From the USCCB:
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the following statement, October 12. Full text follows:
Last night, the following statement was made during the Vice Presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the health insurance coverage they provide their employees:
“With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact.”
This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain “religious employers.” That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to “Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital,” or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.
HHS has proposed an additional “accommodation” for religious organizations like these, which HHS itself describes as “non-exempt.” That proposal does not even potentially relieve these organizations from the obligation “to pay for contraception” and “to be a vehicle to get contraception.” They will have to serve as a vehicle, because they will still be forced to provide their employees with health coverage, and that coverage will still have to include sterilization, contraception, and abortifacients. They will have to pay for these things, because the premiums that the organizations (and their employees) are required to pay will still be applied, along with other funds, to cover the cost of these drugs and surgeries.
USCCB continues to urge HHS, in the strongest possible terms, actually to eliminate the various infringements on religious freedom imposed by the mandate.
For more details, please see USCCB’s regulatory comments filed on May 15 regarding the proposed “accommodation”: www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/rulemaking/upload/comments-on-advance-notice-of-proposed-rulemaking-on-preventive-services-12-05-15.pdf
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Biden is giving huge scandal to Catholics. How many souls is he leading away from Our Lord with his duplicitous and arrogant lies?
I though Ryan should have challenged him on the issue of stating life begins at conception by that he was ok with murdering the unborn anyway. Of course then Ryan would have to answer for the rape/incest/life of the mother exceptions. Too bad our “Pro-Life” politicians are unable to make clear arguments for life.
I was disappointed that, in response to Biden’s false assertions, Ryan did not articulate the fact that employers are compelled to provide insurance that covers contraception, etc. (“Hey Joe! Ever hear of something called SCANDAL?”). He could only remind Biden that the Church is still suing HHS. I can’t blame Ryan, debates are unnerving enough without having to deal with two opponents.
I guess that’s why Biden did so “well.” He felt free to make up facts out of thin air.
While the bishop have their lie detectors turned on, maybe they’d be interested in 9 more from our catholic vp. http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/12/Fact-Check-Top-Ten-Worst-Lies-by-Joe-Biden-in-VP-Debate
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I could have had the sound turned off during the entire debate and seen what a creep Biden is. That nasty grin, body language, jabbing finger, constantly shaking his head when Ryan was speaking.. he was well aware of the fact that he had to somehow save Obama from his miserable debate performance, and of course Biden would lie blatantly about anything, including his faith. He and His boss are a perfect team, and as a “catholic” he lends credence to what Obama needs him for. I give Ryan credit for sitting there and maintaining his composure, although he could have had a stronger comback. But the American people would still, for the most part, remain uneducated about the details of the HHS Mandate and will willingly choose two such morally empty men. Do you think they read Blogs like this and learn the truth? No, they are too busy feeling clever and tearing the Republicans down in the comment sections of the MSM.
I was stunned when he said what he did about the HHS mandate. So stunned, that I raised my voice at the TV and called him a liar. Not very charitable of me, I admit — but it was such a brazen lie.
Biden acted like a child, smirking, laughing, and rolling his eyes at Ryan. He is a total perpetual adolescent and not vice president material.
Let’s all remember to pray for Biden. I’m sorely disappointed in him, but sometimes my impression is that he is less malicious than some others, such as the minority leader, or the Secretary of Health and Human Services. It would not surprise me if he really believes that the so-called accommodations are sufficient. I think that in his mind, given the contortions that are required to make it in American politics at all, he thinks he has somehow found the best way to harmonize things. He hasn’t; he has tricked himself or been tricked by others, and chosen to believe the lie. But surely we have all failed to uphold the truth when circumstances made it difficult. Surely we have all done bad while telling ourselves that somehow we are doing a greater good. I see myself in Biden, and see the need we all have for forgiveness and redemption.
iowapapist: Radditz interrupted Ryan as soon as he got those first few words out. Neither Biden nor Radditz would let Ryan be heard for long.
That “Fib-O-Meter” was cranking up pretty high on a number of issues… And yes Peggy R, I noticed that too. The deck was stacked against Rep. Ryan, though he held his own admirably, I think.
Yes, I do pray for Pres. Obama and Vice Pres. Biden, and I hope we all do, but I also hope and pray for a change in leadership, come this January!
Pray also for the Bishops of “catholics” such as Biden and Pelosi et al. They are failing in their sacred duty to speak clearly and truthfully to public scandal mongers such as these. No Holy Communion!!
