WASHINGTON — Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, confirmed today that church-affiliated hospitals, agencies and universities will be required to provide contraception and sterilization in the health insurance they provide employees.
However, nonprofit religious institutions will receive an additional year to accommodate this controversial regulation covered under the new health bill, with an extended deadline of August 2013.
In a blow to the U.S. bishops and Catholic institutions that had lobbied for a broader exemption for church-affiliated organizations, the HHS secretary released a statement Jan. 20 approving the final rule for mandated preventive services for women. Houses of worship are exempted from the rule.
“I believe this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services,” Sebelius said. “The administration remains fully committed to its partnerships with faith-based organizations, which promote healthy communities and serve the common good. And this final rule will have no impact on the protections that existing conscience laws and regulations give to health-care providers.”
The secretary’s judgment was broadly contested by a range of Catholic leaders and religious-freedom advocates.
“In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences,” said Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in a statement.
The cardinal-designate continued, “To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable. It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom. Historically this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty.”
Thomas Farr, director of the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, also challenged the position of the HHS secretary.
“What we are seeing here is precisely what the First Amendment was intended to prohibit: state action targeted against the religious consciences of particular religious communities, and intended to attack their conceptions of justice, equality and the common good. It is tyranny, pure and simple. The stakes go beyond the questions of contraception and abortion to the very meaning of American democracy,” he added.
Richard Garnett, a leading constitutional scholar at the University of Notre Dame, characterized the HHS ruling as “cynical,” “regrettable” and “insulting to many faith-based organizations and institutions that supported the new health-care law.”
“Combined with the extreme position the administration took before the Supreme Court in the recent Hosanna-Tabor case — a position that all nine justices rejected — this decision reveals the administration’s troubling inability to appreciate the importance of our ‘first freedom’ and a disappointing disregard for the religious consciences of individuals and for the integrity of religious institutions’ social-welfare and educational work,” said Garnett.
Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., chairman of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Religious liberty, said the conference had received “very little notice” before the final rule was issued. “There was a notification this morning and the rule came out around noon,” said Bishop Lori.
He said it was too early to confirm how the U.S. bishops and church-affiliated institutions might respond.
“I don’t think anything is off the table. We will look at our options, from public statements to other kinds of redress in our legal system,” he said, noting that the extended deadline provided valuable time for deliberations.
“One of the first things to do is to work together with all our Catholic institutions because no one got a pass — not our dioceses, health care institutions or universities. We want to work together as a Church, and continue building a coalition with as many ecumenical partners as we can.”
The USCCB and the Catholic Health Association (CHA), a trade organization, were early advocates of the Obama administration’s effort to expand coverage to uninsured Americans. The bishops’ conference withdrew its support for the final bill, amid concerns about abortion services and funding and conscience rights for health-care providers.
Sister Carol Keehan, CHA’s president and CEO, insisted that the administration could be trusted to protect conscience rights. However, the CHA has sought a more robust exemption for the HHS contraception mandate, and a statement today expressed disappointment with the final rule.
Additional Year to Comply
Sebelius’ statement issued today provided a recap of the mounting controversy over the agency’s interim final rule, deemed unacceptable by Catholic institutions because it would require their private health-insurance plans to provide contraception, including abortifacients and surgical sterilizations in violation of Catholic teaching
“In August 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule that will require most health-insurance plans to cover preventive services for women, including recommended contraceptive services without charging a co-pay, co-insurance or a deductible,” Sebelius said.
“Today the department is announcing that the final rule on preventive health services will ensure that women with health-insurance coverage will have access to the full range of the Institute of Medicine’s recommended preventive services, including all FDA-approved forms of contraception.”
The statement defended the final rule as scientifically sound and “consistent with the laws in a majority of states that already require contraception coverage in health plans and includes the exemption in the interim final rule allowing certain religious organizations not to provide contraception coverage.”
