As more lawsuits over the Department of Health and Human Services’ contraception mandate are filed, many religious groups still remain temporarily exempt from the rule as they wait for answers.
Sister Constance Veit directs the publications office for the Little Sisters of the Poor, one of these groups waiting and hoping for relief from the HHS mandate. Between their 30 homes in the United States, the Little Sisters serve 2,500 elderly residents — enough to keep more than 300 sisters joyfully busy. The order is putting much effort into opposing this federal rule, and Sister Constance explains why.
How will the Little Sisters of the Poor be affected by the HHS mandate?
For the time being, we are not directly affected by the mandate. We have until the end of this year to provide certification that we meet the criteria for the one-year exemption currently in place. So, most likely, if nothing changes in the law, we will have to face this concretely Jan. 1, 2014.
Cardinal [Timothy] Dolan blogged about the HHS mandate and its impact on Catholic organizations and services. He is very clear about the costs of the mandate. For example, if we were to stop offering health insurance rather than comply with the mandate, we would have to pay a $2,000 penalty per employee. This penalty aside, it just does not seem right to us to stop providing health insurance to our employees.
If we chose to offer insurance without the objectionable services, we would honor our consciences, but we’d have to pay $100 per day per employee. As the cardinal figures it, for an organization with 50 employees, that would mean almost $2 million per year.
So if the mandate is still standing in 2014, all of our U.S. homes will be facing serious financial difficulties. To put this in perspective, we already have to make up at least half of our operating expenses through donations, because Medicaid reimbursements cover only about half of what it costs to care for the elderly in the way they deserve. So the potential fines or penalties we’re looking at just make it that much harder.
How will the burdens imposed by the HHS mandate affect your mission to serve the elderly?
As Little Sisters of the Poor, we do one thing — we offer the elderly poor a home where they are welcomed as Christ, cared for as family and accompanied with dignity and compassion until God calls them to himself. In all of the financial decisions we have to make, we try very hard to never negatively impact the care and services we provide, hoping the residents will not be directly affected in any way. But it will be difficult to go on with this extra financial burden.
At the same time, we believe that if we are faithful to our mission of caring for God’s poor, he will not let us down.
Our foundress, St. Jeanne Jugan, used to say, "If God is with us, it will be accomplished. … If God fills the house, he will not abandon it." She had tremendous trust in Providence to provide for our needs. So, today, we are putting the confidence she taught us into practice and hoping and praying for a resolution to this issue.
What do you think should be done about the mandate?
Obviously, we stand with the U.S. bishops and so many others in advocating that the mandate be struck down, or that, in the very least, there be a viable exemption for freedom of conscience.
What actions have the Little Sisters of the Poor taken in order to combat the mandate?
At this point, we have not joined in any lawsuits. Our efforts have centered on praying and educating ourselves about the issue.
We issued our own statement back in March — which is highly unusual for us — because we felt that we wanted to support the bishops as much as possible.
As women religious who are grateful to be daughters of the Church, that is very important to us.
That’s why we issued a public statement and, later on, why we signed on to a joint letter sponsored by the bishops and the Lutheran Church.
During the Fortnight for Freedom, we had a lot of prayer initiatives in our homes, like daily Holy Hours with the elderly and speakers. And I was asked to speak about our mission and the need for religious liberty at a congressional reception sponsored by the bishops’ conference during the fortnight.
I have been a Little Sister for 25 years, and I have never seen our congregation so active on a public issue. So that is an indication of its importance. The only other time I have seen a response like this from our congregation was in the early 1990s, when euthanasia and assisted suicide were being debated in the European Parliament, and our superior general at that time took a public stand.
Normally, our lives are very hidden.
Do you think this violation of religious liberty will lead to others, particularly in end-of-life care?
This is our real concern. People have asked us what contraception has to do with us, since we care for the elderly.
But, for us, we are concerned about what could happen later — about the precedent for government intruding further into the health-care arena in ways that could be life-threatening to our residents. Institutional long-term care is already the most regulated segment of health care.
What we fear is that, if the federal government succeeds in this case, there are other areas where they could exert pressure or enact measures that could endanger our apostolate — particularly in end-of-life care and in the possible rationing of care to the elderly as a cost-saving measure.
Mary Frances Boyle
writes from St. Louis.
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Two of my favorites in one article: the Little Sisters of the Poor and Frannie Boyle! Life doesn’t get much better than this!
We must pray boldly for our shephards during our modern day church crusade to over turn and abolish laws that are harmful to humanity. Our Bishops and priest need our prayers more and more. They have been called by Christ to lead us. God Bless them. May they triumph.
St. Jeanne Jugan says it all:
“If God is with us, it will be accomplished.
… If God fills the house, he will not abandon it.”
So….Be not afraid, God will prevail.
It was good that this interview appeared in a Catholic newspaper whose readership may include certain Catholics of the Joe Biden variety. May it help them wake up! To get the message to a wider readership, it might be effective to have the Sisters in full habit picket the local headquarters office of the Democratic party, distribute a fact sheet, and perhaps start taking up a street collection to pay for the fines. Lastly, if all else fails and the houses have to close, make plans now to deposit your patients in the offices of the Democratic party with plenty of photo coverage.
