SPOT ON!  The bishops have sold out the Catholics in the pews by continuing to give cover to the proaborts and the Democrat party .  What did Cardinal Designate Dolan really expect from Obama?  How stupid are our bishops?  We could see what was coming back in 2008, how come they refuse to?

AMEN Brotha!

The key is to turn back the clock from a funding perspective. The Catholic Church needs to stop accepting government money of all forms, including the religious tax exempt status, so it can begin the hard job of teaching, from the pulpit, what it means to be Catholic. We’re getting watered down sermons that are always prefaced with “I can’t tell you how to vote, but the Church stands against <abortion, contraception, etc>.” This is simply unacceptable. There are issues in which the vote is simply right vs. wrong, period.

Secondly, if the USCCB really wanted to be part of this battle, people like Pelosi, Kerry, and Sebelius would no longer be able to call themselves “practicing Catholics,” which is an affront to the English language.

I realize this doesn’t address the insurance mandate, which is an unbelievable attack on religious liberty. That one has to be won through either the courts, as you say, or through the more difficult choice of shutting down the operations affected by it. The latter course, if announced now, would be effective, and understood by a community organizer. The bishops have mentioned going to jail for the cause. That might be well-intentioned, but it would accomplish nothing. The secularists would actually believe they’re in jail for the right reasons! It’s time to begin pulling the plug. The State, in all of its glory, needs to realize it can’t accomplish it’s “good works” without the help of God, and his glory.

As an aside, the words “separation of Church and state” appear nowhere in the constitution, and are simply part of a letter Jefferson wrote to address a specific issue and community. A visit to Jefferson’s home demonstrates beyond any shadow of doubt that he believed in Jesus Christ. The artwork in the house, as well as the library, provide ample evidence.

How about the bishops start excommunicating Sebelius, Pelosi and their ilk?  THAT would make a good start and actually show they finally mean business and will uphold Church teaching!

That is the truth! And that is precisely what our Church leaders, especially the Bishops ought to have been saying from the beginning. It is their solemn and sacred duty to uphold the truth, mandated by morality and faith, in the public square - at all times and in all circumstances. When they fail to do so, they are responsible for leading many into mortal sin.

Outstanding!

“You cannot just give away a little of your liberty.”

This is essentially an absolutist anarcho-capitalist stance.  But the truth is that if we as a society agree to any form of government whatsoever, then we already have given away a little of our liberty.  So I feel the argument is moot.

Living in a governed society, the relevant question has always been “how much” liberty should we give away…not whether we should relinquish any at all.  So it is true that since this country’s founding, we the people through our representative government have always been arguing about “degrees of tyranny”.  Any form of government, even the smallest and least invasive, could be considered “tyranny” to an extent.

If you’re arguing that less federal government is good, and that the Bishops should instead push more for the Catholic principle of subsidiarity than for more federal government intrusion, then I’m all for it.  But the arguments in your article, at least the way they are worded, border those of an anarchist.

This sort of article is just what the Obama administration is hoping for: Confuse the issue. Divide and conquer. Blame the bishops. Turn this into a battle about competing political philosophies. Never mind the violation of conscience, the promotion of contraception and abortion, and the obvious attack on Catholic beliefs. Many Catholics who are not card-carrying Republicans are pretty angry about that.
But no! Apparently that’s not the real problem. Apparently all of this is just a small and necessary consequence of the BIG EVIL of having the wrong political views. Now I get it. How can we manipulate this into a reason to vote Republican? Politics as usual.

Amen!!! you can’t support socialism then expect the government to make you happy!!! they need to condemn Obama care and him and his cronies!!!

“This is essentially an absolutist anarcho-capitalist stance. “

No, it is not.

This is EXACTLY why I am not a fan of this paper. On a day that the entire Catholic world has committed to praying for the bishops, you take this opportunity to bash them.

Our Bishops and the rest of us have long ignored the concept of Subsidiarity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidiarity

PAt, I jsut read an interesting essay by George Weigel that suggests the bishops should be revamping the way they engage politically—that the current methods are outdated—and implies that more of the responsibility needs to fall on the laity.  That is an extremely simplified version of it; it includes a discussion of the role of church as Church in offering opinions about political issues.

Anyway, if you subscribe to First Things or can get your hands on one, it is from December 2011.  Really thought-provoking.

Pat, with respect, it may not be anarcho-capitalist, but otherwise Joe P. is right.  The position you argue is not consistent with the very idea of any government what so ever.  By definition, government requires a restriction of liberty.  This is all basic to very enlightenment ideas that are the foundation of both our modern ideas on liberty and the concept of the social contract upon which modern government is based. 

Basically, the idea here is that in return for giving up some of our liberty, we receive certain benefits.  Indeed, on the scale of compulsions, being forced to buy healthcare can be considered relatively low on the list compared to other powers the government has exercised in the past (If being forced to buy health care is tyranny, then how much more tyrannical is it that the government can (and has) draft young men into military service and force them to fight and die in wars?

A better argument would be that the cost in liberty for the current health care bill is far too high for any benefits that will actually be received.

Now a final pet peeve… Obama care is not socialism.  Medicare is socialism.  Obama care is facism.

Last time I am going to address it.  My post is not an attack on the need for government.  It is a 500 word post on a very narrow point.  I do not have the time, space, or interest to detail every caveat to my line about liberty to satisfy the knee-jerk of political science majors.

I think most people understand this.  The rest choose not to.

Excellent! Well said!

I believe Sebelius has been instructed by her bishop not to receive the Eucharist. That, at least, is something. But yes, more action is needed. Pelosi et al cannot be continued allowed to create scandal like they have. It’s a mockery of the Cathokic faith.

“No, it is not.”
Isn’t requiring to pay an income tax “giving away little bit of our liberty”?  If not, then let’s see how much liberty we really have when we stop paying it.

We most likely agree on this topic much more than you think.  But I’m not thrilled at the way you argue your point for less government intervention (my stance as well) because your arguments are essentially an all-or-nothing stance.  (If you can’t give away a little bit of your liberty, doesn’t that imply that you can’t give ABSOLUTELY ANY of your liberty away?)  These arguments just don’t work unless you favor an anarcho-capitalism.

Just to reiterate, I agree with the stance…not the arguments (or maybe just the technical wording).  Peace.

Pat,
I am not, and have never been a political science major.  I do however recognize that the inflated rhetoric you are using here serves no purpose other than to convince people who already agree with you that they are right.
—
The basic problem here is that you essentially provided a definition of tyranny that is predicated on the loss of any liberty.  If we accept this basic definition, then by extension, all government is by necessity tyranny.  But if we accept the idea that there are non tyrannical government, then we must reject your definition of tyranny.  Which now leads us to the question of why giving up some liberties is tyranny and others is simply good government.  This essay gives us no reason to accept your assertion that government run health care is by necessity tyranny.

You are exactly right!  Our good Biships have been too supportive of big government for years.  They have, by and large, neglected true propagation of Catholic teaching.  When is the last time anyone heard a sermon on contraception, subsidiarity, authentic Catholic social teaching based on Church documents? Instead we get fundraising requests and empty words about ‘social justice’.

In my diocese they are proud of the low-income housing the diocese has created with Federal funds.  Just wait until word gets out of the new definition HUD has made of the word ‘family’ - now to include same-sex partners.  Suddenly a new ‘unforseen’ problem will discovered.

Pretty typical of what happens in a combox when you dare speak the truth.  Good for you, Pat.

Adrienne:  You mean people object to a sloppy, poorly made argument?
—
I said it before and I will say it again.  This article will convince no one who doesn’t already agree with Pat.  If the only purpose of these blogs is so we can all pat ourselves on the back at what good conservative Catholics we are, then I suppose it is ok.  But I would prefer think that the point of these blogs and indeed the National Catholic Register in general, is to both provide truth, and to provide it in a way that persuades those who might be on the fence (Obviously persuasion doesn’t really work on those who oppose you).

