Who’s funding the Catholic bishops’ religious freedom campaign?
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Archbishop Willam Lori of Baltimore
On Thursday (June 21), Catholics across the country will amplify what is an already loud outcry from the hierarchy over the federal government’s so-called contraception mandate.
With rallies, marches, lectures and special publications, the U.S. Catholic Bishop’s Fortnight for Freedom campaign will seek to galvanize Catholic opposition to President Obama’s proposed mandate to require employers — including religious institutions — to provide free contraception insurance coverage to employees.
But while Catholic leaders frame the events as a fight for religious liberty, critics see signs of political partisanship and electioneering. Questions over the financing of the bishops’ campaign have caused those suspicions to multiply.
“The activities around the Fortnight for Freedom cost money,” said Steve Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington. “What groups are paying for this, and what’s the accountability for that money?”
Those kinds of questions were asked of key Catholic leaders like Baltimore Archbishop William Lori last week as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops met in Atlanta.
Lori, who heads the bishops’ committee on religious liberty, told reporters that gifts “from Catholic groups and foundations” would help sustain the campaign. “The generosity we’ve experienced has been heartening,” he said.
The campaign, Lori said, “is not in any way partisan, either in its spirit or in its funding.”
But he has not been specific about all the outside groups providing financial resources, or how much they’ve contributed. [more]
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AP via New Orleans Times Picayune
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57 Comments
-Jim, noting time of posts I am assuming you are on vacation.
No, J.O., I am a liberal dependent on government benefits and Uncle Obama. No one in America needs to work anymore — we just need to borrow more money from the Chinese.
You Republican, Right Wing Wacko, how dare you make fun of President Obama and the good he is doing for America.
Even Notre Dame University honored him.
Yeah, and that makes my point about Notre Dame. Faithful Catholics, including Notre Dame alumni, were very upset by what Notre Dame did. And, with regard to the good Obama has done for our country: I am convinced he is the most destructive president ever to set foot in the Oval Office. Why don’t you quit reading the propaganda in the Boston Globe, Tony, and start watching Fox News? Bill O’Reilly is on right now, and Sean Hannity comes on at 9:00 P.M. Really, tune them in tonight, and start seeing the truth. Obama, the man who twice voted against born-alive legislation in the IL legislature, meaning that he did not want babies to be resusitated if they survived a saline abortion. He is barbaric. Tony, guess what three-digit number was drawn in the IL lottery in the very first drawing after he won the election? You guessed it: 666. You can confirm the veracity of this by searching on the internet. I myself read it in one of IL’s newspapers online.
I knew you were an Obama man, Tony. You denied it before, and said you were independent — but you smell big-time of being a liberal. Yet, our Church teaches us that THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT SHOULD GOVERN OUR VOTE IS THE STANCE THE PERSON TAKES WITH REGARD TO LIFE. Since there are 1.2 million abortions per year in this country, and less than 100 people executed for crimes, there is no doubt that no serious Catholic could vote for a pro-choice candidate. And, ALL DEMOCRATS ARE PRO-CHOICE. Democrats would not even allow a pro-life Democrat, Bob Casey, to speak at their convention in 1992 to present the pro-life position. Democrats are executioners, no better than the Germans who killed the Jews in the holocaust. You should pray about this Tony — preferably at Adoration.
Hey Anthony, where are you tonight? I have to go — I have more work to do. But I’m afraid to leave the store un-minded — Tony will be sure to post more heretical and offensive garbage. I need someone to patrol the waters for me while I get some work done. Are you there, Anthony? If so, please take over and keep Tony in check until I can post again.
Big deal 666. What are you Turing into a born again Protestant fundamentalist? Isn’t Catholic Fundamentalist rigidity enough for you.
Thanks but I’ll get my News and Views from the NY times, the Boston Globe and the Washington Post.
And for Church News there is nothing like The National Catholic Reporter, America and Commonweal.
