What do you think the MSM's reaction would be if the Bush administration were to create a law that all Muslims were forced to eat bacon, egg & cheese sandwiches daily? Obviously not very well - so why hasn't anyone made a peep about the Obama administrations blatant attack on Christianity, specifically Catholics, where institutions would be mandated to cover things that blatantly violated their beliefs? Glenn read the letter and talked to Catholic League's Bill Donahue about it on radio today.
What did the letter say?
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just been dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people — 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.
In so ruling, the Obama 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. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to either violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Obama Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.
We cannot—we 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. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture,
only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. 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 would also recommend visitingwww.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 Obama Administration’s decision.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Alexander K. Sample
Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample
Bishop of Marquette
"I want to make one thing very clear here. This is not about contraception. Why do you think he has abortion‑inducing drugs involved in this thing?" Donahue said.
"The goal is to force Catholic hospitals and all hospitals to provide for abortion coverage. They're just starting with what they think is the least offensive. We know exactly where they're going."
Donahue spoke of other incursions of government into the church.
"Just a few weeks ago, while we did win in a unanimous decision, unprecedented, 9 to nothing, the Supreme Court affirmed the idea of ministerial exception, meaning that all churches have the right to decide who works there and how to handle their employees, hiring and firing. The Obama administration did not want that. The Obama administration stood with the New York Times. They want the Federal Government making these decisions. Now, whether or not we have women priests, that's for Catholics to decide. Obama wants the Federal Government to decide. That's why he argued this case in the Supreme Court," Donahue said.
Glenn wanted to know what non-Catholics could do to show their support. Donahue encouraged people to visit CatholicAdvocate.com as well as to press the Congressmen for "respect for rights of conscious act."