I could not agree more.  The bishops have surrendered the truth for “a mess of pottage.”  At worst they are culpably complicit.  At best they are culpably naive.  Neither is particularly admirable.  That they now express shock or outrage should be embarassing to men in their position.

MarylandBill - You’re entitled to your opinion.  You are not entitled to call it truth.

“For generations, many Bishops of the U.S. have been partners, cheerleaders, and enablers of the soft tyranny of big government now turned hard.”

AMEN AMEN AMEN I want to go all little old lady caps on you today.

Maryland Bill (and Joe P.):

While I can’t speak for all conservatives, much less every true conservative on this combox, I must come down on both of you for foisting the pettifoggery of your similar comments on the rest of us. I really don’t have the time for this, but since two of you actually made the same kind of position I set aside more important matters to pour cold water on the two of you..

Most conservatives are familiar with the rather standard argument taken from political philosophy 101 about the exchange of a loss of liberty for alleged government services. That one is of the same cloth as the one which asks our agreement that paying taxes is the price for civilization, which usually precedes a statement of fealty to paying the price of higher tax burdens demanded by our enlightened leadership.

You artfully fail to notice that Pat – without mentioning it by name - invokes the document which frames our understanding - NOT the classroom rhetoric you site - of what we give up under Obamacare:  the U.S. Constitution. Please note that this <sarcasm> “living document” </sarcasm> does not, in fact, outline how to surrender our liberties piece by piece in exchange for perceived benefits, but rather enshrines those liberties in the Bill of Rights. By your language it is clear your starting point lies at the opposite end of the playing field.

Pat correctly states the healthcare bill mandates something which cannot be found ever before in U.S. law: a mandate that citizens be compelled to buy something. Likewise, you cannot find it in case law. You certainly will NOT find it in the U.S. Constitution unless you once again engage in the favorite liberal rip-off of the Commerce Claus. If you cannot grasp that - and by your own words you cannot because you clearly state your willingness to make a deal with the devil if the perceived “benefit” suits you - then it is clear for all to see why you two rely on faux philosophical arguments to attack Pat’s excellent column.

The point of columns like Pat’s and news organizations like the NCR (the real NCR) is not always to persuade, although that effect is welcome whenever achieved. Your comment, Bill, again betrays your own worldview because your proposed intent to persuade compromises the value and importance of clearly stating positions founded upon First Principles.

Articulating the bedrock foundations to what we believe and why we take the stands we do - as scary, uncomfortable and difficult they may be to defend against the onslaught of the Hun - have the power to persuade others by inspiration. Many people become educated and motivated by the taking of strong principled stands. Do NOT underestimate this power to topple the status quo.

The truth is you cannot prove or offer less solid support for the notion that the only effective course before us is to seek persuasion. I don’t argue against persuasion; I support it where possible but NEVER at the expense of hard-hitting pieces like Pat’s.

I know of what I speak: as a much younger man I used to occupy a solidly left-wing position and my shift to the right, through which I was dragged kicking and screaming, came about slowly over many years. During that time I found I could crush the soft persuaders who seemed always to lack the burning core in their hearts necessary to hit me where I lived. It was those who embraced and fearlessly articulated their principled positions who pissed me off over and again, quite frankly, but whose clarity of principle and reasoned arguments stayed with me hours and even years afterwards. It was these folks who played a part in my ultimate rejection and abandonment of the lies of the deceitful Left, and I have never forgotten them.

I reject wholesale your entire argument. You two really do not understand what the rest of us are talking about.

While I can’t speak for all conservatives, much less every true conservative on this combox) I must come down on both of you for engaging in pettifoggery in your respective however similar comments.

Most conservatives are familiar with the rather standard arguement taken from political philosophy 101 about the exchange of a loss of loberty for alleged government services. That one is of the same cloth as the one which weeks to claim that paying taxes is the price for civilization, which usually precedes a statement of fealty to paying that price of the higher tax burdens demanded by our enlightened leadership.

You artfully fail to notice that Pat invokes the document which frames our understanding - NOT the classroom rhetoric you site - of what we give up under Obamacare: the U.S. Constitution. Please note that this “living document” does not, in fact, focus on surrendering our liberties piece by piece in exchange for perceived benefits but rather enshrines those liberties in the Bill of Rights. By your language it is clear your starting point lies at the opposite end of the playing field.

Pat correctly states the healthcare bill mandates something which cannot be found ever before in U.S. law: a mandate that citizens be compelled to buy something. Likewise, you cannot find it in case law. If you cannot grasp that - and by your own words you cannot because you clearly state your willingness to make a deal with the devil if the perceived “benefit” suits you - then we can see why you two rely on faux philosophical arguments to attack Pat’s excellent column.

The point of columns like Pat’s and news organizations like the NCR (the real NCR) is not always to persuade at all. Your comment, Bill, again betrays your own politics because your proposed intent to persuade precludes the value and importance of clearly stating positions of First Principles.

Articulating the bedrock foundations to what we believe and why we take the stands we do - as scary, uncomfortable and difficult they may be to defend against the onslaught of the Hun - have the power to persuade by inspiration. Many people become educated and motivated by the taking of strong principled stands.

The truth is you cannot prove or offer less solid support for the n otion that the only effective course before us is to seek persuasion. I don’t argue against persuasion; I support it but NEVER at the expense of hard-hitting pieces like Pat’s.

I know of what I speak: as a much younger man I used to occupy a solidly left-wing position and my shift to the right, which I resisted kicking and screaming, came about slowly over many years. During that time I found I could crush the soft persuaders who seemed always to lack the burning core in their hearts necessary to hit me where I lived. It was those who embraced and fearlessly articulated their principled poistions who pissed me off over and again, quite frankly, but whose clarity of principle and reasoned arguments stayed with me hours and even years afterwards. It was these folks who played a part in my ultimate recection and abandonement of the lies of the deceitful Left, and I have never forgotten them.

I reject wholesale your entire argument. You two really do not understand what the rest of us are talking about.

Hi Phi. You sound awfully like Mr. Denninger from market-ticker.org.  I appreciate the thorough post, though I guess we just have to agree to disagree (not with the stance, but with the argument).  Peace.

Mark Steyn said it best today:

“Big government drives out other sources of moral authority.”

I hope the bishops remember this in the future.

The history of Pennsylvania is deeply rooted in a belief in the protection of religious freedom. William Penn sought a safe haven not just for Quakers, but for all religions and envisioned Pennsylvania as a “Holy Experiment” where all people of faith could freely practice their beliefs. Prior to the founding of Pennsylvania, Quakers in England were faced with a situation not unlike that faced by Catholics today due to the HHS ruling/mandate. The Quaker Act of 1662 made it illegal to refuse to take the Oath of Allegiance to King and country. Additionally, those refusing to take the oath were not allowed to hold secret meetings. Since the Quakers believed it wrong to take an oath, this law, while not directly banning their faith, did effectively ensure that it could not be freely practiced.

Today, due to the mandate issued by HHS, the Catholic Church is faced with a similar challenge. There are only two methods to adhere to the law. The first would be to comply and provide health insurance plans that contain coverage for procedures that are at odds with our religious beliefs. This is not acceptable. The second method of adherence to the law would require us to minister, through our Catholic hospitals and health agencies, exclusively to Catholics. This would violate the example of Christ, and as such, is also unacceptable. Therefore we can not comply with this mandate, and we will not. Essentially, the Catholic Church - and other religions - are being told that they can have their faith, but not freely exercise it. This is a gross violation of our 1st Amendment rights, and although we may not agree on every issue, we must stand united in defense of freedom to worship AND practice our faith. If the government is allowed the power to limit the practice of our faith on these specific issues, what is to say that this, or any other future administration, will not seek to further limit us in regards to other aspects of our faith? We must joint in solidarity and protest now, or to paraphrase Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller, there will eventually be no one left to speak out later.

Once you begin to argue if “we” should give up liberty you have already acquiesced to the tyranny of majority rule. The majority will always deprive the minority of liberty.

