Mary Ann Glendon: Why the Bishops Are Suing the U.S. Government

Wall Street Journal ^ | 5-22-12 | Mary Ann Glendon

[afraidfortherepublic]

FTA: Religious freedom is subject to necessary limitations in the interests of public health and safety. The HHS regulations do not fall into that category. The world has gotten along fine without this mandate—the services in question are widely and cheaply available, and most employers will provide coverage for them.

I can't agree with the Bishops on this part. Are the services moral? If the church believes that the services are immoral, it shouldn't matter that they are available "cheaply" elsewhere. They should preach to their flock (of whicih I am one) that contraception and abortion are wrong and evil -- NOT that their employees can get these services elsewhere while Mother Church averts its eyes!

Otherwise, I like this lawsuit, and I love Cardinal Dolan and Mary Ann Glendon.

[afraidfortherepublic]

ping

[Jacquerie]

At the deepest level, we are witnessing an attack on the institutions of civil society that are essential to limited government and are important buffers between the citizen and the all-powerful state.

Some guys come up with all the great quotable quotes.

[Ransomed]

Does Canada and the Euro-nations have a mandate for their socialized healthcare? What did/does the Church do in those countries?

Freegards

[afraidfortherepublic]

I think the Church has been gutted in those countries. Certainly, I hear complaints all the time from Canada about restrictions placed on their clergy. More importantly, none of those countries was founded upong “Freedom of Religion” like we were. It is one of the most important Constitutional guarantees of this nation.

[oyez]

The bishops fear religious liberty is becoming a second-class right.

Or no right at all. The liberal social engineers don't want competition. The state is the only supreme being they have in mind.

[Ransomed]

I tried to google it before, but of course all that comes up is the obamacare fiasco. I would really like to know how it is different in places that have socialized healthcare for years and years compared to the US and what the Church did or didn’t do about it in those places. It might give a clue as to what they will actually do here about it.

Freegards

[DeweyShootem]

Catholic Church HITS BACK HARD!

This is the most in your face advertisement so far this year. This is a sleeping Tiger being awakened!

A must see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=D9vQt6IXXaM&hd

[Biggirl]

At last the bishops are starting to get a spine!

[Mrs. Don-o]

I'm not sure --- and I hope others will chime in to make up for my deficiencies here --- but I think part of the difference here is the distinction between

• "remote mediate material cooperation" (indirectly paying for something by paying taxes),
• "proximate material cooperation" (directly paying fo something by paying into a fund establuished for that purpose), and
• "formal cooperation" (paying for something with deliberate intention, as a willing accomplice.)

The first, is almost always innocent. All taxpayers are paying for things they don't intend, and may even oppose. But you simply don't have the power to stop the government for funding the evil things they want to spend your money on.

The third, is always morally culpable. If you cooperate with intent to enable an evil thing to be done, you are an accessory and share in the guilt.

It's that second thing, "proximate material cooperaiton," that's iffy. Grant that a Catholic insitution does not INTEND that its employees alter themselves hormonally to impair their fertility, or spay themselves, or kill heir newly-begotten offspring. Can they provide funding into an insurance polcy that is clealry inended to facilitate these practices?

Abp. Raymund Burke, the head of the canonical equivalent of the SUpreme Court, recently stated that no, they cannot. The degree of cooperation is too direct: they would still be considered accomplices.

Long story short: in other countries with a fully-socialized, tax-funded, singke-payer system, you do not incur moral huilt for murder simply by paying your taxes.

But in a system like Obamacare, where you (the employer or the insurer) are paying into a fund that is not technically "taxes" but rather is a purchase of goods or services, you CANNOT purchase these goods or services (even by simply purchasing an insurance policy) without becoming an accomplice.

Yes, I think it's haisplitting, too. But I also think it's true. You know what the policy provides. When you buy into the polic, you buy into the moral responsibility.

I think it's a good thing that Obama has forced the Bishops into a corner where they don't even have a mousehole to escape into anymore.

Now they have no choice. Now they have their game face on. Now they'll fight.

Now that they're learning to flex heir muscles, they may even save their souls.

Thank you, Mr. Obama.

