Posted on 02/25/2012 7:59:44 AM PST by NYer
You may already have seen our news story, Liberal nuns file brief in support of Obama health-care plan. And you may have wondered, as I have, when something will be done to (a) bring wayward communities of women religious into fidelity to Christ and the Church, and (b) bring so-called Catholic social and health service organizations firmly under Catholic control.
The signals from Rome following the Apostolic Visitation of Women Religious indicate a tendency to back away from a confrontation. However, the same was true following the first Apostolic Visitation of American seminaries back in the 1980s, yet between the first and the second visitation in the first decade of the new millennium, diocesan seminaries improved a great deal. Then again, it was precisely the religious houses of formation in the more wayward of the men’s orders that had not improved.
Catholic social and health services are another shameful mess. I don’t know all of the structural details, but it seems that many social service agencies and hospitals, like Catholic universities, have gradually passed beyond effective episcopal control. Though the episcopate is gradually getting stronger in the United States, these problems will take a long time to solve. Both Rome (for the religious orders) and the bishops (for Catholic social service and health organizations) need five and ten year plans to restore fidelity.
In the immediate moment, however, what interests me is the utter speciousness of the continuing divide-and-conquer tactic of the enemy, making the most of nominally Catholic lay and religious leaders who are willing to defy the public position of the bishops on things like Obamacare and the HHS mandate. A case in point is the larger story on which our news report is partly based, taken from the hopefully-named ThinkProgress web site. The presumably progressive introductory prose fairly gushes with fallacy:
As further proof that conservative efforts to paint President Obama as the enemy of religion are a red herring, nearly two dozen leading Catholic nuns filed a brief in the Supreme Court last week supporting the president’s signature legislative accomplishment.
And the conclusion contains an even greater dose of muddy logic:
These nuns have unique stature to explain why their support for the Affordable Care Act flows from their faith, given that so many of them have devoted their lives to providing care to those most in need. Nevertheless, their views are hardly unique within their church’s hierarchy. Pope Benedict XVI called health care an “inalienable right,” and added that it is the “moral responsibility of nations to guarantee access to health care for all of their citizens.”
Sadly, the entire story reeks of confusion. It is not universal health care that makes Obama an enemy of religion, but rather his insistence on the wide availability of immoral procedures such as contraception, sterilization and abortion, and his further insistence that religious people provide and pay for them despite the fact that they regard them as immoral acts. The question dividing the nuns from the Faith is not whether government should play a role in guaranteeing all citizens access to basic health care. In broad outlines, the pope, the bishops, and the sisters all agree about that as a reasonable modern project arising from Christian moral duty. The divisive question is whether the government should be—and force everybody else to be—in the contraception, sterilization and abortion business.
And why divisive? Because those things violate not some nebulous thing called “their faith” but the objective reality of the Catholic Faith. The Pope and the American bishops, who trump the sisters as the custodians of this Faith, have repeatedly made this crystal clear. Catholics need not be terribly concerned with whether the sisters can articulate how their support of Obamacare derives from “their faith”, whatever their faith may happen to be. The bishops themselves would have liked to support universal health care in the United States, but were prevented from supporting it in its Obamacare version precisely because it contains critical components that objectively violate the Catholic faith.
President Obama may not be the enemy of the sisters; but the whole point is that he is, precisely speaking, the enemy of religion, and not only of religion, but of the true religion. He seeks to stake a civil claim to the moral law, which it belongs to government to follow rather than to create. The HHS mandate only confirms this reality. Perhaps the twenty-four sisters have forgotten that the Faith is an objective reality, apart from which “their faith” has no meaning. Perhaps they cannot recognize conflict with religion because they have forgotten what religion is. Perhaps they have also forgotten right, wrong and the natural law, which the law of Christ does so much to clarify. Perhaps there is something lacking in “their faith” which is not lacking in the Catholic Faith—something, indeed, that President Barack Obama opposes. As an enemy.
Ping!
Unfortunately, many of these orders are no longer Catholic in any way, shape or form. They are bizarre feminist cults.
After doing their own thing for forty years it is far too late to “bring them to heel.” These orders are slowly dying out anyway (no new women are entering these orders) so to avoid confrontation I think the conservative Bishops are just letting them fade away to eventually be forgotten. In another decade they will be gone through “natural attrition.”
The Roman Catholic Church has a much longer view of history than typical Americans, who consider an election cycle to be an eternity.
Then again, I am so old school I am patiently waiting for the Pope to call another crusade to retake the Holy Land so what do I know?
Well.....
They wanted Socialism, they got it.
Complete with abortion, gay marriage, and soon to come,
euthanasia of the elderly and infant.
Funny, I thought caring for the sick and the poor was
the job that Christ gave them.