As an historian of Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany, (Bolsheviks in Siberia, 1917-1918)  I find some interesting and discomforting parallels between the structure and practice of National Socialism and the ideology of abortion driven health care bill, the vehicle to impose the new moral order on the United States.  We Catholics have only ourselves to blame, because a good percentage of us do not live according to the teachings of the Church and only about 22% of us attended mass weekly or more. This issue before is is whether or not the bishops cave and whether or not Catholics will vote our religious interests in the next national election.  I have my doubts on both counts.  In 1933, it was the Catholic Center Party, under Msgr.Kass which cast the deciding votes in the Enabling Act which gave Hitler dictatorial powers. I am not sure that political action is the remedy.  I am certain that our bishops are not fit to lead us anywhere except into the kingdom of heaven, that is if they actually still believe in heaven and the reality of hell. I am equally certain that the kind of “velvet totalitarianism” pushed by the Obama admistration will succeed, because it will be aided and abetted by both parties, big business, federal law enforcement and by a substantial portion of the American public who have bought into the new moral order based upon abortion and sexual immorality.

I want to preface this response by stating that watching the Bishops give witness to the Catholic conscience is truly an inspiring call to ‘arms’.  Indeed, the colorful  and forceful language of some Bishops, Bishops Zubik is a good example, shows a masculine vitality which is much needed for we are in a ‘war’ for our culture and our heritage.  It dawns on me that the Church suffering and the martyrdom we read about in Nigeria, Iraq, China and elsewhere allows us to witness Truth in action, but the soft tyranny of socialism as the new order of American life is far more insidious at stealing souls and eroding Truth.
 
The Church in America has found voice but it should raise some very serious and immeidate issues.  What we now see with the promulgation of the HHS regulations was foretold, not in prophecy or by ‘right wing activists’, but by simply reading any summary of, let alone the actual version of, the Health Care ‘Reform’ Act.  The USCCB and the bishops raised concerns about abortion during the health care debate and some minimal regard for conscience, but this ‘law’ constituted a huge power grab by the state for dominion over the individual against which most of our Church hierarchy at best stood silent.  In its totality this law was unconscionable from the perspective alone of sound Catholic teaching.  In their collective acquiescence (to be kind) our leaders made fertile the ground in which these regulations are now promulgated.  The future under this law is bleak on several fronts and not conscience protection alone.  We will see not only regulations about subsidized abortion but also we will witness most assuredly in the near future the same about euthanasia, or birth rates, etc., all in the name of price control or ‘fairness’ or collective rights or public good.  The science fiction of state controlled medical care is no longer a fiction, but is now a demonstrable reality.  The ‘low hanging’ fruit of Church doctrine regarding contraception and abortion is but the beginning of an assault on Church teachings.  It is coldly calculated that any blowback from the Church would not be politically damaging to this administration given that most Americans, and probably Catholics too, find such teaching as intrusive or anachronistic. 
 
So here are my concerns.  Our bishops are now righteously speaking out against a particular regulation which directly affects the administration, ie the practice, of Catholic teachings at Catholic insititutions.  Yet, the underlying premise of the Health Care ‘Reform’ Act was to force all of us, each individual, to do something allegedly for our own good as that ‘good’ is defined by the state.  Each of us must now subsidize abortion, contraception, and in the very near future rationinng of care and euthanasia.  We are forced to do so now regarding abortion because insurers must provide these services without co-pay or (I think) deductibles—-and so we all must pay for these ‘services’.  No other health “condition” is so generously subsidized.  And in the future, most other health services especially for the elderly, the disabled, or others, will be rationed, except for abortion and contraception.  The abortion and pregnancy control mandates of the federal government have been elevated to a status supreme over all other ‘health’ policies. 
 
Understanding the hideous agenda of this administration in particular, and socialism in general, which is to establish government as the moral supervisor over Church and to subordinate Church doctrine to ideological agendas, do the Bishops truly understand the nature of the fight?  Will the Bishops cut and run should, for example, Sebelius and Obama back down for the time being?  Will the Bishops cut and run should legislation offer conscience protection to Church institutions, for to do so still leaves intact immoral obligations on the rest of us?Are the Bishops finally fortified in both knowledge and understanding about the powers vested with the government vis a vie the Health Care ‘Reform’ Act to now speak out against it?  Do the Bishops see that you, me and every Catholic and every Catholic person who owns or operates a business will remain just as violated as the church institutions now expressing their own sense of outrage?  Will the Bishops speak for all of us about legislation which morally burdens us all by forcing us to subsidize the culture of death, or will they retrench and claim victory if they obtain conscience protection for Catholic institutions only?
 
The Bishops need a strategy for this war and not just a call to arms.  Thank you.
 
Pax Christi

There is much the Bishops should have been doing, instead of getting involved in legislative matters that do NOT involve the fundamental rights of all men or the salvation of souls and then ONLY according to the Gospel -Mt, Mk, Lk, Jn. (CCC 2245, 2246).
Fake Global Warming, Obamacare, Dream Act are just a few examples where there should have been no Church (but citizen) involvement.

They should have been strongly teaching the Church’s principle of SUBSIDIARITY (CCC 1883, 1885, 1894, 2209) from the Magisterium, so that families and local governments would be stronger and assist those most in need - and therefore be less dependent upon the State and Federal Governments.

Bishops should have been making certain Catholics are properly catechised in their own Diocese, so that we would all VOTE according to an informed and correct conscience.
Since 2000 instead of propogating their own less complete catechisms, US Bishops and their Diocese Priests should have been and still should be actively and openly propogating the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition”.  In the USA due to the literacy level, no Catholic home should be without one, everyone age 16 and over should be reading and studying it.
YOUCAT for young teens, and the Baltimore Catechism for children should be used in each Diocese and Catholic School.

Bishops should not have been taking government money for special projects, because he who has the gold rules in secular society.  And the government WILL make the rules.

And lastly, they need to get rid of Diocese and USCCB staff who adhere to the sinful “Liberation Theology”, and do not adhere to the CCC.
The seamless garment theory that is wrongfully put out under some in ‘social justice’ has taken priority for too many years.
Life issues are more important than social issues in the USA. Just as all sins are not equal (CCC 1854, 1855), abortion and euthanasia are significantly more important.
When was the last time we were told by our Diocese Bishop that we can not receive Holy Communion if we vote for a pro-abortion politician when we have another choice, since there is nothing proportionate in the USA to the approx 1 MILLION babies murdered each year ?
http://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/bishops/04-07ratzingerommunion.htm

Is it too late?  Hopefully not.  But they must:
1) pull out of politics, and not accept government money;
2) insist that their staffs follow the CCC in entirety - not picking and choosing;
3) start teaching (which is their first priority (CCC 888) from the “CCC 2nd Ed”;
4) without mentioning party or candidate start teaching from every pulpit that we may not receive Holy Communion if we vote for a pro-abortion politican when there is another choice;
5) And they must set an example for all by enforcing Canon 915, since many BISHOPS have allowed the Mortal Sins of SCANDAL and SACRILEGE to permeate our Churches and US Society far too long (CCC 2284-2287 and 2118,2120,2139).  This SCANDAL has lost many souls to secularism and relativism.

When the Quakers kicked President Nixon out of the religion, that was just so cool, and it really confirmed everyone’s mind that Peace is Peace, and War is War, and never the twain shall meet.  Why Pelosi and Biden and the others have NOT been excommunicated is a very grave injury to the Faith of the people, and a cause of much actual evil. The bishops would bear the brunt of retribution, and want to be nice, and bend over backwards not to offend. St. Paul wouldn’t go for that.  And I never have either as far as that goes…good column. ty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buR3yfqezaI&feature=player_embedded

Pat, another great piece, it is too bad that some such Joe P & David are living in another world. Attacking our Bishops: No way. You just merely stated what our Blessed Pope John Paul told them to do while they were on vacation at the Vatican feeding the Pope a bunch of nonsense. He plainly told them to leave the politics alone & get back into the poverty of the Church where they belong; and as we have seen, they choose not to listen to him. Yep; they are starting to wake up, but, we know, that as when we try to get awake from a very deep sleep, it takes a little bit to get going. I hope that everyone that calls themselves Catholic, are praying very much for our Bishops & Priest.  TOM R: your comments are very well put & a relief from some of the stuff that was posted by “catholics?”.  +JMJ+

Pat, good article. Your last paragraph is the best. I believe in redemption, even for our well-meaning and misguided USCCB. I think they have finally recognized the error of their ways, and are pointed in the correct direction. Sometimes it just takes that slap upside the head.

