Posted on 02/10/2012 11:45:11 AM PST by NYer
The Administration is searching for a way to staunch the hemorrhage, but this effort is like calling an amputation “just a flesh wound” and then wondering why the bleeding won’t stop.
There’s a simple principle in Catholic moral theology. If you materially support another’s grave sin and facilitate it knowingly, you are also guilty of the grave sin. This is not strange: we recognize it to an extent in civil law as well. It’s called being an accomplice, accessory, or co-conspirator, pick your role in taking part in another’s evil.
So if the reports of the “accommodation” coming from the White House on the HHS contraception coverage mandate are true, nothing has changed.
One source familiar with the decision described the accommodation as Hawaii-plus, insisting that its better than the Hawaii plan for both sides.
In Hawaii the employer is responsible for referring employees to places where they can obtain the contraception; Catholic leaders call that material cooperation with evil. But what the White House will likely announce later today is that the relationship between the religious employer and the insurance company will not need to have any component involving contraception. The insurance company will reach out on its own to the women employees. This is better for both sides, the source says, since the religious organizations do not have to deal with medical care to which they object, and women employees will not have to be dependent upon an organization strongly opposed to that care in order to obtain it.
Frankly, I’m not sure how they imagine this makes anything better, unless the original mandate required the religious institutions either personally to direct people to places where they could obtain contraceptives, or, worse, required employers actually to disperse the contraceptives themselves.
But it doesn’t matter. If the religious institution is being required to pay for an insurance plan that subsidizes the insurance company’s efforts to proactively spread information about obtaining contraceptives, and then also pays for the contraceptives, that still means the Church is being required to subsidize services and items it deems morally repugnant. The Church’s money would still be used to support gravely immoral activity.
The White House is apparently insistent that this isn’t a “compromise,” but it is an “accommodation.” Call it a peanut butter sandwich if you’d like, it’s still a violation of our conscience rights and a violation of the freedom of religion.
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Update: From the comments, the would-be pope, Sr. Carol Keehan, and her Catholic Health Association went for the peanut butter sandwich, and complicity in grave evil. Further complicity, that is. They were already all-in on Obamacare and were looking for a fig leaf here.
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Update 2: Francis Cianfrocca, whose insights and careful thinking I’ve long valued, lays out the sobering reality for this American experiment:
For the government to say, as it has, that its goals are prior to the Catholic Churchs core beliefs, is precisely to say that government power is unambiguously senior to all other claims.
This is radically counter to the doctrines of the American founding. Its more radical than anything that even FDR said during the New Deal. It quite simply elevates government to the level of a religion.
Emphasis in original.
Just so. This is no mere Catholic vs. non-Catholic issue, this is a matter of people who are the sovereign citizens of a democratic republic being forced into becoming subjects of a leviathan by executive fiat.
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Update 3: Bishop Wenski of Miami has said this accommodation doesn’t address our concerns, and now the Cardinal Newman Society has affirmed what I said based on the pre-release: that this was merely political theatre to ensnare willing dupes like Sr. Keehan.
All of which may explain the founders’ provision of the 2nd. We are in swift transition from a Democratic Republic to a demonic Republic. The annointed one is incapable of learning how to ‘do a little side-step’; he keeps stepping is his own offal.
Sure hope Gingrich will be exploding on this. He needs a shot in the arm, and nothing’s more main-line than this at CPAC. (Too bad Santorum and Romney preceded Zero’s “Accommodation.”)
Their rights under their own Constitution's first Amendment are sovereign and supersede the delegation of strictly-limited powers to him as their elected representative in the Executive branch of the government structured by that Constitution.
By claiming such a power to himself, he reveals both his own arrogance and his belief that "the People" are ignorant of their own rights and will not call him to account.
Hussein’s “compromise” will be worthless the day after election day - I pray it is because he has been told in no uncertain terms to GTFO!
