Faith

Catholic Bishops Call Obamacare Regulation an ‘Unprecedented Attack on Religious Liberty’

The the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is frustrated over a regulation in President Obama’s health care legislation — so much so that the group is accusing the government of religious discrimination.

The religious coalition issued an “urgent” bulletin that was distributed at Catholic churches across America on Sunday, saying that the health care measure, which requires coverage of controversial contraceptives, “poses an unprecedented threat to individual and institutional religious freedom.” Read the bulletin here:

Catholic Bishops Call Health Care Reg an Attack on Religious Liberty

The mandate, clearly controversial because of the Church’s stance on abortion and the like, would require all private health care insurance plans to cover contraceptives that are approved by the FDA. This would, of course, include ulipristal, which has the potential to terminate a pregnancy before or after an embryo implants in the womb. CNS News has more:

Under the regulation, the bishops said, Catholic hospitals, Catholic charitable institutions, and Catholic universities and colleges would be forced to choose between dropping all health-care coverage for their workers or paying for health-care services that violate the teachings of the church.

Beyond that, the bishops said, the proposed regulation violates the freedom of conscience of individuals and private insurance companies that believe paying for or purchasing sterilizations and contraceptives is wrong.

To help combat this regulation, the bulletin asked recipients to visit a web page on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C.B.). Here, an email message can be sent to the Department of Health and Human Services, letting the government know of one’s opposition to the measure. Currently, the regulatory change is under a public comment period that ends this Friday.

In comments that the bishops, themselves, prepared, they wrote that the government’s religious exemption for the provision was so narrow that it wouldn’t even cover Jesus, himself:

HHS has concluded, for example, that a church is not a religious employer if it (a) serves those who are not already members of the church, (b) fails to hire based on religion, or (c) does not restrict its charitable and missionary purposes to the inculcation of religious values.  Under such inexplicably narrow criteria—criteria bearing no reasonable relation to any legitimate (let alone compelling) government purpose—even the ministry of Jesus and the early Christian Church would not qualify as “religious,” because they did not confine their ministry to their co-religionists or engage only in a preaching ministry.

The document goes on to claim religious discrimination, saying that the provision explicitly discriminates against Catholicism.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bishop David A. Zubik reiterated these statements, claiming that the penalty for imposing these regulations could be steep for both Catholic health care providers and society, alike. In a letter to federal and state lawmakers, he said that the provision is ”an attack on Catholic beliefs and the religious liberty of Catholics to adhere to their beliefs.” He continued:

“This mandate would apply in virtually every instance where the Catholic Church serves as an employer, requiring the Catholic church to violate its own tenets by forcing Catholic entities to provide contraception and sterilization coverage.”

Considering the strong response this regulation has given and the obvious religious issues associated with the mandate, it will be interesting to see how the government responds, if at all, to these concerns.

(H/T CNSNews.com)

Comments (147)

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  • ITOLDUSO
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:23am

    cath-o-licks need to focus on its preist keeping thier pants on and stop molesting children! This “cult” has condoned child molestation for hundreds of years and is still doing it. It just seems like they have thier priorities out of whack.

     
    • copyCAT3
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:27am

      Less than one percent of priests have even been ACCUSED of molestation. They will all answer to God and so will those that covered it up, but you sound moronic trying to bring down a religion with a broad stroke. I assume you aren’t religious, but if you are and have a church….don’t cry to me when they come after your church. Although go ahead and cry to me, because I and the Catholic church will be happy to defend you.

      Report Post »  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:34am

      Itolduso – did you know that there is a much higher percentage of sexual abuse in other faiths than the Catholic Church, but it is never reported in the media. Anyone who brings this up and laughs about it is an idiot.

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • jujubeebee
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:54am

      ITOLDUSO: The government has NO RIGHT to be dictating that Catholic hospitals and charities should provide services which are against their religion. Obamacare was a bad bill from the get-go….requiring closed doors, bribes and kickbacks to even get their own party to pass it….without reading it! Why did Obamacare have DHIMMITUDE in the bill? Was it a muslim bill? If the Catholic hospitals and charities close their doors for the government to handle all the healthcare and adoptions then all of us will live with the consequences and it will not be good. Whether some priests were criminal is NOT THE POINT so why is it you use that for your defense of the government taking away rights?

