Obama in Catholic bishops’ cross hairs
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No president in U.S. history has been targeted en masse in lawsuits filed by Catholic bishops and institutions until now: President Obama is facing a tsunami of suits opposing the contraception mandate in his healthcare reform law.
What’s worse for the president, the suits have been filed in an election year, and have a decidedly political edge. New York’s Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., is a leading plaintiff.
In a rush to appear even-handed, Dolan’s office said last week his RNC appearance was not an endorsement, and he will speak at the upcoming Democratic National Convention as well.
Nevertheless, Catholic bishops simply do not want employees of religious institutions to be guaranteed contraception coverage in their employer-provided health insurance. Official Catholic doctrine bans artificial birth control — as opposed to the “rhythm method,” which relies on menstrual cycles to prevent pregnancy and can be used after consultation with a priest. Only within the last few decades has Catholic doctrine conceded even married couples could have sex for purposes other than producing children.
One of the mandates in Obama’s Affordable Care Act, part of its preventive care provisions, requires religious hospitals, schools and charities to include co-pay-free birth control in their employer-provided health insurance coverage. Churches, such as Catholic parishes, are exempt.
The mandate has caused in uproar in the Catholic hierarchy, which rejected an administration compromise requiring insurance companies to pay for the contraception coverage, not the religious institutions.
In May, 12 lawsuits challenging the mandate were filed involving more than 40 Catholic organizations.
The Catholic organizations include Dolan’s Archdiocese of New York, the University of Notre Dame and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the conservative American Center for Law and Justice said.
The ACLJ, founded by the Rev. Pat Robertson, has filed briefs in all 12 cases opposing government motions for dismissal. The organization also filed friend-of-the-court briefs in all the cases on behalf of 79 members of Congress.
In a statement, senior ACLJ counsel Edward White said, “The mandate devastates the religious freedom of all employers seeking to comply with their religious beliefs. This is not just an issue negatively impacting Catholics. This is an issue negatively impacting employers of all faiths.”
The president of Notre Dame, the Rev. John Jenkins, explained his university’s suit this way, Commonweal reported.
“Today the University of Notre Dame filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana regarding a recent mandate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” Jenkins said in a letter to the university community. “That mandate requires Notre Dame and similar religious organizations to provide in their insurance plans abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives and sterilization procedures, which are contrary to Catholic teaching. The decision to file this lawsuit came after much deliberation, discussion and efforts to find a solution acceptable to the various parties.” [More]
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[...] even married couples could have sex for purposes other than producing children. Continued- http://www.cathnewsusa.com/2012/09/obama-in-catholic-bishops-cross-hairs/ __________________ Your socks stink. To view links or images in signatures your post count [...]
If Cardinal Dolan can do as Mother Teresa did at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1994 he may gain some respect back and find his sainthood closer instead of further away.
The writer of this article has an obvious left-wing bias, and it shows. They should be replaced.
The host of comments are correct: the article’s author is severely wrong on a number of points of Catholicism. What a breathtakingly shameless hatchet job is this article. At least it’s soooooo far off from facts as to be blatantly obvious.
Cross hairs? What kind of metaphor is this for sitting US President by Roman Catholic leadership? I am ashamed of Cathnews…and will be reading it less! We are better than that.
Unbelievably shoddy research work and completely biased report. This journalist should be ashamed of their ignorance on writing about Catholic issues. What is this talk of rhythm method? Where have you been? Ever heard of NFP? Yes the Catholic Churches are exempt from having to supply insurance covering birth control but you neglected an enormously important element here. What about all the Catholic organizations who do not qualify for the exemption? Huge impact on the country. What about all the Catholic business men who are forced to go against their consciences as well by paying for abortion inducing drugs? This mandate has far reaching damage to a whole host of people in society who will be forced to go against their consciences formed by their religious beliefs. Pay attention or stop acting like an you have something to say when your either too ignorant to speak about the issue or purposely hiding the truth for your own personal agenda.
