Already sent my email to the whitehouse.  I am George.  I am a Catholic and I will not obey.

My wife and I have been thinking about this all day.  I’ve done as Archbishop Timothy Dolan has asked, which is to say I’ve written to President Obama to cry “foul ball!”  Methinks, though, that this will fall on deaf ears.  Despots who wield enormous power have no incentive to care about the consciences of those who can do them no harm.  But this is not what saddens me most.  Rather, what truly bothers me is how so many in the Church, both laity and clergy, have for decades now downplayed or ignored altogether the Church’s teaching on this issue.  I applaud Archbishop Dolan’s call to marshall the troops, but are there really enough troops left to marshall?  The USCCB now estimates as many as 90% of American Catholics are contracepting anyway, and thus are unlikely to care, much less see the gravity in the HHS’s final rule.  In a very real sense, we Catholics have done it to ourselves, and exhibit A is Secretary Sibelius, a Catholic who in all likelihood was never properly catechized to begin with, because way back in the 1970s Fr. Groovy and Sr. Goodvibes totally lied and taught that the Church says contraception is okay if you really love someone.  We, the Church Militant, did it to ourselves, and now we must become (insofar as is possible in this life) the Church Suffering.

I have also sent this to. The White House.  And ask everyone who reads this to do the same! Just be sure to adress it tho whitehouse.org not .com. The .com. is porn site.

Really, we are facing some of the worst persecution known to Americans.  We have allowed our rights to dissolve slowly like a penny in a coca-cola.  We need to take this election seriously.  How many Catholics are in Florida?  Surely there are more than 13%.  Why are these people not voting for Rick Santorum?  We as Catholics are inundated with the secular vie.  If we are conservative, we watch Fox News to inoculate ourselves from the radical left, but don’t realize that Fox is promoting the crazy moderates like Romney and Gingrich.  I’m being kind by calling Romney a moderate, because his real record is very much like Obama’s.  I would love to believe Newt, but nothing in his life says he is trustworthy.  We need to prepare.  Pray, fast, buy guns, grow food,  and be ready.  I don’t mean hoard.  I mean be ready to care for those in need.  First Things.  First Things!

Here it comes..Let’s Roll out the vote!”

To Ranting Catholic Mom: Buy Guns? really?

We have to pray that Obama doesn’t get back in so that this mandate can never come to fruition.  I hope our Catholic churches remind all of their congregations many times over how important and urgent this really is.

ALL of our shepherds need to speak out.  How come only 126 Bishops out of 195 have written a letter that was read on Sunday?  How come some priests decided not to read the letter?  How come my Bishop has yet to write a letter?  Very, very sad indeed. . .

So what? Even if policy is reversed, it STILL won’t apply to private individuals. We STILL don’t have a choice. It’s bad enough my current policy pays for it anyway. What choice do I have, have NO insurance at all?

To Patricia -
The Church really was at war - with real guns - in Mexico not long ago…

Read up on Fr. Miguel Pro…
http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=0183391e-fd37-4574-a1cb-14fac9c0437e

Viva Cristo Rey!

Congratulations the Catholic Militia is ready and rearming.  Unfortunately, to this legion of minions ‘truthfulness is a distraction’.
Words and more words, all without meaning, as if the bishops of the Roman Republican Church are also running for office. Recently, there have been numerous posts on this blog in dismay that Catholics are considered bigots. Yet, these posters complain that they are persecuted and their rights are infringed upon. When, the reality is the opposite. Catholics have persecuted and infringed upon gays who wish to marry e.g see DOMA. Now Catholics are upset, although using contraceptives in the same percentages as all others; Catholics, give me a break, feel persecuted because the government states contraception is to be available to all who wish to use them. OMG, no one is mandating anyone use anything. The issue is availability, not coercion. Once again, the church manufactures a straw dog and argues where there is none. If you wish not to use contraceptives; don’t…if you do not wish to marry someone of your gender don’t. But, when you prohibit, interfere, stand in the way of, others seeking to exercise their rights, that is prejudice. A call to arms on this issue is nothing less than disrespect for the principles upon which this great nation was founded.  I thought this idiocy was put to an end by John Kennedy.  Now the fears expressed then are realized now with the country’s ‘great move’ to ultra conservatism and reactionary resistance.

Posted by Patricia: Do you really believe that Catholics and everybody will be treated with courtesy? If this were true we would not have to buy guns. The boot on the neck cares not whose head is attached to the neck. Tyrants mean to enslave and must have people to enslave, otherwise tyrants are just mean rotten peole all by themselves.

@Patricia, again: They are throwing condoms at our children only because they cannot get away with greater crimes. Treating a person as an object to make a point of opinion is assault. Assault is defined as preventing another from pursuing their HAPPINESS, A CIVIL RIGHT. These were minor children whose parents never intended for this to happen. Evil got its way by subverting our laws. It is past time to stand firm on our laws and demand our civil rights, for “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created EQUAL…

Patricia and all
Patrick Madrid’s discussion about Fr. Miguel Pro and what happened in Mexico in the 1920’s is eye-opening: http://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/battle-for-the-faith-in-mexico-viva-cristo-rey

“In this vivid and eye-opening presentation, Patrick Madrid explores the history of the systematic persecution of the Catholic Chuch in Mexico in the 1920’s. With a thorough review of the historical facts, he recounts how many thousands of Catholics, priests and laity alike, were willing to endure terrible sufferings and martyrdom for their fidelity and love for Christ and their Catholic Faith. This is an important talk for all Catholics to hear and consider.”

Terrific article. Keep up the good work, and keep letting us know the truth we need to hear!

