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Posted on 03/03/2012 3:00:03 PM PST by NYer
The U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops is issuing a flyer to be distributed at Masses over the March 3-4 weekend that asks their congregation to voice their opposition to the Obama administration's requirement that all employers pay for their employees' contraceptives. The mandate, which President Obama has given just one year for compliance, would force Catholic hospitals - for instance - to pay for contraceptives, even though contrary to Catholic teachings. Besides the Catholic bishops, other religious groups, including non-Christians and secular people, have criticized the Obama administration's move as an unconstitutional intromission into religious freedoms and the freedom of association.
The bishops ask their congregations to contact their Members of Congress to voice their opposition to the rule. Here follows a slightly abridged version of the Sunday message:
Sweeping HHS Mandate Stands, Violating Conscience Rights and Religious Liberty
Congress Must Act to Fix the Problem
On January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed a rule that virtually all private health care plans must cover sterilization, abortifacients, and contraception. The exemption provided for "religious employers" was so narrow that it failed to cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations—including Catholic hospitals, universities, and charities—that help millions every year. Ironically, not even Jesus and his disciples would have qualified for the exemption, because it excludes those who mainly serve people of another faith.
On February 10, the Obama Administration made this rule final “without change”; delayed enforcement for a year against religious nonprofits that were still not exempted (our charities, hospitals, and colleges); and promised to develop more regulations to “accommodate” them by the end of that additional year. But, as explained below, that promised “accommodation” still forces them to pay for “services” that violate their religious convictions.
The original rule that violated our religious liberty so severely has not been changed, but finalized.
After touting meaningful changes in the mandate, HHS instead finalized the original rule that was first issued in August 2011 “without change.” So the offensive definition of “religious employer”—which excludes our charities, hospitals, and colleges because they serve people of other faiths—is still in place, and those institutions are still subject to the mandate.
HHS has promised some kind of “accommodation,” but only after the election.
HHS said it would take an additional year to develop more regulations to “accommodate” religiously-affiliated charities, schools, and hospitals that still fall outside the “religious employer” exemption. The impact of these additional rules will not be felt until after the election, the only point of public accountability for the Executive Branch. This eliminates an important incentive for HHS to provide the best protection for religious liberty The promised “accommodation”—even at its best—would still force our institutions to violate their beliefs.
Under the proposed “accommodation,” if an employee of these religious institutions wants coverage of contraception or sterilization directly from the insurer, the objecting employer is still forced to pay for it as a part of the employer’s insurance plan. Since there is no other source, the funds to pay for that coverage must come from the premiums of the employer and fellow employees, even those who object in conscience.
There is no exemption for objecting insurers, secular employers, for-profit religious employers, or individuals.
The U.S. bishops defend religious liberty for all, and so have repeatedly identified all the stakeholders in the process whose religious freedom is threatened by the mandate—all employers, insurers, and individuals, not just religious employers. Now, all insurers, including self-insurers, must provide the coverage to any employee who wants it. In turn, all individuals who pay premiums have no escape from subsidizing that coverage. And only employers that are both non-profit and religious may qualify for the limited “accommodation.”
We urgently need legislation to correct the mandate’s threats to religious liberty and conscience rights. The Respect for Rights of Conscience Act has been introduced in Congress (H.R. 1179, S. 1467) to ensure that those who participate in the market for health insurance “retain the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions.”
Day late and a dollar short.
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Oh yea, that’ll scare those Congresscritters.
The only thing that causes Congress to listen to constituents is the prospect of losing their seats. Nothing else matters.
So unless and until the Church puts out a doctrine that says “voting for those who would force Catholics to fund that which is a sin is, in itself, also a sin...” they’re going nowhere.
Oh yea, that’ll scare those Congresscritters.
The only thing that causes Congress to listen to constituents is the prospect of losing their seats. Nothing else matters.
So unless and until the Church puts out a doctrine that says “voting for those who would force Catholics to fund that which is a sin is, in itself, also a sin...” they’re going nowhere.
We have a two page letter from Cardinal Dolan in our bulletin this week!
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Time Magazine Op-Ed: Perhaps “Some Time in Jail” for Catholic Bishops Defending Religious Liberty
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Clergy Declare State of Emergency for Churches Over Obama Demands
Father, We're Ready for that Homily on Contraception Now
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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!
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Contraception ruling: Democrats accuse clergy of complicity with GOP at hearing
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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'
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Pope Shares Remarks on American Culture with Bishops; Issues Call to Laity By: Msgr. Charles Pope
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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
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Bishops Reject Obama's 'Accommodation' - President's political hemorrhaging to continue.
