People from all over are writing to me about what their local bishop is writing or saying about Pres. Obama’s attack on the 1st Amendment, on religious freedom, and on the Catholic Church.
I posted entries about the great Bp. Sample (D. Marquette) and Bp. Zubik (D. Pittsburgh). I have also posted about Card. Dolan.
I can’t post everything anyone sends. Think about it.
YOU can post something here.
I ask that you just post the news and A LINK without lots of comments and discussion. Just the fact, folks. The Who, What, Where, Why, When, What Means, etc., please. Link and brief explanation.
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Contraception mandate prompts Peoria bishop to instate St. Michael Prayer
Read more: http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/US.php?id=4749#ixzz1kfm4BTPk
HHS mandate a ‘death knell’ for religious freedom, says Denver bishop
Read more: http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/US.php?id=4745#ixzz1kfmI5dsh
The NC bishops sent out an email directing people to contact their elected representatives using this form:
http://www.votervoice.net/core.aspx?APP=GAC&AID=917&IssueID=27231&SiteID=-1
Here is the complete article by Bishop Conley, the Apostolic Administrator of the Denver archdiocese:
http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/7518?CFID=42568576&CFTOKEN=53828350
From Bishop Farrell in Dallas: “Secretary Sebelius’ statement ‘I believe this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services’ is absolutely ludicrous.”
http://bishopkevinfarrell.org/blog/2012/01/the-war-against-religious-freedom-escalates/
Diocese of Phoenix – Bp. Olmsted’s homily last Sunday: http://catholic-kara.blogspot.com/2012/01/bishop-olmsteds-homily-1-22-12.html
Diocese of Arlington – Bishop Paul Loverde’s statement: http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/news.php?id=333
And also in the Diocese of Richmond – Bishop Francis Dilorenzo’s letter to parishioners: http://www.richmonddiocese.org/sites/default/files/hhs_letter_parishioners.pdf
Archdiosese of St. Louis – His Grace Archbishop Carlson’s Pastoral letter
http://stlouisreview.com/article/2012-01-23/pastoral-message
didn’t take my html code embedding the link in the word letter :(
I was discussing this issue with a friend of mine who is Catholic but who leans a little more to the left than I do. She put forward argument which I hadn’t considered and which I was unable to refute. There are certain religious groups who refuse to accept blood transfusions who are already paying taxes into a health care system which of course gives blood transfusions. Are their rights being violated? I had to say yes, and I wasn’t sure how to make the argument that the Catholic situation is any different. Any ideas as to a counter-argument?
Bishop Robert C. Morlino of the Diocese of Madison’s statement:
http://www.madisoncatholicherald.org/bishopsletters/2889-bp-letter.html
Bishop R. Walker Nickless, Ordinary of Sioux City in Iowa.
http://www.scdioceseschools.org/about.cfm?subpage=1418097
Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend at a press conference this morning: we will fight this, we will not give in to this. Details here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZH7P0-0b6M
Archbishop Dolan of NYC has made many public statements on the subject, here is a post from his blog:
http://blog.archny.org/?p=2182
My BIshop, Richard Malone will also be on Al Kresta this Monday.
Here is the link to his statement and the blurb for his guest spot.
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=4cyuy6dab&v=001-jHgZ8K8LRKjB1j-Aeus9KjkVzc7KVjDin5NTAsQq6g6l2tf_p-QUTd88zzYrcy-rBXjHX96B2S8EZHaDBaVLu_EolAuBd32-lK5rK91DSoCdPSzHbeNRKSyIyYas4hSRJ1APx1Wv0SvhH28NcZPMINq5MaPvCfP
Joint statement from the Bishops of Fort Worth and of Dallas:
http://www.fwdioc.org/Documents/english_joint_statement1-27-12.pdf
They say, in part:
“This is part of a pattern in the United States that has degenerated from the recognition of religion as good and salutary in our society to religion being subjected to punitive discrimination.”
Archbishop Schnurr of Cincinnati has sent out a letter apparently based on that circulated by others, and directed that it be read at all Masses this weekend, and be provided to the faithful. Text here: http://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/a-letter-from-archbishop-dennis-m-schnurr-concerning-hhs-edict/5749
His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington
Letter to priests. Not bad statement of problem, but only suggestions to them. From Fr. Cusick’s blog: http://apriestlife.blogspot.com/
Philologus asks about the distinction if any between religious groups that decline blood transfusions…the difference is compulsion under law…no one today is required to purchase or fund insurance for medical care they find morally objectionable … Freedom is the difference!
Just a recommendation: When people see a news report about something a bishop has said, google that diocese and see if you can find the full statement on the diocesan website and offer that here. It allows people to see the entire statement.
For example:
Bishop Zubik’s statement at the Diocese of Pittsburgh: http://diopitt.org/hhs-delays-rule-contraceptive-coverage
From the website of the Archdiocese of Detroit, under the heading, “Bishops Condemn Health Care Mandate”
Abp. Vigneron: ‘Rights trampled’
(audio) WJR Interview: ‘Clear Constitutional violation’
(audio) WDEO Interview: ‘Unprecedented attack on religious liberty’
@philologus @LorrieRob
Philogus, the basic difference is that you are COMPELLING a Church, through its hospitals, to provide a service that it considers objectionable. Some in the Church, through it’s social doctrine, also believes it should provide health care, and hence mandating it provide morally objectionable coverage.
LorrieRob, The Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse blood transfusions, but they do not own a system of medical care, nor do they have a developed social doctrine which they believe mandates them to provide health care.
LorrieRob,you are right, no one TODAY is compelled to buy health insurance they dfind morally objectionable. But, by 2014, under the Affordable Health Care Act they will be compelled to, or pay a fine so as to fund coverage for others.