Holy cow — but no surprise. Let’s see: Washington Post = liberal; Boston Globe = very liberal; NY Times = ultra-liberal. National Catholic Reporter = produced in Hell; America = fiction. Commonweal — only vaguely familiar, but I don’t need to investigate further — the fact that you read that publication is all the evidence I need that it is more propaganda. You know what amazes me, Tony? Liberals like you who fancy themselves to be smarter than people like me are completely brainwashed and programmed by the media you are reading. When your only source of information is a liberal distortion outlet, your conclusions are inevitable. If you want the truth, Tony, turn on Fox News. In just 12 mninutes, Sean Hannity will be on.
Oh, and yes — 666 was just a coincidence. It’s odds are one in 999. Now, let’s see, what did JPII say? “There are no coincidences.” That 666 outcome was God’s way of telling us what we just elected. The Blessed Mother told Father Gobbi back in the late 1970s that if America did not repent, we’d become a communist nation. We are heading there full-speed-ahead. And Obama is like a Muslim — he thinks he is doing the right thing as he guides the jet into the ocean, saying “Allah is great.” Obama is the worst president we’ve ever had, and I hope we never have another one who trumps him. As it is, I don’t know if this country can survive all the damage he has done.
Hey Tony, I’m going to turn on Fox News — why don’t you take me up on my offer and you turn it on tonight too? Or, has Boston banned Fox News? Do they only let you watch MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS or NBC? One is more liberal than the next.
Hey Tony — are you aware that there will be vote next week in Congress to hold Eric Holder in contempt of Congress? If you don’t know, it’s because all of your information comes from Obama-friendly media outlets. Holder is in serious trouble, and likely will have to resign. And, this is likely to lead all the way to the Oval Office, as Obama has improperly claimed executive privilege.
Jimmy, ya gotta be kidding, Fr Gobbi!! Right?
You think Fr. Gobbi is a fraud?
If Jesus walked into the Vatican they would probably throw him out or most churches for that matter wouldn’t recognize him. None of the above has anything to do with faith, love and relationship with God as Jesus lived it.
correct Jake
StoP being sUch a judgmental know it all?
Wow, Tony, I’m guessing that this post of yours was in reponse to my post, wherein I counseled Noel to use an upper case letter when spelling the word Christian. My, my, aren’t we rebellious, Tony? You are expressing your rebellion by purposefully using an upper case letter for the letter “P” in “stop” and the letter “U” in “such.” My, my, my. This is about the level of a two-year-old. I think I’ll try acting like a little whining, complaining baby with me wife to see if she like it. Yes, that’s what I’m going to do. See how much she likes being married to a child. Of course, the folks up in Boston are completely lost on this issue. You, of course, have HAV-ard, and they certainly know everything there. And, oh yes, you have the Boston Globe, the paper for smart people. Unfortunately, the garbage they spew in MA is just that: destructive garbage. You are brainwashed, Tony. You have no idea what women appreciate in a man.
Oh, oh, I know what’s coming next. Tony is going to accuse me of being either: (1) a closeted homosexual; or (2) a psycho. Mmmm, I’m trying to figure out which he is more likely to accuse me of being. I am afraid of Tony’s comments, as they are so astute and well-reasoned.
You are a sicko, a wack job a sick SOB. You do more harm than good on here. PPP UUU
Oops, I was wrong — closeted homosexual and psycho was not what Tony called me. Tony, here’s the truth — I am thoroughly enjoying responding to you — but I really am wasting too much time doing this. Unlike liberals, I actually have to earn a living to support my family. So, I don’t know how vigorously I’m going to continue to post here. It has become an addiction of sorts — I get great pleasure at how upset you get, my man. And even I agree that that means I am not putting my time to good use.
We just to need to read “On Consulting the Faithful on Matters of Doctrine” by Blessed John Newman to realize the real Church resolved the contraception issue by not receiving Human Vitae in 1968. The bishops are waving red herrings.