More proof that the Catholic Church has as many (internal) denominations as the Protestants. It’s just like a country that won’t defend its borders. Amazing how our country is manifesting what is going on in our churches.
Errant nuns are not an "internal denomination." They aren't a denomination at all; the word is nonsequitor for this. It's a PROBLEM, not a separate group of religious.
I don't know about Protestants but the errant nuns will have a choice: give up their error or leave the convent.
If they leave the convent, they will be FORMER or EX nuns. If they stay nuns, IN ERROR, they will be excommunicated, that is, OUTSIDE the faith.
Apples and oranges.
1. They ARE bizarre cults. Cults don't last; neither will they. The bishops are smart; let the errant old libbers fade away. It will be interesting as to HOW they will live when they are 70 and retired.
2. The Roman Catholic Church does have a much longer view of history, thank goodness. The Americans Catholics and nuns who have INSISTED that the Church change and ordain women, for example, have their heads in the sand. Their arrogance is only surpassed by their lack of brains and humility. Women priests? Jesus came as a MAN, a SON of God. He MIGHT HAVE come as a woman, a daughter of God but He didn't.
He chose 12 MEN as apostles; he might have chosen 12 women or half and half. The Old Testament is crammed with holy women. But, Jesus chose MEN.
These women just can't get over that.
3. Another Crusade to take over the Holy Land. Hmmm, interesting. People being people, I don't think there would be any more success that with the first Crusades. But, it's a nice thought.
Seriously, they will never be forced to make such a choice.
Until recently the bishops could not see the dangers inherent is an rapproachment with an increasingly liberal and secular Democratic Party. The USCCB is, unfortunately, and always has been a political rather than a religious body. Since the Council, it has served those elements in the Church that resented Roman oversight, which prevented them from becoming completely American. But in the words of Jacques Maritain, after refusing bowing to the Curia they have chosen to genuflect to the world. After abandoning the clericalism of the pre-Vatican Ii Chuch, they adopted a much more domineering and oppressive liberal clericalism, where rebellious clerics were joined by lay persons who wanted to act like clerics and compel their “unenlightened” peers to conform to their thinking and practice. Many did. Man others just said, to hell with it, and stopped going to mass, or in many cases jointed the evangelical churches.
Catholic Bishop's Prez: Our Rights Don’t Depend on Obama
Obama's defense of religion {Mega BARF-Alert - talk about spin...}
Contraception and the Culture War [Deepening Catholic-Evangelical Relationship]
Cardinal Timothy Dolan issues strongest statement yet against the HHS mandate
Clergy Declare State of Emergency for Churches Over Obama Demands
Father, We're Ready for that Homily on Contraception Now
Contraception, Against Conscience [Why EWTN Will Not Comply With Obama's Mandate]
Bishops Decry Obama birth Control Plan, Yet Catholic Hospitals Report Sterilizations
The Catholic Betrayal of Religious Freedom
Obama Responds to Belmont Abbey Lawsuit. Epic Fail.
Catholic Charities Insists it has not Endorsed HHS Mandate
Chaput emerging as a warrior-bishop
Archbishop Chaput: It’s not a ‘compromise,’ and it needs to be rescinded
Pro-Abortion Fingerprints on HHS Mandate
Dem (Congressman) Scolds Bishop (at House Oversight hearin)
Evangelicals & Catholics Together: In Defense of Religious Freedom (vs. Islam, Secularism)
Catholic priest, pro-life activists arrested outside White House protesting Obama mandate
Obama Contradicted: HHS Banned Consideration of ‘Cost Effectiveness’ in Developing Contraception
BREAKING: Every Single Bishop Has Condemned the Obama/HHS Mandate!
Pro-life nuns: We’re not exempt - Obama mandate would force us ‘to pay for abortion-inducing drugs’
Contraception ruling: Democrats accuse clergy of complicity with GOP at hearing
Catholic League on Sebelius’s admission before a Senate committee
Voris: Obama Able to Neutralize Catholic Resistance Thanks to Bishops’ Past Complicity
Abortion, Contraception and the Church Fathers (Catholic teaching unchanged for 2000 yrs)
Head of U.S. bishops: Obama compromise on mandate ‘a hill of beans’; opposition intensifies
USCCB President: 'Harder and Harder' to Accept Obama's Word
White House Criticizes Bishops, Trumpets Support from CHA, Catholic Charities
Political Science 101: how the White House snookered the USCCB on the 'compromise'
What Did CHA's Carol Keehan Know and When Did She Know It?
