Card. Burke Encourages Catholics to Sign Online Petition to Stop the Birth Control Mandate

For Immediate Release
February 6, 2012
Press inquiries to: Megan Morris (913) 426-0002

Breaking News: Cardinal Raymond Burke Encourages Catholics to Sign Online Petition to Stop the Birth Control Mandate
San Diego, February 6, 2012: Cardinal Raymond Burke, Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, sent a written message of support to St. Gianna Physician’s Guild over the weekend encouraging Catholics to sign the organization’s online petition (www.StopTheBirthControlMandate.org) to protest the assault on religious liberty that is happening under ObamaCare. The petition has steadily gained momentum since its launch last August seeing the number of signatures more than double since January 20th. This is after the Department of Health and Human Services released a statement confirming that the mandate would go into effect as scheduled on August 1, 2012. An extension of one year was given to Catholic institutions and other entities to comply. This mandate does not provide a conscience clause for institutions and others who believe contraception and sterilization are immoral.

Stop the Birth Control Mandate petition asks that the Obama Administration and Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, withdraw immediately all references to contraception and contraception counseling from the “Guidelines for Women’s Preventive Services” under The Affordable Care Act. Moreover, it petitions the administration to provide a conscience clause to protect the religious freedom and beliefs of Catholics. In his letter Cardinal Burke declared:
I wholeheartedly express my solidarity with the Stop The Birth Control Mandate petition promoted by St. Gianna Physician’s Guild protesting the recent decree by the Department of Health and Human Services of our federal government. I encourage Catholics to sign the petition and thus unite their support of Holy Mother Church by protesting the most grievous violation of the right to religious liberty for Catholics in the United States.

Cardinal Burke has long had the reputation of providing guidance in areas of faith and morals through his willingness to make public statements to encourage the Faithful.

“The petition sends a clear message to the Obama Administration that this contraception mandate is wrong, discriminatory and violates the religious rights of Catholics all across America,” stated the Guild’s President, Thomas McKenna.
McKenna noted that already more than 150 Catholic bishops across the country have written letters decrying the mandate. “It is inspiring to see the bishops speaking out with such determination and moral clarity in encouraging the faithful to oppose the mandate. St. Gianna Physician’s Guild applauds their leadership,” McKenna continued.

The petition has provided Catholics and people of all faiths an outlet to express their outrage in what many feel is an act of government tyranny. The petition was posted on the Archdiocese of Denver’s web site and has resulted in parishioners collecting signatures after weekend Masses.

St Gianna Physician’s Guild (www.StGiannaPhysicians.org) was founded to unite and encourage Catholic physicians, as well as others in the health care profession, to promote and defend Catholic principles in a public way and to inspire sanctification in their lives. The petition can be signed at: www.StopTheBirthControlMandate.org

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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10 Comments

  1. KAS says:

    It seems to me that the time for signing petitions is past. It is time for more direct action and a strong press for Catholics to change their voting patterns so as to help elect pro-life pro-religious freedom candidates. This isn’t easy since so few exist, but at least we can vote OUT incumbents who participated in putting our country into this mess.

    Petitions just make people feel they have already done something and provide an outlet for their energies so that they then do nothing more. It is part of how we got here.

  2. wmeyer says:

    KAS, we cantry to vote people out. But look closely, ans tell me you are sure we have better candidates to put in their place. In the case of the Presidency, I am not sure we will have a choice that makes a difference. As it is shaping up, we are likely to have exactly the choice which the liberal media wishes us to have: Obama vs. Romney.

  3. DFWShook says:

    I’m sure that St Gianna Physician’s Guild would mind individuals copying the text of the petition, tweaking the text (esp. the last sentence) and e-mailing/faxing it to your Senators, Congressman, Sec. Sebelius and Pres. Obama. And if your Congressmen or Senator is not up for re-election this year, you can tell them that you’re supporting a Republican candidate in another district or state who is running and does support a Conscience Clause. And if you were one of the Catholics who voted for Obama in 2008, but Sec. Sebelius’s action has made you change your mind, you would probably want to include that in your letter too; especially those to Sec. Sebelius and Pres. Obama.

  4. MarkJ says:

    Obama is testing our resolve as Catholics. He doesn’t care what we think. He has hit the Church at its weakest point, where so many members have chosen the path of disobedience. And he knows he will get a second term to finish what he has started. Be prepared for it. Get your spiritual life in order. Pray and Fast this Lent and practice your Faith openly while you still can. This Man is up to something…

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  6. DetJohn says:

    As MarkJ said, “Obama is testing our resolve as Catholics.” We Catholics need to do more than sign an online petition. An online petition will not be seen by most of the D.C. crowd and cause no discomfort.

    If you want to get the attention of the powers to be in D.C. you need to take some action that will cause them to take notice. One such action would be to send massive amounts of snail mail to each of the top people in government. All Mailed on the same day.

    According to Catholic-Hierarchy.com there are 64.7million Catholic in the USA. If 6million were to mail a letter (no postcards) to President Obama , Vice-president Biden, Secretary Sebelius,
    Speaker of the House Boehner, House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor, House Minority Leader Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Reid and Senate Minority McConnel will know and see resolve.
    In addition to the above, send a letter to each of their Senators and US Rep. at their D.C. office. Letters have to be opened. Staffs won’t know what the letter is about and can’t tell them from other mail. No Mr. & Mrs. Letters. Eleven letters would cost $4.95 for each Catholic or about $29.7 million for the US Postal Srvice.

    Keep the lstter simple and to the point. No name calling and no threats. Express your disatification with the mandate, ask that it be reversed and demand a reply. If no reply in a month or so, slam them again. This will make a physical presence. I am sure this will upset those that are imposing this unjust mandate upon us, but they will know Catholic resolve.

    Somone organizational skills would be needed. It might lead to the Presidency.

    I your reply is, you will never get 6million Catholics to any action, then we get what is coming to us. Or come up with a meaningful solution. Grumbling will accomplish nothing and we will wakeup one day and say again “What Happened?”

    We need others to get involved. I read somewhere today that the Orthodox Biships in US are up set. Get them involved in what ever plan that someone comes up with.

  7. Tony Layne says:

    At this point, according to the Rasmussen polls, either Romney or (better) Santorum could give the Obamination a good race and stand a good chance of beating him. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: He’s not an 800-pound gorilla! Astro-turf won’t work for him this year. And the HHS mandate is offending some Catholics who don’t otherwise care about the Church’s teaching, as well as causing some non-Catholic religious leaders to look over their shoulders (this year it’s us, next year it’s them).

    I’ve got badges with links on both my blogs to this petition; I also encourage people to sign the WhiteHouse.gov petition Frank Weathers (Why I Am Catholic) set up, which is nearing the 25,000 mark. Also, DFWShook, you had a great idea: copy the St. Gianna petition and fax it to your congressional representatives.

    Remember: Qui tacet consentire videtur ubi loqui debuit ac potuit. Now is the time for us to speak up!

  8. pm125 says:

    We need also to include our youth – a strong presence as seen at the March for Life – in communications (online is where they are). Even though they are not voting age, they can communicate with politicians and have the heart to do so. They need direction . As far as I know, there are no age limits for petitions or letter writing.

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