So, M.L., if the significant majority of Catholics are in favor of something, that makes it moral? Give me a break. I haven’t read the source you are quoting, but I am certain you are taking it out of context. The Catholic Church REQUIRES its members to believe its dogmas and proclamations. The Catholic Church does not require anyone to be a member, but it does say that, if you want to be a memeber, here is what you must believe. So, M.L., you are free to continue to reject Church dogma on contraception, but then, de facto, YOU ARE NOT A CATHOLIC. Since this is a Catholic website, go find another, non-Catholic website on which to post your disbelieving comments — I’m sure you’ll find great acceptance elsewhere. After all, most of the world hates the Truth.
Wow Jim! That is a very extreme, unchristian and incorrect position to take re membership of the church.
Not true, Noel — but apparently you’re one more brainwashed individual, brainwashed by the denigration of masculinity and the female chauvenism that has prevailed in our country for the last 50 or so years. BTW, Christian has an initial upper case letter — you should be more respectful of Christianity and be willing to hit the CAPS button to give some respect to Christ and His Church. Now, you say I am extreme, Unchristian, and incorrect, yet offer no specifics. How is it possible to discuss something if you just make such broad, sweeping judgments without being precise about what is it you object to? And in fact, if you are Catholic, you do not know what the Church teaches. The Church teaches exactly what I have posted: to be a Catholic in good standing, you must believe all of the Magisterial teachings.
And those teachings include those with regard to reproduction. So, no, M.L. is not a Catholic in good standing, if he or she is a Catholic at all.
So Noel, you should get off those hormonal contraceptives (if you use them). They have been shown in research with monkeys by anthropologist Lionel Tiger, Ph.D. to make females unattractive to males, and to cause the females to be unattracted to males who will not be good fathers. It explains a lot of our social pathology in the USA since hormonal contraceptives were approved by the FDA in 1960. Hormonal contraceptives are one of the most potent forces destroying families over the last 50 years.
That last post should have said, “… and to cause the females to be ATTRACTED to males who will not be good fathers.”
All are welcome I our Church……..it is a community of saints and sinners alike. And all are welcome on this site. Even the myopic small mined fundamentalist Catholi who can only see black and whie issues a Evelyn around everycornor
All are welcome, Tony, but they de facto exclude themselves when they do not accept Magisterial teachings. So, again, it is not the Church rejecting anyone — Jesus loves everyone with an infinite love — but rather it is people like yourself and M.L. who reject the Church.
When you reject the Church and Her teachings, you put yourself outside the Church. The Church would love you and M.L. to come back, Tony — remember, there is more joy in Heaven when one sinner repents than for 99 who have not strayed — but, since you have a free will that God Himself will not compromise, you yourself must decide to come back into the fold.
I may not have my head up a priests or bishops butt like you, but I believe what the church believes.
No you don’t, Tony — you believe, for example, in the primacy of conscience — and the Church specifically teaches against this. Also, apparently, you do not accept the Church’s teaching with regard to artifical contraception. So, let me tell you something no priest has had the courage to tell you: YOU, TONY, ARE NOT A CATHOLIC IN GOOD STANDING, even if you think you are. If you think your a professional baseball player, but in reality you’re not, then you’re not a professional baseball player, regardless of your belief. Believing doesn’t make it so, Tony.
By you I’m not a catholic but by me, my confessor, and my spiritual director, I’m a Catholic.
And frankly I don’t give a rats behind what you think!
I’m sorry to hear that, Tony. My advice: find holy priests faithful to the Church to be your spiritual director and confessor. Many priests have led people astray. On the other hand, maybe your confessor and spiritual director do not fully understand all of the ways your beliefs deviate from the Magisterium. This relieves you of some culpability, Tony, if priests are misleading you. But, I think you should ask them, not for their own opinions, but ask them what the Church formally teaches. I am certain I am correct in what I am stating.
Nothing like marital advice from a closeted homosexual with female dominance issues.
Have some spine and be a man, Tony. No woman respects a man like you. Here’s a repeat: your wife will respect you MUCH MORE when you start acting like a man, protecting her and making her feel safe.