      Report Post »  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:07am

      JUJUBEEBEE- you stated that eloquently, thank you.

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • dadsrootbeer
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:22am

      Go back to MSNBC

      Report Post » dadsrootbeer  
    • taksavillage
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:06am

      You are a “tool”. The priests you reference acted AGAINST CATHOLIC TEACHING. PERIOD… and are the result of the pressure in the 70′s by libs to stop the Church from excluding men with tendencies that were not “active”.
      There is a strong contingent of very CONSERVATIVE CATHOLIC PRIESTS who resisted modernist tendencies. But these STUPID comments such as yours serve only to undermine those conservative elements within the Church…but I’m sure you know that and are posting here because of your active hostility to religion in general and Catholicism in particular.
      PS most charges against priests have been for homosexual related activity and NOT pedophilia. Statistically the percentage of charges are smaller than the general population and/or the public teaching profession.
      THIS IS NOT MEANT AS AN EXCUSE< BUT AS A CORRECTION TO THE TYPE OF DULL-WITTED COMMENT POSTED BY THIS WRITER

      Report Post »  
    • Dudley Do-Right
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:19pm

      Responding to heavy media scrutiny, the Catholic Church has reported that since 1950, 13,000 “credible accusations” have been brought against Catholic clerics (about 228 per year.) The fact that this number includes all credible accusations, not just those that have involved insurance companies, and still is less than the number of cases in Protestant churches reported by just three insurance companies, should be making front page of The New York Times and the network evening news. It’s not.

      Protestants – 260 Reports each year
      Catholics – 228 Reports each year

      http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286153,00.html

      Report Post »  
    • MESAWLP
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:10pm

      First of all no child or young adult should be abused, but get your facts straight less than 1% of the Catholic Church clergy have been accused of this horrible crime, anywhere from 2% to 3.5% are from other religious organizations. The Church has cleaned up it’s act by over reacting to any and I mean any accusation. So I do not thing we need to go Church bashing at this point in time in history!

      Report Post » MESAWLP  
    • TangoBravo
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 3:59pm

      Has nothing to do with this article. Focus people.

      Report Post »  
    • DVL
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 4:56pm

      @ ITOLDUSO – Thank you for your pithy and deeply considered comments. May I introduce a bit of light on your otherwise dim as coal wit. The issue is not one of just the Catholic Church but of the overreaching of the government into a realm that is constitutionally forbidden and the abrogation of first amendment rights.

      While you, in your darkly held “wisdom” no doubt born of generations of inbreeding, fail to see is that even your right to hold your idiotic and biased opinions is covered by the same first amendment. You may think that you are unaffected by these power mad, agenda driven progressive erosions of our basic rights and freedoms – but you aren’t.

      The difference is that people like me will defend your right to hold your bilious opinions. The progressives are continuing to make it an offense under the law and will subject you to imprisonment for them once they are done.

      Get a clue and please learn to use your head for something other than a hat rack.

      Report Post » DVL  
    • pillaroffire
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:47pm

      cath-o-licks need to focus on its preist keeping thier pants on and stop molesting children! This “cult” has condoned child molestation for hundreds of years and is still doing it. It just seems like they have thier priorities out of whack.
      This “Cult” as you claim was started by God who created you. So in fact you hate what is holy and spurn what you don’t understand. When you die the very person you mock is staring and weighing the judgement of your soul. An eternity in heaven or hell, your choice. In hell there are many people who thought the same way you do, and now because of their disbelief have paid the ultimate price.

      Report Post »  
    • DocH
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:13pm

      I did not know that they sold computers to subcultural miscreants. You give the readers of this blog the impression that you flunked out of third-grade and haven’t taken a bath since.

      Report Post » DocH  
    • Applehead
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:53pm

      Catholics need to fight this to the end!!! This can never be accepted!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Harold B
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:55pm

      I agree with you molesting children should be reserved for government employed public school teachers. In New York city the teachers that molest children do not even lose their government union protected jobs, the accused priests do. Because of your attack against the Church it indicates you are an atheist or a liberal or most likely both Get a big lettered T shirt that says I support school teachers right to molest children, Unless they are Catholic. Let the world know about you, remember you and God are enemies. Read Romans ch 1 in the bible and see why God might turn you into a gay person, it happens because you reject God.