Both Catholics and Jehovah’s Wittnesses are compelled to pay for things in the health care system they find objectionable. For the Wittnesses, it’s blood tranfusions. For the Catholics, it’s Medicare and Medicaid abortions to save the life of the mother, or in the case of rape and incest.
This issue has to do with compelling a Church to proactively do something it opposes — nothing less. That is the fundamental difference between the transfusion issue and this.
Here is a statement from the Twitter feed of Bishop McGrath, diocese of San Jose, California, that I received moments ago:
http://www.dsj.org/about-us/bishops/bishops-statements/us-health-and-human-services-ruling
“One shudders to think what lies ahead” – Cardinal Dolan.
I have to say, it was truly unnerving as I scrolled down the comments, seeing all of the outraged Bishops. Thank God for their courage…but…miserere nobis.
From, Bishop David O’Connell, C.M.; Diocese of Trenton, NJ.
Former president of the Catholic University of America
Ordained a bishop July 2010 (Coadjutor of Trenton)
Made Bishop of Trenton December 2010 upon the retirement of Bishop John Smith
C.M. = Congregation of the Mission, aka, the Vincentians
http://www.dioceseoftrenton.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=1129
I have been informed that a letter (probably this) will be read at all masses this Sunday.
(If you watch the video, yes, it’s a bandage on his nose.)
The Archdiocese of Baltimore from Bishop Edwin O’Brien, “Assault on Religious Liberty”
http://www.archbalt.org/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=59746
And from my “home” diocese, The Archdiocese for the Military, USA: Archbishop Broglio Issues Statement on Conscience Protection
In light of the recent Health and Human Services mandate Archbishop Broglio has released a statement calling for prayer and action.
http://www.milarch.org/atf/cf/%7B1AF42501-01D5-4EF8-BA48-4450AC27EF98%7D/statementConscienceProtection26Jan12.pdf
Fasting, prayers, and actions
I was delighted to see this thread and the response from the Bishops.
Here is the Diocese of Monterey CA, nothing so far.
This morning I called the Diocese Office and asked whether Bishop Garcia had a public response to Obama’s attack on religious freedom? I was transferred to the office of public relations voicemail. I left a message adding that many other US Bishops were actively speaking out. And, having their priests speak on Sunday on this subject and my sincere hope that Bishop Garcia would do the same, too. I requested a call back. I’ll pray for Bishop Garcia (–not that I don’t already—) When I hear back, I’ll update.
Cardinal O’Malley in Boston: http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Utility/News-And-Press/Content.aspx?id=22746
Bishop in Austin TX doesn’t have much to say about Obamacare and the unconstitutional violations of our God-given rights; there is just a link to the USCCB’s statement.
Chirp. Chirp.
Can’t find a thing from Bishop Matthew Clark in the Diocese of Rochester in NY. A diocese of the “whole cloth” theory. http://www.dor.org/
Perhaps we’ll hear something in the homilies at parish masses this weekend.
Bishop Bruskewitz in Lincoln, Nebraska: http://www.omaha.com/article/20120128/NEWS01/701289898/0
I echo Gretchen’s ‘Chirp. Chirp’ with regards to my diocese, which is just to the east of hers.
Went over to the website a couple of seconds ago, and found nothing as yet from my Bishop.
The most recent news item was about a local pastor who embezzled funds from his former parish.
Go figure…..
Bishop Michael Driscoll of the Diocese of Boise (co-extensive with the entire state of Idaho) has just issued a letter condemning the mandate. However, it doesn’t appear to be online yet.
In a discussion with a priest after confession today, he told me that Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland has issued a letter that will be read at all the Masses in the diocese this weekend. It is not yet online, though.
@Philologus
Yes, those Jehova’s witnesses rights are being violated. There is no need for a “counter-argument.” Concede the point, and draw the important lesson from both cases: the government should not be employed in the collecting of taxes from the citizenry for the purpose of creating numerous “beneficial” programs. The government should take extremely limited taxes from the people for only the most necessary public deeds: defense, administration of justice, keeping the peace, maintaining roads…
It is not the government’s job to build the New Jerusalem, nor is it the people’s job to bankroll them. The government’s job is to ensure the liberties of individuals by defending the people and providing recourse for the wronged. When the government gets involved in such things, the only long-term results can be fraud, waste, abuse, extortion, theft and tyranny. There will always be a project (probably many projects) under such a system, which moral people would be horrified to support via their taxes, even if only because the programs are wasteful and corrupt (let alone morally objectionable in their stated aims); throwing our money at contraception is grossly immoral, but throwing our money down hippy-dippy federalist money-pits is also immoral. So, your objecting friend has a point… but, it’s a point in your favour. It’s not the government’s business. And if we as Christians believe that we are obliged to provide for the needy, then surely we must also undertand that we are also obliged NOT to compel our neighbours and fellows to spend their money on the project, any more than the government has a right to spend our money on its inane objects. If we are obliged to support the needy, then WE are obliged to do it, charitably, of our own means… not by passing legislation that comples such support from the people at large.
Bishop Richard Lennon’s letter to all parishes is now available online. Here is the PDF. http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/news/2012/Letter%20-%20Bishop%20Lennon%20-%202012-01-26.pdf
Archbishop Wilton Gregory had a letter read aloud at all parishes this Sunday.
http://www.archatl.com/offices/communications/press_releases/2012.01.30-hhs.html
There was a good deal of confusion among the pew-sitters, which I tried to clear up in my immediate orbit (I was a civil attorney in the area of insurance law for many years). But the letter could have been both more clearly and more forcefully written. In my opinion. Which with $1.00 will get you a small cup of coffee.
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