I regret that I have to agree with Upbeat Dad. Our “troops” are dwindling drastically by their own voluntary accord. As a young (30s)mother, I am surrounded by drastically different opinions, even among those of our own Catholic faith. People are giving in to relativism and turning their backs on the Truth because it is inconvenient to their posh lives and out of their comfort zone. And just as Fr. Neil mentioned, priests are unfortunately succumbing to this as well. As former Fr. Corapi would say, we are watching people “skip merrily on their way to hell”.

This is the time to stand strong. We can never pray enough.

You and Bishop Bruskewitz are right about the suffering, but I think it’s important to realize who’s going to be doing most of it. Who suffers more: the college that has to pay a fine for not providing health insurance to its employees (a fine that’s less than the cost of insurance would be), or the Catholic teacher’s family whose insurance is suddenly dropped, right in the middle of (say) the mother’s chemotherapy treatment? Who will suffer the most if all the Church’s ministries to the poor are shut down? When we talk about the suffering that non-compliance with this unjust law will cause, we should focus on those whom the Church serves rather than on the administrators of the programs that do the serving. If the government persecutes the Church, the government is shooting itself in the foot, because it’s not the government that has been supporting the Church—it’s the Church that has been supporting the people, with education and hospitals and countless services to the poor.

I hear the pain in people’s voices. We can not allow our government to stain our souls or the souls of our children (They are watching how we handle this—and they are our future!) by forcing this down our throats. We can not give up and think that it doesn’t matter because we will have to pay for it anyway. If we have to refuse healthcare, so be it. If we are fined, so be it. If they toss us into jail, so be it. The evil one can take everything away from us, but he can not have our souls—our souls belong to God. Read the Catechism, the Bible, and about the saints. Pray for a strong faith and courage to do the right thing. God will not abandon us. It pains God that we have to even think about such a thing. We are all God’s children; and as in any family, there are always those who refuse to listen to the Truth. Take the Lord’s hand and follow Him to the cross of suffering.

KB, I agree: we will have to accept any evil consequences rather than directly and formally participate in evil. What I am trying to say is that this is not going to be (primarily) a matter of taking suffering on ourselves. It’s going to be a matter of helplessly watching while the poor (as usual) do the suffering. It’s one thing to say “I will refuse healthcare if I have to.” It’s another thing to say “I will allow that poor child to die for lack of healthcare if I have to.” Again, I’m not saying that we should sin rather than let little children suffer. I’m just saying that we should stop talking as if the worst thing that will happen is that we personally will have to voluntarily take up the cross.

Abigail, that is exactly how they want you to think and that is how they get your vote - in spite of everything.

Obama may not be a dictator. The party to which he belongs has their policy and the policy includes spread of materialism even if religions object. In such situation what is required ? No doubt, as christians, we have to bear the cross and suffer.  But being citizens with equal rights, we have to fight. More religious minded people of all faiths should unite and ensure that the will of the people prevails insted of that of some anti-religious and anti culture and pro-pleasures groups. Catholic intellectuals should unite.

Another Ranting Mom, I’m not sure what you’re saying. Are you saying that it’s true that it’s mostly the poor who will suffer, but that we should try not to think about that or talk about that because it might tempt us to vote for the wrong person? Or are you saying that it’s false that it’s mostly the poor who will suffer?

To Catholic Mom:  Have you been listening to Rick Santorum lately?  I have been listening to several of the debates and have been disappointed in Rick’s backing of a foreign policy that would “force” our values on countries by any and all means.  What would our Lord have to say about this?  I want a prolife candidate who is truly prolife and pro-peace; does anyone fit this bill?!!!!!!

One side note: if you email Obama it’s Whitehouse.gov, not org.

Obama has declared WAR, not only on us Catholics, but on all God-fearing, God-loving people, on our (not his) country; but, especially, on God Himself. Everybody, please read Pope Benedict’s New Year’s address & also his address to the US Bishops on their “AD LIMINA’ visit. He knows what is going on & he has given the Bishops (and us) our marching orders. We should all be reading about the lives of the Saints (including the ones that are been martyred right now) and praying for their intercession as we will be on the front lines if Obama gets back in or when we lose our country to the Chinese or Muslims; both very real prospects. We could very well be having an underground Chuch as in China. Some have mentioned getting guns. If you are a criminal, no problem, but, for us law-abiding citizens, especially Catholic, this is NOT an option as Jesus told Peter & us, that those that live by the sword will die by the sword, & Obama will not allow private citizens to have weapons that could be used against him or his troops (yes, he is building up an army of young people, dressed in brown uniforms, sounds familiar, doesn’t it). We have far too many people, lay & clergy (of all ranks) that won’t LIVE for Jesus or His Church, so how many of us will DIE for Jesus or His Church. Not many, I bet.  Have a good day & say God Bless you instead of thank you or good “luck”.  +JMJ+

Paranoia…maybe I’m just a proverbial “merry wanderer” who goes through life carefree…actually, that’s exactly what I am. It feels much more…more…“Christian.” Hate the sin, love the sinner. The only “attack” you can ever be under is the attack you perceive in your mind. Nobody is attacking me because I won’t allow it. Sorry…too many years studying eastern religions. I think I’ll go have an espresso and people watch for a few hours.

People are getting too caught up in the details here.  This is not about how many Catholics disobey and use contraception.  It is about the First Amendment.  According to this government, our Church is not allowed to hold and practice its beliefs without penalty and sanction by the government.  This time it may be a teaching you don’t care about.  But next time, when it is one you care about, how will you stand up to defend it, if you let this one go?

Dear Upbeat Dad….Gideon only needed a handful to fight and win the battle. If you are one of the handful, do your part and the Lord will do the rest. I truly believe there are a handful of Catholics and other Christians who will are stepping up to do battle. & this is indeed a spiritual battle.  The thing is many will not see them for they are quiet prayer warriors and the Lord is answering their prayers….

I’m saying that the veiled threat to withhold medical treatment and the like is the coercion the left uses to keep people like you - goodhearted and sincere people, in line.  But they are such liars - everything they say and do is for their greater good, period.