      Report Post »  
    • jnewnam
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 10:43am

      You can’t spell. Does this mean that you haven’t even graduated from grade school? In any case, the Catholic Church did not condone those priests. Many were sent for rehabilitation. Who knew the syndrome is not curable. And, yes, the church was more concerned for the priests‘ emotional health than the child’s emotional health. That was entirely wrong and they have paid for it. However, the priests who did this were in the vast minority – 1% of its population. Most went after teenage boys. Most of these priests were homosexual. They should never have been allowed to be priests in the first place. Catholic Church is a wonderful place and this is nothing less than the left trying to dictate church/Rome policy. The Church will be here long after the Communist Obama administration and its minions are long gone. Note: see USSR

      Report Post »  
    • ying
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 12:10pm

      Yes, the Catholic Church has had some infiltrators in it’s home, but that does not mean that the Church itself is bad. It is the only church founded by Jesus Christ, and THE first Christian church which all other Christian faiths have separated from. It‘s quirky how people who call themselves Christian will blaspheme Christ’s church, yet stand with the antichrist Israel. They call themselves Christian but are not.

      Report Post » ying  
    • ctgrecko
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:26pm

      Perhaps, “Itolduso” should have went to Catholic School to learn how to spell. “Itolduso” must be a product of public schools based on his spelling skills.

      Report Post »  
    • ejbonk
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 11:41pm

      Your an Idiot. Catholic Hospitals have a real Stake in this Health Care Policy and you go and run at the mouth about somrthing that has NOT TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AT HAND. SIT DOWN AND SHUT THE F@#& UP! Moron.

      Report Post »  
    • wjdylkashley
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:59pm

      Obviously you are a seriously mislead individual! You CANNOT define an entire religion which has over a BILLION people on a handful of priests that made a mistake! A terrible mistake, YES, but a mistake. I know so many priests that have made an amazing difference in this world. More than the idiot ones! For example, my priest! He has done so much in the year and a half that he has been at my church! Plus, we don’t approve of premarital sex or (obviously) contraception. “Though shall not commit adultery,” ring a bell? You have a seriously mislead view of the Catholic faith. Please look into it before insulting us again. Maybe you will even consider converting! I will welcome you with open arms.

      Report Post »  
  • jim
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:57am

    Ah-ha-ha-ha… you’re entire denomination across the U.S. voted for Obama. Suffer your own self imposed cross, Catholics.

    Report Post » jim  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:04am

      Jim – how could you possibly know that the entire Catholic population across America voted for Obama? What a stupid comment. I am Catholic and I certainly did not vote for Obama. I’d be very careful of spreading lies, you look like a fool.

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • taksavillage
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:14am

      Bigotry and anti-Catholicism are traits Jim shares with Obama. Reagan’s advisors included a strong Catholic contingent. I am a Catholic and Conservative.

      Report Post »  
    • Mainer forever
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:07am

      I too am a Catholic who did NOT vote for Oblahh-blahh.

      Report Post » Mainer forever  
    • sliver1935
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:27pm

      Yes, it is a sad truth that it was the Catholic voters who put this wrecking ball into the presidency. Had the majority of Catholics voted according to their teachings, there is no way we would be suffering this blight today. Let’s get it right next time or we will forever suffer the consequences.

      Report Post »  
    • CommonSenseRN
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:26pm

      You are wrong. Most of the Catholics I know REFUSED to vote for him, and exposed his (Obama) beliefs to all who would listen. We knew that God would judge our country for his election as he is the most pro-abortion president ever elected. The “catholics” who voted for him were mostly “cafeteria catholics” and definitely did NOT listen to our Bishops who stated that the right to life supersedes all other rights. Unfortunately, many people who call themselves catholic & scandalize the Church, rarely step inside the church, and if they do, they do not listen to the teachings of the Church and put these teachings into action.
      Pray for our country.

      Report Post »  
    • Falsegods
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:16pm

      False statement .

      Report Post »  
    • 4areason
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:46pm

      Conservative and Catholic – didn‘t vote for Obama and I know plenty of Catholics that didn’t vote for Obama and plenty of Protestants who did. All beside the point. The Church is standing for truth – if you cannot recognize it in your bigotry than perhaps it is you that needs a mirror to look into. Search for truth and don’t allow yourself to be side-tracked by the evil one distracting you.