Kick the Can
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has challenged the constitutionality of the contraception mandate in court, filing two lawsuits on behalf of Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina and Colorado Christian University.
“This is a shameless attempt to kick the can down the road in an election year,” said Hannah Smith, senior legal counsel for the Becket Fund in a statement released today. “Religious colleges, universities and hospitals will never pay for abortion drugs in violation of their religious beliefs — this year or any other year.”
“The administration has seen the writing on the wall. They know that this mandate cannot survive constitutional scrutiny any more than their ‘extreme’ position in Hosanna-Tabor did. So the administration is trying to delay the inevitable judgment day,” added Smith.
Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, commented, “It is the greatest irony that, by worshipping the cult of ‘choice,’ the Obama administration has determined that religious organizations lack the freedom to act in fidelity to their beliefs. The White House has sold the First Amendment for a few pennies of political support from the ACLU and the abortion lobby.”
Since the interim final rule was issued in August 2011, Church leaders have campaigned to rescind the inclusion of contraception and sterilization in the array of “preventive services” for women covered under the new health bill. Catholics throughout the country were asked to send comments to HHS, and representatives from a variety of church-affiliated organizations met with the administration or sent letters to advance their position.
John Garvey, president of the Catholic University of America and a consultant to the USCCB Committee on Religious Liberty, said he had previously discussed the church’s concerns with administration officials and received a call from the White House earlier today about the impending announcement. He expressed dismay at the final rule, and said it revealed “a distressing lack of concern for matters of religious conscience or principal,” reflective of a series of actions taken by the executive branch over the past year.
Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, expressed disappointment that the religious exemption had not been broadened to shield social agencies as well as rectories.
“Catholic Charities agencies are first and foremost Catholic institutions — a manifestation of the Gospel call for charity and justice for all people. As such, remaining faithful to Catholic teaching is not a matter of choice; rather, it is essential to our identity. With the existing restrictive definition in this mandate, the ministry of Jesus Christ himself would not be considered a religious entity.”
The controversy was addressed in a letter this fall by Cardinal-designate Dolan. He said that religious liberty was under threat by a variety of actions at the federal and state level. Last week, during the U.S. bishops’ ad limina visit in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI made a reference to the developing situation: “Many of you have pointed out that concerted efforts have been made to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices. Others have spoken to me of a worrying tendency to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience.”
Joan Frawley Desmond is the Register’s senior editor.
Edward Pentin: Images of Rome's 2013 March for Life
Benjamin Wiker: Benedict XVI: Doctor of the Church
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Pope Benedict and soon to be Cardinal Dolan
Since Barack reaffirms insurers must cover contraception, show him how it is attacking Christians and shut the entire network of hospitals clinics, and doctors’ offices down for the day. I invite the Protestants, Jews and Muslims to follow suit. Make sure you turn it into a huge public forum.
Chris
Well, the Church in the U.S.put its eggs in this basket. Those of us who were familiar with the “Chicago Way” TRIED to warn you. You hang around and kiss up to this crowd and bad things will happen. So, here we are HHS says: You WILL do what WE say, or else. Well, Church leaders, the “or else” day has arrived. YOU figure it out.
They’ve a year to figure out how to violate their conscience? How about they have a year to evangelize people into using some form of NFP (CCL, Creighton model, Billings, etc.) so they won’t feel the need for contraception and sterilization. We have access to it on our health plan. And guess, what, never felt the need to use it. .
Glad I’m not her husband! Must be hard to live with someone with no flexibility, nor understanding of another’s viewpoint. Isn’t this some sort of hate? I feel she hates me and I don’t even know here. Last I checked with Pinocchio, she wasn’t my conscience. Where do these people come from? Heaven help us. We are definitely in need of His Divine Intervention as this is way too pushy for the average liberal, let alone the average conservative!
I really don’t understand why this woman has not been excommunicated. I’m sure the bishops have a reason for not doing so, but I don’t get it.
