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California Council of Churches IMPACT Statement on the Texas Anti-Abortion Law

9/3/2021

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California Council of Churches IMPACT has long had a Legislative Principle upholding women’s right to access abortion as a reproductive option. They also have the right to refuse that option. The fundamental moral underpinning of this position is respect for women’s moral agency and their first amendment right to exercise personal conscience over their own lives.

We therefore condemn the new Texas law allowed into operation by a cowardly action of the Supreme Court. The latter did not even hold a hearing. It denied standing to women, certainly the people most impacted. It made this decision by indecision – in the dark of night without a single voice raised about differences of morality, law, and faith being raised. This is too large a decision for such a small act from the highest court of the land.

The Texas law now limits a woman’s access to abortion to the 6th week of gestation, long before most women even know they are pregnant, and worse, allows snoops and snitches, even total strangers, to accuse women of having an abortion, to turn them in to a web site, and for anyone who aided her – physician, nurse, friend who drove her to the doctor – to be fined $10,000 with the money going to the snitch.    Brave New World.

The Bible is entirely silent on abortion. We will find no laws or rules there. We can find clear evidence from the New Testament and Jesus’ inclusion of women among his followers that he did not perceive them as second-class people, as objects of disregard or control. Women were prominent in his ministry, the ones who kept the faith with him through the crucifixion, to whom he appeared in resurrection.  Literal or mythical, the story is important in our regard for women and their moral capacities. Jesus honored that. So should we.

We can also be clear about how we may judge when life begins. One may recall that in some versions of scripture, Mary is described as “quick with child” just prior to Jesus’ birth.   The Texas law decided that life begins with heartbeat.  That’s their rationalization for the 6-week limitation.  Common Law and much of Protestant assessment of conception, maintains it begins much later at viability, the point at which a fetus can live outside the womb. Common Law determined that before viability, a woman was “merely pregnant” but not “quick with child”.  

This law also violates the religious freedom of those, such as many in the Jewish faith, whose teachings are clear that life does not begin until the ruach (breath/spirit) enters the body with the first breath. 

That distinction is upheld in Roe with no limits on abortion until viability or when the fetus is “quick”.  After viability only compelling needs for the mother, her health and life, can justify an abortion.  

Roe v Wade was decided by the Supreme Court in 1973 based on these long-standing Common Law assessments regarding conception and pregnancy. The decision built on fundamental principles about human reproduction that had operated in England and its colonies then in the United States for centuries.  

Texas law and Supreme Court ruling has thus radically deviated from our own nation’s laws. 




​
(from The Rev. Susan Russell (@revsusanrussell), All Saints, Pasadena)
​

The whole point of the 1973 Supreme Court decision is to give women agency over these matters. For some, personal belief makes abortion unacceptable. For others, these principles of faith and Common Law are moral precepts that offer her abortion as an option in her life.  In other words, Roe compels no one to act against her conscience. She is the only person, in consultation with those of her choosing, to decide what is morally essential in her life.

Texas, with the aid of an indifferent and irresponsible Supreme Court, has imposed a single religious view on every woman.  That is heartily unacceptable. Those promulgating the Texas law have spoken of upholding “Christian values”. That’s not remotely accurate. Where Roe gives total freedom of choice to those not wishing to have an abortion as well as those who do, the Texas law has eradicated the open-hearted Protestant and many other religions’ views of life and value of women.  

There is not one good thing to be said about either the Texas law or the craven way it was authorized to proceed. We as people of faith stand in opposition to this law and the Supreme Court decision. We encourage our members to raise their voices against both the denigration of women and the evisceration of our own right to faith principles.  

Thank you.

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Avoiding consumer/healthcare scams in the Age of Pandemic - you're invited to a webinar

6/17/2020

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Dear Friends,

We always appreciate ingenuity and intelligent responses to our world's crises.  The current crisis is no exception. Families are uniting via conference calls, Zoom, Skype, and other social media.  Classes and even concerts are being offered the same way.  These are wonderful offerings to break isolation, learn something new, share a moment of collective joy.  

What also arises are efforts to exploit people, to extract money from people with big hearts wanting to help others.  New cottage industries of scams have arisen, and it can catch even the most computer and social media savvy people off guard.  Rather than putting energies to good, too many spend that effort trying to maximize their own benefits at the cost of your well being.