[Salvation]

Here is the list of entities that filed suit by state:

District of Columbia

1. Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
301-853-4500
chancery@adw.org
http://www.facebook.com/adw.org
@Cardinal_Wuerl

2. Consortium of Catholic Academies
301-853-4589
catholicacademiesinfo@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Consortium-of-Catholic-Academies/106234042759917

3. Archbishop Carroll High School
202-529-0900
carroll@archbishopcaroll.org
http://www.facebook.com/ACHSWashdc

4. Catholic Charities of D.C.
202-772-4300
communications@catholiccharitiesdc.org
http://www.facebook.com/ccadw

5. The Catholic University of America
202-319-5000
stevko@cua.edu
http://www.facebook.com/CatholicUniversity
@CatholicUniv

Illinois

6. University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL
800-735-7500
university_relations@stfrancis.edu
http://www.facebook.com/StFrancis
@UofStFrancis

7. Diocese of Joliet, IL
815-722-6606
ddelaney@dioceseofjoliet.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Roman-Catholic-Diocese-of-Joliet-in-Illinois/109848045700846

8. Catholic Charities of Joliet, IL
815-723-3405
info@cc-doj.org
http://www.facebook.com/ccjoliet
@CathCharJoliet

9. Diocese of Springfield, IL
217-698-8500
ckannall@dio.org
http://www.facebook.com/diospringfield

10. Catholic Charities of Springfield, IL
217-523-9201
robinson_spfld@cc.dio.org

Indiana

11. The University of Notre Dame
574-631-5000
president@nd.edu
http://www.facebook.com/notredame
@NDdotEDU

12. Diocese of Fort-Wayne-South Bend, IN
260-422-4611
info@diocesefwsb.org
http://www.facebook.com/diocesefwsb
@diocesefwsb

13. Catholic Charities of Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
260-422-5625
ccoffice@ccfwsb.org
http://www.facebook.com/CatholicCharities.FW.SB

14. St. Anne Home
260-484-5555
http://www.saintannehome.com/Contact_Us

15. Franciscan Alliance
574-256-3935
http://www.facebook.com/FranciscanNWI
@FranciscanNWI

16. Our Sunday Visitor
800-348-2440
cdee@osv.com
http://www.facebook.com/OurSundayVisitor
@OSV

Michigan

17. Michigan Catholic Conference
517-372-9310
mccinfo@micatholicconference.org
http://www.facebook.com/MichiganCatholicConference
@MiCatholicConf

Missouri

18. Archdiocese of St. Louis, MO
314-792-7172
communications@archstl.org
http://www.facebook.com/archstl
@archstl

19. Catholic Charities of St. Louis, MO
314-367-5500
info@ccstl.org
http://www.facebook.com/ccstl

Mississippi

20. Diocese of Jackson, MS
601-355-8634
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Roman-Catholic-Diocese-of-Jackson/95981452195
@jacksondiocese

21. Catholic Charities of Jackson, MS
601-355-8634
info@catholiccharitiesjackson.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Charities-Diocese-of-Jackson-MS/44133503191

22. Vicksburg Catholic School
601-636-4824
info@vicksburgcatholic.org

23. St. Joseph’s Catholic School
601-898-4819
info@stjoebruins.com
@StJoeBruins

24. Diocese of Biloxi, MS
228-702-2111
info@biloxidiocese.org

25. De l’Epee Deaf Center, Inc., Biloxi, MS
228-897-2280
deafcenter@cableone.net
http://www.facebook.com/pages/de-lEpee-Deaf-Center-Inc/79459006752

26. Catholic Social and Community Services, Inc., Biloxi, MS
228-702-2137

27. Resurrection Catholic School, Pascagoula, MS
228-762-0282
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Resurrection-Catholic-School/145463042143070

28. Sacred Heart Catholic School, Hattiesburg, MS
601-583-8683

29. St. Dominic Health Services, Jackson, MS
601-200-2000
contact@stdom.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Dominic-Health-Services/110683708956920

New York

30. Diocese of Rockville Centre
516-678-5800
bishopsoffice@drvc.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diocese-of-Rockville-Centre/93430711099
@RVCDiocese

31. Catholic Health Services of Long Island
516-705-3700
info@chsli.org

32. Catholic Charities of Rockville Centre
516-623-7400
CIR@catholiccharities.cc
http://www.facebook.com/CCharitiesLI
@CCharitiesLI

33. Archdiocese of New York
212-371-1000
communications@archny.org
http://www.facebook.com/TimothyCardinalDolan
@CardinalDolan