Well, the bishops understand they’ve been part of the problem and are now coming on strong against . . . “climate change” which they asked all Catholics to fast for this past Friday.  Yeah, they get it.

After the Administration was in office for less than a year, I actually felt that my country and the Constitution was pulled from right under my feet. I still have this feeling, and I don’t think it is paranoia.I was against the mandated healthcare plan from the onset, simpy because (1) I was of the opinion that it was too expensive for us, (2) for the government to actually mandate that we citizens have to purchase a product is simply unconstitutional, (3)I knew all along that the policies would eventually force those of us who are against abortion, sterilization and birth control as valid reproductive healthcare to pay for these against our consciences. Why didn’t the bishops see this coming? Why are they so surprised? And why are those who endorsed a state-mandated national healthcare plan so shocked by what has happened? I saw a western movie once where hundreds of stampeding cattle went over a cliff, unaware of what awaited them because, well, they were just stupid cattle and followed each other because it was the thing to do. What is unfortunate in all of this is that it is a self-proclaimed practicing Catholic who is in charge, and who has made this decision, as if she thought that by forcing the Church’s hand that it would eventually change its teachings, at least in this country. Might I suggest a novena of prayers for her soul.

I wonder what other world I live in. I’m Catholic. (At least I think so. Or am I merely a “catholic”? I’m not the Final Judge, am I.) I love the Church. I love my Bishop. I trust the Bishops of the Church more than I trust the Republican Party, or EWTN or the National Catholic Register (or the Democratic Party or America Magazine or whatever else). Many times they say the same things. When they don’t, I give the benefit of the doubt to the Bishops. I’ll admit that I’m not smart enough to sort everything out myself, but if I make an error by loving the Bishops too much, I’ll hope for mercy. I’m pretty comfortable in that world.

Amen! But, do you really think the Bishops are going to listen to this?

Well, at least the foundational contradiction is *beginning* to emerge.

The problem is that the Church accepted a notion of religious liberty that involves, in practice, an equality of liberty for true and false religions.

Such a foundational error must of course lead to the destruction of, precisely, the true religion, and precisely, the flourishing of the false ones.

The false ones, after all, will render unto Caesar what is God’s.

The true one will not.

Nice job there, USCCB.

My bishop has not issued a statement on the HHS mandate. No letter has been read or distributed in my parish. My pastor has not responded to my email asking him about this. My state’s “Catholic” governor recently proposed legalizing same sex marriage and the legislature is in the process of passing it. I weep for our Church.

For over 40 years, those in charge at the USCCB have been funding the “Industrial Areas Foundation”, which in turn trained & employed the community organizer in the oval office today.  This they do through the annual CCHD collection, telling the Catholics in the pews, it is for the poor.  It was through the corrupt manipulation of joseph bernardin that the “alinsky”, IAF & numerous other pro-abortion & anti-Catholic groups have received millions, which unwary Catholics believe is aiding worthy causes.  The seamless garment mantra & homosexual agenda of bernardin & his tight group of heretics is still influencing decisions at the USCCB & many diocese.  Until his social-justice, common-good, communism & his effeminate associates are denounced & removed, it will continue to corrupt the Church internally.

Quite frankly, this does not make sense.  The bishops never took a position on the methodology of providing health coverage in the proposal. They took a position on other things directly related to the Church’s mission, but not that.  Neutrality does not equate to endorsement. 

Archbold is saying that the bishops should have taken a positon on the methodology because of the possibility that that methodology would later be used against the Church.  That means that Achbold thinks (1) the bishops should oppose something because of the mere possibility that it will be used wrongly, and (2) the bishops should engage in questions of prudential judgment for which there is no official Catholic position.  Of course, if the bishops should be expected to engage in questions of prudential judgment and partisan politics, they could have gone all the way and supported a single payer system and, according to his own reasoning, Archbold would have not basis for complaining since he thinks the bishops have the competence to act in those affairs.

Archbold may, as others have, argue that the individual mandate, or a national system violates principles of Catholic teaching like subsidiarity, but even that is a question of prudential judgement and would have been hard to justify opposition to any national reform in light of the absence of concerns by the Church in countries with national health care programs.

Be careful what you ask for.  Polling shows 54% of Catholics voted for this messiah.  I never saw the Bishops saying a word.  Must be because Republicans are always stereotyped as rich old white guys.

Amen!  On CatholicVote.org, I saw a list of 80% of the US bishops that signed the letter about this.  When I noticed a local archbishop whose name wasn’t on the list, I contacted him.  He is older, and had been ill.  So perhaps it was an oversight.  But gentle and kind nudging is good.

Vatican II asks us lay people to get more involved.  It is our responsibility to be salt and light in the world - and we in the pews must do MORE than just be consumers at Mass.

This issue could be the catalyst to wake up us all!!  We are One Body of Christ.  Jesus is the Head.  But the Body must get to work too, and soon.

I was very angry at the USCCB before the 2008 election. Anyone with a true Catholic formation could see Obama was anti Catholic. He has proven that to me and others but I also am not sure the Bishops see that clearly yet. Let’s see if before the 2012 election the bishops throw out another ambiguous statement about how to vote. The statement needs to clearly state that right to life is the #1 Catholic issue to consider when voting. The 2008 statement encouraged Catholics to vote for Obama,the way I read it.

@Bill on Saturday:  My sentiments exactly.  Expect more of the usual cupcake Pastoral letters not seeking to offend anyone.  Evangelicals got it right when Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in SoCal asked “candidate” Obama when does life begin?  Obama responded:  “It’s above my pay grade.”  Apparently the leadership at Notre Dame also had no problem and thus invited Obama for their commencement address.

After the bishops wrote their booklet about how to form your own conscience, I know a woman that began to proudly wear a campaign button supporting same-sex marriage, even to Mass.  It was large, worn on her handbag.

She said her conscience led her to the conviction that same sex marriage was fine, although before that, she was in doubt.  She liked to talk about it.  The button was so big, it was very noticable.

So the USCCB Bishops Conscience formation booklet backfired, in my opinion.  The pastor of her church left too much up to the woman, never coming out and saying same sex marriage is wrong.

An issue so important ought not be left to ones own conscience, although I do appreciate the Faithful was encouraged to think.  Bishops and Pastors especially, that interact with Catholics, must find courage and speak up, asking pointed questions such as the one asked to Candidate Obama, prior to his being elected.

I think 50% of Catholics voted for President Obama?  I may be wrong.  But a lot voted for him, and he was clear about where he stood.

What a mess we are in, anyone with half an ounce of sense could see where we were heading, all of the promises were lies.  If our bishops are finally awake, they need to mobilize the laity, a laity that has forgotten what the shepherds call sounds like.

These bishops need to be replaced. It will take time but over decades, many of the weak ones will be in retirement. Even Dolan, who seems to talk tough, presided over the transition of New York to a gay friendly state. I believe the catholic governor there even receives the Eucharist with no statement from the bishops office. Does anyone see what is going on?

Excellent….... Amen… Amen…  It would be really good if somehow every bishop was given this column, too many are still quiet on this issue.

The tone of most of these comments is very similar to that of the comments I read over at America magazine. There’s no mistaking how much disdain there is for our Bishops both here and there. The tone is the same, but the accusations are opposite.
“The Bishops are too weak.” / “The Bishops are too authoritarian.”
“The Bishops should show more compassion.” / “If only the Bishops would stop trying to be nice and bending over backwards not to offend anyone.”
“Why do the Bishops spend all their time attacking contraception and gay marriage and not enough time talking about war, race, poverty and capital punishment?” /  “Why don’t the Bishops make clear, strong statements against contraception and gay marriage?”
“If only every bishop would wake up and read America/National Catholic Register.”
In short, “If only the Bishops would listen to me.”
Maybe you’re all right and the Bishops are all wrong. As I said above, I don’t think I’m smart enough to figure it all out. But as a Catholic, I choose to listen to my Bishop and follow his leadership. If necessary, I’ll try to adjust my political views to his. If he’s wrong, at least I think I have a pretty good excuse. I know for certain that God has appointed him to help me get to heaven. I’m not so certain that such a charge has been given to Pat Archbold.