I’m not, in the least bit, defending the vice president. To be clear, I know I will not be voting the democrat ticket. But, I wonder if “fib” is the correct word here. To “fib” means you intentionally know that what you are saying is false. I really wonder if the Vice President understands or has the capacity to understand this issue. He may have just been told that line of “stuff” and believed it, without really looking into the issue.
Ooooooh man did Biden annoy me!
Biden annoyed me with his phony (or smug) smile, as soon as he appeared. When he began speaking, I was no longer annoyed, but deeply offended. Lies, lies, lies.
It upset me a great deal to see Mr. Biden take on the mantel of my religion, use my religion, to try to promote what my religion stands against.
Shame on us for allowing this to go on so long.
Facta,
You are culpable for something you can know, and you should know, but you choose not to know. I ought to know! That’s what half my gravest sins were about. I’d label it fibbing because you are lying to yourself in order to lie to others, but if another label applies, that’s fine — the gravity is what it is.
As a businessman who is fighting this HHS mandate, I was stunned when the VP made this statement. Ryan had an opportunity to go for the jugular, but he didn’t. This was the one issue I wanted to see in the debate: Kennedy Catholicism vs. Thomas More Catholicism. That was left virtually ignored.
I didn’t watch, but reading the various accounts I can say only quelle surprise.
This election is what comes of forgetting that liberty is the province of a virtuous people…and for taking Caesar’s word for what belongs to Caesar. Were the state limited to its proper function, we could simply pray he sees the light and repents, without our futures depending on the election.
Anyone who is sick of all the lies must be fed to the teeth with Democrats.
I am puzzled why no one seems to note the positive lawlessness, uncouthness, rudeness of Vice-President Biden in so frequently and relentlessly INTERRUPTING Representative Ryan, and sometimes the Moderator. The Moderator should have stopped these interruptions firmly. Someone has suggested that she too interrupted Representative Ryan. It seems that on that matter she was a poor Moderator. In any event, Vice-President Biden seems to have been a boor.
Yes, Biden was/is a boor. Yes, she was a poor moderator (as expected.) By one account, Biden interrupted 82 times.
Question.
If the Obama administration should withdraw the HHS mandate, will the bishops support ObamaCare? Haven’t they put themselves in a box? Most supported government regulated health care before the mandate.
Having seen Joe Biden in action when “interagating” Republican nominations to the Supreme
Court, his behavior was no surprise–including the sneering smiles. He and Kennedy worked very hard to keep anyone who might vote against Roe v Wade off the court. He knew exactly what he was saying last night. I seem to recall that he had to drop out of running for the Democrat nomination for President years ago because he was caught misrepresenting the truth.
I am praying that this country will be saved from these two and the entire administration.
Radditz was predictable considering her ties to the Democrats and Obama.
[I put this comment after the wrong post…sorry]
I just got back from the Romney rally in Chesterfield County. One of the speakers paraphrased Proverbs 29:9 thusly: “If a wise person debates with a fool,the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.” That got a big roar from the crowd. I think the take-away from this debate will be the absurd, childish antics of the Vice President of the United States. The picture of him laughing like a hyena about embassies being attacked, an ambassador being assassinated, and millions out of work will remain as the enduring image of the debate.
For him to engineer a flat out lie such as this establishes how desperate their campaign really is, and especially their desperate attempt to grab Catholic votes.
And, he is in conflict with his boss the President who over this past week has actually been bragging about the merits of requiring all to provide contraception, sterilization, and abortifacients. He is oddly not going around attempting to convince Catholic voters that what is there isn’t in fact there. So which is it anyway.
Well the man also thinks “being Catholic” forms his “very being”. Pfftt!
I think Joe Biden was trying to shore up the base; the far left of the party laps up that sort of crude, vulgar, abusive behavior. They are bullies at heart, so Biden was playing to them. I think the Obama campaign is just trying to keep the election from being a humiliating landslide against them at this point. So Biden threw the beasts some red meat. Biden already had a 51% unfavorable rating with women; I’d love to see what it goes to after this display.
Well the man also thinks “being Catholic” forms his “very being”. Pfftt!
I nearly choked on that one, despite being prepared–I thought–for the worst.
“Well the man also thinks “being Catholic” forms his “very being”. Pfft”
I noticed that he looked down and wouldn’t look into the camera when he said that line. Maybe he can still feel shame.
