Posted on 01/29/2012 1:34:07 PM PST by Salvation
Letter January 25, 2012 from Archbishop John G. Vlazny on the matter of freedom of conscience and decisions by HHS
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:It is important for you to know that the federal government has just dealt a heavy blow to the Catholic population and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers,
including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.By this ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. Unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to violate our consciences or drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.
We cannot and will not comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom.
In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.
And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I recommend visiting
www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision.Thank you for all you do to build the Church and society
.Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend John G. Vlazny
Archbishop of Portland in Oregon
Our Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati issued a similar letter on the 25th and our Parish Priest, Father Tom Dennemann, read it during Mass announcements today. I’m excited to contact our senators and representatives on this matter, however, I worry that our voices will go nowhere. I pray that I’m wrong.
J
Our Blessed Mother asked America’s Bishops to enthrone a statue of her as Our Lady of America in her National Shrine. The statue is located across the street in the Bl. Pope JPII Cultural Center waiting for the Bishops’ action.
http://www.ourladyofamerica.org
This reminds me of the world’s Bishops not consecrating the world to Our Lady per her request at Fatima. WWII could have been avoided if they had done this. And we’re seeing Bishops’ non compliance happen all over again in America, as the gauntlet has been thrown down directly at the Catholic Church.
God wants to save America, but He wants to do it through Our Blessed Mother, and in this way.
See my post #21. Rather than writing to Congress, it’s time to write to the Bishops.
Ping to my post #21. This is the remedy.
Because it was a letter from a Catholic Archbishop.
They need to sue big time.
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