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Obama Chief of Staff: New Pro-Abortion Mandate Here to Stay
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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
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Faith/Pro-Life Leaders to Challenge Mandate by Praying and Risking Arrest in Front of the WH
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Michael Moore Goes On Anti-Catholic Twitter Rant, Distorts Contraception Debate
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Lutherans join chorus of voices slamming HHS contraceptive mandate
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Southern Baptist leader: If Obama mandate isn’t changed, Christians will go to jail
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Boehner vows to overturn Obama’s birth control coverage rule
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The Bishops Chickens Coming Home to Roost.
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Pope hits out at 'radical secularism'
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‘We Will Not Comply’: Catholic Leaders Distribute Letter Slamming Obama Admin Contraceptive Mandate
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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]
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Phoenix bishop (Olmstead): defy feds on birth control
A letter from Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr concerning HHS edict
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http://old.usccb.org/sdwp/national/2010-01-27-Alert-healthcare.pdf
Now they are pinched over the life issue and have been betrayed by their communist partners.
Still, their ONLY gripe with this "law" is over contraception and abortion. Otherwise they are perfectly happy with your enslavement.
I left the Catholic Church for the non-denominational flavor a long time ago. Recent times have told me that the Curch has tried to spread out into too many areas and use twisted logic to make it seem biblical. When you had a Pope talking about being good stewards of the planet and supporting the enviro-wack jobs, it was all I could do to keep from screaming. The Church's job iss to bring God's Word to the people and to exert God's Will on society, not to be lenient towards a lost society and to indulge in the PC sickness. Jesus called it like it was with intent to offend the offenders. If you look up the source of my tagline, you'll see that those who carried the water for the Church of Christ would not support the welfare state, but would insist that those capable of earning even a meager living, went out and earned it. When the pulpit became a kinder, gentler reminder instead of a convicter of evil and depravity, we were on the way down the long spiral.
On the bright side, God let us know that we would eventually become so sick and depraved that He would come back to set it straight. We can't stop the dive into the cesspool and shouldn't even try because it takes time away from just carrying the Word to those that might hear it and believe.
How come this handout is not mentioned on the Catholic News Agency website?
A bit late to the party, I’m afraid.
It's not just a problem with "the HHS mandate." It's certainly not just a matter of "Church institutions." The larger filthy tyranny --- Obamacare itself --- has to be taken down completely.
We live in interesting times.
What good is a flyer if it is not given out?Cardinal Dolan sent a very good letter to his fellow Bishops dated March 2,2012. Why can’t this letter be given out in every Catholic Church?
“The U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops is issuing a flyer to be distributed at Masses over the March 3-4 weekend...”
When did they send out the flyers, or is it something that has to be printed out? Does anyone know how this works when the USCCB wants something in the bulletin? I know my church has trouble putting something in the bulletin if it isn’t given to them by the middle of the week.
Freegards, thanks for all the pings on FR
The Church was also opposed to the end of life provisions. But the blame goes to the liberal Catholics who went along with the executive order rather than express language in the bill. Especially the”blue-dog” Catholic Congress whose votes got the thing passed.
And once again, how is any of that theological huffing and puffing going to actually DO anything to the Democrats, hmmm?
Catholics who are suddenly seeing where their “social justice” twaddle got them need to articulate a plan how they’re going to deal with the Democrats - at the polling place, come this November.
From what I’m seeing, the Catholic Church is going to make a bunch of noise about this, but they’re going to do nothing concrete that will leave a mark on the Democrats.
Exactly.
The Church is just getting what happens to EVERYONE who takes money from the government.
As a fellow farmer told me back in 2000, the moment you take the very first dollar from Uncle Sugar, it has a gossamer thread attached... and the more money you take, the thicker that connection becomes.
The Church campaigned for “social justice,” which fit so very nicely in with the socialist pablum of the Democrats. The Church has held that position for decades, BTW. Now the Church is realizing, much too late, that taking alms from the government came with strings attached.
As I see it, renouncing the “social justice” doctrine is never going to happen. The Church is simply too left-wing for admission that they were wrong to lobby for charity from governments. So they’re going to pitch a fit, and in the end, they’ll sell out the rest of the faithful... once they get their carve-out enshrined in law.
Call Morty and make book on it happening before the DNC convention.
Great guy. Nice sie.
Do you talk with people? That’s a way what you call “huffing and puffing” works. We call it evangelization. Inviting others to look at another side of the picture.
After all, these people are going to vote too.
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