Bishops take religious freedom fight to each state
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Roman Catholic groups on Thursday embarked on a two-week campaign of prayer vigils, rallies and other events to draw attention to what they consider government attacks on religious freedom.
Called the “Fortnight for Freedom,” bishops organized the education campaign during liturgical feasts for martyred defenders of the faith. Independent advocacy groups such as CatholicVote.org and Women Speak For Themselves, have joined the effort with TV ads, videos, Facebook appeals and petition drives.
While the religious freedom campaign includes protests against state laws and policies, the bishops’ immediate target is the mandate President Barack Obama announced in January that most employers provide health insurance that covers birth control. Federal officials said the rule was critical to women’s health by helping them space out pregnancies.
Critics have accused the bishops of organizing the campaign as a partisan assault on Obama in an election year. But church leaders insist they have no partisan agenda and blame the timing on when federal officials approved the rule.
“In only the past few years, we’ve experienced rampant disregard for religious beliefs in this country,” wrote New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, in an e-book released for the “Fortnight” effort. Among the examples he cites are approval for embryonic stem cell research, legal justification for torturing prisoners and support for same-sex marriage.
“We can see that there is a loss here of a sense of truth and objective moral norms_rules of conduct that apply always, to everyone, everywhere_an infringement of religious liberty and an `eclipse of the sense of God and of man,’” wrote Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Opponents are unconvinced. “This bishops’ project isn’t about religious freedom _ it’s about privilege,” said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “They are asking for preferential treatment from the government, and if they are successful, it would undercut the rights of millions of Americans.”
The “Fortnight for Freedom” schedule kicked off Thursday night with a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption in Baltimore, celebrated by Baltimore Archbishop William Lori. Local activities are planned across the country leading up to Independence Day. [More]
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22 Comments
I am so sad that our bishops have gone this route. They are losing so many. They seem oblivious to the Catholics who in conscience cannot walk with them on this bandwagon.
Thank goodness the Bishops are firmly about Religious Freedom They have every right and duty to engage their people in defending one of our most basic rights. If we don’t defend this issue what else is going to be taken away? Go Bishops and Catholic faithful.
Dear Tony and Jim:
You two need to exchange email addresses and carry on your child level discussions outside of the pages of Cath News. Get down on your knees and pray for maturity of yourself!!!! Don’t waste the valuable space on these pages for wholesome thoughts and feelings.
Sorry, Linda, but people like Tony attack the Church of Jesus Christ, and I am going to defend that Church. I also am going to defend myself when I am called grossly pejorative terms such as “closeted homosexual” and “psycho.” I did not introduce such childishness to our exchanges. Again, I will defend the Church as I deem appropriate. If you don’t like what you’re reading, don’t read it.
Just checking in on the Jim show. I see he’s still at it, busy as a bee orthodoctoring.
Hi Carl. Are you back for another thrashing?
“Hi Carl, Are you back for another thrashing?” Sounds a real sado masachist. I knew you had to be into that the way you want to dominate women.
Did you ever read that Hitler himself was a sado masachist closeted homosexual?
No, Tony, but I do know that you are a closeted homosexual. But then, not to worry — you live in the right state when you decide to divorce your wife and marry your boyfriend.
No, Jim I don’t exhibit closeted homosexual characteristics of dominance of women like you do. And, if I were gay you can be sure I would own it.
And I would not hide what or who I am.
Well, apparently you are out of touch with your homosexuality. Your whining and complaining is exactly the type of behavior I have witnessed in gay males.
Guys you were tempted by? Let’s not carry this into the gutter please
Well, Tony, you have been in the gutter for quite some time. I am trying not to follow you there.
My O My! Our bishops have a vivid imagination, now in overdrive. Parce nobis Domine!
Florian — I’m sorry that you are an American. Your head is in the sand. We have never had such an assault on the first amendment by our government, but you remain in la-la land. That, of course, is because (I’m guessing now) you hate the Church. No, you don’t hate the church that you think the Church should be — you hate the actual Church. You hate some of the dogmas, you hate the all-male hierarchy; you probably feel controlled by men who were placed in leadership positions over all the people in the Church, men and women alike.
Wake up before it’s too late, Florian; wake up before you find that your entire life is controlled by the government.
Jimmy, Iwas just pulling your chain. I am totally supportive of human life from the moment of conception to a natural death and I am totally on the side of the bishops and their efforts for freedom of religious rights.
It’s all about MONEY. The bishops want to deny women reproductive rights and get federal money for it.
No one is telling these men they can’t beleive what they want, the mandate is telling them, if they want to use the money available they have to respect womens rights.
Don’t use the money bishops and do as you please.
Tony — the cxnstxtxtion does not give anyone the right to free contraception — that is preposterous. Also, why would you advocate for women having the “right” to do immoral things like contracept? You are really off the mark, Tony. I hope you take your own advice and pray about these matters — because I am certain what God will tell you, if only you will open your heart to the Truth.
Also, Tony, your post is factually incorrect.
Whether or not an organization receives any federal money, they will be required under Obama-care to cover contraception and sterilization.
I would not want to be Barry Lynn on judgment day. I hope he accepts God’s mercy, but he is so entrenched in his errors, that he may go the way of Judas. Let us pray that he does not.