Another Ranting Mom, I think we’re in agreement. What has been bothering me is that people have been speaking as if it’s good Catholics who are being taken hostage by the government here. It’s not. It’s the poor who are being taken hostage. Don’t let people speak as if the Church is dependent on American citizens. It’s the other way around: it’s the Church that has been serving the country (especially the poor), and not the country that has been serving the Church.

The RCC has failed to convince it’s OWN members not use contraception for the last 100 years.  The people in pews on Sunday have not bought this dogma.  So it wants everyone who might work in a myriad of enterprises to suffer with it’s middle ages dogma.

@Jesuitical
You are wrong. It IS about coersion. It is about forcing Catholic institutions to act directly counter to church teachings. It is about forcing Catholic tax payers to use their funds to do so. That is the coersion involved and it is being done by the current administration, not the Catholic church.

The church is not eliminating Americans’ ability to freely choose to use contraceptives. The administration is trying to eliminate the church’s ability to freely choose not to provide them.

To Kathy Wilmes. The Lord may not have had a foreign policy exactly, but He did say something about going and teaching all nations. The way that Rick Santorum wants to teach lessons and values may not be in line with this idea, but it ought to be better than the gay agenda lesson Obama wants to teach all nations.

I think we need to make it clear to the people we discuss this with… that it’s 10- 20% about forced contraception and 90-80% about religious freedom.

Very much like this:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.

WHEN THEY CAME FOR THE CATHOLICS
I REMAINED SILENT;
I WAS NOT A CATHOLIC

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

.
.
Tell your protestant friends…. their beliefs are next.

Fr. Neil:  I didn’t hear a letter read at Mass last Sunday either. Scary & sad.  Prayers for us all!

Dear Matthew Archbold ... What do you suggest we do as parents of small children?  I don’t own a business (so I dont provide HC coverage), nor am I employed (thanks recession!!)  My parish hasn’t said anything about this at mass.  I am in a marriage where one is good with contracepting and I am not; one practices their faith and not the other.  Please let me know what I can do since I think children need to see us standing up for what is right EVEN at a cost to ourselves, especially these days.

Keep in mind that the Obama admin would surely be happy to see Catholic social services go away.  More opportunity for the all-powerful GOVT, of course.  I think this agenda may be the impetus for the whole HHS mandate in the first place.  St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!

We as Catholics need blogs such as this and analysis translated into action led by our Bishops. We have clarity now for our election choices and a way to reason for understanding. I don’t think our president realizes he has defined this for us. It is our turn now to suffer, yet we know with clarity for whom { Christ} we are suffering.

Don’t send email to the White House - send paper mail. Organize through your parish or KofC councils. The White House HATES getting tons of mail on an issue - it’s easy to ignore an inbox. It’s tough to ignore tons of paper from angry constituents.

Re: “It is our turn to suffer”: it would help lot of people would talk in specifics. If the new HHS mandate stands, and Catholic organizations must either participate in evil or break the law, who will suffer and how? In other words, exactly what suffering are we to expect? Here’s my list so far: people served by Catholic charitable organizations won’t receive food, daycare, camp, heating assistance, etc.; healthcare will be harder to get if Catholic hospitals shut down; true Catholic college education will be much harder to afford, and Catholic colleges will be fewer; families of employees of Catholic institutions will be uninsured (except that most of them will be eligible for government-subsidized insurance). My point is that people who talk vaguely about taking up the cross and voluntarily choosing to accept suffering are, well, talking vaguely. They’re not the ones who are going to suffer. Why am I bothering to make this point? Because all this talk about how we are going to suffer makes it sound like all this time the state has been supporting the Church, when the opposite is true. The Church has been supporting the poor.

Don’t send email to the White House - send paper mail. Organize through your parish or KofC councils. The White House despises getting tons of mail on an issue - it’s easy to ignore an inbox. It’s tough to ignore tons of paper from angry constituents.

Michael P. - One thing you can do for your children, if possible, is to send them to Catholic schools, particularly high school, if you can.  Research this issue for yourseIf;  ask around, visit and pray about this most important choice you may have for your children. 
l have one child who went through the liberal, teachers’ union-controlled, historical revisionist, pro-homosexual, pro-moral relativism public school, and one in a Catholic school.  I feel like I’ve lost the first, sadly.  The second one is getting a much better grounding, training for life, solid catechesis, and examples of adults who really care for the souls of their students.  These environments are different is SO many ways.  There are imperfect people everywhere, and I don’t mean to cast aspersions on the good teachers in public schools, but for me, the daily prayer alone in the Catholic HS will profit all.

Go to www.whitehouse.gov
click “contact”
give name,etc.
give your comment .
Mine was ” Put me on your list of known catholics.”

Is the suffering you mention the pain caused by continuing to pay taxes to support something you find morally repugnant? Or is the suffering you mention to be measured in years in jail for failing to pay income tax?

We need to pray for an end to the lack of values we experience in this world.  I do see my prayers being answered every day.  We sat back too long and didn’t stand up to these injustices that our Church has endured.  Just the Catholic vote alone will eliminate Obama from this office, lets pray for a united Church to end this mandate.  I contacted the White House also to let them know I am a proud Catholic.

Thanks for your article, Matthew, and thanks to the group for their comments.  I went on the White House site as well and emailed the President the following:

“My name is Dr. Mary Callan. I am a proud American, and a Catholic.

I stand in full opposition to your Healthcare mandate in which all healthcare insurance providers will be required to pay for contraception, sterilizations, and abortifacients.  It is horrifically against all of my personal and religious beliefs.  It violates my rights to force me to pay for what is opposed to my religious beliefs.  I also will not commit murder—the use or participation in (paying for) the use of abortifacients is murder.

