President Harrison has not yet spoken, I think. According to the schedule, it looks like he is slated to speak as the second witness.
LCMS Ping
Posted on 02/15/2012 6:46:57 PM PST by Charles Henrickson
LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison will take part in a Capitol Hill hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in Washington, D. C., on Thursday, Feb. 16. The hearing will focus on the issues of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience in relation to the Obama administration's recent health-care ruling regarding contraceptives.
The panel also will include Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist and Jewish leaders.
The Rev. John T. Pless, who teaches theological ethics and is an assistant professor of Pastoral Ministry and missions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and Ann Stillman, vice-president and general counsel for Concordia Plan Services (the LCMS' church workers' health plan), will accompany Harrison to the nation's Capitol.
On Tuesday, Feb. 14, Harrison also released a statement in response to President Obama's Friday, Feb. 10, revision of the initial health-care ruling--one that required religious organizations to cover the cost of contraceptives (including abortive drugs)--calling the modification simply a "temporary enforcement delay."
The original Jan. 20 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announcement required that health insurance plans "cover preventive services for women including recommended contraceptive services."
But on Friday, after a public outcry concerning a violation of religious rights and rights of consciences, President Obama appeared to offer an "accommodation," saying that non-profit religious organizations will no longer be required to include contraceptives in their health insurance plans. Coverage of contraceptives, however, would still be available through the insurance providers themselves.
"We see President Obama's action Friday as significant," said Harrison, but "the 'accommodation' did not expand the exemption for religious employers, nor did it restrict the mandate in any way."
"We remain opposed to this mandate because it runs counter to the biblical truth of the sanctity of human life," Harrison noted. "We can no longer expect a favored position for Christianity in this country. But we can, as citizens of this great nation, fight for constitutional sanity against secularizing forces."
Harrison also encouraged members of the LCMS to "pray for and support our government" while reminding them that "our consciences and lives belong to God."
James F. Sanft, president and CEO of Concordia Plan Services, praised Harrison for taking a strong stand on the issue, noting that the administration's mandate has far-reaching implications for the Church.
"We strongly support President Harrison's statement on behalf of the LCMS," said Sanft. "The issues here go well beyond the Concordia Health Plan and our ability to serve our members in a manner consistent with our Lutheran doctrine."
"This is, first, an issue of religious freedom and the First Amendment," he said, "and second, an issue of life, as drugs that result in abortions are being defined as 'contraceptives.'"
Harrison's statement regarding Obama's revision of the ruling can be read here. Harrison also released a video statement that can be seen here.
The Washington, D.C., hearing, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. EST, can be streamed live at the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's website.
Later this morning when I have timne I’ll go back and read Harrison’s whole statement.
God bless the LCMS, God bless this good man.
President Harrison has not yet spoken, I think. According to the schedule, it looks like he is slated to speak as the second witness.
LCMS Ping
A strong opening statement.
Having watched this morning’s hearing, I thought President Harrison did an excellent job representing our church body. Indeed, I was impressed with all five panelists. Harrison’s opening statement and his answers to questions were solid throughout. He did us proud.
I think some folks who saw this might have had the feeling that he was pandering at times (mentioning Selma and his extensive work in third-world countries).
Couldn’t be helped because our theological stance is so foreign to the average citizen’s.
Excellent summation, and yes, the scenario does sound very familiar to us also...
Thanks for the ping!
I just re-read your profile. Very interesting.
Knowing the use of taqiyya, I’m wondering if faithful Muslims would have a problem with Obama pushing both the homosexual and abortion agendas in the US, or if they would see this as simply taqiyya and/or a way to undermine the western culture so it will be destroyed by its own corruption.
It’s always seemed to me that the Muslim world has believed Obama is practicing taqiyya when he calls himself Christian, because they have always said he is Muslim, they trust him to push the Muslim agenda, and they have not condemned him as an apostate.
I’m wondering if there’s any chance that the Muslim world sees Obama himself as the Mahdi. Seems like Ahmadinejad’s mockery of Obama doesn’t fit that picture, though, and I always thought they believed the Mahdi would appear suddenly.
Given that taqiyya allowed -- indeed, encouraged -- some of the 9/11 terrorists to drink alcohol at strip joints, and ignore their daily prayers, in order to maintain their cover, I think your guess would be correct. I think also that usually Obama has poised himself on these things with an attitude that "I'm not advocating these things, but simply allowing these Americans to live according to the man-made laws of American freedom which they have devised."
I’m wondering if there’s any chance that the Muslim world sees Obama himself as the Mahdi.
That I don't see. Though maybe one of those who "pave the way."
Seems like Ahmadinejad’s mockery of Obama doesn’t fit that picture, though, and I always thought they believed the Mahdi would appear suddenly.
Ahmadinejad would most definitely not think of BHO as the Mahdi, because for him the Mahdi is the still-living Twelfth Imam from the 9th century AD.
Besides that, if Obama is a Muslim, he is a Sunni.
In your opinion, is Obama doing what the Muslim world believes needs to be done to pave the way for the Mahdi?
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