In a letter to priests announcing the postcard campaign, Father Richard M. Erikson, the vicar general of the archdiocese, wrote: “These initiatives, if passed, would establish abortion as a fundamental right in all 50 states.”

The measure would also end the conscience rights of medical personnel and hospitals and require citizens to support abortion through their tax dollars, he said.

Luthin said, “There is a lot of confusion out there about FOCA. Many people think the old bill is still around and others think it will not come back,” she said. “We don’t know exactly how or when it will be reintroduced. There is talk that it will be broken up into smaller pieces. This postcard drive will let people in Washington know that we care and we are watching them.”

The postcards are pre-printed on one piece of cardstock with perforations separating three cards that can be torn off: one for the local representative and two for the senators, Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry, she said. At each parish, local pro-life volunteers will be encouraged to help parishioners fill out the cards and fill in the correct name for that specific parish’s representative.

Each of the cards has a message printed on it that includes the words: “Please oppose FOCA or any similar measure, and retain laws against federal funding and promotion of abortion. As your constituent, I would appreciate a written response telling me how you would vote on these matters.”

Other dioceses in the state are also participating in the campaign, Luthin said. The Dioceses of Fall River and Worcester held their postcard protest drives in January and the Diocese of Springfield is expected to hold its drive in April.