I and Catholics like me will not go down quietly.  I am speaking out against you and your administration.  I will not pay for insurance that covers anything in opposition to my religious beliefs.  If there is no alternative, I will not carry insurance.  And if I am fined for not carrying insurance, I will not pay that fine.  You can imprison me if you like.  I will not go down quietly, and I will rally to my last breath to raise the voices of others like me who will not go down quietly. 

Yours is a hell I will not buy into.”

Question to the group:  How else can we act out here and make a stand?  There are some 60 million of us, right?  How do we all gel and stop this administration?  We need out-in-the streets activism, am I right?

I’ll let you know what I come up with…all of you please let me know what you’re doing, too.

May God help us all.

Wow - go Mary Callan!

Remember the Rosary revolution in the Philippines?  A massive, peaceful throng took to the streets with their rosaries, and the oppressors backed down.

@Jay Excellent.  Right to the point, thank you. @TRS We need a POSTER of that IN THE BACK OF EVERY CHURCH,SYNAGOGUE,TEMPLE AND MOSQUE IN AMERICA.  Obama swore to uphold the constitution.  He lied.

Jennifer M and Another Ranting Mom, you got it right.  A letter from our bishop was read at Mass.  We need to all pray to defeat this.

The article is fundamentally right, but once again is a missed opportunity in that the most important issue isn’t touched on and that is the issue of tax breaks for religions. It is clearly evident, even in this article, where the true evil lies and who is truly leading the spread of that evil….the devil…....it’s the DA come to life right in front of our eyes!!

Until our church walks away from the tax breaks and political favors, church members can rail on in articles like this one until they are blue in the face and nothing will change. The evil will continue to spread with impunity and well beyond just religion as is already the case. What these articles should ask is whose mission is it to stop the evil and its spread….....clearly, the answer is, it is the responsibility of church. It is the primary mission of the church, to spread God’s word and in so doing the evil will be stopped. We cannot sit idly by while romanticizing about the ancient ones being fed to the lions. In fact, instead of sending e-mails and letters to the seat of this evil, e-mails and letters should be sent to our local parish, our Bishop, Our Cardinal and to Rome demanding that our church publicly sever all ties with this evil and in so doing they will open the way to publicly and rigorously condemn the purveyors of the evil and on all of its fronts, not just the issue of pro-life.
For our church to rail on about the recent mandates while at the same time continuing to take favor in the form of tax breaks, is no different than a pro-choice politician claiming to be pro-life just to garner pro-life vote in hopes of being elected.
It’s really very simple, whether it be our church or another church, as long as organized religion is in league with the devil, and we must realize that by default we are too, no one advancing and passing the legislation of evil will take any of the outcry seriously. The credibility of all religions will continue to diminish (really the hidden agenda here) in the eyes of not only the purveyors of this evil, but in the eyes of non-believers as well. The evil is opportunistic and will exploit this religious conundrum to the fullest. Evil will simply say, “Let them vent, posture and pontificate because as long as they have their hands in our coffers they will only go so far because they know we can silence them.”
Remember, if one lies down with the devil, one cannot be with God. This is mutually exclusive and there is no middle ground.

Those of you not in medicine may not be aware but the persecution has already begun several years ago. I personally have been denied positions for which I was qualified because I would not do abortions in any form, including birth control pills which are abortifacients in some cases. I have had to leave positions when the issue was forced.But I am only one person, and have been able to get other positions. However, my experiences have been shared by countless other physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners , nurses and other healthcare personnel. The abortion/prevention of pregnancy mindset is deeply engrained in First World thinking.
Soon I fear, medicine will not be open to any one who adheres to his/her conscience, be he/she Catholic, Orthodox Jewish, Christian or Muslum etc. Even getting into medical school, PA school etc is a problem for those following the tenets of Humanae Vitae. I believe there was a quote from somewhere dating from WW2 which went something like ” First they came for the disabled, but I was not disabled so I did not complain. Then they came for Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did not complain, and then they came for me…..”

Lots of “Catholics” are involved already.  Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi,  HHS Secretary Sebelius and from my district in New York, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul along with Senator Gillibrand.  Hochul is a graduate of Catholic Unviversity and Pelosi from Georgetown. I don’t know about the rest.
We are paying for decades of liberal influence in the church and in the Catholic schools.  The Bishops better get a backbone soon and start excommunicating.

I wonder how many self-identified Catholics currently pay into employer-offered insurance plans that already cover contraceptives or sterilization chosen to end fertility? At least one huge plan offered to federal civilian workers does. Wouldn’t this be as bad as the Church paying for insurance coverage that offers the same services?

I agree with Fr. Neil Buchlein.  The Church leaders need to be LOUD and CLEAR about where it stands and just say NO even if it means fines, jail, etc.  File lawsuits and stand up for our First Amendment rights. Why should the parishoners get all fired up, then watch the powers that be remain silent? Every Bishop, and every priest in every parish needs to get involved in this one.  We make up a very large block of voters so we have to use that to our advantage and stand up for OUR rights.

I hope all of you that voted for Obama, including Church leaders now see what they voted in.  During the campaigning, if you listened carefully and vetted Obama’s associates, you could see that he’d do exactly what he said he’d do.  And shamefully, the Catholic leaders such as Nancy Pelosi and Sebelius are trading their immortal souls for what I don;t know.

I doubt that sending emails will help either.  Now is the time for all of the Catholic Bishops to stand up and say no.  Furthermore, all of them need to write pastoral letters to their congregations outlining what is being done.

I believe there are a lot of indifferent and poorly catechized Catholics out there who are embracing the secular movement and this has to change through good example and prayer.

This election is crucial!  I believe the least we all could do is pray the Rosary each day for a good outcome, but I fear it may be too late.  God may be punishing us for our indifference and lack of faith.

@ Jesuitical.  I would say something crude to you right now, but 1) Christ would not approve. 2) My mother and grandmother, God rest their souls, would meet me at the pearly gates with a rolling pin. 3) I would never insult such a fine animal by such an unworthy comparison. You are an outrage.  God forgive you, and God forgive me.

