Bishop Jaime Soto has released a letter to the faithful of the Diocese of Sacramento in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' decision Jan. 20 that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees' health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception.

"Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those 'services' in the health policies they write," Bishop Soto said in the Jan. 25 letter. "And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as part of their policies."

In a statement Feb. 10 regarding the controversy over the federal mandate that all health insurance plans include contraception and sterilization free of charge, President Barack Obama outlined a plan that allows religious employers not to offer such services to their employees but would compel insurance companies to do so.

In a statement released Feb. 10, responding to the president's new plan for mandatory contraceptive coverage in health insurance plans, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said "the only complete solution" to the religious liberty implications of the insurance mandate "is for the HHS to rescind the mandate of these objectionable services." The USCCB said Obama's decision to retain the contraceptive mandate "is both unsupported in the law and remains a grave moral concern."

The USCCB also said "the lack of clear protection" for religious employers and insurers "is unacceptable and must be corrected." It also pledged to continue efforts to correct this problem through the other two branches of government. "We renew our call on Congress to pass, and the administration to sign, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. And we renew our call to the Catholic faithful, and to all our fellow Americans, to join together in this effort to protect religious liberty and the freedom of conscience for all." (See link below for the full text of the statement.)

Bishop Soto in his Jan. 25 letter asked the faithful to do two things. First, as a community of faith, "we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting so that wisdom and justice may prevail and religious liberty may be restored." Second, he asked the faithful to visit the website, www.usccb.org/conscience, to "learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the administration's decision."

The bishop said "this is an alarming matter that negatively impacts the church in the United States directly. It strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be 'of, by and for the people,' has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people - the Catholic population - and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful."

Bishops across the country have spoken out against the mandate and are considering a lawsuit against it - with bishops in more than 164 locations across the United States issuing public statements against it or having letters opposing it printed in diocesan newspaper or read from the pulpit.

"We cannot - we will not comply with this unjust law," said the letter from Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix. "People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens."

Responding to the announcement, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, stated: "In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences."  "To force Americans to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable. . . It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom," he added.

The mandate is so egregious that even the normally reliably liberal and pro-abortion USA Today condemned it in an editorial titled, "Contraception mandate violates religious freedom."

Rachel's Vineyard Retreat, March 2nd-4th, Auburn

Sponsored by the Diocese of Sacramento. This unique and effective experience presents the mercy and compassion of God. The retreat is extremely helpful for those who struggle with feelings of shame, anger or grief and for those who have not forgiven themselves or others. Open to women, men, couples, and family members touched by abortion. The cost is $175 per person. Financial assistance is available. For a registration packet or more information, please contact Annette at (916) 733-0161 or email projectrachel@diocesesacramento.org  Inquiries and participation are strictlyconfidential.  

St. Rose Catholic Church, 5961 Franklin Blvd, Sacramento

Friday, March 2nd, with Mass beginning at 7:30 pm.  

Second Saturday Monthly Pro-Life Mass at St. Rose of Lima Church 

Saturday, March 10th, St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 615 Vine Avenue, Roseville, 8:00 am Pro-Life Mass, preceded by 6:30 am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament      

Rosary for LIFE every 2nd Saturday, and 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month in Fairfield  Join Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church,

Conference on Natural Family Planning, NaProTechnology, and Conscience Clause for Healthcare Providers
San Francisco, March 29th-31st

This Conference is especially important after the recent Health and Human Services announcement regarding Conscience Clause.  

LifeFest Pro-Life Film Festival, organized by the California Pro-Life Council

May 5th and 6th 2012, in Los Angeles, but submissions for your film-work are accepted now.   See the LifeFest website for details and all the events going on at the California Pro-Life Council!    

20th Anniversary Dinner Celebration for the Bishop Gallegos Maternity Home

Sunday, September 16th, 2012, at the Dante Club

Please mark the date for this big event for LIFE!  Raffle prizes are neeed!

Email Kathy Baxter if you can help!  See the new website here!   

• America now knows Planned Parenthood is most certainly the abortion giant, willing to bully anyone who opposes them, while 98% of the pregnant women who enter Planned Parenthood  are sold an abortion.  
• America now knows Susan G. Komen supports Planned Parenthood and abortion, more than the cure, more than life.
• America now knows that Planned Parenthood does NOT provide mammograms.  Watch this video from here in Sacramento, wherein the California PP Communications Director answers the question, "Does Planned Parenthood provide mammograms?"
• There is renewed interest in the abortion-breast cancer link. 
• People are talking about abortion.  This is a winnowing experience, forcing people to really think about abortion, rather than simply remaining "neutral" on the most foundational issue of our time.  Locals pro-life leaders are even writing letters to the Sacramento Bee! 

Thank you so very much, for life,