So does that mean we should vote NO on this issue, I’m confused. And what number is it on the balot. Sorry I get mixed up with the way stuff is owrded on the balot.
thanks
The Little Sisters are right to worry about eroding our rights by allowing this infringement on matters of conscience. Pretty soon, the government will be telling caregivers when to schedule a euthanization procedure for an elderly person because they fit the criteria in a government regulation.
That is not a stretch of the imagination.
It means you should vote for Romney, and get Obama OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE. We need God in our Country, Schools and Lives, and the Obama administration and their so-called Healthcare reform is attacking our Catholic principles and way of life. Obama must be stopped.
I understand fully and I am very pro-life from the beginning of conception until the end of life with natural death. We should all as Catholics stand up for all the religious including the Little Sisters of the Poor. Also, stand up for the babies that are being aborted and slaughtered everyday. We all need God, the Blessed Mother, the Saints and the angels in our lives. And not this so called Health Care Mandate. This takes away religious freedom and rights in our schools, hospitals; etc. If Obama gets re-elected then all Catholics must stand up and fight against the HealthCare reform. What is next? The governemnt telling us who can live and who can die? Meaning the government can tell the insurance who will be given euthanization and who can stay alive. Obama must not be re-elected again and if anyone begs to differ must have their hands examine. In God We Trust! Not, In Government We Trust. God Bless! Remember vote for Mitt and Paul Ryan.
Thanks once again for your concern and love for elderly people.Please assist me to volunteer physical fitness in your org.for the well -being of your members.Thanks Evans otieno.
I understand fully and I am very pro-life from the beginning of conception until the end of life with natural death. We should all as Catholics stand up for all the religious including the Little Sisters of the Poor. Also, stand up for the babies that are being aborted and slaughtered everyday. We all need God, the Blessed Mother, the Saints and the angels in our lives. And not this so called Health Care Mandate. This takes away religious freedom and rights in our schools, hospitals; etc. If Obama gets re-elected then all Catholics must stand up and fight against the HealthCare reform. What is next? The governemnt telling us who can live and who can die? Meaning the government can tell the insurance who will be given euthanization and who can stay alive. Obama must not be re-elected again and if anyone begs to differ must have their heads examine. In God We Trust! Not, In Government We Trust. God Bless! Remember vote for Mitt and Paul Ryan.
We have to remind the so-called Catholics such as Polosi, Biden, Roberts, and the rest of the Catholic Democrats, who are supporting Obama’s plans to be the charade king of the world, that they have crossed the line with their unforgivable actions. We have to “take the gloves off” with these yellow bellied wimps who are afraid to tell Obama “NO”, and remind them that God will be waiting for them at the Pearly Gates. I’d love to hear that interview.
Go Little Sisters !!!
I have been a supporter of Little Sisters of the Poor for a long time. I believe in their mission. I was not aware that the “mandate” had an impact on their mission. Please educate me. Identify specifically what choices the Little Sisters might be forced to make in 2014. Is it that if the Little Sisters provide health insurance coverage for any of its employees, they must include contraceptive services? And if they choose not to provide contraceptive services, they can’t provide any health insurance and must pay a penalty? I note comments in the blog questioning or judging the quality of faith of other Catholics who appear to have a different opinion. This strikes me as odd (would “un-Christian” be an appropriate assessment?). I was recently fortunate to hear an interview with several Nuns on the Bus who were critiquing the Romney Ryan budget proposal and, without denigrating the sincerity of its proponents, described how it did not comport with Catholic teaching. Would that justify a vote for Obama/Biden instead of Romney-Ryan? Or is this “mandate” issue the only one that matters in the upcoming election?
During the big depression (1930’s)when we lived across the street from the Little Sisters of the Poor in East Toledo, my father asked the Sister in charge if she would sign the petition to pave 2 block long Spring Grove Ave. and she signed as my Dad asked how would they be able to pay their share & she replied, “The good Lord will provide”. What beautiful trust & faith! Let us pray.
I have faith (and I pray) that this issue will be resolved in two weeks, not 2014. But only if we all act together on this. (Please put the money I have sent you over the years to good use by investing in you future.)
I could care less about the issue of contraception—it’s a red herring. The primary issue is abortion; secondary is sterilization. Both of these must be covered under this terrible law.
Although I feel the pain of the Little Sisters of the Poor, all Catholic Charities, all Catholic Hospitals, and all Catholic Schools, they are only the tip of the iceberg. The same moral dilemma that is faced by the Catholics in these Catholic organizations is also faced by the Catholics in every business in the country that employs more than 50 people—particularly the executives. How can anyone with a sensitive conscience continue to work for an organization that, in effect, enables the slaughter of unborn babies?