Pope Shares Remarks on American Culture with Bishops; Issues Call to Laity By: Msgr. Charles Pope
USCCB President says Obama offered next to nothing; expresses disappointment with Sr. Keehan
Evangelical Leaders Call for Civil Disobedience Against U.S. Government
Liberal Jews Speak Against HHS Mandate
Top nun who supported Obama mandate thanks pro-choice group in private e-mail
Catholic Health Association collaboration with Obama admin on mandate a ‘scandal’: Catholic leader
Obama's revised HHS mandate won't solve problems, USCCB president says
Fr. Frank Pavone: No compromise - the mandate has to go, period
Time To Admit It: The Church Has Always Been Right On Birth Control
Culture with Local Bishops and Issues a Call to the Laity [Ecumenical]
Bishops Reject Obama's 'Accommodation' - President's political hemorrhaging to continue.
HHS Mandate - Nothing Has Changed (Donald Cardinal Weurl)
Obama Chief of Staff: New Pro-Abortion Mandate Here to Stay
WH: We Are Done Negotiating With Catholics
Opponents launch new White House petition rejecting Obama rewrite of birth control mandate
Did the Leaders of the Catholic Church Make a Deal with the Redistributionist Devil?
Archbishop Chaput: HHS mandate insulting and dangerous
Cardinal-Designate Dolan no longer trusts Obama
American Catholicism’s Pact With the Devil
Notre Dame Faculty to Obama: ‘This Is a Grave Violation of Religious Freedom and Cannot Stand’
White House: No More Compromise on Contraception
Obama's anti-religious implosion
Lew: Obama's latest stance on birth-control mandate final, puts issue to rest (CAPTION)
Pat Buchanan: 'Obama is trampling on God's turf' (Video)
W.H. official: Contraceptive rule stands
Obama chief of staff: No more compromise, contraceptive rule is done deal
Bishops Reject White House’s New Plan on Contraception (Obama continues his "War On Religion")
Faith/Pro-Life Leaders to Challenge Mandate by Praying and Risking Arrest in Front of the WH
Catholic Bishops: Don't Revise, Rescind
Obama's contempt for the Constitution
How the Catholic Church Became Cool Overnight
Chuck Colson Reacts to Obama’s “Compromise” on Required Abortion Care for Church Employees
US Bishops: Obama's 'Compromise' Has No Clear Protection...(Needless Government Intrusion)
Protests Continue Over Insurance for Contraception, Abortifacients (Feds Under Increasing Pressure
Bishops to Obama: No dice
Paul VI: “danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities ...”
Michael Moore Goes On Anti-Catholic Twitter Rant, Distorts Contraception Debate
Religious controversy burns Obama again (the rookie Hussein is in WAY over his pay grade)
Another Catholic college vows it will ‘not violate conscience’ on Obama mandate
Lutherans join chorus of voices slamming HHS contraceptive mandate
The Obama HHS 'Compromise' Switches the Tiger for the Lion (Not all Catholics buying Obama's bull)
Hannity on now with Priests, Pastors and Rabbis. Please watch
EDITORIAL: Obama’s free abortion pills
U.S. bishops ‘express concerns’ about Obama mandate ‘accommodation’
What Compromise? This Policy Leaves Religious Liberty in Peril and Planned Parenthood Smiling (Albert Mohler Opinion)
Bishops Renew Call To Legislative Action On Religious Liberty
Southern Baptist leader: Obama gave Christians ‘the dismissive back’ of his hand
Obama's Act of Tyranny
Bishops Were Prepared for Battle Over Birth Control Coverage
'Accounting gimmick' -- Obama compromise still threatens religious liberty, leaders say
Bishops ‘concerned’ over reworded mandate; other Catholic leaders slam as ‘insult to injury’
Obama Bows to Pressure, but His Religious 'Accommodation' Even Worse
Don't Be Deceived! Evil Obama Policy Now Even MORE Evil!
Obama’s Contraceptive 'Compromise' Doesn't Pass the Smell Test ("It doesn't change a thing")
Compromise or Accommodation, it’s still unacceptable. (updated from Catholic Vote)
Pres. Obama’s “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: Obama’s 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 isn’t changed, Christians will go to jail
Over 150 congressional leaders demand repeal of HHS mandate
Boehner vows to overturn Obama’s 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. Obama’s 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 Won’t 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'
Catholic Outcry Over Obama Administration's Birth Control Decision Could Factor In Presidential Race
Standing with the Bishops [Catholic Caucus]
Updated: *167* Bishops (More Than 90% of Dioceses) Have Spoken Out Against Obama/HHS Mandate
Outrage!… Military Tells Chaplains What They Can and Can’t Say About HHS/ObamaAssault on Religion
Updated: *153* Bishops (Over 80% of Dioceses) Have Spoken Out Against Obama/HHS Mandate
An Affront Catholics Agree On [Liberal and Conservative Catholics Against Obama Mandate]
Army Silenced Chaplains Last Sunday
Catholic Military Archdiocese & Chaplains interfered with last Sunday by Pres. Obama’s 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 won’t 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
Obama’s ‘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
OBAMA’S 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
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.