@)
CATHOLIC
CONFERENCE
OF KENTUCKY
1042 Burlington Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601-8487
Tel (502)875-4345
Fax (502)875-2841
www.ccky.org
January 24, 2011
Dear Pastor/Parish Life Director,
This past weekend marked another anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade decision that has led to the
destruction of so many human lives. Once again, Catholics and other Kentuckians spoke out for the
voiceless by traveling to Washington, D.C. to bear witness to the truth that all life is sacred and needs
protection. Within the state many others gathered to pray and demonstrate their support for an end to the
legal sanction of abortion in our state and nation.
Ina January 14, 2011 letter to Congress about legislative principles and priorities, Archbishop Timothy
M. Dolan, President of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote, “Most fundamentally, we will
work to protect the lives of the most vulnerable and voiceless members of the human family, especially
unborn children and those who are disabled or terminally ill. We will consistently defend the
fundamental right to life from conception to natural death. Opposed to abortion as the direct killing of
innocent human life, we will encourage one and all to seek common ground, reducing the number of
abortions by providing compassionate and morally sound care for pregnant women and their unborn
children.”
There is now work to be done in Kentucky and that is my reason for writing this letter. The Catholic
Conference needs your help and that of your parishioners to pass a very important piece of legislation,
Senate Bill 9.
By supporting passage of SB 9, the Conference seeks to reduce the number of abortions that take place in
Kentucky. Senate Bill 9 requires that a woman seeking an abortion has an opportunity to meet face-to-
face in an individual, private setting in the same room with a physician or a healthcare professional
designated by the physician to discuss the procedure in a way that allows for true informed consent. The
bill also requires the physician or a healthcare profession designated by the physician to perform an
ultrasound and describe what can be seen as that procedure is done. The bill does not require the woman
to watch to ultrasound picture.
Senate Bill 9 passed the Senate on January 6, 2011 by a 32 —5 vote. It is now in the House and those who
represent us there will return to Frankfort on February 1 to take up legislation. These State
Representatives need to hear from those whom they represent. So I am asking that you take the lead in
this matter and call the toll free line in Frankfort — 1-800-372-7181 (English) or 1-866-840-6574
(Spanish) — and leave this message for your State Representative:
Iam calling to ask you to support Senate Bill 9 by asking your House leaders to make sure
Senate Bill 9 reaches the House floor so that all House members get a chance to debate and
Most Reverend Most Reverend Most Reverend Most Reverend Reverend
Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Roger. J. Foys, D.D. Ronald W. Gainer, D.D. William F. Medley, D.D. Patrick Delahanty
Archbishop of Louisville Bishop of Covington _Bishop of Lexington Bishop of Owensboro Executive Director
vote on this important human life issue. Allowing SB 9 to die again is simply disgraceful and
unacceptable. Please vote YES for SB 9 at every opportunity. Women deserve to be fully
informed about the abortion procedure they are seeking.”
In addition to taking the lead by making this call, I hope you will use this occasion to remind parishioners
about the sacredness of human life, especially the innocent life in the womb. Let them know you acted
and then invite them to help pass SB 9 by taking action and contacting their State Representatives.
Here is a suggested announcement for your parish bulletin for the next two weekends. You could also
include this in homilies or have those making announcements add this to them. Each parish should also
have received a poster from the Conference last November that features this legislation and includes the
toll free telephone number. Now is a good time to post that poster and the others that accompanied it.
Suggested Announcement for Bulletins and Pulpit:
Join our Kentucky bishops and other supporters of the right to life in urging lawmakers to pass
Senate Bill 9. This bill requires that a woman be given an opportunity to receive all the
information necessary to make an fully informed decision about whether or not to proceed with
an abortion. This information includes the use of an ultrasound with a description of what the
physician or assistant sees and a meeting face-to-face in the same room with the physician or
assistant to discuss the procedure and all its ramifications.
Call 1-800-372-7181 (English) or 1-866-840-6574 (Spanish) and leave this message for your
State Representative: “I am calling to ask you to support Senate Bill 9 by asking your House
leaders to make sure Senate Bill 9 reaches the House floor so that all House members get a
chance to debate and vote on this important human life issue. Allowing SB 9 to die again is
simply disgraceful and unacceptable. Please vote YES for SB 9 at every opportunity. Women
deserve to be fully informed about the abortion procedure they are seeking.”
By the time the General Assembly returns to Frankfort on February 1 nearly 1,000 persons will have
attended one of the 18 Catholics at the Capitol events this year. It is important to build on this good
beginning and invite all our people to be faithful citizens and engage in the public life of our state by
contacting legislators and other important decision-makers about matters that affect human life and
human dignity.
The Conference website has additional information about many of the issues currently under
consideration in Frankfort and I hope you will advertise its location to your parishioners and recommend
its use: http://www.ccky.org.
On behalf of our four bishops, thank you for your effort in ministering to God’s people and helping them
work with Christ to bring his Kingdom to its fullness. May God continue to bless the important work you
perform in His name.
Sincerely yours,
( Vlad Rbhes
Reverend Patrick Delahanty
Executive Director