And it goes farther than that. For 36 years, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited federal funding of abortion—except in cases of rape, incest, or mother’s life. It acts like a national conscience clause for taxpayers who oppose abortion. That is now voided! All Catholic taxpayers will now have to pay for abortion on demand—unless this law is overturned.
There’s more! Today it is abortion; next year it will be euthanasia. It’s in the 2000-page law. (“As the Secretary [of HHS] shall direct.”) This evil law must be removed, eliminated, eradicated.
The chickens are coming home to roost. The Bishops and the Democrat party go back a long way. The Bishops see government social programs as “charity” that relieves the fiscal burden on the Church. I believe in social justice. But my idea of social justice is the opportunity of a good job and a higher living standard for all. The Bishops supported ObamaCare with the nieve belief that Catholic institutions would be exempt. I hope they learned their lesson—they have made a pact with the devil.
Romney has made this the corner-stone of his campaign—expunging this abominable law and replacing it with something more reasonable. Ryan is as pro-life as Cheney, Quayle, and Reagan; Romney is as pro-life as Bush II and Bush I. Romney has set an example—he gives about 15% of his income to charity and lots of his time in service helping others.
The hypocritical (non-practicing) Catholic Biden loftily declares that his faith tells him that life begins at conception, but that he does not want to force his morality on others—while at the same he supports a law that will compel all sincere Catholics to violate their consciences. Obama has said he wants to provide his daughters—and by extension every teenager in America—with contraceptives rather than teach them restraint.
God helps those who help themselves. (We cannot count on salvation from the Supreme Court. Our Catholic Chief Justice has ruled that this law does NOT go too far, because it is only a tax!) The Little Sisters of the Poor have an opportunity to educate the constituency you serve that your very existence is threatened and to encourage them to vote. You can’t tell them how to vote, but you can help them get absentee ballots or get to the polls.
Remember the famious quote of Martin Niemöller: “[When] they came for the [others], I did not speak out. ... Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
All people of faith must pray for a change of heart in those who seek to undermine the good works being done by Catholic institutions.
I am a long time supporter of the Little Sisters here in Denver. The love & quality of care at the Mullen Home is best anyone can receive.
I am also confused by this article regarding the cost effects of the ‘mandate’ to the Little Sisters. I understand the $2000/year penalty per employee if the Little Sisters do not accept the mandate. Does this also apply to all those you care for? Doesn’t each person cared for also have to be enrolled in compliance with the ‘mandate’?
A general comment regarding the ‘mandate’: I believe employers should not have any involvement in health insurance. Everyone should be entitled to health insurance. Everyone should be able to buy health insurance just like they buy car or home or apartment owners insurance.
Modify the ‘mandate’in some way to eliminate this issue.
I am not Catholic, but I couldn’t agree more with the comments I’ve read.We all need to be concerned about what is put upon us now and in the future with the Obama health care proposal. Our greatest weapon is prayer! Next, getting the truth out and the impact this awful proposition will have on Americans…We serve a faithful God! He is on His throne and still in control. I know first hand what faithful prayer warriors the Little Sisters of the Poor are and join with them and all Christians to choose His way. We will vote our convictions on election day and prayerfully will defeat Obama!
The Little Sisters of the Poor took care of my mother for 5 years until she died in the midst of family and loving sisters who stayed with her, day and night and never left her alone.Little Sisters, I love you!and will do anything to help you continue your loving work.I will vote for Mitt Romney, who hopefully, will bring liberty and God back into this country.I believe that God is always with us and that He will make a way, where thre is no way. May His grace inspire all Americans in this election.
I agree that we must pray and must act on conscience to reverse the HHS mandate. I work in Catholic healthcare and see the needs of those who do not have the opportunity to have access to healthcare because they do not have insurance. But we cannot justify the end by the means. All’s well that ends well is not the mantra we need to be embracing as so many seem to think.There are other ways to arrive where we need to be than this mandate as part of the Affordable Healthcare Act. We are a country founded on certain inalienable rights- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We as a country have been at this crossroad before and we did not act counter to conscience then. Our Catholic Christian beliefs teach us that true happiness is following the Will of God, not our own passions. This mandate is part of a law that allows us to act on our passions without consequences.
What happens when the administration decides to enact another mandate that is disagreeable with what another group wants. If we set a precedent with this law without taking a stand for what we believe, then the next time it will be even easier to enact laws that are counter to our conscience and before you know it we will be a country without a conscience at all. NONE OF US REALLY WANT TO BE LULLED INTO THIS STATE OF THINKING!
WE vote NO on this issue by voting for Mitt Romney on Nov 6. This Immoral HHS Mandate is part of Obamacare which will be repealed if Romney is elected President! God willing, people’s eyes will be opened by then. Pray and do penance that God has Mercy on The US in this election!
We can certainly be sure of one thing. “What is rotten will fall.” God will not abandon us.
Thank you for you continued work for the good of the Church.
Now since we have Obama again for president we have to take him to court
and pray for his salvation. TO OBAMA I SAY SHAME ON YOU FOR OBAMA CARE!
REPENT STOP HURTING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ALL CATHOLICS
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