We all know that President O'Bama is a true democrat. Right? And those rumours that Al is really a Muslim are just BS. Right? So why does his administration -- particular the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) -- keep forcing pro-life Christians, especially those in health care, to follow their evil agenda on contraception, abortion and forced sterilization?
That's the big question that Cardinal Francis George and New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan have asked in a number of letters to the Prez. Have they received any answers? About as likely as the sudden revelation that the Pope is a Mason. [Errr...let me check on that. Ed.]
In a letter to other bishops, Archbishop Dolan stated that “I have offered to meet with the President to discuss these concerns and to impress upon him the dire nature of these actions by [his] government.” Having received no answer, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), of which Msgr. Dolan is President, is forming an Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.
“This basic right, in its many and varied applications for Christians and people of faith, is now increasingly and in unprecedented ways under assault in America,” Archbishop Dolan said in his letter.
“The federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued regulations that would mandate the coverage of contraception (including abortifacients) and sterilization in all private health insurance plans,” he continued. “HHS is also requiring that MRS [Migration and Refugee Services] provide the ‘full range of reproductive services’ to trafficking victims and unaccompanied minors in its cooperative agreements and government contracts —and we all know what that means.”
“Catholic Relief Services is also concerned that USAID, under the Department of State, is increasingly requiring comprehensive HIV prevention activities (for example, condom distribution), as well as full integration of reproductive health activities including provision of artificial contraception, within a range of international relief and development programs,” Archbishop Dolan added. “The federal Department of Justice has ratcheted up its attack on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as an act of bigotry.”
“The establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee is one element of what I expect to be a new moment in the history of our Conference. Never before have we faced this kind of challenge to our ability to engage in the public square as people of faith and as a service provider. If we do not act now, the consequence will be grave.”
Christians, let us pray that this initiative yields real and visible positive change for religious liberty in the USA. And while we're at it, how about saying a prayer for a change in administration next year. Of course that would presuppose that one of the putative Republican candidates would actually have the courage to stand up for freedom of religion. Walt is waiting for one of them -- any one -- to say as much.
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