How can any Catholic (at least the ones faithful to the Magisterium) vote for Obama?
The U.S. Constitution is one of enumerated powers only. If a power is not delegated to the federal government in the Constitution, the federal government does not have the power. The power is reserved to the States or to The People.
The Constitution does not authorize any branch of the federal government to dictate to you or to your organizations what you must do re contraception.
For the Love of God, permit me to assist you: In this paper I set forth the enumerated powers of Congress. Congress has no authority to make any laws in the area of contraception! See http://publiushuldah.wordpress.com/category/enumerated-powers-of-congress/
The Executive Branch has no constitutional authority to dictate to you or your organizations in this area. See http://publiushuldah.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/the-presidents-enumerated-powers-rulemaking-by-executive-agencies-executive-orders/
Do not even think of violating your conscience in order to obey such a blatantly unconstitutional dictate.
Let me know if you have any questions. I am here to serve.
Sebelius is the same “catholic” that when governor in Kansas performed fund raisers and supported late-term abortionist George Tiller. That is why she was hand picked for the HHS federal post by Obama. Someone who would say they are catholic and still be pro-abortion. A pro-abort catholic is not a Catholic. What a sad, demented life she must lead. I will be praying for her.
Okay, this is crunch time. How many Bishops will be willing to go to jail on this one? I believe that if all 200+ Bishops were to band together—perhaps with some University Presidents thrown into the mix—and publicly commit to civil disobedience, then we might get somewhere with the criminals running Washington, D.C. Suppose the Bishops were to show up, en masse, at a Federal Prosecutor’s office, with TV cameras in tow, in order to surrender themselves for prosecution?
Oh, I forgot: probably most of the Bishops voted for Sebelius’s boss in 2008. Let them do penance now by going to jail.
What country are we living in? Nazi Germany or the USSR? We have to fight this…
March 21, 2010
Catholic Health Association Congratulates Nation’s Leaders for Enacting Historic Health Reform
Millions of People Will be Helped, Lives Saved
The following statement is being released by Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, president and chief executive office of the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA):
The Catholic Health Association applauds the U.S. House of Representatives and President Obama for enacting health care reform legislation that will bring security and health to millions of American families. The reform law will save and improve lives across our country. It represents great progress in the long effort to make health care available and affordable to everyone in the United States.
Sister Keehan and the Catholic Health Association foolishly thought they could “trust” Obama to be reasonable. Surprise!!!
I think it’s time for the Bishops to “Occupy” the White House, and purposely get arrested over this—and they need to do it en masse. Our religious liberty will not be infringed!
The Bishops need to state, for the record, publicly, “We will NOT comply!!” And, for good measure: “This Obama regime is violating the Constitution, and doing so purposely, and therefore must be labeled for what it is: ‘criminal’”!!
If this woman is still catholic,I can’t understand why she hasn’t been excommunicated from the church. She, does everything possible to counter the teachings of the church since she’s been in the current administration. No wonder catholics are confused on sound and moral doctrine. I would hate to see our bishops referee a football or hockey game in fear that they would never throw a flag or blow a whistle when a serious infraction occured!
There’s no “balance” in the administration’s final proposal. And yes it’s an outrage. But I have little sympathy for the likes of Mr. Garnett who’s now upset that the administration has “insult[ed] ... many faith-based organizations and institutions that supported the new health-care law.” You should have known that this Administration was radical, prone to tyranny. The bill was 2,700 pages of new laws designed to takeover an entire industry, with millions of pages of regulations to follow! You knew about the close relationship to Wright, Phleger, Dohrn, Ayers, the marxist parents, “community organizing” - it was all there for anyone with their eyes open. What did you think would happen? That they would suddenly turn around & be reasonable with you?