I want a prolife candidate who is truly prolife and pro-peace; does anyone fit this bill?!!!!!!

Ron Paul.  But as everyone tells us, he’s crazy.

In the diocese of Boise, ID, one never/rarely hears a homily re: abortion, euthanisia, contraception, homosexual unions = all EVILS!

The bishop doesn’t care, nor seemingly do the priests.  All probably voted for St. Obama.

Ora pro nobis.

“...if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, PROVIDED we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17)

Well put. As a child I remember being told that I should think about the “suffering for my faith.” scenario and decide if I had what it took to suffer. I don’t know why I was foolish enough to forget the need to learn that lesson?I guess it’s never too late to learn important lessons.

I just hope I have the courage.

I’m going to make a prediction here so I can go back and check it out a year from now. I think that some lawyers will come up with a plan to get around this, like the “contractus trinus” or the “census,”  which were invented to allow the loaning of money for interest without technically doing do so. Perhaps it will be the government allowing Catholic hospitals, and other employers who object to contraception on religious grounds, to waive the mandate to provide healthcare insurance if they give money to some unrelated charitable fund while the employees purchase full coverage from a state-subsidized policy. 

See this article to read descriptions of the “contractus trinus” and the “census.”
http://distributistreview.com/mag/2012/01/is-usury-still-a-sin/

Robbins Mitchell has a startling post above me (unless you take it down for some choice words), but I really like this part: “get some of your Jesuits on the case…those guys can be cold blooded when the occasion calls for it” I wouldn’t say cold-blooded, I would say single-minded. And yes, let’s set loose the Jesuits! They need to be directed toward a great cause. That’s why, IMHO, some of them work with such energy at misguided causes. They aren’t made for dull times, they’re made to be the men-at-arms (metaphorically speaking) of the Church. When they were founded, “Society” meant a group of soldiers. The Society of So-and-So might fight tournaments or do other, military things. That’s what the Society of Jesus was for. To fight in the world for Christ.

Mary Callan is right, we need some sort of a plan. Even if only half the Catholics oppose this (and Matt is right that some people will surprise us by standing up and some by not doing so) that’s still 30 million plus. Definitely write the White House. But that can’t be the end.

Phil Ferguson: do you think there are enough people of like mind that we could get together and kick up a ruckus about the sorry state of affairs here?

JMJ wrote, “Some have mentioned getting guns. If you are a criminal, no problem, but, for us law-abiding citizens, especially Catholic, this is NOT an option as Jesus told Peter & us, that those that live by the sword will die by the sword”

What a tragic misunderstanding of both Catholic theology and the U.S. Constitution.

“I want a prolife candidate who is truly prolife and pro-peace”

Pro-peace? Peace is not something that can be attained without struggle, and generally armed struggle. This is because peace is an interval, not a permanent condition. It is the interval between the last time we defeated evil, and the next time evil attacks. And there will always be a next time, right until the final trump.

Si vis pacem, para bellum.

Way proud of my cousin Fabian Bruskewitz.  I stand ready to suffer.  Meanwhile, I will protest!  Shame on Obama.  Shame on Congress.  This effort is unConstitutional, anti-liberty, down-right bogus!

All glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the begining, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

Will a lot of people really write the White House, or should I say Catholics?  I’m afraid many of them probably don’t see that contraception is wrong since they do it themselves!  The so called Catholic czars in the White House agree completely with these views, and they’re pro-choice to boot!

I’m afraid most of the battle is being lost.  Perhaps it began with the Church accepting federal assistance in Catholic Charities.  I remember 50 or so years ago, Catholic Hospitals were run by Catholics, had nursing nuns, and even their own nursing schools, but all of that has been thrown out. 

I’m sure in some instances its because of the advent of insurance and Medicare, but the identity of these and some Catholic institutions are in jeopardy of even being slightly religious let alone Catholic.

And most of the Jesuits seem to be on the same side as secularists.  I sincerely hope there are enough Catholics to not only write the White House and protest but take their protests to the voting booth.

I have signed the petition on Whitehouse.gov.  I am a Catholic and I too, will not obey this unjust and immoral law.

@ Katherine & Dr. Mary Callan: You are both correct—the persecution against faithful Catholics started long ago, particularly those of us that work in medicine as healthcare providers.  Do either of you know if the Catholic Medical Association is doing anything?  Are they a large enough group to be heard?  There have truly been far too many Catholics who have been cowed into compliance with regard to providing contraceptive & abortion “services” or else suffer real persecution and black-listing.  Where are we to go?  How are we to connect with one another and provide each other the support and fellowship we need?  I’d say we should start a facebook page to gather us in, but I stopped using facebook awhile ago… ;-)

No one should use certain words no matter how angry they are.  The President is a child of God, and a good husband and father.  Let’s pray for him.
I’m not a fan of censorship but certain things need to be edited, please.

In my present mood I am grateful and perhaps always have been when others reveal their true selfs. Although the vast majority of posts are truly scary, they are sincere in their distorted beliefs. Now I know which areas of the country to avoid. What is noteworthy are the posts referencing the Constitution, liberty etc. when the truth is they reinvent the know-nothing parties.  Without a clue they remonstrate nothingness. The catholic hierarchy is free to preach as it wishes without restraint.  What it is not free to do is prohibit in any way others of contrary opinion from realizing its right to marriage, birth control etc. The name calling and lack of respect is appalling. To call for a holy war is absurd as Muslims calling for a jihad. There is no shame on this board and yours mirrors have no reflection.

There is a lot of drama being enjoyed on this subject, but it looks rather hollow when one realizes that at least 90% of Catholics don’t have a problem with contraception. I suspect at least as many are currently paying into insurance plans that provide coverage of contraceptives and sterilization. How much support do the bishops really have from the laity in this matter? I guess we will find out.

