Conscience Protection Resources

Want to know why the bishops are fighting the HHS insurance mandate? Need more material to help teach others - or prayers to join in solidarity with our bishops?
The following resources are available for use in a wide variety of settings, including universities & schools, associations, parishes, RCIA programs, and families.

• Bulletin Inserts

• Prayer Resources

• Fact Sheets

• USCCB Testimony, Letters & Statements

• News Releases

• Columns & Commentary
  

Return to main Conscience page.

Bulletin Inserts for Parishes, Schools & Lay Associations

The USCCB is issuing a series of educational bulletin inserts in English & Spanish over the coming months. As one-page documents, the English & Spanish versions may be photocopied on flipsides of the same insert.

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
            color version
            black-and-white version
  
  
• Proteger la conciencia: por qué la conciencia es importante
            color version
            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, so long as no modification is made and proper attribution is given as noted on the resources.

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

Suggested Homily Notes

• Father's Day Homily Notes ~ June 16-17, 2012
  
• Mothers' Day Weekend ~ May 12-13
  

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

Fact Sheets

• 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 latest backgrounder explains how. - April 11, 2012
  
  
• The federal government has issued a new "advance notice of proposed rulemaking" setting out proposed ways to apply its new contraception & sterilization mandate for private health plans to a wide array of religious organizations. The Administration is requesting comments on these proposals by June 19, 2012. The USCCB's initial assessment is summarized in these five "Key Points." - March 29, 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
  
  
• Learn about some of the numerous federal laws and regulations that currently protect rights of conscientious objection. - February 23, 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, has posted a set of false and misleading claims on the White House blog (“Health Reform, Preventive Services, and Religious Institutions,” February 1). This new USCCB fact sheet quotes and responds to each claim in turn.
  
  
• For a quick summary what the HHS edict involves, see our 2-page FAQ called "The HHS Mandate for Contraception/Sterilization Coverage: An Attack on Rights of Conscience" - January 20, 2012
  
  
• For more in-depth information on the HHS mandate and its inadequate conscience protection, read our Preventive Services Backgrounder - January 20, 2012
  
  
• "Emergency Services" and the Protect Life Act - October 13, 2011
  
  

USCCB Testimony, Statements and Letters

• 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
  
  

News Releases

• USCCB Submits Comments on Proposed HHS Rulemaking, Urges Re-Opening of Final Rule Defining Mandate, Exemption - May 15, 2012 {Full Text of Comments}
  
  
• 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

• 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
  
  

Return to main Conscience Protection Page.