Posted on 02/24/2012 6:43:29 AM PST by NYer
To help keep the flow of our dinner conversation, and at the same time keep you updated with all the Grace Before Meals happenings, Ill use this E-Blast to give you some great news. First, Id like to give a response to questions Ive received either at the seminary, on the streets, and even in a few e-mails.
What do I think about the recent conversations regarding the HHS Mandate?
This has been a challenging time for people of faith no matter what faith. The ability to make a good decision about whether or not to support the government has been very muddled by confusing the issues. The issues include
(1) the governments infringement against the 1st Amendment Freedoms protecting people from government intrusion and impositions on how people of faith exercise this freedom.
(2) The governments role in requiring private insurance companies or employers (who have to pay for these premiums) to administer abortions and abortion inducing contraceptives.
(3) the Presidents speech during Notre Dames Commencement Address that says he will respect and honor those who disagree with abortion, in order to ensure that the government writes appropriate conscience clauses.
(4) The upholding of the Declaration of Independence, which protects life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
(5) And the need to consider whether or not mandated contraception is a Right protected by any constitutional or federal law?
There are other issues, for sure. Some wonder whether its appropriate to for the Church to have an influence on public policy? Or whether or not contraception is a good or a bad thing in the first place. And probably the most in depth question is, at least on a moral and spiritual level, Why is the Church so against contraception in the first place?
Before this new HHS mandate becomes an official federal requirement, these issues have to at least be addressed. But by making the contraceptive prescriptions and abortion demands a mandate, the President has completely cut off all conversation.
The Church wants to uphold the dignity and equality of women; however, its important to put the responsibility of bringing life into this world squarely on the responsibility of those involved not just women but also men. Its also imperative to see what a secular author had to say about the original caution Pope Paul VI offered in his encyclical Humanae Vitae, reminding us that God is pro-life. Finally, the Church does respect the rights of women, which is why we want to protect them from falsely placing all their biological hope on a pill that does not protect them from unwanted pregnancy, diseases, and, above all, a broken heart.
But to put it all together in a way that hopefully inspires peoples hearts, minds, and imaginations, we have put together a little Mini-flipping video.
While we will never get full consensus in this matter, we can at least get the conversation started in a way that engages peoples spiritual sensibilities to protect God-given freedoms and rights.
There is another question that has been on the hearts and minds of many people: When will Fr. Leo have a regular show on TV?
Well, lets get the burners ready, because the International Premier of Savoring our Faith will launch on Sunday, March 4, 2012, at 8:30 p.m., exclusively on EWTN. So for those faithful foodies who are tired of watching reruns of dramatic cooking competitions, check your local listings for where you can find EWTN on your cable dial, or watch online at www.ewtn.com, to get new and exciting cooking segments peppered with plenty of inspiration. Its about time we bring back some meaning to our meals!
Let us pray
God we ask that You change the hearts and minds of people who need to see the bigger picture regarding the sanctity of life and the gift of human sexuality. Give to us the Grace to love You and Your laws above all other laws especially those that hurt humanity and separate us from a deeper understanding of the sacrifice required by love. At the same time, Jesus, be merciful to us who are broken, week, and tempted. Make Your people of faith more compassionate, so that our teachings show the world the truth as Good News. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us know what you think about the mini-flipping video. We know it’s edgy and will “shock” people at first, but we need to wake people up from the spiritual malaise caused by relativism! Ask us questions you have about food, faith, family, and fun. Your comments help us do even more to spread the good news and to bring people back to the table.
Ping!
Another good priest who GETS it - Check out this homily by Fr.Sammie Maletta:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltTd81XpDnc&feature=youtu.be
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