Regardless of the consequences this side of eternity, I thank The Holy Spirit for the courage of Catholic bishops and other religious leaders who signed the Manhattan Declaration. They are currently making good on their pledge.  At some point I hope they see the broader issue, that federal officeholders exceed their authority and violate the Fourth and Seventh Commandments when they tax and regulate us in the absence of an enumerated power to do so.  Federal mandated health care is clearly immoral.  Likewise, they violate the Fourth and Fifth, Commandments when they go to war without the constutionally required declaration by congress.

Be not afraid!  JPII

Jesuitical, the Catholic Church is not prohibiting anyone from doing what they will with regard to contraception, marriage, etc., they can only teach, guide and propose, not impose. The Catholic Church has every right to guide and teach the people of the world the Truth about contraception, abortion, gay marriage, or whatever, and it is then up to the world, Catholics and non-believers, to choose to follow it or not.
On the other hand, it is our government that is trying to impose on Christian organizations, hospitals, and employers, forcing them to carry and pay for insurance coverage for contraception, which is clearly against Church teaching. Any Catholic who owns a business for example, and who wants to follow Church teaching on these matters, should not be forced to pay for their employees contraception. It does not mean that contraception is then unavailable for anyone, it is everywhere to be found, but no one should be forced to carry it against their faith and conscience.

joanp62, your first paragraph is spot on, you did not miss a thing. As long as the church preaches; it is fine.  It can say whatever from its pulpit; even that same sex unions, birth control, masturbation are abominable evils. That is precisely my argument. But, it does not stay there. Your second paragraph is as bad as your first is good. As difficult as it is for posters on this blog to free themselves from indoctrinal constraints, the government is doing its job correctly.  That job is to ensure the rights of all its citizens. So, according to your discourse I ought to feel persecuted since I think that the war in Iraq is immoral, but my tax dollar is spent on it. In our diverse society much of what the government does is contrary to individual interests, but provides for the general welfare of all citizens…please read the first sentence of the Constitution. Nay, it is the church who disabuses, since many of its employess are not catholic, and its insurance policies ought not be dictated to by rigid and intolerant medieval thinking church. That church continues to think as it always has, that its opinion alone matters. In regards to insurance, all should have access without being split by anothers religious whim. For the church to state it is being persecuted is folly and simply silly foolishness.

Jesuitical—there are many ways if people want to have contraception in their health plan.  OPTIONS!!!!  All the Church is asking for is a conscience clause. 

And no, the Church doesn’t disabuse as you see it.  No one is forcing someone to be an employee of one of these institutions.  The employees including doctors and nurses may work wherever they want.

As for the war in Iraq, IT IS OVER!!!!!  And we are still in Afghanistan, courtesy of the current administration.

And if you accuse the church by being intolerant, maybe you ought to look at yourself.  Seems to me you’re anti religious if not anti Christian.

By the way, if the Church hadn’t operated hospitals during the middle ages, and cared for the sick there would have been a lot more people that died for example of the Plague.

A perfect Church we aren’t, but I am proud that the Catholic Church alone will take this stand if necessary, and that it will never change it’s views.

Those of us that are 100% pro-life and want to get into medicine are starting to second guess God’s calling out of fear. Pray for those taht would be wonderful health care providers if they survive the training with morals intact.

Jesuitical, if you are a catholic, you would know that concerning faith and morals, the pope and the teaching authority of the church are considered infallible, something not said or believed about our government. And you have defended the government’s opinion with your own comments, full of relativism, that subjective truth without authority. So if you are a catholic, come over to our side, if not, please consider doing so.

Jesuitical, how is the government ensuring the rights of all citizens when it forces some to comply with laws that are against their conscience? And it is your opinion that the Church’s teachings are rigid and medieval. That is what the world says, but the Church is only concerned with the Truth, God’s Truth, and the salvation of souls. The Pope and Bishops are either guided by God on matters of Faith and Morals or they are not. The Church is either upholding, protecting, and preaching the Truth or they are not. I have become convinced that they are, which is why I remain in the Catholic Church, and do not give too much credence to what “the world” thinks. And anyone who chooses to work for a faithful Catholic and receives health insurance from their employer, if it were me, I would be grateful for the coverage I have, no insurance covers everything anyway- contraception and abortions should not be paid for by a Catholic who knows it is against God’s will for humans.That is different than the government using my tax dollars for something that I believe is sinful- I do not call that persecution, so where do you make the connection that you are persecuted because your tax dollars went to something you did not agree with? You are comparing apples to oranges. When taxes are taken out of my check to the IRS, I am not directly or willingly paying for things that the government chooses to do with my money. Forcing me as a Catholic employer to provide abortion and contraceptive coverage is a different, and unconstitutional matter, as far as I know. I think you know the difference too, you just choose to pretend there is none.

Cowalker, an individual paying for insurance with coverage for contraception, sterilizations and abortifacients AND not using it is quite different than a Catholic organization providing coverage for these services for a group of people some of whom may very likely make use of said services.  That would mean that the Catholic Church is cooperating in evil.

Just because 90% of Catholics are choosing to sin by using contraception does not mean the Church must change her teaching on the matter.  Those Catholics need to change their hearts.

Jesuitical, the Catholic Church is not doing anything that would prevent people from choosing to use contraceptives or get sterilized.  She is saying via her bishops that She will not be party to such “services”.

Could something be done about Robbin Mitchel’s post? Like remove it due to the racial insults? Fundamentalist whackos only hurt the cause

Thank you for this

You’re welcome. I just removed it. Sorry I didn’t see it earlier. I’ve got two kids throwing up today so we’ve having oodles of fun here.

