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View Article  ACDC Call to Action on Health Care Reform

I received this via an email list.

Call to Action: We Need Your Help

With the House of Representatives expected to vote on health insurance

reform as early as next week, the Allegheny County Democratic Party and

Organizing for America (OFA) are stepping up our efforts as we head into the

"Final March for Reform."

OFA is hosting "Final March for Reform" events across Allegheny County,

ranging from phone banks to letter writing parities and Congressional office

visits. Click here http://my.barackobama.com/PACalltoAction to sign up to

attend an event.

Our opponents are already planning to spend millions more on their campaign

to kill reform. We must fight back and show our members of Congress that

Pennsylvanians support health insurance reform-and that we will be there to

back them up when they support reform. Can you donate an hour to two this

weekend to fight back?

Sign up here: http://my.barackobama.com/PACalltoAction

President Obama's plan for health insurance reform will put an end to the

outrageous rate hikes crippling Pennsylvanians and prohibit their worst

abuses like denying care based on a pre-existing condition. At the same

time, the President's plan makes health insurance more affordable by

providing middle-class families with the largest health care tax cut in

history.

This is a critical moment for reform and everything we have worked for over

the past year is on the line. Join me on the "Final March for Reform" by

signing up today to attend an event.

http://my.barackobama.com/PACalltoAction

Very Truly Yours,

Jim Burn, Chair,

Allegheny CountyDemocratic Committee

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View Article  Janet Edwards on DC Catholic Diocese decision regarding family benefits

Pittsburgh's own Reverend Janet Edwards examines the decision of former Pittsburgher, now D.C.'s Archbishop Donad Wuerl to eliminate family benefits (including health care) for Catholic Charities.  This came in response to the legalization of marriage equality in D.C.  As we wrote last month, Reverend Edwards is now a regular contributor to the Washington Post blog, on Faith.

Jesus' example has inspired Christians through the ages to reach out to the hungry and needy, the orphan and the widow, including the long mission of Catholic Charities in the Washington Archdiocese. This service has been life-giving and a witness to the love of Christ for all.

And so it grieves me to see Archbishop Wuerl and the Catholic Charities choose to deny help to those in need because they have judged certain parents unworthy of adoption, and certain employees' spouses unworthy of health care and other benefits.

As Christians who strive to follow Jesus' example, we are called to minister to the weak and to rejoice when the longsuffering find relief -- including the stalwart LGBT couples who have waited so long to get married. We all know Jesus loved a good wedding feast.

I hadn't really thought about the Catholic Church being called to minister to LGBTQ families and individuals as part of their long history of social service outreach.  Typically, when one thinks of ministering to the LGBTQ community, one thinks of "pray away the gay" or the very dedicated LGBTQ community of faith.  I have struggled to understand why otherwise sane gay people remain wedded to their Catholic culture.  Perhaps Janet is right and the ministers on the front lines grasp this in a way that Archbishop Wuerl has chosen to reject?

I suggest you keep up with Reverend Edwards' column as she continues to frame LGBTQ issues within the American cultures of faith.

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