How sad it is the Catholic hierarchy and not Catholics causing the problem. Fair labor practices gives employees to organize and bargain collectively. If an employer refuses to cover benefits protected by a legal contract for religious reasons can another employer refuse for ethical reasons? There seems to be some confusion over freedom of religion and who is violating whose civil liberties. If a religious institution finances an entity that also employs people be it a hospital, college, health center, school or whatever then they are an employer. As an employer they have a fundamental moral obligation to provide certain basic benefits to their employees. This of course includes affordable health insurance. Any good insurance provides birth control and this is not nor should not be an option. If this is a hospital or a health center then they are of course providing a public service and such they ethically have no choice but to provide contraceptives to the public that they serve. Employment and public service is a social responsibility and religious conviction a personal choice. It is the Bishops who are asking the hospital and health care administrations to violate the religious freedom of their employees and the public that they serve. This should not be a matter of government intervention, but it is a moral responsibility. Finally if the church is the body, then it is the rank and file membership and not the hierarchy that should determine what is doctrine. The Bishops are the ones who are out of line.
‘Every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, purposes, whether as an end or a means, to render procreation impossible’ is intrinsically evil (2370 Catechism of the Catholic Church)..Religous liberty? Basic benefits…Is pregnancy a disease? And finally Christ chose 12 Apostles to lead His people. Fallible, certainly yes, but changing doctrine, I don’t think so!….Please reeducate yourself on the Church and it’s teachings…God bless..
Wow Intrinically evil? Intrinically evil, every time, without fail? Wow, there are a lot of people doing a lot of intrinsically evil stuff, Intrinsically evil! To wear a condom, to take a pill, to withdraw? What about sex with kids under eighteen, or covering that up? Is that intrinsically evil? Just saying?
Yes, Tony. Everything you mentioned: To wear a condom, to take a pill, to withdraw is intrinsically evil IF the purpose of doing so is to contracept. And OF COURSE sex outside of marriage, coerced or uncoerced is immoral.
Intrinsically evil to practice birth conto? Even after serious prayer, consultation and discussion, even after the couple in good conscience have realized they must practice birth control? No wiggle room at all? Wow!!!!! Where is Charles Curran now that we need him.
Oh, yes,intrinsically evil to practice birth control.. This is a Catholic site, isn’t it? Wiggle room to sin?….Serious prayer to sin? Yes, practicing birth control is wrong…
What about if a Catholic couplres go though all the steps of discernment and with the ok from their confessor practice birth control, still a sin for them, no pastoral consideration?
I’m not qualified to answer your particular moral questions. Check with your bishop. But NFP has a better success rate and is morally acceptable..Check out NFP in your area…God bless…
From your previous response I will concur that you are not qualified, however good intentioned you may be. Thank you for your humidity.
Humility not humidity.
Humble or not, qualified or not, is irrelevant. The Church’s teaching is still quite clear on this…
Intrinsic evil is not subjective, not wigglable through discernment. Clearly, any priest who advises a couple to sin is just as culpable as the couple that sins. If the couple is not aware what they do is sinful, they are less culpable, but they are still sinning so still culpable. A wrong is still a wrong, regardless if we know it is so, and regardless if we wish it weren’t so. It’s really very simple. But the point is a good one — which is why every priest I’ve ever talked to is deathly afraid of giving bad advice: the shepherd is responsible for the flock’s safety.
Tony, you are using the words birth control and contracption interchangably, and they are not the same thing. A Catholic is never allowed to use contraception in the marriage act, no matter how grave the reason. However, a Catholic is permitted to space children or to avoid pregnancy if there are grave reasons to do so. However, a Catholic is obliged to use the noncontraceptive method of abstaining from sex during a woman’s fertile period. (Natural family planning, NFP). If your priest okayed anything else, he is in serious error.
Excellent response, Lidia!
We will follow our conscience and the advice of our confessor. There is vere little more sacred than what goes on under the seal of confession.
Tony, if your confessor has told that there are exceptions to Church doctrine on the immorality and intrinsically evil nature of artificial contraception, then you need to find a new confessor and call the Bishop about the seriously errant counsel of this priest. You are correct in saying that the Sacrament of Confession is sacred; intentionally teaching the sheep to go astray through counsel in the Sacrament of Confession is an abomination.
Father & Tony — thank you so much, Father, for your response to Tony. I am not a priest, but what you wrote is completely consistent with everything I know about the Church. Tony has found a confessor (and, unfortunately, I think there are far too many like his confessor) who leads the flock astray because either he (the confessor) doesn’t believe Church doctrine, or he doesn’t have the courage to speak the truth to his penitents. In a response to Tony two to three weeks ago, I told him the same thing — fire your confessor and get a new one. Your answer to Tony is an answer to my prayers for Tony — he is hearing the truth from someone that cares about his soul and his eternal destination.
Fr get off of it, what are you an opus Dei or st Pius x nut job?