The fact is that this administration is delighted to see Catholics specifically and Christians generally suffer. These are not unintended consequences; they know exactly what they are doing. These are the sons and daughters of Roe v. Wade who not only wished to legalize abortion, but ultimately legitimize abortion. They will stop at nothing. The problem is that that our ethos, this “American Way” that the rest of us are sons and daughters of has been so diluted that it will be tough for us to depend on the goodwill of others to relieve our suffering. So, I am afraid that we must fight them in the courts of justice and public opinion, and at the precincts—not just as worthy martyrs.

Thank you Matthew for removing that post.  Hope your kids are better soon….I know what that’s like.  And now that my kids are grown, my dog today….well…4 times he….you don’t want to know!

Jesuitical, this comment from you: “the government is doing its job correctly.  That job is to ensure the rights of all its citizens. So, according to your discourse I ought to feel persecuted since I think that the war in Iraq is immoral, but my tax dollar is spent on it.” doesn’t really make much sense. How is the government ensuring the rights of all its citizens, when some are forced to do things against their conscience? And how the government uses my tax dollars, while I may not like it and have every right to complain, I would not call it persecution if they used it for abortion, contraceptives, etc. It is a different matter altogether when the government tells an employer that they must cover certain things in their insurance that are against their faith, morals and conscience. They are forcing that individual or organization to directly pay for things they are morally against. There is a big difference.

Mahatma Ghandi said “To impose your will on another is an act of violence.” The violence of the Obama administration is imposing its will on the Catholic Church

Sorry joanp62, you are separating in your favor. The government of the people is not a different government for each of us, but representative of a pluralistic society. Since we both identified an apparent evil, we are enjoined by a government which decides not according to our will, but to promote the general welfare of its citizenry. Your instance of evil is not a madated usage, or a coercion to use but a matter of access to all. If a catholic thinks it is an abomination to use birth control; don’t do it. In the case sited by myself;  an immoral war occurs despite myself, there is no usage in question, and no choice on my part, which might stop an immoral war.  So, you have given an erroneous presentation. The church interfering with access to mandated health insurance is irresponsible failing to recognize citizens right of choice…that is the difference.

The sin is on the heads of those who elected Obama President. I could see the hand writing on the wall. Watch out. We will be punished.

Jesuitical, you are being illogical and irrational. Read the other comments to this article for further explanation of my point. The government has no constitutional right to force anyone to do something it does not want to do based on their religious beliefs! Period. That is not the same thing as you claiming to be persecuted because some of your tax money may have gone to a war that you were against, and you know it. And Catholics not wanting to pay for someone else’s contraception is reasonable, we are not trying to get contraception banned or made illegal-just don’t try to force us to pay for others to use it because it is against our faith and what we believe to be Truth in accordance with God’s plan.

P.s. Jesuitical: Regarding the abortion/contraception issue, it is not just about usage, ie: if you don’t believe in it don’t use it or have one, that is not enough. If you give someone contraceptives, pay for them, give them money for an abortion, drive them to the clinic, etc., then you are complicit in the sin. So don’t give us the tired old excuse of “well if you don’t believe in it don’t use it yourselves”, really! It’s like saying, I don’t believe in murder, but if you want to buy a gun and I know you plan on using it to kill someone, who am I to say I shouldn’t sell the gun to you. That is nonsense! Or asking someone who is a vegetarian to prepare a steak for me- why not? I’m not making her eat it, just cook it for me. Ridiculous!

Jonap62, you are allowing anger to intefere with cognition. There is no doubt in my mind as to the sincerity of other posters. Sincerity does not obviate distorted and misquided opinion. From what I’ve read the posters you cite are parroting what they’ve been taught. You too. Some erudition would help.  No matter how many times the same words are used over and over, let me clearly state the government is not forcing anyone in this instance to do anything. We live in a pluralistic society, we pay taxes, money is used not at our discretion but toward the welfare and interests of the nation.  Many, as you do, continue to cite the Constitution without benefit as to what it does state. In the case of insurance, that also is a collective program. How an individual is covered rests between that particular individual, the medical practice and insurance;  not you, not me.
It is OK for you and others not to like it; but you have no right to interfere with decisions to which you don’t belong. Ninety per cent of catholic women use birth control. Simply put, if you are against birth control, don’t use it.  To interfere with others access is contrary to the principles upon which this country is founded.  You would have a better argument if your position were against an immoral war and your tax money is used to fight it.  In this case of health insurance, there is no such issue…only what is manufactured in your and other minds.

“Mene, Tekel, Peres” (Dn 5)

The handwriting is on the wall!

Jesuit, you say re: insurance coverage: “How an individual is covered rests between that particular individual, the medical practice and insurance;  not you, not me.”  Not true, I have had insurance coverage from employers for many years, while as an employee I may opt for some coverage or not, at extra cost, there are still things in that plan that are not covered, and that is based on the level of coverage my employer is willing or able to pay for. I could not get all the coverage I wanted, unless I was willing to pay additionally for it out of my paycheck. Otherwise, it is between the employer and the insurance company. Whomever is paying for the insurance, ie: the employer, has or should have the choice of what type of coverage they can pay for their employees. Again, your argument that your taxes being used for an “immoral” war (I put quotes around that, not having come to any certain conclusions myself), is worse than an employer, religious organization, etc. having to pay directly for things they consider immoral is very weak and compares apples to oranges. So your idea of immoral trumps others idea of immoral? Again I use the analogy:if a strict vegetarian operating a strictly vegan cafe was then required by the government to prepare and serve meat dishes because they are discriminating against non-vegans, then I guess you would go along with that too. I mean, they don’t have to eat meat if its against their principles, they just have to prepare and serve it to those who do, right?

Brother Robert Anthony:
Do you have any other platitudes (meaningless), which you would like to share.