      Report Post »  
    • wjdylkashley
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 4:18pm

      Catholics are Pro-Life
      Democrats are Pro-Choice

      Catholics don’t believe in the death penalty
      Democrats do believe in the death penalty

      Catholics believe that the government should stop meddling in other people’s business
      Democrats believe that they can do whatever the heck they want… THE BIGGER THE GOVERNMENT THE BETTER!

      Of course, EVERY Catholic voted for Obama…. you have got to be KIDDING me! Yes, some Catholics voted for Obama, but NOT ALL! That, my friend, is a logical fallacy (hasty generalization… look it up). All it does is make you sound like an idiot. I can name 4 Catholics just in my immediate family that did not vote for Obama. Out of my entire parish, I can only think of 2 maybe 3 people that would have voted for him! I have a parish of about 1,000 families too! Guess what else, I live in a LIBERAL area! Yeah! Western PA! Get your facts straight please.

      Report Post »  
  • NHwinter
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:42am

    Liberals have infiltrated the church to be sure, but isn’t it time people confronted them and not walk away. Anyone who says God was not part of the founding of the Constitution just hasn‘t read any of David Barton’s books and therefore does not have accurate historical information. I’m tired of trolls spewing inaccurate information and tired of people basing the Catholic Church. Many, many faiths have pushed social justice and distorted its original Christian meaning. They are wrong and have fallen for the Communist agenda. So, stand up and proclaim its true meaning. We can no longer sit back and let this go unchallanged. If you don’t know the original Christian meaning of Social Justice, then research it and get an accurate history. Glenn Beck has certainly informed his viewers of the original intent of Social Justice.

    Report Post » NHwinter  
    • DLG123
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:22pm

      I agree its the progressive Left who hijacks language and the “terms” people use such as the term “Liberal” or “Pro-Choice” they are masters of deception and infiltration just as their Master (Lucifer) is.

      DLG

      Report Post » DLG123  
  • Commiehater4
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 4:32am

    Listen to Catholic bishops. How about a further House…just of Catholic bishops?

    Report Post »  
  • jesustheway
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 3:37am

    “To refuse to take part in committing an injustice is not only a moral duty; it is also a basic human right. Were this not so, the human person would be forced to perform an action intrinsically incompatible with human dignity, and in this way human freedom itself, the authentic meaning and purpose of which are found in its orientation to the true and the good, would be radically compromised. What is at stake therefore is an essential right which, precisely as such, should be acknowledged and protected by civil law. In this sense, the opportunity to refuse to take part in the phases of consultation, preparation and execution of these acts against life should be guaranteed to physicians, health- care personnel, and directors of hospitals, clinics and convalescent facilities. Those who have recourse to conscientious objection must be protected not only from legal penalties but also from any negative effects on the legal, disciplinary, financial and professional plane.” (from: John Paul II – The Gospel of Life)

    Report Post »  
    • martinezjosei2
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:47am

      The CATHOLIC Church leaders voted for Obama and loved him.

      The CATHOLIC leaders (NOT THEIR MEMBERS) voted for Obama and FORCED their congregations to do so.

      The CATHOLIC church is nothing more than a front of the Democratic Party even not Obama is Pro-Partial born abortion.

      Obaman is a monster and all catholics that voted for him are his helper and guess what.

      No Catholic will ever vote Republican, they will ALWAYS vote Democrat even if that mean they will be FORCED to allow abortion and even PAY FOR IT.

      SATAN IS LAUGHING AT YOU CATHOLICS.

       
    • DLG123
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:30pm

      Martinez
      If thats the case then there should be NO repubs in the Congress since the Catholic Faith makes up roughly 60,000,000 Americans. When you throw out comment like ALL, ALWAYS, NEVER, it makes you sound like a ABSOLUTE fool (see how I did that). I am a Catholic my whole family is Catholic and I have never voted for a dem nor has my family that I know of and I NEVER will (except when I went behind enemy lines on a spec op in OPERATION CHAOS).
      Peace
      DLG

      Report Post » DLG123  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:07pm

      Martinez: When you use terminology such as the words you have used, you demonstrate that you only wish to denigrate the Catholic Church. You also demonstrate that you are a liar & a bigot. The subject to be discussed here is the attempt at Religious discrimination by the Government, which is against our Constitution.