If you don’t believe that health care is a human right, that it is just something some people choose to buy and some employers offer as a perk, then there is not much of a religious liberty issue here.  Catholic agencies can just stop giving away this extra perk to their employees. 

If you think health care IS a human right, then there is a real and serious religious liberty issue here.

I am of the same mind, but one main issue has not yet been addressed. On Friday I got a article and picture of Pope Paul VI which says he has now been proven to be vindicated when he wrote and publish “Humanae Vitae” back in July 25 1968, in which he himself WARNED that if this great moral evil were to be tolerated (as did Pius XI did in his 1931 document “Casti Connubii” that governments like China India and now the U.S. would use it as a weapon against their own people.) This is why the widespread dissent against it by theologians, bishops and priests was such a big mistake. They just wanted to rebel against legitimate authority, and claim “follow your own conscience” So now we are in the position we are in. Ironically following his encyclical “Do not worry; In time I will be called a prophet.” How ironic and true this turned out to be! In the end the late Great Paul the Sixth gets the last laugh.

@David who writes:  “If necessary, I’ll try to adjust my political views to his. If he’s wrong, at least I think I have a pretty good excuse. I know for certain that God has appointed him to help me get to heaven. I’m not so certain that such a charge has been given to Pat Archbold.”    Sorry David.  Catholics are not required to “adjust” our political views to match any Bishop especially when they fail as leaders.  So, you think if he is wrong you will have a “pretty good excuse?”  Wrong again.  Paul writes in Romans:  “You are without excuse.”  As for God appointing him,—no, the Pope did.  And Popes largely appoint by referral rather than by knowing or interviewing prospective candidates.  These guys do no walk on water.  The last ten years should have made that clear to you.  Furthermore, neither your Bishop nor the entire Papacy will be standing with you as you face Christ upon death.  It’s only you and Jesus.

I agree the bishops have been weak at best.  This decision of Obama’s hits at one of the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution, freedom of religion.  This freedom doesn’t mean it just allows parts of a doctrine, but the total concept of that religion. All members of a religions are a part of the whole, and if one part of it is harmed, so is the whole.  The Catholic religion as a whole has been denied to function as is demanded by it’s doctrine, the Catholic Church has therefore been denied freedom of religion, which is unconstitutional. Each and every Catholic is a victim of being denied their legal rights under the Constitution of the United States, and this breach of constitutional rights was performed by none other than our own elected president, who has failed to live up to his oath of office to uphold this very Constitution,

It’s a bit silly to respond to me by saying that “Catholics are not required to “adjust” our political views to match any Bishop especially when they fail as leaders.” when I never said they were. (Perhaps your conscience said so?) What I said was that I wasn’t very smart about such things and so I follow the leadership of my Bishop. Perhaps I should add that I’m not smart enough to know whether or not my Bishop has failed as a leader. I do love my Bishop, I follow him, and I pray for him. I have to leave the rest to our merciful Lord.
We Catholics do believe our Bishops are appointed by the Holy Spirit and are charged with the care of our souls. St. Paul said, “Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” The Holy Spirit does this work through the Pope, as we Catholics understand it.
I’ll close with the words of St. Ignatius of Antioch: “Let all follow the Bishop, as Jesus Christ follows his Father, and the college of presbyters as the Apostles. . . Let no one do anything concerning the Church in separation from the Bishops.”

For those who say they are not “smart enough” to know what is right and what is wrong, - if you live in the literate USA, there are no excuses.
The Catholic Church (Magisterium) provided us with the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” in March 2000. Everyone has had plenty of time to read it.

CCC: ” 1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility.  This is the case when a man “takes little trouble to find out what is true and good,  or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.  In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.”

Here are just a few quotes about the CCC from our Popes with page numbers for verification.

“ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved ... and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine,  attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture,  the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium.  I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. “  – Pope John Paul II. (CCC pg 5)

” Through the harmonious and complementary efforts of all the ranks of the People of God, may this Catechism be known and shared by everyone, so that the unity in faith whose supreme model and origin is found in the Unity of the Trinity may be strengthened and extended to the ends of the earth.”  -  Pope John Paul II   (pg xv)

“In its very structure, the Catechism of the Catholic Church follows the development of the faith right up to the great themes of daily life.  On page after page, we find that what is presented here is no theory, but an encounter with a Person who lives within the Church.”  “It is in this sense that that the Year of Faith will have to see a concerted effort to rediscover and study the fundamental content of the faith that receives its systematic and organic synthesis in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”  – Pope Benedict XVI (Porta Fidei, Moto Proprio Data)

Regarding HEALTH - Contraception is not women’s health; look at the health warmings on the packages.
Voluntary sterilization is not about women’s health, but deals with their state of mind in a point of time.
Certainly murder of unborn babies is not about women’s health.
(By 8 weeks, the baby is already determining right and left handedness.
http://www.ehd.org/movies.php?mov_id=44 )

We are talking about FREEDOM of RELIGION. The Obama Administration has no authority to force his personal religion - that of ‘Secular Fundamentalism’ down the thoats of others.
If re-elected he may outlaw the BIBLE under the guise of “hate speech” since the “Book” teaches against MURDER (“Thou shall not kill” - this does not exclude babies), and homosexual acts.

the DPAP (Democrat Party at prayer) is to blame for this fiasco. They’ve been begging the government for involvement in various issues, not just health care, and then are “surprised” when the gov’t plays ball. Yes, first and foremost pray for the Bishops’, but a spade needs to be called a spade.

I think I’m being accused of something that I am not guilty of. Maybe I haven’t been clear about what I believe or what my Bishop has done. To avoid giving scandal, I’ll try to make it clear.
The HHS mandate is wrong. The mandate seeks to promote the grave evils of contraception, sterilization, and abortion. I oppose it. My bishop asked me to (a) pray for conversion of the politicians who are responsible and (b) write letters to my representatives in the Federal Government expressing my opposition. I’ve written, and I continue to pray.

Ok, David.  Here is the problem.  Ted Kennedy supported pro-choice legislation for decades (as have several Kennedy family relatives serving in the House).  Their justification for support of pro-choice legislation was always based upon consultation with Catholicism’s idea of making a decision based upon an “examination of conscience” aka an *informed conscience.”  No doubt other Democratic Catholic politicians such as Pelosi, Eschoo, Leahy, Dodd, Daschle, Durbin, Biden, Cuomo, Schwarzenegger and others have likely used similar justification to support abortion as well as gay marriage.  However, even Obama’s top re-election architect, Catholic David Axelrod is behind this HHS policy as well.  One would think Catholic Leon Pannetta would be outraged to the point of resigning as Defense Secretary on principle alone.  You can “inform” your conscience about anything and easily be deceived in your thinking.  How does one justify sin when God’s Word clearly states abortion is wrong?  We can only presume selfish motivation rather than obedience to biblical principle is why Catholic politicians are so eager to support the Democratic position.  When Republican Catholic Senator Rick Santorum held the pro-life position, his fellow Pennsylvanian’s voted him out of office.  And he is still being ridiculed now for his “anti-choice” position.  Making a decision by *informed conscience* in violation against the veracity of Scripture is always sin.  How Kennedy took solace in that remains a mystery.  Catholic politicians who desire Healthcare at any cost (being a greater good) is not worth selling your soul for.  We will all stand accountable —including our Bishops who were too weak to lead and stand for righteousness.