@Jesuitical The Catholic Church has prevailed for 2000 years…and will never suffer a fool, be it Obama or you. I find it amusing how you fail to disseminate the genocide of God’s creation in the womb:

“You would have a better argument if your position were against an immoral war and your tax money is used to fight it.  In this case of health insurance, there is no such issue…only what is manufactured in your and other minds”

I for one have no argument. To have an argument, two things must be present: 1.)In this instance, the need to change the thinking of the plaintiff; 2.) The premise that the defendant might be wrong. 

I could care less if you accept the absolute that GOD…not Jesuitical, has the final say. Take it up with Him. He is the one you need to convince that His creation isn’t good enough for the world.

I live in a very anti catholic state (Maine) and frankly I’ve gotten used to this.  it’s almost a mantra. The livid recovering Catholics, the people who trash Christianity and in particular the Church.All in the spirit of total ignorance.  Obama has been up to this for a long time—his appointments have been unbelievable and he has no real conception of religion except the insular northeastern mantra. I signed the WH petition.Things will be worse for our children. I pray we will vote this terrible person out of office.

I support and pray for our American catholic leaders, brothers and sisters who courageously fight against the Obama healthcare program. As Catholic and with our christian friends, let’s be united as prayer warriors and have faith that God will do the rest…

Honie, so you ‘courageously fight agains Obam health care’.  What part; all of it. Do you subscribe to the gospel of Matthew, inwhich it implores the feeding of the hungry, giving dring to those who thirst, taking care of the ill, or taking a stranger in…with the matra what you do for the least of My brethren, so you do unto Me. It seems that your courageous fight is against Xt, Himself.  This might come as a surprise to David, but there was no Catholic Church 2000 years ago.  There was, however, a highly regarded Xtianity.  There were patriarchates in Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, Ephesus and Rome all vying for control and accusing each other of heresy.

To me, as a Catholic and as an American, this is so far over the top I can’t believe it!  This audacious intrusion of beliefs and religions, should put fear in the hearts of very American….The Catholics first, and the Jews cannot be far behind….It is obvious how Obama feels about them….We must fight this invasion of private, religious institutions and the CATHOLIC FAITH….If Obama and his thugs can get this through, there is truly no stopping the Chicago-style machine…

Here’s one for the White House:

To the President of the United States of America-

NUTS!

-An American Catholic

Abigail—you mentioned about watching a child die, because of lack of healthcare.  What you and others are forgetting, is long BEFORE there was any health insurance, there was health care, i.e. medical care!!  Government was not involved, which helped to keep it much cheaper than now.
And yes, we need LOTS of prayers for this situation.

Cecil, things have changed. It’s not just government that makes healthcare more expensive, but technology. For example, an echocardiogram machine costs as much as a house. A cardiologist buys one with a mortgage.

What is truly sad in all of this is that many bishops swallowed the kool aid in buying into universal health care.  The Church has always been on the forefront in health care for the poor, education from elementary school to higher learning.  The Church militant has always been on the front line helping the most vulnerable.  Now we have liberal bishops like Lynch & Mahony crying foul.  Even Doug Kmiec realizes he was taken by this smooth talker.  Those of us who were not fooled by this snake oil salesman now have to clean up the mess & hopefully save our nation, our liberty, and foremost, Our Church.

Posted by rosemarie kury on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2012 11:43 PM (EST):Will a lot of people really write the White House, or should I say Catholics?  I’m afraid many of them probably don’t see that contraception is wrong since they do it themselves! 
++++This is moe than just condoms, it’s a LIE!  Govt. wants to say that abortion and sterilization is “preventive medicine”.  That’s a bunch of bull.  A diabetic taking insulin is preventive medicine, killing babies is not.

@Upbeat Dad (10:33)  “Fr. Groovy and Sr. Goodvibes” - spot on, sir!

@Fr. Neil Buchlein (7:29) “ALL of our shepherds need to speak out.  How come only 126 Bishops out of 195 have written a letter that was read on Sunday?”  Yeah, where was the letter from our (Mahony-trained) bishop?

@Jesuitical (7:48) “I thought this idiocy was put to an end by John Kennedy.” You thought wrong, bub.  Another of the Church hierarchy’s failures was when Fr. Drinan (JFK’s abortion politics coach) wasn’t laicized and his lax bishop with him!

@Quo Vadis (12:26) “One thing you can do for your children, if possible, is to send them to Catholic schools, particularly high school, if you can.”  Don’t be too sure of that.  One of my favorite homilies of Fr. J, who attended a locally-famous Jesuit high school, described a chance meeting in a supermarket of a fellow graduate of same who, after recognizing J in his priest’s blacks, exclaimed, “I’m not a Catholic anymore, I’ve been born again and have become a Christian!”  If Jesuits can’t reliably get through to young skulls full of mush that (a) all squares are rectangles and (b) all Catholics are Christians, who can?

@charles Woodbury (12:31) “Put me on your list of known catholics.”
@Mary Callan (1:33) “My name is Dr. Mary Callan. I am a proud American, and a Catholic.”
Following the example of John Carroll of Carrollton, I see, but for a much higher cause.  Excellent!

@pmgarbe (4:35) “What is truly sad in all of this is that many bishops swallowed the kool aid in buying into universal health care.”  Yep.  They sneered when I stood up against Medicaid and Medicare… they sneered when Barry Goldwater denounced socialized medicine… they sneered when I opposed Obama and all his works… now they just sneer all the time.

hope you can end the legislation of forcing health care that the Obama Administration think is good when it is evil. I will pray for you all I am Canadian but was in the American health care for almost the birth of my daughter this past June and our OHIP did cover the one and half days I was there. But this is for life and keeping our children in purity and love for the rest of their lives to be taught natural family planning is best. Please give the Whitehouse the information on NaProTechnology and the crieghton model system to teach women about their fertility and infertility. It has helped my family tremedously. This is a great way to learn about sexual education too. It is a Catholic teaching insitute that created it and Pope Paul VI instituted.