Through our allies at Consumer Action, we are posting an invitation for a Webinar you might find useful.  There are many scams that have appeared along with the Coronavirus. This webinar will help people wade through what is real and what is fraudulent to avoid harm in already stressful times.  
Dear Community Partner,

It’s the same old story, but this time it has a scary twist. Whenever disaster hits, greedy scammers and fraudsters begin to pounce on unsuspecting victims. Even during these strange times, nothing has changed. As the coronavirus spreads throughout our communities, disrupting our way of life and instilling fear among us, we must remain vigilant. If not, enterprising criminals will take advantage of that fear to perpetrate consumer fraud.
 
Scammers are expert at shifting tactics and changing their message to catch consumers off guard. They are using phone, text, mail, email and fraudulent websites to tout everything from fake COVID-19 test kits to miracle cures. Their schemes also take advantage of the fact that medical supplies and equipment for combatting the virus, along with basic living essentials, have become difficult or nearly impossible to obtain.
 
On Wednesday, July 15, Consumer Action will host an informative “COVID-19 Scams and Healthcare Fraud” webinar to address fraud that seeks to exploit consumer confusion and fear in the coronavirus era. The webinar will be led by Micki Nozaki, director of the Senior Medicare Patrol project at California Health Advocates.
 
The webinar will cover:
  • Scams that are flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19-related investment scams
  • How charitable giving scams work
  • Healthcare scams and fraud
  • Consumer warnings and safety tips
  • How to complain
Register to participate:
Wednesday, July 15, at 10:00 a.m. PDT/ 11:00 a.m. MDT/ 12:00 p.m. CDT/ 1:00 p.m. EDT
Register here

There will be a live encore presentation the same day, at 1:00 p.m. PDT/ 2:00 p.m. MDT/ 3:00 p.m. CDT/ 4:00 p.m. EDT.
Register here

Tweet chat: You’re invited to join us on Twitter (follow us @consumeraction) for a live chat during the webinar. Follow the hashtag #CAWebinars to participate.

If you have any questions, please contact Linda Williams at linda.williams@consumer-action.org or 800-999-7981, Ext. 766. We look forward to your participation.




We at California Council of Churches hope this helps.  Please feel free to share with your congregations, family, friends.

Thank you.



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Tell Governor Brown to outlaw "junk insurance".  It's a disaster!

8/22/2018

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Dear Friends,

When Washington "allowed" Americans to buy 3-year, short-term health insurance.  They are often far less expensive than even the Affordable Care Act coverage with subsidies (that are being revoked slowly as well.). Well, of course they are.  They don't remotely provide the coverage and guarantees that the ACA required for all insurance before this "reform".

These polices are "junk insurance".  The don't have to cover people with pre-existing conditions; they can have annual and lifetime caps that are very low;  they can and do eliminate coverage of maternity care, mental health coverage, prescription drugs.  By enticing people with lower premium prices, they add to the destabilization of the real insurance markets and are chock full of hidden surprises for those who have bought in.  It's health insurance in name only.  It doesn't do the job, but you might not know that until you use it, and then it's too late.

SB 910 (Hernandez) has now passed both houses.  It bans junk insurance from being sold in California.  The bill is now headed to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature.  

Please call, email, or write Governor Brown telling him to keep California health insurance standards high.  Please sign SB 910 so that we who are patients can know full well that we have real health care coverage, that we won't be victims of undisclosed limitations, and that those in need of real insurance have access to it, not to the snake oil this new market would unleash on the unsuspecting.

To email the Governor, click here
To call Governor Brown or send a FAX, please go to the IMPACT link here

It's important that all Californians have access to real insurance that is accessible, affordable, accountable, and inclusive.  No one should be left holding a worthless piece of paper that lets them down in their most critical time of need.

Urge Governor Brown to sign SB 910!

Thank you!

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CA Council of Churches IMPACT CEO Recognized As One of NARAL Pro-Choice CA's 2017 Champions of Choice

12/6/2017

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When reproductive freedom is at risk, we can’t settle for quiet allies. We need champions who will put their power to work to protect our rights.

We need people who won’t be intimidated by virulent opposition, because they understand what’s at stake. Reproductive freedom is about our economic security, our career paths, our ability to determine our futures.

The 2017 champions of choice are a shining example of just this kind of leadership. In the face of relentless attacks on reproductive freedom from Trump and the GOP Congress, we need more people to follow their example and fight for us in every city and county, in every courtroom and cultural outlet.

Please support NARAL Pro-Choice California's important work in every way you can!
​
@ProChoiceCA
https://prochoicecalifornia.org/2017-champions-choice/
naral_2017_champions_of_choice.pdf
File Size: 803 kb
File Type: pdf
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The Senate passed an unwritten, totally heartless bill - but we still have a chance to block it

12/2/2017

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Dear Friends,

Last night in the darkness of misinformation and subterfuge, the Senate passed the sweeping tax reform bill we've warned against.