Yep, and there we have it — if you disagree with Tony’s malformed conscience, you are an Opus Dei “nut job.” Yep, truth is what agrees with what Tony proclaims; “nut jobs” are those who disagree with the dogma of the Church of Tony.
No Jim my family and I are members of a good faith community very close with our bisop who is very much in communion with Rome.
Tony — sorry to beat up on you so bad — that wasn’t very nice. But, to use a metaphor, I’ve been away from the gym (this website) for most of today, so when I finally get to the gym, I’m a little frisky. You know I like you, and have even prayed for you — and, as I’ve told you before, I’ve appreciated your prayers for me. And, the fact that you go to Adoration on first Friday says something positive about you — as well as the fact that you look after your elderly mother. But, I say what I say in part because I’m trying to help you out. I think your intentions basically are in the right direction, but like me you are a sinner. Sin, by definition, hides itself from us — it distorts our ability to see the truth. So, I do pray that you and your family will arrive safely in Heaven someday. However, a heads-up: the Church teaches that our place in Heaven is directly related to the morality of our life here on Earth — so, if you would at least consider another confessor, it very well could result in an eternity of greater happiness for you.
Thank you for your concern Jim, we will bring the matter to further prayer this Friday at adoration.. By the way, the faith community to which we belong is very Eucharistic centered.
Amen!
The Amen was for Father MJPB, NOT Tony!
Tony — I’m sure Charles Curran has been silenced by the Church as the heretic he is.
You’re refering to the homosexual sex abuse scandal in the Church? Of course, that was worse than evil,… it was an abomination! Unfortunately, most abusers were sent away but returned to their parishes after reassurances from the secular doctors that these abusers were cured. As for the minority who were moved around, that also was a scandal and evil… But let’s not forget that 99.98% of Priests are innocent….
It was not a homosexual problem, I suggest you take a Vertus class sponsored by your diocese. It will make you more astute and aware of potential child abusers
Over 80% involved post-pubescint boys and young men. You tell me what it was, even though the rest of the Church is reluctant to acknowledge this…
I will stay with the thought of the majority of the members of the church and let the other right wing members go their way.
Truth is truth, and not subject to democratic or popular definition; fact can never be mere opinion, though opinion can concur with fact.
Fact is not subject to popular opinion. Fact “is”, regardless if we accept it as such.
Paul — may I introduce you to Tony and a lot of others who post here? He is a Protestant who thinks he is Catholic, as he decides on truth by consulting his own conscience and his heretical confessor. You know, the Protestants decide dogma by taking a vote; Tony decides dogma by “taking a vote” from his conscience and his liberal, heretical confessor who says things Tony likes (this is why he remains Tony’s confessor — and this is where the sin lies with Tony).
That is, Tony’s sin is that he keeps his current confessor because he says things that are pleasing to Tony’s ears. For Tony not to fire his confessor is a sin.
Jim: thanks for the confirmation of what I suspected. Protestants and secularists often have trouble understanding anything can be an absolute even while many things are indeed shades of gray. Regards …
My wife and I have good Religious Priests who ware our confessors and members a member of the same community is our Spiritual Director. We will hardly take advice from anonymous commentators on a website.
Tony — how can you say I’m anonymous? You know my name (Jim) and you know that I live somewhere where there is a conneciton to the internet. The circumference of the Earth is only 25K miles, so I can’t be that far away.
Paul — you’re very welcome. And, I hope you post here freqently — I need help with the wealth of CINOs here. You know, the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. We even have an outright anarchist who posts here (I can’t say his name — I’ll get in trouble with the webmaster — I’ve gotten in trouble with them before).
Jim anyone can come on here and be an imposter, he or she can pretend to be ANTHINGhe or she wants what they say lacks gravitas because we don’t know their credentials or lack there of.
Well, Tony, St. Terese of Liseux had no credentials — yet, she was very holy and, as you know, has been declared a doctor of the church. So much for credentials.
Just follow what the Church teaches, Tony (please read your Catechism), and you’ll be all right. Don’t listen to your confessor — listen to definitive Church teaching as found in the Catechism.
Jim, come on Therese had the best educationgoing from her parents her bloos sisters and the nuns with whom she lived.
Baptists believe that; the Bible is the supreme and final authority for the Christian in all matters of faith and practice. And that the Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible (11 Peter 1:21) Also Sanuel 23:2, Jeremiah 36:2,4, 17-18, Ezekiel 2:2, I Cor. 2:13; 1 Thes. 2:13; 11 Peter 3:l5 – 11 Tim 3:16 …Searching the Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Spirit is how I became a Catholic.