Another lie has been fact-checked: he claimed he didn’t vote for either the Afghanistan or Iraq wars:
“I was there, I voted against them,” Biden continued. “I said, no, we can’t afford that.”
He voted for both. The guy is just a non-stop lie generator. It’s pretty sad.
As to the lies:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/11/Joe-Biden-Lie-Detectorhttp://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/12/Fact-Check-Top-Ten-Worst-Lies-by-Joe-Biden-in-VP-Debate
Could he really have thought no one would notice?
wmeyer said: “Could he really have thought no one would notice?”
I don’t think he cares or gives it a thought. He lies with impunity; in the circles in which he travels, lying is a virtue. One of his whoopers is causing the WH a big headache though – his claim that “we” were never told that the Libyan embassy security team had requested more security.” It was fun watching Jay Carney trying to explain that “we” means “Vice President Biden, President Obama, and the WH, NOT the administration.” Well, who is the “administration” for goodness sakes????
e.e.
– You are being perfectly charitable when you point out to a man that he is in fact a liar!
SKAY
In 1988, Biden had to drop out of the presidential race for plagiarism. He lifted a speech from British labor party leader Neil Kinnock. The speech had to do with success and having a “platform on which to stand.”
Does Biden have NPD?
Another thing that strikes me watching that youtube clip is, that when Ryan speaks I can easily follow his reasoning and logic, but when Biden talks, he just heaps statements, frases and words rather incoherently in a big pile so, in the end, I just have no of idea what he just said. Add the smugness – what a disgrace!!! He should be forced to go to an old school nuns school for several years. He wouuld just lie once, ha!
Biden didn’t just plagiarize a few phrases, or a speech, from Kinnock – he plagiarized Kinnock’s *life*. First one in his family to go to college – descended from Welsh coal miners – and while he at first credited Kinnock, after a while he stopped and was just claiming Kinnock’s biography for himself. It was surreal.
o.h.: Biden didn’t just plagiarize Kinnock, he failed a paper in college for having plagiarized 5 pages of a book. In the 1988 campaign, he plagiarized JFK and Hubert Humphrey. For Joe, plagiarism seems not a slip, but a tool, and a way of life.
wmeyer said ” For Joe, plagiarism seems not a slip, but a tool, and a way of life.”
This is why I don’t make any allowances for Biden’s supposed brain injury (I believe he had an aneurysm some time back). His lying and stealing long precede any physical issue. He isn’t just dementing, as some in the party have suggested. He has been a liar all of his life (and a darned poor one, at that).
He has been a liar all of his life (and a darned poor one, at that).
That appears to be true, Sissy. And clearly unrepentant. Repentance, after all, requires that we amend our life. I see no evidence of that.
I believe the closest Joe came to any evidence of shame was when he declared his faith, while not looking into the camera.
wmeyer, I agree! There was a moment when he genuinely seemed to be ashamed of what he was saying…he ducked his head for just a moment and mumbled a little, looking down and not making eye contact. That said to me that there is still a little corner of his soul that knows the difference between right and wrong. I felt sorry for him in that moment. As JKnott suggested, we should pray for him to recover himself and return to the teachings of the Church.
Why should we expect the vice-president to know all the facts when the president himself doesn’t even know what the national debt number is? Sheer incompetence.
And of course, myself and all my friends, and our kids, will have to bear the brunt of this national disaster, Obama/Biden and their outrageous lies and numbers.
I am begging all of you who can vote, please vote for the right people so that in twenty years I will still live in a free nation.
Forget scandal.
Here are the fines:
For non-compliance, which means obtaining insurance that doesn’t cover abortion:
$100 per day per employee, for a grand total of $36,500 per year, per employee
For avoidance, which means dropping all insurance and giving a bonus so employees can get their own
$2000 per employee per year PLUS penalties so that the employee gets punished too.
These fines are triggered if ANY of the 4 conditions are not met. Here are the conditions:
“(1) has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose.
(2) primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets.
(3) primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets.
(4) is a nonprofit organization” under specific sections of the Internal Revenue Code.
All 4 must be met. Many Catholic institutions including food banks, soup kitchens, pro-life organizations, schools and religious orders do not meet all 4 of these.
We can scream and yell about politics and manners all day long, but this is the bottom line. Many of these organizations are going to have to shut down if Obama is not replaced in November.
Many Catholics are not paying attention and they will be shocked, maybe outraged, when all these things shut down but it will be too late.