Our new Cardinal-elect has one choice that HE NEEDS TO MAKE: excommunicate not only Sebelius, but also all of other so-called “catholic” politicians NOW. They have been told enough times that their actions are not in line with the Church, so they have no excuse, no matter how “pious” that they tell us that they are, including Biden with his Rosary beads & Pelosi with her misstating the Bible & the teachings of the Church. So many of our Bishops will have a lot of explaining to do to Jesus when their appointed time comes. +JMJ+
This is a war against our very faith by liars who promised this very thing would not occur. I never believed them then, though many a good Catholic did, to all our detriment. Sebelius is a judas only more so but she is like Herod-an innocent baby killer. I say fight, Fight FIGHT every way we can and toss the liars out. Our bishops have to be strong and we will pray for all in this battle. We want to hear it from the pulpits! I live in Colorado.
when are you bishops going to start excommunicating the democrat leaders who say they are catholic and yet vote for abortion and homosexual lifestyle and pass these laws in clear violation of church teaching???
We are poised to reap what we have sown.
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/11/the-rev-thomas-reese-analyzes.html
Conservatives, including those of us who are Catholic Conservatives, TOLD you what Obamacare was going to mean for our freedom, religious and otherwise. We TOLD you in 2007-08 what and who Obama was AND his intentions for our Nation, but 40% of so called “Catholics” voted for him. You CANNOT be Catholic and in good conscience vote Democrat. The Democratic Party platform violates all 5 tenets of the Church’s teachings on social justice and the dignity of the individual. It is my sincere hope that Catholics are now awake to the dangers of trying to use the Power of the State to accomplish social justice. The State has but one power, the power of coersion, and you destroy the dignity of both the coerced and the recipient of government largess when government seeks to impose its will on individuals. Lastly, it is also my sincere hope that Catholics, including some of our Bishops, will look beyond the 8th grade education of most Catholics for deeper and richer understanding of their Faith. Pray that it is not too late.
I hope the Bishops at last will grow a backbone and Expel-Excommunicate the so called Catholics like Pelosi, Siebelius, Biden, Kerry and Reid running loose in todays politics. The years of Dialogue and capitulation on Plan B in Ct. Catholic Hospitals for instance has lead to a very thinly disquised Contempt by those liberal politicians for the bishops and the Catholic faith. This comtempt is manifested every day by pro Homosexual abortionist liberals like so called Catholic Gov. like Malloy of Ct. Cuomo of NY., Quinn of Illinois. and Brown of Calf.. I hope the bishops and all Catholics have learned a hard lesson. Capitulation on Plan B. abortifacient being administered in ALL Catholic hospitals in my home state of Ct. by the Catholic hospitals and bishops has led to a national policy by Biden, Sibelius and Obama etc..Why are you suprised by this.!!! It was done in Ct. and is being extended to the entire USA..
The first five words of the First Amendment of OUR Constitution is absolute! There is absolutely no “...strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services, ...” and if this administration thinks that the “Administration” having not been, literally, mentioned within the First Amendment makes it exempt from the tenets therein, it had better rethink this. That First Amendment might just as well have replaced “Congress” with “Government!” to read ““Government shall make no law” ….!”“
The stupidity of this inane Administration to attempt this during an election year is even more proof that the worn idiot occupies OUR White House, and can bet he will not serve a second term. Of this I am very happy!
BOULET is absolutely right. Coverage for abortifacient drugs should be a non-negotiable issue. Sorry bishops. You put yourselves in this position. You don’t have a year to figure out how to violate your consciences. You have a year to prepare to leave day-to-day governance of your dioceses in the hands of others while you sit in a jail cell for the gospel.
The Bishops need to see again the movie, “A Man for All Seasons.” You either stand for what is right or abdicate. There is no middle ground.
If you want a sense of how this issue will play out in the national media, take a look at how Chicago newspapers praised the integrity and “courage” of Illinois elected officials - particularly “Catholic” Gov. Pat Quinn - for ending Catholic Charities’ role in adopting children. Actions penalizing conscience win praise from abortion and pro-LGBT groups, silence from the peace-and-social-justice Catholics, timidity from the bishops and frustration from those who care.