11 Cor. 10:l5 I speak as to sensible men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of bessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. – John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life, he who comes to me shall not hunger….to the end of John 6
Is it just a coincidence that right after this scandal went viral, that a directive came from the Pope prohibited homosexuals from the Priesthood?
Indeed, Tony, there are a lot of people doing a lot of intrinsically evil things. Why would that surprise you? Look at the shape of our world, and the direction it is heading. You can’t tell me you think there is much morality around.
The fact of evil acts being prevalent, or scarce, is actually immaterial to defining what is morally right. Yet the more people there are who do evil, and the more evil people do, yes, the world suffers ever more. Good thing we have that dude called Jesus who started a church to keep and propogate what he preached about being as good as possible; at least with that we have a chance of learning what we’re supposed to do regardless of what we might wish to do.
Fair Labor practices are not inclusive of murdering the unborn child and demanding others to PAY for this murder. Fair Labor practices are NEVER in violation of First Amendment Rights to FREELY practice our religious tenets without KINGS, Presidents or dictators imposing their sovereignty upon Catholics. To imagine that if religious people create a private business MUST provide death to Jews, killing unborn, or slaughtering the unwanted of society is absurd Mr. Fancisconi. Shame on you for your narrow dictatorial response. The moral responsibility is to Protect Life, to secure Religious Freedom, and to assure the salvation of ALL human life. Democrats are out of line with Christ Jesus. Time to place GOD back into the Democrat Party platform and return to Christ teachings. No need for this wayward LIBERAL Democrat to lecture the Catholic Bishops about their Faith. You sir, should be humble and LEARN from the leaders of the Catholic Faith instead of supporting the abuse of power by your KING.
Really? You sound like some poor soul that adheres to a worn-1970′s theology. Nothing of what you said remotely comes close to the social, ecclesial, and moral doctrine given to the Church by Christ 2000 years ago and determined, not by the bishops, but by God Almighty before the beginning of the ages. Enough of this “Back to the Future” theology and commentary.
The reply above was to Mr. Francisconi.
Father — Mr. Francisconi is, indeed, stuck in the 1970s. Well, actually, he is stuck in the 1960s. If you Google his name, what you find might (or might not) surprise you. You have hit the nail on the head in your assessment of him.
How have we possibly come to the sad point of declaring “fairness” as mandating somebody specific pay for something for somebody else? Pathetic.
The inalienable right to PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS is definitely difficlut to enjoy, and often impossible to enjoy, when one is denied the superior inalienable right of LIBERTY. But there’s more. LIBERTY and PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS are *utterly impossible* to guarantee, when the country fails to guarantee the prerequisite inalienable right to LIFE. So, what is a human life? That is the question. Answer: in yet another case of science catching up to 3,600-year-old Judeo-Christian moral teaching: a human embryo is fully human; with food & shelter (prerequisite for any human of any age), the human embryo will never develop characteristics of a frog, or blob of tissue, or any creature other than a fully-recognizable human being. Therefore, it is a human being from conception. The ancient greeks, when learning about the Jews, marveled that the Jews actually kept all thier children. How little the secularists of the world have changed in all these years… and how little has changed the God-given teaching that each and every individual human being is inherently and inalienably worthy of respect and life.
Cardinal Dolan should just stay out of politics altogether. He would be a real hypocrit to associate himself with the Democratic National Convention, a party that endorses abortion. As I recall, any person who gets an abortion or assists in any way, shape or form are automatically excommunicated. Cardinal Dolan, stay home!
absolutely agree! I am so disappointed with Cardinal Dolan! Did “power” go to his head?!!