BRAVO!!!!!  ‘Bout time someone stated the obvious about our Bishops!!! When will they understand just how much they, and most of our priests, have failed us on so many levels. Catholics don’t seem to get it; but many others do and thus cannot take the Church seriously. Shame on these men for being so soft and cowardly and blind! 

Anyway, thanks for this article!!! Well Said!!!

ALL Catholic politicians who support abortion or euthanasia are HERETICS or SCHSIMATICS and should advertise themselves as such if they want to use the name “Catholic”.  The teaching of the Church has never changed regarding abortion and euthanasia.
CCC: ” 2089 INCREDULITY is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. HERESY is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; .....SCHISM is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”
These politicians have actually excommunicated themselves latae sententiae per Canon Code 1364.  However many Diocese Bishops have never taught us this. In addition some Bishops do not enforce Canon 915.  In order to be forgiven these politicians must make public reparation for their Mortal Sin of SCANDAL, as well as SACRILEGE if they received Holy Communion. (Code of Canon Law can be found on the Vatican web site.)
For our part we may not receive Holy Communion if we VOTE for a pro-abortion politician, when another choice is available, since in the USA there is nothing proportionate to the murder of approx 1 Million babies each year.  (See on the internet - - “Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion, General Principles” by Cardinal Ratzinger.)
Another very important paper to the Bishops that can be found on the internet is: “The Discipline Regarding the Denial of Holy Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering in Manifest Grave Sin” by Cardinal Burke.
Allowing Sacrilege and Scandal to take place in the USA has greatly contributed to today’s moral problems and to relativism and secularism.
All that being said, we must pray, fast, and write to our Congressional elected officials regarding this Freedom of Religion issue.  If we allow the government to dictate our morals rather than God we are lost. Government will become society’s God.  Our Bishops are right on this issue, and we must OBEY when they are in accord with the CCC.

I still think your article is not touching the heart of the matter, namely, that when Catholics accept religious liberty as the norm than all matters of judgment towards government will be skewed. There is a reason why religious liberty was never believed in by the Church and only religious tolerance of false religions, although I recognize that this has been the position of the Church for the past 50 years, and the pastoral belief has proven fatal. Now that it is accepted as a pastoral teaching it is the heart of the problem. No one believes in freedom of speech as people think it’s supposed to mean. A pro-abortion person would not give speech freely to someone who believes it’s murder and vice-versa, and for valid reason. Why would anyone give free speech to someone advocating murder? We should read more of Pope Gregory XVI and less of the current pontiffs who speak so glowingly of modern government.
On a more practical issue the bishops counsels have been in favor or all liberal positions from welfare, to immigration, to the government as the salvation of all things. The pope, sadly, is of this persuasion as well. This is in stark contrast to the history of our holy faith, and the history of Pontiffs. The real answer lies in never working with men, or support their bills in office, who believe that murdering a child is a choice. It is really all that simple. Why we hang out at the UN, or support Democrat bills, even in the name of social justice, is like hanging out with a murderer. Maybe they should read the 1st Epistle of St. John and see what he has to say about being around people who deny the faith. The leaders in the Church, from this country, to worldwide have disarmed the Church militant in the name of false liberty and we are reaping what we sow. They would criticize St. Francis as a lunatic, and St. Joan of Arc as rigorous and narrow, and would allow fallen Israel to worship the Golden Calf under following their conscience. We are reaping what we sow.

The United States Catholic Bishops are SATAN’S RIGHT ARM!
Prior to the Socialist Obama being elected I heard, for the first time in my 50 years, a priest, from the pulpit ask me to support Universal Healthcare!! Knowing full well it contained provisions for abortion, contraception, and infanticide!!!!! He made this request with a letter from the USCCB in his hands asking for its support.

A Catholic Priest asked my entire Church to support the murder or innocent human life!
(And no one sees that the CHURCH IS DEAD!)

Now, the disingenuous !@#$% have the guts to complain about it! I sincerely hope Obama care is implemented and Catholics are forced to support it! Maybe THEN the 99.99999% of clueless sheep who pretend to be Catholic will WAKE UP, DISBAND THE USCCB, RESTORE THE MASS, and RE-LEARN THEIR FAITH!

GOD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL!!

For those who have disappointments with any Bishops, we must follow their teaching when they are in full accord with the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.  The CCC is from the Magisterium.
They are correct regarding the Obama Administration trying to kill our freedom of religion. We must NEVER attack our Bishops when they are trying to act correctly - that is sinful. We must work together. And we must pray, fast, and write our elected officials to stop the Obama attack on our religious freedom immediately.
We must take the situation of today (not yesterday) and act now.  Put the past temporarily behind us.
Please go to the USCCB web site, and click on: “URGENT HHS ACTION ALERT”.
On the Vatican web site, please read the “ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO THE BISHOPS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON THEIR “AD LIMINA” VISIT”, Jan.19, 2012.
QUOTE: “..... it is imperative that the entire Catholic community in the United States come to realize the grave threats to the Church’s public moral witness presented by a radical secularism which finds increasing expression in the political and cultural spheres.
The seriousness of these threats needs to be clearly appreciated at every level of ecclesial life. Of particular concern are certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion.” UNQUOTE- Pope Benedict.
At the same time we can pray that all Bishops and Catholic VOTERS have learned a lesson by this.

Sadly Anne, it is well intentioned people like yourself who have unwittingly added to the cancer inside the Church today. A slap on the wrist and praying for these men will do NO GOOD! These Bishops have given MILLIONS over 20 years to abortionists through the Campaign for Human Development. They have RAPED the Liturgy, They have destroyed MILLIONS of souls with their Ecumenism, Religious Liberty and butchery of Vatican II. When I say they I mean the MAJORITY of them. (Fr. John Hardon said there are only 12 pseudo-orthodox Bishops in the USA).

Actions Alerts are a JOKE! These men are EVIL and if the good ones, including the Pope, had the faith to sever the wheat from the chaff, we could begin to heal! The Church is IN CRISIS! The boat is sinking! Even our own Pope causes scandal by praying with heretics!!!!!

WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!! Satan rejoices over your timidity!!

John D., Do you work for the re-elect OBAMA campaign?  Disparaging our Bishops when they are 100% correct on the latest OBAMA action sounds just like Heretic Polosi, who would love to divide and conquer us.
How do you personally suggest we stop OBAMA from taking away our religious freedom, and stop supporting the killing of babies in the US and Abroad especially with our tax dollars ? ? ?
FREEDOM of RELIGION is not only part of our US Constitution but also is included in the CCC #1907.
To show us that human beings sin at one time or another, and some more seriously than others, Jesus appointed Judas Iscariot as one of his 12 Apostles.
Please stop your rant that is falsely directed at ALL US Bishops.
Sounds to me like you simply hate the Catholic Church, and that you know better than every Bishop and even the Pope. Disunity when the Bishops are correct, is also a tool of Satan - so if the shoe fits - - - -

Wow - I say “Amen” to Lector at Mass post on Monday, Feb 6, 2012 5:12 PM (EST): “Ok, David.  Here is the problem.  Ted Kennedy supported pro-choice legislation for decades (as have several Kennedy family relatives serving in the House)....”

I agree with all Lector wrote.  I forgot there were that many Catholic politicians in office, and at such high levels of our government.  I’m glad the bishops have finally awakened, and do pray that lay people will get behind them, as well as bishops AND lay people reaching out to citizens of like-mind.

There is a rabbi (called “America’s Rabbi”, he’s from South Africa, but is a naturalized American citizen, and he was the guest on Family Talk Radio Program with James Dobson this morning)who said that Christians of ALL persuasions must become more “like Jews” in that we are not afraid to speak out for Jesus, and for God-honoring laws.  This rabbi said that Christians are the only group of people in the USA that is politically correct to persecute, for our beliefs.

He also said that when a government sinks morally, it sinks economically too.  So we must ALL pray to the Father, the God of Israel, and to Jesus, His Only Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for everyone to turn from our humanistic ways, and look to Him for help and guidance.

Who better to go first, than our Roman Catholic bishops?  There is no time to waste.  When lay people see them lead, and with integrity, we will most definitely follow.

