Novena to Fight FOCA

Clarification re: U.S. Bishops’ pro-life office corrects ‘misleading’ FOCA novena message

FOCA which I received in an email today 1/12/09:

Freedom of Choice Act is set to be signed January 21-22. This information is somewhat misleading and may cause people to think that Fight-FOCA postcard campaign is not necessary.

Thank you for forwarding this message to me. While the Freedom o! f Choice Act (FOCA) is a very real threat (it is the most radical abortion legislation ever to be introduced in Congress), it is almost logistically impossible for Congress to pass it and send it on to President-elect Obama in the time frame mentioned in this message.

First, Congress has just gone back into session, and has not set an agenda for consideration of the bill - no testimony has been given, no votes have been scheduled. Also, if the bill were to pass before Inauguration Day, President Bush would most certainly veto it.

While I do not know the author of the original message, and I do not know where they obtained their information, I believe they may have been confused the possibility of President-elect Obama signing some "executive orders" that would overturn current pro-life policies. This is a real possibility, and could happen in the time mentioned. However, at this point, our contacts in Washington have not been able to determine further details on this.

Of course, prayer and fasting is definitely our most effective weapon, and I wholeheartedly support that part of the message, and hope that many people will participate in that effort.
Mary M. Boyert, Pro-Life Director
Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
mboyert@archatl. com

Please sign the Fight FOCA postcards that should be distributed in your churches this weekend.

I received the following email from my friend Becca:

If you are opposed to abortion then there is bad news on the horizon.
For those of you who do not know, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is
set to be signed if Congress passes it on January 21-22 of 2009. The
FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion. If made a law
then all limitations on abortion will be lifted which will result in
the following:

1) All hospitals, including Catholic hospitals will be required to perform abortions upon request. If this happens Bishops vow to close down all Catholic hospitals,
more than 30% of all hospitals in the United States.

2) Partial birth abortions would be legal and have no limitations.

3) All U.S. tax payers would be funding abortions.

4) Parental notification will no longer be required.

5) The number of abortions will increase by a minimum of 100,000 annually.

Perhaps most importantly the government will now have control in the issue of abortion. This could result in a future amendment that would force women by law to have abortions in certain situations (rape, down syndrome babies, etc.) and could even regulate how many children women are allowed to have.

Needless to say this information is disturbing, but sadly true. As Catholics, as Christians, as anyone who is against the needless killing of innocent children, we must stand as one. We must stop this horrific act before it becomes a law.

The Plan:

To say a novena (9 days of prayer) along with fasting starting on January 11th. For Catholics, the prayer of choice will be the rosary with intentions to stop the FOCA. For non Catholics I encourage you to pray your strongest prayers with the same intentions, also for nine consecutive days. The hope is that this will branch and
blossom as to become a global effort with maximum impact. We have very
little time so we all must act fast. Just do three things:

1) Pass this letter to 5 or more people

2) Do it in three days or less

3) Start the novena on January 11th and pray for nine consecutive days.

(Please also fast for at least two days during the novena)

Remember that with God all things are possible and the power of prayer is undeniable. If you are against the senseless killing of defenseless children then the time is now to do something about it!

Learn more about FOCA and to sign the petition against at Fight FOCA