Fr. Z's Blog

FAVOR ASKED BELOW.

Supporters of the Obama Adminstration in a campaign of deceptive rhetoric are trying to tar the Church as being “political” whenever the bishops teach about matters of morals or raise their voices in the public square concerning any social issue. When the bishops raise their voices on social issues in the public square they do so not only on the basis and background of our faith, but rather of reason and the natural law. Liberals, the truly political left, however, paints what the Church holds by faith and reason as “policies”, implying that the Church’s pastors are being political when they teach on any issue which is also a social issue. They are also suggesting that political pressure must be brought against the Church so that the bishops will change their “policies” or shut up.

A case in point is found in the lies told in the liberal media about the Church and healthcare and women.

A nice antidote to comes from a concrete example in (President of the USCCB) His Eminence Timothy Card. Dolan’s blog (my emphases):

Religious Freedom and Protecting Healthcare for Women and Children

[…]

[I]f you want to see creative, daring, lifegiving healthcare for women and their children, look at what the Church is doing.

And now understand why Catholics rightly bristle when politicians and commentators characterize the Church as backwards and insensitive when it comes to women’s health. Yes, the PR experts advise them that this tactic is a proven ploy to take the attention off the current urgent issue of religious freedom. The marketers advise them that, if they can reduce the issue to one of contraception, stereotyping the Church as opposed to women’s rights, they have a chance of clouding the towering issue of the First Freedom.

But the Church should not be the ones on the defensive here. We’re on the offensive when it comes to women’s health, education, and welfare, here at home, and throughout the world. We hardly need lectures on this issue from senators.

We just want to be left alone to live out the imperatives of our faith to serve, teach, heal, feed, and care for others. We cherish this, our earthly home, America, for its enshrined freedom to do so. Those really concerned about women’s health would be better off defending the Church’s freedom to continue its work.

A couple of years ago I visited a woman’s prison. The warden asked me if I wanted to visit the expectant and new mothers’ healthcare center. It then dawned on me that, of course, some women would enter prison pregnant. I was so happy to see the expectant moms, getting good health care for themselves and their unborn babies, and to see the moms with babies under two getting classes in childrearing and parenting skills, with the babies receiving tender care right next to their moms. When I told the warden how grateful I was to see such excellent care for these women and children, he replied, “Thank yourself. Catholic Charities runs it.”

Case closed . . .

WDTPRS kudos to Card. Dolan.  Do me a favor: Go spike Card. Dolan’s stats at his blog (CLICK HERE) and encourage him! Tell him Fr. Z sent you!

If half of you go and leave a nice note and promise of prayers, I’ll bet he would be very encouraged. He has a combox.  It’ll take … what… 30 seconds?