At the top of the abortion lobby?s agenda next year is passage of the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA). It would wipe away, in one stroke, all state and federal laws that limit abortion, including bans on partial birth abortion, conscience protection for health care providers, and limits on taxpayer funding of abortions. Read Supreme Knight Carl Anderson's letter on FOCA and its implications, and the position of the U.S. Bishops Conference on the legislation.

In his column in the November issue of Columbia, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson reiterates his message from the 2008 Supreme Convention, reminding Catholics that "we will never succeed in building a culture of life if we continue to vote for politicians who support a culture of death."

In a special letter sent to all state deputies, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson asked that all councils "schedule a rosary at each local parish on Saturday, Nov. 1, to pray for divine guidance as critical choices are made on Election Day and to entrust the outcome to the maternal intercession of our Blessed Mother." He noted that "much is at stake, especially in states where citizens will have a chance to vote to protect marriage (Arizona, California and Florida), to prevent physician assisted suicide (Washington), to protect the unborn (California, Colorado and South Dakota) and to oppose embryonic stem cell research (Michigan)." He added that in addition, "thousands of candidates will be elected to local, state and federal offices, many of whom will have a voice in deciding whether to legally protect life and marriage." He also asked state deputies to remind all Knights to "pray the Novena for Faithful Citizenship encouraged by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops." .