One caution: absolute power corrupts absolutely, and bishops would be wise to remember that they, as Lector at Mass points out, will have to answer to a holy God, as will we all.  So bishops must pray that their own intentions will remain pure, and their actions will always be for the glory of God, and not for themselves.

T.James, this is the result of supression of the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” so that many Catholics do not have a well formed conscience.  When was the last time your Bishop or Priest told people to read the CCC from the pulpit and in a parish bulletins?
It is also that result of several Bishops not enforcing Canon 915 across the board, and not considering SCANDAL and SACRILEGE as serious sins.  So heretics and schimatics act as though they are ‘good’ Catholics confusing non-Catholics as well as some Catholics.

OBAMA is trying to kill our FREEDOM of RELIGION, and many Catholics think this is about contraception only.  The secular media is feeding this by taking polls that are worded in a particular way.  If the question was:  should we have freedom of religion in the USA, the outcome would be different.

Anne- I’d be happy if priests would preach the fullness of Scripture from the pulpit.  Last Sunday, my pastor told two jokes to begin his 7-minute homily about prayer.  Cute jokes.  But we don’t go to Mass to increase our repertoire of humorous diddies. 

He mentioned a letter written by our bishop was in the parish bulletin, during his after-Mass announcements.  But he prefaced his comments with, “You know me!  I am NOT political!”

So when people applauded his having mentioned the bishops letter when he finished, I didn’t know if they were clapping for what the letter said, or if they were happy our pastor admitted to having no opinion on anything of importance in our society.

A fellow like-minded (conservative) parishioner told me after Mass was over that if a count were taken in our parish, at least 50% of the people in our pews would support President Obama, and they would disagree with the bishops.  That’s probably where Nancy Pelosi gets her support, as she said she was siding with fellow Catholics, not with the bishops, who she called “just another lobby group”, a few weeks ago.

I think every Catholic on the face of the earth, from the Vatican on down to our local bishops and parish pastors needs a refresher course in what the Bible says about topics.  It would be the BEST way to align ourselves with other God-fearers, be they Catholic or even Orthodox Jew. 

There is power in numbers.  The time has come to define the moral problem in our society, and to address it, together and head-on.

TJ, All we can do is actively support our Bishops when they are correct for Unity which is a requirement under obedience and unity in the CCC.  This issue is truly about FREEDOM of RELIGION. Go to the USCCB web site for recommended action.
Just wait until OBAMACARE denies health care to the physically and mentally disabled, and the elderly under the guise of cost and rationing. 
It doesn’t sound like your Priest violated GIRM.  However, check with your Diocese,to see if the Priest was disobedient to your Bishop.  In most Diocese, Priests were ordered to read the Bishop’s letter from the Pulpit and NOT or put it in the Church bulletin.
In addition, tell your Priest that this is not a laughing matter.
With approx 1 million abortions each year in the USA, and Obama being the most pro-baby killer President in USA history, he had better start being involved and tell his congregation that they have an obligation to be informed based upon all politicians voting records and that they may not receive Holy Communion if they vote for a pro-abortion politician when there is another choice, since there is nothing proportionate to about 1 million baby murders each year in the USA.
Give your Priest a copy of “Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion, General Principles” by Cardinal Ratzinger.
Also give your Priest a copy of “The Discipline Regarding the Denial of Holy
Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering in Manifest Grave Sin” by Cardinal Raymond Burke.  Both are available on the internet.
Ask him when was the last time he read the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”, and if not recently why not?
Don’t be shy.
This last Sunday when I was leaving Mass our Priest asked me how he did - - - I gave him a thumbs up and a big smile.
I will go to our Diocese Bishop, if it should become necessary.  Not tooting my own horn but to encourage everyone else - my Parish now has revent Masses, EMHC are now called by their proper name of Extraordinary not Eucharistic and they no longer wear robes and process down the isle with the Priest at the start of Mass, there are no more jokes during Mass, etc, etc,. One person can do alot as long as they are polite, very firm and have documentation from GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal), CCC, and Code of Canon Law which are all available on the internet - proving any abuse.
Don’t make threats, but don’t be afraid to go to the Bishop if necessary, or even send a letter to the US Papal Nuncio with a copy to the Vatican if your Bishop does not respond - provided you are 100% correct.
If the Priest was supposed to read the Bishop’s letter and did not, have him read it this Sunday (or contact the Bishop).  Go see your Priest asap.

Anne:  Unfortunately, most of our Priests and Bishops are rather passive politically.  They were not trained to deal with such things while in seminary.  To expect a behavioral change at 40, 50 or 60+ is unrealistic and they would be a fish out of water.  Most are certainly nice people but have no leadership skills except in the ecceliastical genre.  They do not see their role as you do and are uncomfortable speaking at Mass to issues like Obamacare and gay marriage.  They even forbid pew Catholics from participating in parishioner-based petitions on church property even though 501c status is not threatened.  Jesse Jackson has done this for decades because he is not “employed” by the churches he speaks in.  Only paid church staff cannot do this.  Even in my diocese (depending upon which part of town your parish is in) the Dream Act and allowing illegal immigration will be viewed either as taboo or enthusiastically supported by clery depending upon how the parish collection plate will be impacted.  The “elephant in the room” which no one is mentioning is that the appointment of Pastors and Bishops certainly needs an overhaul.  The “Old Boys CLub” of moving some priests up the ladder based upon who they know or being a good priest is a totally false assumption a Priest has the required skills to Pastor anyone let alone shepherd a diocese.

“You can’t dance with the devil; if you do, you’re going to get burned!”

The DREAM ACT and supporting the fake Global Warming is not a requirement of our Catholic Faith.
The USCCB’s and individual Bishops personal political desires are not from the Magisterium of the Church and not required of any Catholics.
This is why the reading of the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” is essential for ALL Catholics to KNOW what they really need to follow.
It’s unfortunate that Bishops confuse people by preaching and getting involved in those things NOT REQUIRED of our Faith - this gets back to the title of this article - “Are the Bishops the Problem”?
For example, immigrants are required to OBEY the law, and this does not exclude immigration laws; and Countries have the right to make just immigration laws for the good of their citizens. (CCC 2241)
Even Bishops are required to adhere to the CCC in entirety.
Diocese Priests take an additional vow of obedience to the Diocese Bishop. And when the Bishop asks that something in accord with the CCC be read from the Pulpit - the PRIEST MUST DO SO.  Report disobedience to your Diocese Bishop, regardless of the number of years a man has been a Priest or how you think he may have been trained in any Seminiary.
We should follow the examples of other REFORMERS within our Church - St. Charles Borromen, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St.Philip Neri, and Pope St. Pius V - just to name a few.
Silence (condoning a bad action) can be sinful on our part.
FREEDOM of RELIGION is included in the CCC.

Anne:  Pope Innocent III (1161-1216) issued this statement:  “Every cleric must obey the pope, even if he commands what is evil; for no one may judge the pope.”  As for the Dream Act, the USCCB support this including the heavy advocacy by Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez.

Lector, Archbishop Gomez was instrumental in the USCCB supporting the Dream Act. As we know he is not a Pope, so I’m not sure how to answer you.
When speaking on Faith and Morals in a definative way to the whole World, the Pope is infallible, the same as the Bishops in speaking with the Pope.  The Bishops by themselves without the Pope are not.  The Pope must always be involved as the head.
The Dream Act is not a matter of Faith or Morals, nor was the Pope involved.
Respectfully I must state that Abp Gomez also compared the Mexican illegal immigrants to the Holy Family. 1 - the Holy Family never broken any laws - immigration or otherwise, and never committed a felony to get fake identification;  2) the Holy Family never left the Roman Empire, so it was similar to going from one State to another not going from one Country to another.
CCC: ” 2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption.
Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens. “
Next regarding the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” and the requirement for everyone including Bishops to adhere to it -
“ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved ... and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine,  attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture,  the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium.  I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. “  – Pope John Paul II.  (pg 5)
NEXT - - regarding showing partiality
St.James letter to the 12 tribes - “My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. the Lord of Glory.” - Jas 2:1
LAST - - regarding Bishops involved in politics -
See CCC: 2245 & 2246.
They can pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it.
The means, the ONLY means, she may use are those which are in accord with the Gospel and the welfare of ALL men according to the diversity of times and circumstances.”
Since unfortunately sometimes some Bishops get involved in other politics publically, the only way we know what we truly must follow is that which is contained in the CCC in its entirety.