It is utterly heartless, pushing up taxes for lower income people while giving massive tax breaks to wealthy corporations.  It won't create jobs - if the rich already have the lion's share of the money and haven't yet done that, what makes us think they will do it now?  Many corporate leaders already said the windfall from tax cuts will go not to more jobs but to stockholders.  Yes, a few pensioners, widows and orphans may get a bit more, but stockholders are largely other corporations, so it's a lovely "scratch my back" reciprocity.  It has little benefit for the sick, children, elders, workers, or anyone already living on the edges of our society.

There are many hardships for us written into this bill.  But the fight for justice is not over.

Next week the Senate Bill and its equally heartless House bill must either go to Conference Committee to be reconciled (looking for agreements on how to do us further harm, no doubt) or the House must accept the Senate version as is.  Either way our attention must turn to the House to fight, once again, for some justice.

Rev. Dr. William Barber who created and led North Carolina's "Moral Mondays" at their Capitol, wrote yesterday:

Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. (Isaiah 10:1-4)

We must bring the same condemnation and outcry to our work.  

Please continue to call your Representatives at 202-224-3121 or go to our link http://www.churchimpact.org/take-action.html  to get your District Office numbers if the Washington Capitol office is not responding. 

Never give up. Never back down. Never lose heart.  We are on the side of justice, and while the Arc of Justice bends slowly, it does bend indeed.  But it needs our help and it's needed now as never before!

Thank you!

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Tax and Health Justice for the Common Good and General Welfare…

11/17/2017

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Dear Friends,
 
Well, before we could pin down a decent analysis of the House of Representatives Tax Cut plan, they passed it.  They passed the bill this morning 227 to 205. 
 
It seeks a tax cut of $1.4 trillion – yes trillion – over 10 years, cuts the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20% though without eliminating corporate deductions at all. 
 
However, it does eliminate deductions for ordinary people including the SALT deduction on State and Local Taxes.  High-tax states on both coasts would be harmed in paying into the federal system than the states receive back, and adding to that burden by removing the SALT deduction. 
 
This additional tax burden was sufficiently onerous that 8 New York and New Jersey Republican House members voted against it, but still the bill passed.
 
The Senate Tax plan
 
When House and Senate bills are at odds, they go to Conference Committee for reconciliation.  That will become important, because if the Senate plan passes – it has not yet been up for a vote – it has some very dangerous provisions that, if passed and incorporated into the final bill, will do Americans enormous harm.
 
“To Promote the General Welfare…”
 
Our nation has too often lost sight of our obligations to one another. In a world of hyper-individualism and personal accumulation, we are not committed sufficiently to the care of those whom the society has abandoned, kicked to the curb, or cannot help.  Now that indifference has moved upward on the economic scale, and the plan erodes many of the social programs we depend upon.
 
Under budget reconciliation, cuts in one place have to be paid for elsewhere. Tax cuts to the 1% will come out of social spending.  While technically Social Security, Medicare, etc. are protected, that protection is not absolute.  Still other programs are totally vulnerable to cuts. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
 
  • Permanent repeal of the Affordable Care Act individual mandate. This is accompanied by loss of subsidies (if you’re not required to have it, the Senate decided you don’t need subsidies, right?)This will leave 13 million people uninsured, an increase of about $2000 for those who remain insured and are older. Raising middle and lower income health insurance rates will help billionaires get major tax cuts.
 
  • Since tax cuts for the rich will create an annual $1.5 trillion deficit, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go law that requires deficits be paid for will seek other sources of “payment”. These will include deductions for student loans, medical expenses not covered by insurance, larger families. It will also include the part of Medicare that is not protected from PAYGO – about $25 billion per year.
 
  • $300 billion will be cut from Medicaid – Medi-Cal in California. The poorest of the poor, whose health is already not good, will subsidize tax cuts for corporations and the very wealthy. This impacts seniors in nursing homes, homeless people already living on the margins, and low-wage workers whose incomes are too fragile to pay market rate coverage rates.
 
  • There are new work requirements for some plans – ridiculous in the face of the infirm, those on disability, and especially seniors in nursing homes. Many recipients already work – but they’d be scrutinized and stripped of dignity by assumptions of fraud.

But what about tax cuts for the middle class?