34. ArchCare
646-633-4700
info@archcare.org

Ohio

35. Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH
740-283-3771
president@franciscan.edu
http://www.facebook.com/FranciscanUniversity
@FranciscanU

Pennsylvania

36. Diocese of Erie, PA
814-824-1120
bishopofc@erieRCD.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diocese-of-Erie/267111616832

37. St. Martin Center, Erie, PA
814-452-6113
bschreckengost@stmartincenter.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Martin-Center-Inc/104652166238479

38. Prince of Peace Center
724-346-5777
popc@princeofpeacecenter.org
http://www.facebook.com/PrinceOfPeaceCenter
@PrincePeaceCtr

39. Diocese of Pittsburgh, PA
412-456-3000
communications@diopitt.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Diocese-of-Pittsburgh/175177579162895

40. Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh, PA
412-456-6999
info@ccpgh.org
http://www.facebook.com/ccpgh

41. Catholic Cemeteries Association of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, PA
866-794-5081
cca@ccapgh.org

Texas

42. Diocese of Dallas, TX
214-528-2240
info@cathdal.org
http://www.facebook.com/CatholicDioceseofDallas

43. Diocese of Fort Worth, TX
817-560-2452
dws@fwdioc.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Roman-Catholic-Diocese-of-Fort-Worth/115590764076

This list is also available on our website:
http://www.catholicvote.org/discuss/index.php?p=30342

[Salvation]

Mary Ann,
Where are the rest of the dioceses and Bishops.

This needs to be 100 percent all out against Obama and his minions.

Otherwise it’s for naught.

[Biggirl]

Look for more to come into the fight.

[maryz]

the services in question are widely and cheaply available, and most employers will provide coverage for them

I don't see that Glendon is citing the bishops here; sounds more like she is pointing out the transparent falsity of the claim that "women's health" is the issue.

[afraidfortherepublic]

You are right, when taken in the context of this article. However, I think she is using the same arguments that I’ve read Cardinal Dolan using elsewhere — w/o using the word “cheap”. I did not phrase my objection correctly. It’s just a bogus argument that grates on me whenever I see it used. If any part of Obamacare is immoral for anybody, the Catholic Church has no business saying that their employees are free to get those services elsewhere and pay for such services out of their own pockets.

Of course that is always an alternative, since we all have free will to sin, or not to sin. But, the church shouldn’t be recommending it, or using availablilty from other agencies as an excuse. If Obamacare is unethical for practicing Catholics, the Catholic church has no business recommending it for anybody else. I’m not saying that they should take steps to oppose it, but they shouldn’t be recommending it.

That’s sort of like saying that the Church opposes prostitution for Catholics, but it is OK for other religions to engage in it. And (wink, wink) if one of their employees REALLY needs a prostitute, he can just go get one at the local Methodist church, as long as he pays for it himself. Ludicrous!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Wisconsin **crickets**.

Our new Archbishop cannot hold a coat for a man such as Cardinal Dolan, Until then, sign me *disappointed*.our former Archbishop. Praying that Listecki and the others stand up soo and whip the priests of the diocese into shape.

[Ransomed]

Thanks for taking the time. Americans have been forced to pay for abortions for a long time, through public money given to PP. I reckon I’m not seeing how being forced to pay into a fund that is required to pay for things against your faith by the state is any different from having to pay a tax that goes to killing people in the first place, at least as far as morally. Like you said, hairsplitting, at least as far as I can see, but this stuff is probably over my head anyhow. If the SC leaves it up to the bishops to then do something, not sure what is going to happen.

I find it almost beyond belief that they are taking a case against the state all the way to the supreme court and still haven’t deigned to use any form of real public discipline besides hollering a lot.

I wonder if there are any other countries where Catholic employers have to carry policies that have the bad stuff in them, or if they are all straight from the state somehow?

I agree that the bishops would seem to now be forced to act and actually do something about it, but I have thought that before and nothing really came of it, the archbishop of SF and Pelosi comes to mind. He summoned her, and to all outward appearances they might have only discussed baking cookies or something.

Freegards

[STJPII]

Good point. The public service rationale against the mandate undermines the moral arguments.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I share your frustration.

Like I said, THEY'RE IN A CORNER NOW. We'll see if they figure out what they carry those croziers for. If they fight, I'm in. In fact, I am even at the present moment organizing a rally in support, in Johnson City, TN.