      Report Post »  
  • jesustheway
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 3:14am

    “It is therefore urgently necessary, for the future of society and the development of a sound democracy, to rediscover those essential and innate human and moral values which flow from the very truth of the human being and express and safeguard the dignity of the person: values which no individual, and no State can ever create, modify or destroy, but must only acknowledge, respect and promote.“ ”Consequently there is a need to recover the basic elements of a vision of the relationship between civil law and moral law, which are put forward by the Church, but which are also part of the patrimony of the great juridical traditions of humanity.“ ”Certainly the purpose of civil law is different and more limited in scope than that of moral law. But ‘in no sphere of life can the civil law take the place of conscience or dictate norms concerning things which are outside its competence’ “. ” Authority is a postulate of the moral order and derives from God. Consequently, laws and decrees enacted in contravention of the moral order, and hence of the divine will, can have no binding force in conscience…; indeed the passing of such laws undermines the very nature of authority and results in shameful abuse”. ” There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws: instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection.” (from: John Paul II – The Gospel of Life)

    Report Post »  
  • reform
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 2:36am

    Back in the 60′s i had to go to church, i asked my father why i needed to go and he said because GOD loved me and wants me there. Now i then said to him and not trying to be funny for i would have gotten a backhand, dad if God loves me then why do they not talk in English so i can understand what he is saying? This isn’t meant to be funny, but when i look back now i am finding out why i felt that way. Now for some who have scholarly knowledge, why did the Crusaders also kill the Christians who taught from the bible as well as the Muslims? Why hasn’t the Muslims attacked the Vatican? And why is Dimmitude in the health care bill to be found on page 107?

    Report Post »  
    • Milkmom
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:35am

      I don‘t think I’d qualify under your request for those with “scholarly knowledge”, but I don‘t think it’s necessary in order to answer at least your question about the crusaders… it’s because they were blinded by sin. Ugliness and sin – something that affects every human being on the planet, regardless of religion or lack thereof. No amount of scholarly thought could justify the crusades.

      And guess what?! Looks like God answered your question from when you were a kid! lol. They speak English now so we can understand:) The Catholic Church is not perfect and doesn’t pretend to be – every one of it’s members, including the Pope, is subject to sin. The Church is like a mother – there to guide us and do her best to teach us, but we do know that she also is not perfect.

      Report Post »  
  • Danola
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:25am

    It’s about time these Bishops say something, but it is not enough and it is too late. How about excommunicating the Democrat politicians that claim to be Catholic, go to Church on Sundays, and vote every chance they can to promote abortion? Start with Sen. Mary Landrieu, Marxist Democrat from Louisiana and her brother, the mayor of New Orleans.

    Report Post »  
    • rockwell62
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:31am

      I am a Catholic, and I am not smacking my faith, I am smacking this group. What do you mean it’s about time they said something? I believe this same group wrote a letter(s) to congress asking them to pass obamacare. You can’t pick and choose which part of the bills you like. You wanted it passed, you got it, live with it. How about the Catholic church stops sticking its nose where it shouldn’t be! Just like the letter from my local Bishop last week telling us to tell obama we want the Dream Act. Be careful what you wish for. I don’t go to church for politics.

      Report Post »  
    • jujubeebee
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:01am

      I think that the Catholic church should keep its nose out of politics too. If the people in this country want all the Catholic hospitals, adoption agencies and charities to close and open up government ones then the people voted for it. I won’t be one of those people voting that way! I didn‘t vote for Obama and I don’t like ANY of his policies….not a one! So Catholics needs to use that individual personal responsibility and conscience inside of them and make their own decisions. The churches are not a separate voting block but individuals. If the truly believe in abortion is wrong, or that catholic charities can let only man/woman couples adopt children…..then they will not vote for the Obama type candidates. If our morality is eroding it is not because of the Catholic church. People are not committed!

