Now is the time for Congress to delay 'onerous burden' of HHS mandate

Catholic Review ^ | 1/4/13 | Archbishop Lori

[Welchie25]

Pope Francis recently reaffirmed that religious freedom is "a fundamental human right" and warned against the impulse to "relegate [religions] to the enclosed precincts of churches, synagogues or mosques." The freedom of religion cannot be reduced to the freedom of worship.

This resonates with the rich tradition of religious liberty in our country, which has long allowed Catholics and other people of faith to live out their beliefs beyond the sanctuary, whether by healing the sick, educating the young or feeding and clothing the poor.

But a mandate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) now jeopardizes these important ministries — health care, education, and social services — by forcing them to participate in covering drugs and devices that violate Catholic teaching. The mandate was enforced against some ministries beginning Jan. 1.

In order to protect their freedom to serve, many Catholic dioceses and their non-profit ministries took the difficult step of filing federal lawsuits in courts around the country. Most of those results have been encouraging.

For instance, a federal court in Pennsylvania issued an order blocking the government from enforcing the mandate against the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Erie and their related charitable, religious and educational ministries. The court found that enforcement could result in "decreased donations, loss of employees to other employers, loss of services" and fines that could compel the closure of ministries that greatly benefit their communities. Soon after, a New York federal court granted similar relief on similar grounds. And on Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor granted a stay in a case brought by the Little Sisters of the Poor, allowing them at least a temporary reprieve from the requirement.

[Mr. K]

If it is an ‘onerous burden’ now, won’t it still be an ‘onerous burden’ next year?

Why delay it, just repeal it.

A delay is just to get past the 2014 elections

[livius]

I wish the bishops would stop vaporing about “income inequality” (something they know nothing about, particularly since few of them have ever held any regular job in their lives) or about the vaguely defined “poor” and start focusing on what they really could do to help Catholics and in fact everybody in this country.

This is a step in the right direction. At least Bp Lori realizes what the challenge is.

The others are standing by quietly while Obama tries to destroy the Little Sisters of the Poor, who take care of the elderly poor (of all faiths), live by begging and should be an example to us all - unlike the USCCB with its luxe meeting places and corporate party hearty attitude.

[MissMagnolia]

How can Congress do anything? They can pass bills in the House all day long (as they have been for the last year) & Harry Reid will let them sit on his desk (as he has all year). Even if it gets off his desk and passes the Senate, by some miracle, Obama will veto it and there aren’t enough votes to override a veto. Everybody who was silent or supported Obamacare initially and who is now squalling about it is reaping what they sowed.

[Monitor]

Dear socialists of the Catholic church. The whole law, who’s passage you supported, is onerous and a violation Catholic teaching.