These Democrat leaders have been laughing at you bishops ever since Democrat Presidential nominee told pastor Rick Warren that knowing when a baby should be given human rights is “above my pay grade.” You were silent then and you were silent when “Obamacare” was being crafted behind closed doors with the Republican Congress members locked out, the only ones who would be fighting for the babies. Your precious illegal immigrants were your main concern, not seniors or the unborn, or for that matter your Catholic institutions.
Years ago, I wrote to each and every one of you how you could avoid something like this ever happening. I couldn’t understand why you wouldn’t turn the issue of abortion into a spiritual issue for Catholics, not a political one. Later, when I checked voter registrations of the clergy in my county, one of the most conservative counties in the country, I discovered the reason – most of the Catholic clergy were registered as Democrats, including bishops. And they still are. It is too emotionally painful for Catholics, including clergy at the highest levels to disassociate themselves their other identity – Democrat. Being Catholic by itself is not enough. As a result we are all having to pay the price this pro-abortion, pro-infanticide President is making us pay with his determination to be a dictator and control all of our lives.
The answer is to refuse to comply. Force the government to take them to court where I believe the government will lose. And even then if the court does not rule in favor of religious freedom still refuse to comply!!
In the words of Patrick Henry give me liberty or give me death!!
The Devil has a silver tongue that can seduce the best of us. But if you dance with the Devil you will get burned.
Good news: I’ve come to the conclusion Kathleen Sibelius isn’t a socialist.
Bad news: I’ve come to the conclusion that Kathleen Sibelius is really a fascist.
Dear God, I can’t tell you how much I look forward to voting against Obama this coming November.
Ted Kennedy was pro-choice and led in Congress for thirty years.
Ted was buried with a Catholic mass and was supported by USCB.
This latest ruling on reform legislation bad for host of reasons.
Is it time now to plan public civil disobedience? When this happens will Catholic’s find the same support Ted was given by USCB?
Sebelius IS the same “catholic” as governor in Kansas who supported late-term abortionist George Tiller. She WAS governor at the time when the Kansas Plan Parenthood clinic performed abortions for under-aged girls. A subsquent investigation found records of treatment on these girls “went missing”? The path we are expected to follow is clear. I don’t belive I want to go.
I pray that answers will come soon and peaceable.
Basically folks, you have a year to get rid of her & her boss in the oval office. Don’t just talk, go out & do something about these pro-abortionist, homosexual agenda & morally corrupt members of the party of death. The USCCB has no one to blame but themselves. Their corrupt CCHD employees greatly aided this woman getting to be the head of HHS & the Bishops did nothing about it. Denounce the communistic “bernardin - alinsky” social justice, common good, garbage in the seamless garment propaganda still being practiced in Chicago & many other Dioceses across the country. If the USCCB is afraid to act then ROME should purge our Catholic ranks of all of these supposed political Catholic heretics !!!!
Why don’t you ask for the 6 Catholic supreme court justices that don’t overturn roe v wade to be excommunicated? 2 of them are not following the churches teaching and they are never mentioned. Raise he11 with them too! Overturn roe, get rid of birth control, inprison gays and the next election will see the end of the Republican party. Have at it.
Excommunicate away. Prove to all americans that you will be punished for not following a minority religion’s dictates as an elected official.
Next Kosher restaurants will be required to serve pork, in the name of “healthy communities and the common good”.
Please do the right thing & resend the HHS ruling.Please stay out of private institutions.
The one year delay is simply to keep this from being an election issue that might alienate Catholics, who continue to support this most pro-abortion president ever! If the bishops don’t take dramatic steps to fight this, you can guarantee that the Obama Administration will escalate its war against the Church. Even the pope came out on Jan. 19 to warn Catholics in the U.S. that their religious liberty is being threatened here.
