# My Wish for the Future: A Proposed Religious Freedom Act
*2016-11-09*

> Bill Young outlines his vision for a 2017 Religious Freedom Act that would protect the unborn and conscience‑based objections, and he shares the Prayer of Petition to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

## A Vision for a Religious Freedom Act

In the wake of the 2016 election, I have been thinking about what legislation could safeguard both the unborn and those who object to abortion on conscience grounds. My proposal, which I call the Religious Freedom Act of 2017, would contain two main provisions.

First, any federal funding—grants, contracts, or Medicaid payments—would be prohibited for any organization that performs, assists, or otherwise supports abortions. No entity could receive government money for one program while using private donations for another that involves abortion.

Second, health‑care workers who have a sincere, religious objection to participating in abortions would be protected from retaliation. Hospitals that violate this provision would lose all federal funding. The same protection would extend to the “day‑after” pill: any pharmaceutical company or pharmacist receiving federal funds could not dispense it.

The act would also address same‑sex marriage. While the law of the land currently permits it, any clergy or Catholic institution that is forced to perform a same‑sex marriage would lose its non‑profit status and any federal tax benefits.

These measures aim to protect the dignity of human life from conception onward and to honor the conscience of believers, much as conscientious‑objector status was respected during the Vietnam War.

## Calling on Our Senators

I live in Florida, and I am urging Senator Marco Rubio to introduce this legislation in the Senate. I also hope that Representatives Ilya and Ross D. will champion it in the House. With the new administration and the upcoming Supreme Court appointments, there is an opportunity to secure a pro‑life, pro‑conscience government.

## Prayer of Petition to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

The Miraculous Medal feast is on 27 November. I invite you to pray this petition at 5:30 p.m. on that day, on the 27th of each month, and whenever urgent need arises.

O Immaculate Virgin Mary, we know you are ever ready to hear the prayers of your children in this valley of tears. You have given us the holy medal as a sign of your love and protection. We thank you for the graces you have bestowed upon us through this image.

We promise to keep the Holy Medal close to our hearts, that its pierced heart may inflame ours with love for Jesus and give us the strength to bear our cross each day. Grant us this hour of infinite mercy, that the flood of graces associated with the medal may flow into our lives.

May this hour bring true conversion, heal the sick, protect the vulnerable, and bring peace to families. We ask this through your Immaculate Conception, trusting in your maternal intercession.

We also pray the Hail Holy Queen, asking Mary, our Mother, to obtain for us the promises of Christ.

Amen.

## Closing Hope

I trust that, with God’s help, our nation can move toward a future that respects life and conscience. May President‑elect Donald J. Trump and his Supreme Court nominees uphold the love of God, the Constitution, and the sanctity of life.

*A law that protects both the unborn and the conscience of believers reflects the heart of Catholic teaching.*