 
In 2021 this Senate bill will raise taxes for households earning $10-30,000, and by 2027 that will include households of $30-75,000. The rationale offered by Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Mike Crapo is that if you are not required to pay for health insurance, you can afford this tax hike.  The sheer absurdity of stating that these two things are benefits boggles the mind.  But with health subsidies and those credits gone, the actual tax hike is significant. 
 
We must act against these policies that do so much harm – and do so NOW. This is a “Faithful Five Minutes” to do daily until we defeat these bills.
 
Please call your Senators at 202-224-3121.  If you prefer to write or email, go to:  http://www.churchimpact.org/take-action.html
 
Even if your senators are opposing these cuts, tell your brief story of how this would do you or someone you know real harm.  Legislators on our side still need your voice to share with those who are on the fence.

Keep calling or emailing your Representative – they need to hear your opposition to any kind of joint resolution on the House and Senate bills.
 
Tell friends and family in other states to do the same. 
 
Our rallying point is: 
 
Tax and health justice for the Common Good and for the General Welfare!
 
NONE of these cuts is acceptable, and we as people of faith call on our elected federal officials to vote against the Senate bill and any such provisions that may arise in a joint bill.
 
We defeated the elimination of the Affordable Care Act that is hidden within this tax bill.  We can and must defeat this Senate plan now!.. All we have worked for and accomplished is at risk – raise your voice now for justice!
 
Thank you!

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Once again — a NEW version of how to kill the Affordable Care Act. FIGHT IT!

9/25/2017

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Dear Friends,

Tonight, Sunday September 24, we learned there is yet another version of the Graham Cassidy bill to kill everything that matters in the Affordable Care Act.  If you're sick of these constant calls to action, well, so are we. 

This new version is completely unknown so cannot be 'scored' by the Congressional Budget Office before the projected vote Wednesday.  We do know it kills Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and cuts subsidies for lower income families, unfetters premium costs for anyone with pre-existing conditions, and on and on and on and on.  It returns us to what existed before ACA was even a dream, and you may well remember what a disaster that was for Americans. 

The bill will merge several programs including Medicaid into block grants.  This automatically means less funding for many states, larger ones in particular will be seriously hampered.  However, it will expand funding for Alaska and Maine. Why? Their senators, Linda Murkowski and Susan Collins, voted "NO" on the last bill.  Rather than our assuming they can be bought off, it appears that voter voices are keeping both senators deeply skeptical that even this brazen sop to them is a good thing for their constituents. Urge anyone you know in Maine or Alaska to keep up the pressure on each Senator. 

Please remember that even in states with solid Senators already in opposition, voices matter.  Those Senators have to be able to show that their citizens are speaking out in record numbers.  Yes - this is a reduction to a game of sheer numbers.  And your voice counts in that game. 

Please call 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senators.  Then, to be safe, do a third call for your Representative.  It's critical that we not let up now.

If you like to text, go to 50409 on your phone, type in "Resist" and either set up an account or text your Senators and Representatives.

Let your voice be heard!  Our message is simple:

Graham Cassidy does incalculable harm to sick people. It will cause premiums in every category of health care, including employer provided insurance, to soar.  It will allow states to give license to charge people outrageously more for certain procedures and to increase premiums on anyone with a 'pre-existing condition' which almost all of us have. The only acceptable policy is to improve the Affordable Care Act and keep it operating by keeping it solvent. We will not tolerate false economies for our nation that come out of the pockets of those who need care. Fix ACA. Don't kill it!

The vote is now scheduled for Wednesday.  Time is of the essence. Please raise your voice for justice in health care now!

Thank you!

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ACT NOW TO SAVE HEALTHCARE IN CALIFORNIA

9/22/2017

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A reminder from our friends at the Coalition on Human Needs:

Dear Friend,

Next Week, the Senate will vote on the Graham-Cassidy health care bill. It will be devastating to the people in California. The Graham-Cassidy bill:
  • Provides no real assurance for preexisting conditions.
  • Provides no minimum standard of coverage for insurance plans.
  • Will cut $333,600 in federal funding for healthcare to California
  • And while, outrageously, they want to take this vote without a full CBO score is it estimated that 4,552,000 people will lose coverage in California



We need you to help ensure that legislation never becomes law.
​


You have a powerful voice and we need you to use it. Please contact the below listed Representatives and ask them to come out against Graham-Cassidy BEFORE the Senate takes a vote on it next week.
  • Ken Calvert
  • Duncan D. Hunter
  • Darrell Issa
  • Steve Knight
  • Doug LaMalfa
  • Kevin McCarthy
  • Tom McClintock
  • Devin Nunes
  • Dana Rohrabacher
  • Edward R. Royce
  • Mimi Walters



Attached is a fact sheet which lists the impact that the bill will have on Californians.

ca_-_graham-cassidy_impact_09-20-17.pdf
File Size: 230 kb
File Type: pdf
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More horrid news about federal health care! Act NOW before this passes!