No more playing nice with this group. As someone suggested here, close down all of the Catholic institutions to be affected for a week and tell the media why. Have letters read from every pulpit across the U.S. Contact your Congressman and Senators. Write letters to the editors. And for heaven’s sake, Catholic media, wake up and headline this stuff on page one. Stop softening the attacks of the Obama Administration and covering up for the Dems. Jesus would not be quiet about this.
I am not Catholic but I am incensed by this decision, and many others that the Obama administration has foisted upon us. Sadly, these intrusions into our religious beliefs are similar to the tactics employed by other totalitarian regimes as they attempted to outlaw God. It is time to take our Constitution back.
Once again, some Catholic politicians baffle me.
It is not just religion!
I don’t mind paying part of the cost for my neighbor’s health care but contraception and sterilization is not health care.
The pill, the morning after pill, Viagra and similar pills are not for health care.
Why should I pay for anything that is not health care?
The TRUTH of the Inquisition was to take the peoples living an immoral and “pagan” life were questioned and given the chance to repent.
I think it is time to call another Inquisition and EXPOSE and EXCOMMUNICATE these heretics if they choose not to repent.
Anyone who has lost a loved one to war or fought in a war or even just enjoyed the benefits of what our soldiers have fought for, should be outrage by this attack on American freedom. If you allow the government to take away
one freedom, another will be taken and it will affect all. This country is headed into bondage! Everyone must fight! Indifference is not an option. Don’t give our fallen soldiers a vain death. Concerned Catholic Veteran.
Sebelius should be burned at the stake. This will get her conditioned for her future destination along with the Antichrist Obama and his other Nazi henchmen.
I am ‘Catholic.’ I became Catholic per my marriage and then raising three wonderful children in the Faith. As I understand the issue: to force the “conscience” of this Church to provide health care benefits to employees who are not Catholic, according to the HHS. The benefits must include government rulings for birth control, abortion, and (possibly later stem cell use and test tube pregnancies.) The Church has had it’s beliefs based on centuries of study and belief of the Grace of God and Jesus. The United States is based on the founding fathers beliefs from the 1700’s. The Bill of Rights guarantees us Religious freedoms and Separation of Church and State. The present government and its HHS division are out to destroy this Bill of Rights and lead us down a path of laws- not ‘for the people and of the people’, but to the current leadership’s plan of providing “more to more”, the Church be damned.
Cathoics have an answer. Close down all Catholic schools for one year. All children currently attending Catholic schools would have to be accepted by public schools. Lets’ see how they handle that.
I am not a Catholic but I am very concerned about the Attack on religious freedoms we have seen over the last few years in this country.
The problem is not Obama. He is what he is. However, too many Bishops are Bishop in name only.
Yes I believe our Bishops need state, for the record, and publicly, “We will NOT comply!!” even to the point of being jailed…But the question also is, “What am I willing to do, and how far will I go to preserve our religious freedom?” Am I willing to get out of my comfort zone and fight for this? I pray, Holy Spirit, to be submissive to whatever You ask of me….We have an election coming up that is one way to exercise our freedom.
Marlene, please get out of your comfort zone and fight.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Edmund Burke
I am not sure where the outrage is coming from. If Catholics follow the teachings of Natural Family Planning and abstinence this is a non issue. They will not “provide” oral contraceptives or sterilizations. What will be happening is that non-catholics who work within the catholic corporation will receive the same benefits that any other employer provides. HHS is not asking Catholic Hospitals to perform abortions or sterilizatios. If I am missing something, please help me out here.
1. If sterilization is against my religion, it is also against my religion to provide you with sterilization. — I believe that suicide is evil. Giving you a gun to kill yourself is also evil.
