‘We Will Not Comply’: Catholic Leaders Distribute Letter Slamming Obama Admin Contraceptive Mandate

The Blaze ^ | 1-30-12 | Billy Hallowell

[netmilsmom]

We’ve covered the Catholic Church’s ongoing battle with the Obama administration over contraception health care mandates for quite some time. Over the weekend, though, the stand-off took an unusual turn, as Catholic churches across America read a letter to congregants that perfectly encapsulated the church’s stance against the impending federal requirements.

The Church’s vocal arguments against the Obama administration are centered upon a Health and Human Services Department requirement that employers must include contraception and abortion-inducing drugs in health-care coverage. While this requirement doesn’t apply to houses of worship, it will force Catholic colleges, hospitals and other Christian groups to provide these drugs despite their faith-based opposition to them.

[circlecity]

"While you may disagree with the dogma of the Catholic Church, if they take us down, it may well be you next. Prayers appreciated."

Roger that. This is a Christian issue not just a Catholic issue. If the force you to subsidize contraception they can force you to subsidize abortion (generally used as a form of birth control) and euthanasia (death panels) or anything else. This is an area where we must put our foot down and ask "are we going to obey God or man?"

[Salvation]

Bump for later. I am collecting the names of these Bishops.

[heavy9]

In today’s Catholic Reflections, Jesus drives out evil spirits...the people feared Jesus, & begged Him to leave them. Why would they not want Jesus to stay? “Perhaps the price for such liberation from the power of evil & sin was more then they wanted to pay” These are today’s cafeteria Catholics.

[Wiz-Nerd]

Here is the letter that was read at St. Brigid's Catholic Church in Johns Creek, GA. A friend heard it at the Sat. 5:00 PM Mass and she said it was met with applause. At the 12:15 PM Mass on Sun. it was read (I am not currently a Catholic, but do visit the Catholic Church and was there to hear the letter read)and met with silence. This letter was emailed to me by a parishioner early Sat. afternoon. Letter from Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory To Be Read at all Masses in Parishes in the Archdiocese of Atlanta During the Weekend of January 28 – 29, 2012 My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am writing to you on a matter of grave moral concern -- freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception.š Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write.š And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies. In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty.š And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so).š The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply. I stand in unity with Catholic bishops throughout the United States and other religious leaders vowing to fight this mandate. Along with my brother bishops and other religious leaders, I insist that this is a direct attack on our religious freedom and our First Amendment rights. I will work with the bishops, other religious leaders and our fellow Americans to remove this unjust regulation. If the administration will not rescind this violation of our First Amendment rights, we must call on our elected leaders to do so. I ask you to pray that wisdom and justice may prevail, and work together to restore our religious liberty. Please join me in continuing to follow the development of this important issue and contacting our elected representatives to seek a just resolution. Through our Georgia Bulletin, archdiocesan and Georgia Catholic Conference websites and other media, I will keep you up to date on the progress of this important issue. Sincerely yours in Christ, + Wilton D. Gregory Archbishop of Atlanta

[Salvation]

People like Pelosi, Sibelius, Biden who think they are Catholics have really excommunicated themselves already with their support for abortion.

[Houghton M.]

You miss the point. These particular regs won’t stand up in court and will be overturned.

The prior issue is Obamacare, which placed all this power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats.

I have no confidence whatsoever that either Gingrich or Romney will bust their butts to repeal Obamacare.

[Houghton M.]

Wake up. These regulations are not about contraception but about abortion. They have redefined “contraception” to include RU-486. They want the chemical abortion pill not only over-the-counter available but want it free of charge in all health insurance plans.

They label it contraception in order to drive a wedge between Catholic pro-lifers and non-Catholic pro-lifers.

If non-Catholic pro-lifers react complacently (”I think contraceptions okay, what’s the fuss here) they will without realizing it facilitate their own destruction.

They came for the Catholics and I was silent because I wasn’t one of those silly anti-contraception Catholics.”

Then they came for me.

Wake up. Contraception means abortion, today. For them, as long as the embryo has not implanted it’s a case of contraception. Is that so hard to grasp? They have redefined contraception because too many Protestant pro-lifers think contraception is just wonderful.

[circlecity]

That’s pretty much the point I was making. I’m glad you agree.

[redgolum]

All they have to do is threaten the tax exempt status, and all will fall in line.

[battousai]

Shame on the Catholics who helped put Obama in office and, idiotically, didn’t see this coming.

Sadly many label themselves 'Catholic' while not actually believing or following the teachings of the Church so for them Obama doesn't mean much, cause they are liberals at heart anyway, many examples can be found among 'rat politicians themselves.

REAL Catholics will always oppose the culture of death, that is liberalism.

[Marathoner]

This southern Baptist RN stands with the Catholics on this issue!

As does this member of a similar Protestant church. As the saying goes,"First they came for the Catholics"

BTW, I fully expect the regime to go after tax exempt status of those entities that refuse to comply if, GOD forbid, this Obamacare obamination isn't overturned or otherwise repealed.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Our pastor at the time was positively giddy when Obama was elected.

Made me ill.

[Yooper4Life]

ping for later...

FUBO!

[The Great RJ]

I wonder if Obama and Holder will send in armed federal marshals in riot gear to enforce the mandate like Janet Reno did for Elian Gonzalas.

[Servant of the Cross]

When is the Catholic church going to boot her sorry ass out?

Paging Archbishop Niederauer. Please pick up the white courtesy phone in the lobby.

Oh ... and bring Archbishop Naumann with you. Pope Benedict XVI wishes to speak about a devil named Sebelius.

[netmilsmom]

If Obama gets back in, he will be emboldened.
I could see the feds sending in G-Men for sure.

They are going to have a tough time in my parish. We are nearly 70% Slovak. Some are naturalized, some are first generation. Those who came here remember what it was like under communism. Our Pastor has given many a homily about how blessed we are to be in America and have the freedom to be Christian.

They’ll have a fight with us. We will not back down.

[Jeff Head]

They sent people with guns to Klamath...we stood up to them and eventually won.

The Catholics, with our support can and should do the same.

There comes a time when a clear line must be drawn in the sand. This is one of those times.

[mdmathis6]

Obama has shown a propensity to ignore the courts and do his own thing anyway. You think that one case about religious employment just decided by the USSC is going away?...Cass Susstein will just write a more narrowly tailored set of regulations, which meet the court’s objections, in support of the administration’s original detirmination against the church in question and implement them anyway. That’s why the election is also important in this case.

The administration has over reached, offending many Catholics...and Randall Terry is just ready to primary Obama, especially in very Catholic rich states. Terry has quite a following within a number of non aligned evangelical protestant groups and could force some convention drama should he win a few primaries. Terry could go third party taking a number of vital Obama voters with him. He has the rhetorical ability and moxy to do so, but he needs to go all in!

[lawdave]

It wasn’t read in Edmond, Oklahoma. My arch Diocese covers most of the state.

[redgolum]

Sadly, you are correct.

Many in the Catholic church stood with the left, and even now more than a few at my wife's parish are defending this. They view uninversial health care as so important, it is worth mandating abortion.

Now, they don't say it that way, but they dance around the issue. Something about supporting the poor by not allowing the poor to increase.