If you don’t believe me, Tony, ask your wife if she appreciates it when you protect her and make her feel safe (if you ever do). If she is at all in touch with her femininity, her answer likely will surprise you.
Tony, I’m starting to wonder if you’re not a closeted homosexual.
I have a pretty good handle on my masculinity, I have some pretty good relationships with men and wome and i am in touch with my masculine and feminine side thank you. I’m also telling you not to make any references to my wife.. Such references are highly inappropriate and unacceptable.
Those references, Tony, were not about your wife — they were about you in your relationship with her. And, talk about “highly inappropriate and unacceptable”: might that not also characterize your assertion that I am a closeted homosexual, and also your designation of my as a “psycho”?
Notice, though, Tony, how, when you think I am attacking your wife, you come to her defense. Now, that is in a man’s DNA — proving my point that God has specific roles for men and women.
Get off of it, we mutually defend and promote each other. We are one though the sacrament of marriage.
True, but it remains the case that a man will defend his woman — he will not come so quickly to the aid of another man. Why? Because God designed men to protect the women who have given themselves completely to him.
I would defend defend any other man woman or child if the need arises. I would also defend a helpless animal. So would my wife or my daughters or sons.
The story of the Good Shephard show how far a Shephard goes to defend a sheep and God goes to defend us.
I don’t see your point.
I would defend defend any other man woman or child if the need arises. I would also defend a helpless animal. So would my wife or my daughters or sons.
The story of the Good Shephard show how far a Shephard goes to defend a sheep and God goes to defend us.
I don’t see your point.
My point, Tony, is that a man will come more quickly to the aid of a distressed woman than he will come to the aid of a distressed man. This bias reveals the DNA of a man: he has a proclivity to protect women. This is not enculturated, but rather is cxnstxtutixnal. The point is that this shows that God created the two genders for different roles, and gave them different capabilities. You’ve been living in the liberal Boston area for too long — but there might still be hope for you.
Tony — NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU THINK! It’s the same old complaining, lack of leadership position on your part — “Oh, the old farts — they need to get out of the way and let the women lead the Church. Oh my, oh my, oh my. Things are so bad.” Honestly, Tony, what your wife must put up with. Suggestion: she’ll respect you a lot more if you start ACTING LIKE A MAN.
You judgemental religious fudementalist nut job, Who do you think you are to come on this site and declare who is Catholic and who is not, who is faithful and who is not.
You are doing more harm on here with your twisted theological bull crap than anyone.
Thanks for that input, Tony. I’ll take it into consideration.
You know, Tony, I think you are spending much too much time on this site. Are you another liberal receiving government benefits so that you don’t have to work?
Many have suggested to you that you get help. Please do so.
You are not an ordained clergy man.
You, by your own admission have no academic credentials and yet you sit in judgement as to who may or may not be a Catholic.
You are, as others have told you,
a sick, sick psycho.
Actually, Tony, I think that is only you and other liberals who are cafeteria Catholics who have called me that. Credentials, BTW, are irrelevant — if you’re so informed, why don’t you actually advance arguments that effectively counter mine? Your arguments go like this: “You are a wack job, an SOB.” Wow, was that part of your master’s thesis, that you learned to talk like that? With regard to not being a clergy man: wasn’t it you that pointed out that the laity’s role in the Church was expanded by Vatican II? Also, haven’t you heard about the current New Evangelization? I am evangelizing you, Tony.
Now Tony, out of consideration for you, I am going to try to stop posting for tonight (although my addiction to upsetting you is so strong, I don’t know how successful I will be staying off this site — upsetting you currently is one of my favorite amusements). If I keep posting, you won’t be able to get to bed. And, again, I know that you’ll be up by 3:00 A.M. posting, so I need to let you get some sleep.
Your not evangelizing me you AH.
LOL>
AH? Is that “astute holy man?”
Once again the lack of transparency casts shadows on the bishops.
It might be time to reconsider the tax ememption status of these clowns.