2. This is only step one. Step two will be abortion. Remember Obama’s promise: “The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.—That’s the first thing that I’d do.” Senator Barack Obama, speaking to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. July 17, 2007 —- http://www.catholicopinions.com/2008.htm
3. From a strictly financial view; Viagra, contraceptives, sterilizations, etc are not health care. If I want it I pay for it. If you want it don’t expect me to pay for it or use my tax money to pay for it.
Alex
I have read every comment in this post, and I must say, I have never seen such hatefulness coming from people of God. Catholics do not represent the rest of the people of America, nor are they entitled to receive dispensations from laws that other Americans must follow. If Catholic hospitals only accept Catholic patients, then they will have no need to require that their participating insurance companies cover contraceptives or tubal ligations or vasectomies. However, if the hospitals accept non-Catholic patients, then they need to make these services available (or send the patients somewhere else).
Victoria:
If Catholic hospitals accepted only Catholic patients they would be discriminating.
Alex,
Perhaps Catholic intitutions should only hire devout Roman Catholics. They then would have no problem with HHS ruling because their employees would abhor such practices and wouldn’t think of using contraceptives or sterilization.
Additionally, if your business pays money to Blue Cross or any other health insurer, your money is not used exclusively for your group. The money is pooled and pays for benefits. So, in effect your Catholic dollars are universally paying for coverage regardless of belief.
Finally, Viagra, which is a pro life drug, is not forbidden by the Roman Church. If an impared male needs a medicine to achieve or maintain an erection to pro-create I do not understand how that would go against your personal belief.
I wish I could monitor this blog as effeciently as you seem to, but I have to work. I’ll check back when I can.
The first German Imperial Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, in order to placate the Social Democratic Party within his government coalition,embarked upon a Kulturkampf against the Catholic Church between 1871-1891. The results were disastrous and laid the foundation for persecution of the Church in Germany under Hitler. We are at a dangerous juncture here in the United States. This mandate violates the the most basic of American rights. If you thought it will never happen here, wake up! It already has. Four more years of Obama and his policies will bring about a dictatorship from the left. Be prepared for imprisonment if you criticize his government. First to go are freedom of conscience and religion. Second to go will be freedom of speech. We cannot compromise with this evil.
I think you are missing the point, if a good Catholic doesn’t want birth control then she/he isn’t being forced to use it, this is for those who do want to use such things. (who may not even be Catholic) The fact is that Catholic hospitals serve many people who are not Catholic. Why should a non-Catholic have to abide by Catholic standards in order to use government funded healthcare?
So either you mis-understood, mis-applied or mis-read the healthcare legislation or just acted on emotional impulse.
Or is this really about Obama? Remember republicans fought with him over this thing and coerced him into modifying it in many ways perhaps this is just one of the concessions Mr Obama reluctantly made in order to finally get a healthcare reform bill passed. So don’t be so quick to react without thinking, assign blame, and condemn. That’s not the Catholic way… is it?
Ok David, forget religion, forget morality. 90+% of time contraception is not health care. I am tired of paying for other people’s pleasures. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that I have to,
Obviously,you are ignorant of two things, 1. The Constitution of the United Sates and the Bill of Rights enumerated in the first 10 amendments to it. In the first amendment religious institutions are guaranteed the right to their expression of faith without government interference. Although the mandate may be for the employees of Catholic institutions who are not Catholic, the government interferes with the Church by mandating that these institutions supply or that their insurance plans supply something which contradicts Church teaching. The Department of Health and Human Services has no constitutional authority to mandate any religious organization to do anything, and especially something which so obviously contradicts the teaching of the Church.
2. You are also ignorant of moral theology. Contraception, which the Church holds is an intrinsic evil, violates an absolute moral norm. An absolute moral norm is true for all people, at all times and at all places. Therefore, for a Catholic institution to be involved with contraception at any level, including making referral to outside sources, violates that norm.
I am not against nor forcing anyone to do anything. The Church is just entitled to freedom to live out its evangelical mission without any interference of any politician or official of any political persuasion.
Get behind me Satan
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