When the Pope is not speaking infallibly on issues of Faith and Morals, one may disagree with the Pope.  We would certainly not be “judging” him.
I point to “Worthiness to Receieve Holy Communion, General Principles” by Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) - on the “Priests for Life” internet site.
Again, the Dream Act is not a requirement of our Faith.  Cardinal Ratznger mentions disagreeing with the Pope regarding the death penalty.

Patrick, you are spot on.  Unfortunately, you are spot on.  Let’s pray that Our Lord will recognize our weak minds and bolster up our faithful hearts.

@Anne:  Best if we eliminate all the CCC legalism and cut to the chase.  What part of “illegal” does Archbishop Gomez not understand?  Whether someone is here from Europe, Asia or Mexico illegally, they are breaking the law.  That’s why it’s called “illegal.”  Gomez, other church officials, and liberal Catholics prefer “undocumented” to avoid the issue of breaking the law.  United States Catholics are under no obligation to subsidize law breakers with our tax dollars.  This is a major component to the rising cost of healthcare.

Lector, I understand your point.  But using the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” is not a legalism - ALL Catholics including all Bishops are required to adhere to it in entirety.
As the title of this article indicates, when any Bishops deviate from the CCC, each of us should contact them and point out the specific numbered paragraph that they are violating. Usually this will correct them, and if not we should contact the US Papal Nuncio and the Vatican - with documentation. 
We each have a responsibility to make certain that the CCC is adhered to.
We are required to respect all persons and this includes Illegal Immigrants, but we are not required to allow them to break our just laws.
We should treat our Mexican neighbors the same as our Canadian Neighbors - they must have passports to get into this Country and to work here they must have legitimate green cards. Supporting the illegal alien activity encourages law breaking. Until the border is closed except for legal immigration and legal trade, it is premature to discuss any changes to our current laws.  The open border is part of the problem that encourages illegal drugs, sexual slavery, and even murder.
We must remember that in the mid-1980’s illegal Mexicans were given amnesty.  This fixed nothing since the border was not secured.
No Bishop, no Catholic should have supported Obamacare.  The US had good laws with Medicaid for the poor, Medicare for the elderly, and insurance provided by most employers.  We only needed to tweek existing laws to allow for Americans who fell through the safety net.
Obamacare violates the CCC in more than 2 ways; it violates “SUBSIDIARITY” and violates “FREEDOM”.

@Anne who writes:  “No Bishop, no Catholic should have supported Obamacare.”  That’s very interesting.  I guess someone forgot to tell Obama cheerleader Sr. Carol Keehan (President and CEO of the Catholic Healthcare Association).  And as for supporting illegal immigration, you might take note of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles under Cardinal Mahony.  They have one Archbishop (Gomez) who is foreign has been present at immigrant rights rallies in Los Angeles.  Is that his proper role to support the Dream Act and illegal immigration?  Of course he is free to do so but not wearing his religious garb in the process as an endorsement.  In addition, 3 of the 5 Auxiliary Bishops of Los Angeles also do not have United States heritage.  The advocacy of stealing United States Taxpayer money is a sin.

I repeat, each of us has a responsibility to contact any Bishop in the USA who is not adhering to the CCC in entirety.
For us to just sit back and complain, we merely become part of the problem rather than the solution.
If any Bishop continues to violate the Church teachings in the CCC, we have an obligation to report him to the US Papal Nuncio and the Vatican.  Documentation is required.
The “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”, GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal), and Code of Canon Law are available at various Catholic catalogue internet sites.
We must always remember that the USCCB and individual Bishops are not the Church Magisterium.

To ANNE- While I appreciate your sincerity in suggesting to all of us that we report bishops that do not adhere to standard operating procedure coming from the USCCB, it would be next to impossible for us to do that.
There are just too many bishops.  Too many are all over the page, in terms of what they believe and how they lead.

I am from a liberal diocese.  Once several years ago, I registered a complaint to my bishop about a parish teaching unsound information to a group of women at a fall retreat.  I was able to prove how it was wrong.

My bishop responded to me, saying the women were all smart and they’d not accept the information if it were not good.  Wolves were there, and he did not care.

So not only is our bishop a poor “shepherd” but he allows poor teaching in our diocese.  One priest here even OPENLY SUPPORTS same sex marriage.  But guess who is the ‘bad guy’, when this is mentioned?  Whistleblowers! In my case= me.  As for the USCCB and even Rome?  No one there cares.  It’s too big.  They do not keep tabs on each other, hence, why we have so many problems. 

As for lay people, most Catholics like to believe their bishops are all inspired and led by the Holy Spirit, because each are descendents of St. Peter and the other apostles.  Most Catholics have stars in their eyes about JPII.  So they do not want to admit that many bishops are not the glowing leaders they saw in him, and our church leadership may be less than stellar.

Most Catholics I know would rather rationalize about what is right and wrong.  In a liberal area, pretty much anything goes- my bishop did not take any stance at all, even when same-sex marriage was in the news! The priest that SUPPORTS same sex marriage is lauded in our diocese newspaper almost every month, for his work with ILLEGAL immigrants!

This a natural consequence for disregarding “Church structure”, as it is written in the New Testament.  If only the pastoral letters were heeded.

Most bishops appear to be promoted because they do not rock the boat, and most importantly: priests promoted to bishop are bilingual.  Speaking Spanish is apparently VERY important.  Why, I don’t know.  I’d rather have English-speaking LEADERS that are men of God, with integrity, and that can preach and teach the fullness of God’s word.

Right now, ALL Catholics are having to pay the piper for the dance we have all enjoyed doing for the past many years, one that rationalizes any kind of behavior for Catholics, and that makes us “worldly” and not set apart for Christ:

*be they a son or daughter that is co-habitating out of marriage
*or a wife/husband practicing all kinds of birth control + even abortion.
* and where WOMEN are leaders in the church, as well as in the home, and where men are passive, afraid to speak up to clergy, like senior citizen altar boys.
* and where bishops are not EXPECTED to be leaders, as were the apostles, because the Pastoral Letters are disregarded.

We all danced the tune.  Now we are paying the piper.  Religious liberty is at stake.  Think about how many politicians are baptized and regular Mass-going Roman Catholics, that openly bucked what the Church teaches, and starting with Vice President Joe Biden, and with no consequence.

I agree with all of Lector at Mass’s points, and I believe the answer to all our problems is three-fold:
1- Repent and turn back to God in prayer and fasting, asking for His help.
2- Lay people DEMAND that our own bishops teach and preach the fullness of the Word of God - including the pastoral letters, and that they rein in “Lone Ranger Pastors”.
3- HOLD CATHOLIC POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE for the ungodly views they pass off as “Catholic”.  Even if it means public excommunication.  EDUCATE lay people directly from God’s Word.  Start first, by educating seminarians and active clergy.  Or we will all rue the day, because religious liberty as we know it, is at stake.

The MAJORITY of US Bishops are heretics! They are Satan’s right arm.
Any Catholic who knows his faith MUST DEMAND they be removed from their positions of authority,
and MUST disobey the majority of what they teach and preach.

They have destroyed MILLIONS of souls since before Vatican II.

How much poison can all of you stomach, before you realize your faith is nearly dead?
The Church is in CRISIS, and the sheep bleat on and on.

Dead on. When I first heard of the HHS mandate and the bishop’s reaction, my first reaction was, “What the heck did you think would happen from supporting Obamacare?!” This was the obvious and inevitable result of Obamacare, especially if you had considered it in light of the Left’s “cultural” objectives! We still have to fight though, and the best ways are those you prescribe, repealing Obamacare and pushing pack the statists!