      Report Post »  
    • jujubeebee
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:26am

      I do think in this instance….the Catholic bishops are fighting for the right cause. They are standing up for their freedom in religion. This is a part of our constitution. Catholic hospitals, doctors should not be forced to perform what they consider murder! Their charitable adoption agencies should be able to decide on parents being a man/woman. If the government wants to abolish all the hospitals, charities and adoption agencies run by Catholics then those agreeable to this will feel it in their pocketbooks for sure….even if they don’t care about these issues of abortion and same sex marriage. It will turn the whole healthcare providers upside down…..all because some people want free birthcontrol? Birth control is not an illness and should not be covered….regardless of religiion!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • sbenard
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:43am

    A few weeks ago, Sen. Mike Lee addressed a standing-room-only crowd at a Tea Party event. He predicted that the Supreme Court will overturn Obamacare with Stevens casting the deciding vote in a 5-4 decision. He knows Stevens, having clerked for both Roberts and Alito.
    I expect that very soon, Obamacare will be cast where it belongs — in the trash heap of history — and its namesake along with it!

    Report Post » sbenard  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:42am

      Are you SURE that Sen. Lee said that? From the SCOTUS website (biographies of justices): “Justice Stevens retired from the Supreme Court on June 29, 2010″

      Report Post »  
    • jujubeebee
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:07am

      sbernard: I sure HOPE SO!

      Report Post »  
  • 00gabooga
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:21am

    What am I missing? I’m a devout Catholic and no officials at my church (Blessed Sacrament, San Antonio, Tx.) ever mentioned voting for anyone, either Republican or Democrat. Outside of Mass, when it’s just us congregants getting together to shoot the bull, it’s a decidedly pro-conservative group. Same goes for Knights of Columbus meetings as well. Heck, liberals wouldn’t go for our Knights meetings, we actually RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE and Patriotism is one of the four basic tenets of our order. Was this something that happened on the east and left coasts? I’m not being sarcastic or cynical, I genuinely want to know where there are Catholics pushing a liberal agenda.

    Report Post » 00gabooga  
    • 00gabooga
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:29am

      Aside from the death penalty of course. Every Catholic is aware of the Church’s stance on that.

      Report Post » 00gabooga  
    • TRUTHandFREEDOM
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:48am

      I was quite disappointed to see a group called “Catholics for Healthcare” participating in a DC rally in support of Obamacare. I’m also very disappointed to see Catholics support Democrats and to accept John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats calling themselves Catholics. Those who live by and DEFEND Catholic/Christian principles and the freedom to live by them cannot support Democrats. Democrats are to Catholicism and freedom of religeon what Marxism is to the Constitution. Opponents.

      Report Post »  
    • rockwell62
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:44am

      I live in the Cleveland area and I would say that the Cleveland Diocese is more liberal than not. We literally had a page long letter from our Bishop (Richard Lennon, who I believe is originally from Mass.) on Sept. 25. Titled “Pray for the Dream” talking about the Dream Act and asking us to go to a website titled justiceforimmigrants.org and send obama an electronic postcard telling him we support the Dream Act. I won‘t even start on my son’s religion book. He is a Senior at a Catholic school and it is one of the most socialistic books I have ever read! They are telling our kids that this is what the church believes. Pro-amnesty, no questions, Pro-labor unions,can’t get a fair shake at a job unless you are in a union. Pro-United Nations, every country should follow the rules, pay their assessments,follow UN law. Pro-Universal healthcare. And I haven’t even gotten to the environmental chapter! Just by the words used by the author you can tell it has a left lean. I’m beginning to feel as a conservative, my beliefs do not mesh with the how the Catholic Church today is interpreting our faith.

      Report Post »  
  • horsefeathers99
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 11:43pm

    Many of the comments like ones that say they left the church for this or that reason are most likely made up, not real.
    Being in contact on a regular basis with a lot friends and relatives from many different Catholic churches on religious or political issues, no one from the churches had ever endorsed Obama or speaks of liberal causes at any time.
    Some provisions forced on us in obamacare are against biblical teachings.

    Report Post »  
    • Joisey
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:17am

      I can bear witness to the fact that sermons in the catholic church of St. Charles Borromeo in Montgomery, NJ, were given in the months before Obamacare was passed supporting nationalized health care. They did not specifically endorse Obama to be elected president, but they do preach the heresy of “Social Justice”. Every mass said in that church includes prayers for “just wages”, “social justice”, and/or “economic justice”. They preach sermons in favor of amnesty for illegals too.