Jesus not only spoke with sinners, but sat down to eat with them. As he explained to the pharasees: the sick need the physician most. As to Cardinal Dolan, I don’t hear him endorsing any candidate nor political party, only strongly standing for moral principles. One cannot speak about morality without speaking politically too. What is separable is “partisan” politics, wherein one endorses a candidate or a party specifically, regardless of what the stands are of the candidate or party. Cardinal Dolan has stayed well clear of partisan politics, yet *finally* is engaging in the needed political aspects of morals; now that the secularists have seen fit to dare to prescribe morals to a church … Secularists, particularly Obama & Sebelius, struck first blood. Cardinal Dolan would be less than a shepherd, and maybe even less than a human, if he failed to respond, if he failed to stand up for the right of a church to determine its own doctrine. Speaking from this doctrinal position at the DNC may just soften a few hardened hearts. Maybe Cardinal Dolan’s appearance will nudge the inherent consciences of various anti-Catholics, and move them to “live and let live” instead of trying to dictate to others. Miracles can happen, even in a den of iniquity, if even just one sinner were to ask and God sees a miracle as a way to open eyes to theological truths about human nature and human relationships to their Creator. I doubt Cardinal Dolan is thinking about “power” anywhere nearly as much as “faith” and “hope” and “charity” for sinners … sinners within both political parties …
Anyone who is criticizing Cardinal Dolan and the Catholic faith , needs to read the Scriptures and all that Jesus taught. Those who are defending the Democratic(Socialist) party and its platform are defending evil and selfish teachings and lies
Oh, come now, Anita. The Demon-cratic party is pro-choice and pro-gay marriage. Also, the first three-digit lottery drawing in Obama’s home state (IL) after his 2008 election was 666. Why would you call the Demon-crats evil? Also, the fact that the Demon-crats want to force Americans to fund the health care of other Americans — i.e., the fact that they want to use the force of law to rob one person of their money, give it to the government so they can take their cut, then give the rest to some other American — why, I thought that was capialism, not socialism! Come, come now Anita.
Over the last fifty years, US Catholic women have spoken eloquently about birth control, and in the most effective way possible — namely, a discreet silence coupled with non-observance of the Vatican mandate against “the pill.” Now, in a war of words on several fronts (including the courtroom), the US bishops are frantically trying to woo the women into submission by eliminating a “freebie” because the crismated male conscience that resides under the bishops’ miters claims a violation of religious liberty.
President Obama may well be “in the crosshairs” of the bishops, who by targeting the President have turned their aertillery on their own cause, their credibility, and themselves. It’s a textbook case of: Ready. Fire. AIM.
Over the last fifty years women have commited the sin of contracepting while the silence of the hierarchy was disgraceful. Contraception is not good for women, primarily because you’re denying your total self to your spouse, it can cause early abortions, and let’s not forget about the contraception/breast cancer link. I personally suffered the consequences of contracepting after only one year and a close friend had a stroke from using it. So to suggest that women has benefited is just wrong. As for the misguided comments that the bishops are trying to woo women into submission, what nonsense. Although their silence on contraception was shameful, funding this, which the church considers a sin, is an attack on religious freedom…Better late than ever…Ready Fire, Aim..At last thank God….
Ronnie, I wish there was a “like” button! Thank you. My thoughts exactly.
Roman Emperors have tried the same dictator tactics against the Catholic Faith. Same will hold true for Democrats and their KING as well.
Question; If Catholic U.S. gave up tax exempt status would better Catholic teaching from the ambo unite Catholics regarding serious issues of the day?
Are some priests afraid to speak up because of tax status?
Some are afraid of upsetting the contributions coming in from flock if issues are “too hot.”
Ideas?
IT looks like the writer of this article did some shoddy research here. Tehe Catholic Church has not taught the “rhythm method in a few decades. The process of natural family planning is now taught which is much more accurate relying on changes in body temperature and chemistry during the ovulation/menstrual cycle. Not only is it much more effective, it doesw not have the side effects of birth contol pills. If you don’t believe me on that one, just read the insert that your pharmacist provides next time you get your pills.
“In a rush to appear even-handed, Dolan’s office said last week his RNC appearance was not an endorsement, and he will speak at the upcoming Democratic National Convention as well.” The Cardinal actually had already volunteered to pray at the DNC, but was originally rejected. It was the DNC, not the Carndial who “rushed” to appear fair, when they decided to invite him after all.
There is a huge mistake on Church teaching in this article. The author mentioned that the Church is opposed to birth control, but not the rhythm method. The Church has not promoted or taught the rhythm method in years. The Catholic Church promotes and teaches Natural Family Planning, which is as effective as the birth control pill. Also, the Catholic doctrine has not changed regarding the purpose of sex, which remains as always unitive and procreative. Sex is for bonding and babies.
I wish more Catholics knew the truth as you do, Margie. Is this taught to the parishioners anywhere? I t should be so that couples would know they don’t have to use artificial birth-control.
This article also states that Cardinal Dolan was a “featured speaker” at the RNC. I believe it would more correct to say that he was a “featured prayer”. Thank you Margie for you NFP comments.
When you dance with the Devil…don’t be surprised when you have lipstick on your collar.