April 26, 2013

The Bishops have issued an alert on H730 that supports the right of employers who have moral objections to contraception from being forced to pay for coverage in their health insurance plans.

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The Bishops have issued an alert asking Catholic Voice NC participants to contact their legislators in support of H-716, a bill to prohibit sex selection abortion in North Carolina.

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The below letter was sent to State Senator Bob Rucho and Speaker of the House Thom Tillis. The Bishops want to make Catholic Voice North Carolina aware of this effort. No action is requested of you at this time. - Webmaster

April 12, 2013

We write to you at this time as there is discussion underway regarding the possibility of the introduction of proposed legislation which could eliminate sales tax rebates for not-for-profit institutions, including churches and religious institutions. While we understand the need to make difficult financial choices during these economic times, we believe that the elimination of the sales tax exemption for religious institutions would have a significant impact upon not only the churches in our state but also on overall services to the poor in North Carolina.

Our church related institutions in North Carolina provide a significant amount of outreach to hundreds of thousands of the poor, the vulnerable, and the needy, regardless of religious affiliation, across our state. That outreach, in the form of food, clothing, shelter, disaster relief, and other assistance is leveraged by tens of thousands of volunteer hours provided by members of parishes and congregations, allowing church related institutions to provide this outreach in a more cost effective manner than other organizations would be able to provide. 


In addition to directly reducing outreach services because of a reduction of resources available to churches to provide charitable outreach for distribution of food, clothing, and other basic human needs; the elimination of the sales tax exemption could also result in a reduction and elimination of church related jobs. This would have a twofold impact – less outreach to those less fortunate, combined with the increased number of those unemployed in church related jobs, which would result in even less outreach provided.
 
On behalf of the parishioners of the two Catholic Dioceses in the state of North Carolina, we ask that you engage in efforts to ensure that any proposal to eliminate the sales tax exemption for churches will be stopped before it is introduced for further consideration.  The continued level outreach to the needy and vulnerable in our state by our churches could depend upon your efforts in this regard.

Sincerely,
                                                                       
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
Bishop of Raleigh
 
                                                                      
Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis
Bishop of Charlotte

April 2, 2013

The Bishops OPPOSE Senate Bill 306 that will change the administration of the death penalty in North Carolin and lead to more executions.

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Read the bill

Since our first alert in 2009 on the Choose Life License plate the bishops have been in contact with Catholic Voice NC participants dozens of time. Read original alerts from the bishops on:The right to life, Racial justice, Immigration and other topics.