Lori and Cardinal O’Malley’s letters supporting the bill. Can you spare a few minutes to contact your Members of Congress? Urge them to support House bill H.R. 940 and help ensure its enactment as part of “must-pass” legislation. Members of the House should also be asked to co-sponsor the bill. Call using the "Take Action" link or click here to email your two Senators and Representative! Join with us in calling on Congress to protect the right of all people and groups to participate in life-affirming health care—without violating their consciences. Please contact your Congressional representatives today and urge them to support H.R. 940 to protect religious freedom and the moral convictions of all! For more information or to join the postcard campaign, go to NCHLA’s action alert. Thank you for all that you do in support of life and liberty! -Your Religious Freedom and Conscience Protection Team P.S. Please forward this to friends and family who share your concern to protect the rights of all to participate in health care! They can click here to sign up for our email list or text the word FREEDOM to 377377 for mobile updates.

Bishop Malone's arrival and installation

A Mass of Installation for Bishop Richard J. Malone will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., in Buffalo, N.Y. 

Since my appointment, I have learned a great deal about the faithful of the diocese, their incredible compassion and generosity to those in need and the countless ministries that make a positive difference in peoples’ lives on a daily basis, Bishop Malone said.  I look forward to joining this effort as we continue to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of Western New York.

Bishop Malone will be the principal celebrant of the Mass as he becomes the 14th bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo.  He succeeds Bishop Kmiec, who has led the diocese since Oct. 28, 2004.  Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop Kmiec’s letter of resignation on May 29, 2012.  Upon his retirement, Bishop Kmiec will become bishop emeritus of Buffalo.
           
Presiding at the installation will be Cardinal Timothy J. Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, and Cardinal Edward M. Egan, archbishop emeritus of New York. 
Archbishop Carlo M. Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States, will read the letter from the pope, naming Bishop Malone as the new spiritual leader of the Diocese of Buffalo. 
           
More than two dozen bishops from the United States and Canada are scheduled to concelebrate the installation Mass, including Archbishop Henry J. Mansell, archbishop of Hartford and former bishop of Buffalo, Bishop Robert J. Cunningham, bishop of Syracuse and native of Kenmore, and Bishop Donald W. Trautman, bishop of Erie and a native of Buffalo.  Priests and deacons from the Diocese of Buffalo, Diocese of Portland and Archdiocese of Boston will also participate.
           
More than 70 singers and musicians will take part in the installation Mass.  The Diocesan Festival Chorus will be under the direction of Alan Lukas, director of music for the diocese, who will also be principal organist.  Tim Socha will direct the Cathedral Choir for the prelude music and will assist Lukas as an organist.  There will be five cantors and five additional instrumentalists.

During the Mass, petitions will be read in several different languages, including Spanish, Burmese, Vietnamese, Korean, Polish and Italian.  The Knights of St. Gregory, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre, Knights of Columbus and Knights of St. John will serve as the honor guard.  Members of the Diocesan Youth Board will be banner bearers.

Bishop Malone will welcome leaders from a number of other religious faith communities in Western New York.  Because of limited seating, the cathedral capacity is 1,200, the installation Mass is a ticketed event, with more than 2,100 invitations sent out. A reception at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo will immediately follow the installation Mass.
           
In the weeks following his installation, Bishop Malone will be traveling throughout Western New York as he continues to familiarize himself with the diocese, its people and its ministries.  On Monday, Aug. 13, at 5 p.m., at Our Lady of Peace Church in Clarence, Bishop Malone will celebrate Mass and attend a reception for the women and men religious of the diocese.  On Saturday, Aug.18, Bishop Malone will celebrate Mass and attend a reception at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora with permanent deacons, their wives, candidates to the permanent diaconate and their wives.

Broadcast and social media coverage of the installation Mass will be provided the week of Aug. 6.

EWTN coverage

MASS (SPECIAL - CATHEDRALS ACROSS AMERICA)

Wednesday  08/10/2012  at 2:30 PM

AND repeated

Thursday  08/11/2012 at 12:00 AM