9/19/2017

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Dear Friends,

The latest updates on the Graham-Cassidy repeal of the Affordable Care Act are grim beyond belief.

It is projected that by letting states do away with protections on pre-existing conditions and on covering new ones, people with metastatic cancer can see their premiums skyrocket from $140,000 to $172,000 per year.  This is not hyperbole - this is a genuine possibility.

Sen. John N. Kennedy (R-LA) proposes that states will be forbidden to spend any money, not just federal dollars, on creating single payer or other universal plans in their states  He further proposes that every person on Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) will have to be employed.  This mandate does not take into account that the majority of Medicaid recipients are elders in nursing homes or other care, children, people with disabilities.  No exclusions are made in his amendments.

With all funding for ACA subsidies to be eliminated in a couple of years, anyone enrolled would pay the entire premium, and rates will be allowed to soar based on any number of causes including age, sex, pre-existing conditions, etc. 

States can eliminate required coverage.  Medicare won't have to provide preventive services at no further cost.  We will see a return to the days when you paid extra for everything. This is a harsh reality staring us in the face yet again.

States will receive "block grants" - fixed amounts not tailored to patient numbers - they have to spread out to support enrollees in ACA and other programs.  If it doesn't go far enough, new applicants will be turned down.

We have only a few days to stop this horrible bill. 

Many of our Representatives and Senators say they are not hearing from you.  Please raise your voice - this bill is only a couple of votes short of passing. Your voices must be heard, you need to mobilize your families and friends everywhere in order for us to protect ACA from these horrific predations.  We cannot rely on states alone to pick up the difference.  Good states that believe in universal coverage will see their "block grant" payments being diverted to other, less concerned states that then may spend health care money however they choose. 

Please call both Senators and your Representatives today.  202-224-3121. 

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!!

This is the most horrific version of health care destruction yet.  Please raise your voices today against Graham Cassidy.  Say NO to the destruction of the Affordable Care Act!!

Thank you!

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New and more awful assault on health care - raise your voices NOW!

9/18/2017

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Just when you thought it was safe to focus on other things…

The Graham-Cassidy repeal of the Affordable Care Act rises from the murk and turns out to be the worst version of “repeal” without any “replace” yet.

It ends Medicaid  - Medi-Cal in California – for poor people. Ends it.

It removes subsidies for lower income families and individuals. Replaces it with a small block grant that won’t remotely help people.  It removes the help for those at or under 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) that pays for deductibles.

Cuts coverage for low-income seniors and people with disabilities by 7% and institutes a cap on coverage.

Ends assurances that those with pre-existing conditions won’t be charged more. Now they can be. No limit to what that is.

Average state cuts are 17% to 2026 then 100% cut thereafter.

“Red states” will get some help. “Blue” states will lose massive amounts to be directed into “Red” states. But those states are not mandated to spend that money on health care.  “Blue” states such as CA, NY etc. look to lose 25-60% of their federal supports for their people.

While we don’t have a Congressional Budget Office score, the basic PREMIUM increases for 2018 will AVERAGE 20% - while subsidies are removed.

Cuts all funding for women in family planning.  (Abortion coverage is already NOT included per the Hyde Amendment.)

Will pass with 51 votes, period. There does not seem to be much planning on discussion – it’s a ‘take it or leave it’ vote that will be passed onto the House in the same way.

Do we need to say more? 
We have until Sept. 30 to stop this. The HOUSE is “at home” in districts – visit, picket, call, FAX your local representatives NOW.    

Go to our site: 
http://www.churchimpact.org/take-action.html to get local contact information.

CALL Senators at 202-224-3121 and let them know this is horrific, and it MUST NOT PASS. 

If you like to text, go to 50409 and text “Resist”. If you haven’t done this, the prompts will set up messages for your Senators and Representative.  Then you write the message, and it will be sent as a FAX to them.  It’s a GREAT way to do the “Five Faithful Minutes” every day!

This new assault on affordable health care is the most pernicious yet. Please raise your voice daily between now and September 30.  Every single senator needs to hear from us, even the ones we know are on the side of justice.  Every voice counts, every voice of faith counts, so let your voice be heard – faithful witness for health care must continue until we end this assault on the Affordable Care Act.

Thank you!!

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