Posted on 01/30/2013 5:26:02 AM PST by NYer
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 29, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) - As the Obama administration and the U.S. Bishops remain locked in battle over the HHS mandate, the question on the minds of many observers is: what lengths are the bishops willing to go to to oppose the mandate?
The prelates LifeSiteNews spoke to after the Vigil Mass for Life in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 24th indicated that they intend to do everything they can to oppose the mandate, including risking imprisonment if necessary.
"I would be willing to go to jail in defense of religious liberty,” said Bishop Alexander Sample of Marquette, Michigan, who was appointed Archbishop of Portland, Oregon on Jan. 29th.
He stressed that the bishops are exploring all of the options with the assistance of “sound moral theologians” to “see what is the most practical but effective way to oppose the mandate.”
“We will not simply roll over and accept the mandate,” he insisted. “We have to fight for our religious liberty and we'll take it as far as we can."
Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh also said he is willing to go to jail if need be. "We can't compromise on the principles,” he told LifeSiteNews.
If it gets rough “all we have to do is look back at our history. Take a look at the saints who defended our faith and that's what it's about,” he said.
Bishop Zubik explained that he has been praying for "a conversion of heart on behalf of our president," but said “if that doesn't happen then I think it's imperative that I accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
“We have to be strong, we can't compromise, we have to stay firm on our values because I believe that this is a slippery slope,” he continued. “This is a point where we have to be ready to maintain a stand. I've taken a very strong stand on this position ever since all of this began over a year ago, and I don't intend to back down.”
Archbishop Samuel Aquila, the recently installed bishop of Denver, told LifeSiteNews after the Vigil Mass that he and many other bishops will simply refuse to cooperate if the government tries to force their hand.
“Certainly we as bishops are still considering what the options will be if it does go through,” he explained. “Many of us have already stated that we will not and cannot cooperate with the mandate.”
“There will be implications on it, whether it means narrowing some of what we do, or continue what we do and not cooperate with the mandate,” he added. “But it's a very real concern and grave concern in terms of religious freedom and freedom of conscience.”
Archbishop Aquila encouraged lay Catholics who are threatened by the mandate to follow the bishops’ lead, noting that Denver has a Catholic-owned company, Hercules Industries, that was one of the first to file suit against the Obama administration.
“I just really try to encourage Catholics: stay strong, stay firm, and continue to do what you're doing,” he said. “Continue to fight, because we as bishops can only do so much and it's going to be important for the laity to follow and to respond.”
Though all the bishops across the country have opposed the mandate, which forces employers to cover abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives, and sterilizations, many are reluctant to speculate on how they will respond going forward.
Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C. is one who instead has stressed that the bishops hope they can reach an agreement with the administration.
LifeSiteNews asked the Cardinal about the mandate during a media availability before the Mass for Life at the Verizon Center on Jan. 25th, the day of the March for Life.
“We are very hopeful that as time goes on and our conference continues to work with the administration, that something will allow us to continue to function as we always have, as a free entity freely exercising our ministry in our country,” he said.
Pressed about what the bishops will do if the mandate goes forward, he said, “We take this one day at a time, and I'm hopeful that we're going to be able to resolve this.”
The question of jail time in connection with the HHS mandate was raised in the national media earlier this month when Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said he had advised his bishop to “go to jail” if need be. The 2013 gubernatorial candidate said if citizens were jailed it would “provide an example of what tyranny means when it’s played to its logical conclusion.”
Well even now, the king has been shown by one or two recent court rulings as well as new media showing that the king HAS NO CLOTHES. Good for those who are pointing that out.
And when your assets have been seized, your bank accounts frozen, your property confiscated and you still refuse to comply with Big Brother, what happens then?
That's right. The same thing that happens to Joe Public when he refuses to pay his court imposed fines.
You spend some time in the pokey.
See post 35 Maybe you can understand it phrased in a different way. People and organizations that are 95% liberal are NOT allies just because you agree on 5%.
Revolt is coming folks.
With the Pope appointing more conservative bishiops, that is slowly is changing.
There is a lot of history of support for liberal causes to overcome, PLUS I don't for one minute think that the church is a hotbed of pedophiles, but the bishops' bad judgment in being complicit in covering up and moving around the few bad apples also hurt their credibility with the masses.
This is why the Pope has A LOT of work cut out for him.
Two bishops, out of how many? The rest continue to be lukewarm, and IMO deserve to be vomited out of Jesus' mouth:
Archbishop Samuel Aquila, the recently installed bishop of Denver, told LifeSiteNews after the Vigil Mass that he and many other bishops will simply refuse to cooperate if the government tries to force their hand. “Certainly we as bishops are still considering what the options will be if it does go through,” he explained. “Many of us have already stated that we will not and cannot cooperate with the mandate.” “There will be implications on it, whether it means narrowing some of what we do, or continue what we do and not cooperate with the mandate,” he added. “But it's a very real concern and grave concern in terms of religious freedom and freedom of conscience”....
....Though all the bishops across the country have opposed the mandate, which forces employers to cover abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives, and sterilizations, many are reluctant to speculate on how they will respond going forward. Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C. is one who instead has stressed that the bishops hope they can reach an agreement with the administration.
If Obama takes away Religious Freedom,the 500,000 protesters that were in Washington on January 25,2013 will grow to several million and even the mainstream will not be able to ignore this demonstration which could bring about the end of the Obama administration.
Probably true, but I like this talk.
Try to remember what it is that the article said - that the bishops are willing to go to jail rather than comply with Obamacare and the HHS mandate.
My point was that this is false bravado because NO BISHOP WILL GO TO JAIL for failure to comply with Obamacare generally or the HHS mandate specifically.
The government will not criminally prosecute, just impose civil fines and penalties. And it's just a bit of paper shuffling to take the money.
Certainly, the faithful can pony up more money to the Church. And to the degree that the money they give exceeds what the government takes in fines, penalties and taxes, the bishops will have stuff left over.
But 1) don't think the federal government will not exact its tribute and 2) don't think they need to jail bishops to accomplish that task.
sitetest
Before this is over there will be martyrs - faithful made to die for their faith.
You should have been at the March. It was dominated by very dedicated YOUNG people of all faiths.This younger generation is Not going to take no for an answer.The youth will lead us.
You should have been at the March. It was dominated by very dedicated YOUNG people of all faiths.This younger generation is Not going to take no for an answer.The youth will lead us.
I went with my 14 year old daughter and a group from 3 different Catholic churches in my area. Many teens and early 20 somethings in our group. The enthusiasm at the March was amazing. I expected some young people but they really blew me away with their numbers! They are the pro-life movement!
The Bishops are involved with far more than an individual insurance mandate. They oversee Hospitals and Charities -non profit employers that will not comply. They pay no taxes.
What will the administration do if the Bishops do not comply with the seizures? I doubt it will be as you suggest -nothing.
Can you believe Weurl’s statement at the bottom of the article?
Will non-Catholics ministers follow their example and go to jail also?
The (left-leaning) Bishops [We call them Bernardin’s Boys] are being replaced by Pope Benedict with strong, believing, life-supporting and willing to go to jail for life Bishops.
We need to pray for both Pope Benedict and these Bishops. I am personally delighted that one of these Bishops with a spine is coming to Western Oregon!
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