Compromise or Accommodation, its still unacceptable. (updated from Catholic Vote)
Pres. Obamas Plan B compromise, Sr. Keehan, and the Magisterium of Nuns
Land Says Obama Mandate Most Anti-Catholic Government Action in 150 Years
Motive, Means and Opportunity: Obamas Assault on Catholics
(Exempt Catholics) Joe Biden, Bill Daley warned of contraceptive backlash
(Tim) Thomas makes second political statement (Stands With Catholics)
Southern Baptist leader: If Obama mandate isnt changed, Christians will go to jail
Over 150 congressional leaders demand repeal of HHS mandate
Boehner vows to overturn Obamas birth control coverage rule
Boehner: Congress to overturn birth control policy if Obama does not reverse course
O'Brien says Archdiocese of Baltimore won't offer birth control coverage
Archbishop of San Francisco says Obama ruling strikes at religious freedom
How Obama Lost the Catholic Vote
I am going to stick with fellow Catholics in Pres. Obamas war on Catholics. Wherein Fr. Z rants.
Unholy War
Six Things Everyone Should Know about the HHS Mandate
Santorum: Obama Hostile to Christians
Understanding Oppostion to the HHS Mandate (Part 1): Why the Church Wont Pay for Contracept
The Bishops Chickens Coming Home to Roost.
65 Orthodox Church bishops call on Obama to rescind the unjust contraception mandate
Doug Kmiec Writes Obama: 'Friendship Will Not Permit Me to Disregard Duty to Faith and Country'
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An Affront Catholics Agree On [Liberal and Conservative Catholics Against Obama Mandate]
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Catholic Military Archdiocese & Chaplains interfered with last Sunday by Pres. Obamas Admin
The Anti-Catholic President v. the Catholic Bishops
Sen. Rubio introduces bill to reverse Obama birth control mandate
Churches balk at birth control rule - Catholics wont comply, Bishop Kevin Rhoades says
Protestants and Jews declare to White House: We stand with Catholics
Checking the Air Outside [Bp. Zubik's follow up to Obama's To Hell with You]
Mohler [Southern Baptist] Says Insurance Mandate Not Just 'Catholic' Issue
An Open Letter to President Barack Obama Concerning Recent Tyranny (With Pictures!)
Lincoln bishop: prepare for 'suffering' under HHS mandate
Bishop David Zubik confronts Obama
Obamas war on the church
Pope hits out at 'radical secularism'
We Will Not Comply: Catholic Leaders Distribute Letter Slamming Obama Admin Contraceptive Mandate
We Will Not Comply: Catholic Leaders Distribute Letter Slamming Obama Admin Contraceptive Mandate
Bruskewitz: Fight Insurance Ruling [Sebelius a "bitter, fallen away Catholic"]
Letter from Archbishop John G. Vlazny on the matter of freedom of conscience and decisions by HHS
Bishop Olmsted's Letter to Catholics [Catholic Caucus]
Liberty for the Amish & Quakers but not Catholics. . .
Contraception mandate prompts Peoria bishop to instate St. Michael Prayer (Catholic Caucus)
Phoenix bishop (Olmstead): defy feds on birth control
A letter from Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr concerning HHS edict
Speak honestly: abortion is the killing of tiny human beings in the womb Denver bishop
Bishop [Daniel Jenky] Blasts Secularist Intolerance, Calls For Assertive Action to Defend Church
(Pittsburgh Bishop Zubik comments:) HHS delays rule on contraceptive coverage
Dolan: Natural law, not religious preference, dictates all life sacred
Religious leaders blast HHS over contraception mandate
Mandated Contraception, Sterilization: Caesar Demands Church Violate Conscience
OBAMAS CONTEMPT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (mandates coverage of sterilization & contraception)
Implications of Obama Admin move to force Cath hospitals to provide contraception and sterilizations
Catholic doctors group launches petition against contraception mandate
Contraception mandate tramples religious freedom, US bishops say
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