      Report Post » Joisey  
    • encinom
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:17am

      Really Josey,it is only in the paranoid mind of Beck and his followers that social justice is viewed as vulgar. In the real world and with Catholic doctrine the concept of helping ones neighbor and showing compassion and mercy are considered virtures not vices.

      Report Post »  
  • onetoomany
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 11:37pm

    Maybe he wouldn‘t have gotten elected in the first place if the Catholics hadn’t voted for him. His stand on abortion was clear by his comments, and his voting record while an Illinois senator. Any Catholic that voted for him should be ashamed…now what?

    Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:15am

      We should have voted for blood thirty republicans? The kind that cheer at Rick Perry’s record of death? O r those that would abandon their neighbors and turn them in, instead of providing shelter? We all know what the SBC thinks of Catholics.

      Report Post »  
    • Falsegods
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:32pm

      One2many, I agree.
      But I do remember our priest saying we should think about electing a black man for pres. And BO was the only black running.
      I knew BHO was anti american after his second speech.

      Report Post »  
  • BillFan
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 11:31pm

    There are a lot of Anti-Religion and Anti-Catholic comments on this article. This is a problem
    in the United States and an obvious alignment with the present Socialist Government. Without
    Religion there would be no Civilization. Obama is a Barbarian!

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:18am

      Let’s see if I got this straight. The only way to opt out of health care for religious reasons, is if you qualify. In order to qualify, you have to give no aid to anyone outside your religion, hire no one outside your religion, and basically be a bigot. BUT, if you are bigot, they condemn you. The only religion that will meet these requirements are the Muslims.

      Report Post »  
    • Falsegods
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:49pm

      Lori, that’s exactly what I thought when I first heard this on the news.
      BHO is all for those *******, their prayer is the most beautiful thing to him, and Islam will always come first if he has to choose. He said it.

      Report Post »  
  • Married to a Liberal HELP
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:51pm

    No sympathy here.. The priests were telling their flocks in 2008 that it was their Christian duty to vote for Obama. Well, now they got Obama and all that he entails.

    Report Post »  
    • Rightsofman
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 11:34pm

      Married to a lib….I never heard any such thing from my priests either from the pulpit OR socially so where did you get this info? In fact my clergy has been annoyingly silent on political issues. Maybe some parishes have a different experience as individuals are different but don’t use the collective Catholic Church to make that point.

      Report Post »  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:16pm

      Married: No they did not. That is a lie. Ministers & priests do not have freedom of speech in the pulpit & dare not voice a political opinion from the pulpit. I personally know quite a few clergy members who, privately advised friends not to vote for Obama.

      Report Post »  
  • mingfurecon
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:49pm

    You cannot have it both ways. You voted for the clown and now you will have to suffer the consequences, or shut your pie hole. The fact is that our dear leader is a monumental stooge and a lackey with not one original idea. It’s embarrasing.

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  • jzs
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:30pm

    If the Church has a complaint, it’s about having to pay the tiny cost of the insurance coverage they object to. I agree that is a a legitimate objection, having to pay for something you won’t use. Apart from that, well, no one is required to use contraception or any of the other things covered (coverage meaning some fraction is paid for by insurance).

    But I don‘t think that’s the issue. I think they don’t want contraception covered by insurance. That’s okay, that’s a legitmate posistion, but personally I’m in more in favor of contraception, and less in favor of abortion.

    Report Post » jzs  
    • TRUTHandFREEDOM
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:56am

      Church teachings and principles are church teachings and principles. The Church cannot and will not be selective about them. It is not a management decision. Their complaints are what they say they are and for the reasons that they declare. Any congregant who wanders to different values simply isn’t following their faith, but that does not affect the Church’s moral obligation to stand by, teach, lead by and defend those values and teachings.

      Report Post »  
    • jujubeebee
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:09am

      JZS: what is wrong with you? They will be REQUIRED to provide these services in their hospitals and by their doctors! It is not about a measly insurance bump!

      Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:13am

      jujubeebee
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:09am
      JZS: what is wrong with you? They will be REQUIRED to provide these services in their hospitals and by their doctors! It is not about a measly insurance bump!
      ____________________________
      Oh Lordy, Catholic Hospitals are going ot be forced to actually treat patients and provide the care the patients are looking for.

      Report Post »  
    • wjdylkashley
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 4:36pm

      ENCINOM! JZS! Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If they want to go to a Catholic hospital, they SHOULD abide by the teachings of the Catholic faith! We believe that every time you have sex there should be the option of getting pregnant! That means that condoms, sterilization, birth control, etc. NO! Guess what else, YOU DON’T NEED IT! Scientifically speaking, a woman can only get pregnant for a small window every month! It’s not that hard! You track it, and if a woman is ovulating KEEP YOUR PANTS ON! YAY! PROBLEM SOLVED! Plus, one should only be having sex if they are married. If you are using contraception because you are not married yet and don’t want to have a baby, DON’T HAVE SEX!

      Abortion is murder. A baby’s heart starts to beat about BY 22 days after contraception! Most people don’t even know they are pregnant yet and there is a heart beat! Abortion is murder, so we are not condoning breaking the commandment, “Though shall not kill!!!” If you don‘t want a baby don’t have sex, or do it when you are not ovulating or you partner is not ovulating (depending if you are the male or female)!

      So, contraception is not needed, and if you are already pregnant we are not paying for someone to murder. Obviously, this does not have to be in the bill! There are ways around not getting pregnant, the easiest and 100% full proof NOT HAVING SEX! There has been only one person who has not had sex and was conceived with a child. Don’t make us pay for something again

      Report Post »  
  • tom
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:15pm

    Any time the good bishops criticize this radically liberal pro choice president they need to remember they got what they wanted, a black president and one who will user in national health care. The bishops were asked is it morally wrong to vote for a pro choice president? The bishops response, no, but racism is wrong. So what’s that got to do with voting for the most radically pro abortion president in the history of this nation? Now the bishops are wondering if one day they will have to explain to the millions of babies why they failed to stand up for them, and God…Answer, you better believe they will answer to God, and I pray the slaughtered in their mothers womb babies will be their too.

    Report Post » tom  
  • SandyfromChesterfield
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:01pm

    The government is not going to respond to the Catholic Bishops because their preferred religion is Sharia law.

    Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:15pm

      The Catholic Bishops need to be more concerned with their Priest and Altar boys and not the private lives of their employees.

       
  • donh2
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:52pm

    The Kennedy Family bought the silence of the Catholic Church when resistance was needed to stop this abomination . Now the wrath of Almighty God is upon us for institutionalizing the culture of DEATH over his beloved children . Too late for the Catholic Church to be testifying against this law. The son of the devil himself stood at your alter preaching for a law that makes abortion and euthenasia state sponsored…. http://youtu.be/CtOs7Yce6Fw

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    • Falsegods
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 12:08am

      Yep. The Vatican knew this evil
      and they just stood by and let him be elected.
      Just the same way they have allowed Spain, Mexico and Italy to be corrupted by government. Where were they when the voice of sin was taking over these countries,
      Just sipping a glass of wine in a velvet chair of gold .

      Report Post »  
  • Joisey
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:27pm

    The Catholic Bishops should have thought of this before they okay’d sermons in the parishes that pushed Obamacare. I sat through a year’s worth of sermons in my church that shilled for the passage of socialized medicine. Since then the sermons have been pushing for amnesty for illegals.

    Too late, you Bishops. Obama is done using you. Good luck trying to reverse the provisions now. Maybe you want to re-think that Social Justice bandwagon you jumped on.

    Report Post » Joisey  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:42pm

      Very well said, a thoughtfull response.

      Report Post »  
    • Codyrock67a
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:01pm

      You are correct. As a non catholic attending service with my family, I have always seen the social justice push. Now it threatens them. I challenge the church to take up challenge against the Johnson rule. If they are really concerned by the HHS, they should be more so about the IRS. The less their parishioners have in there pockets, the less they have to give to the church.

      Report Post »  
    • lizziebee
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:03pm

      Amen and Amen. I agree with your comment. You nailed it head on. I love my faith with all my heart but I hear the words immigration, social justice and down with the death penalty and I want to run screaming out of the door.

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:14pm

      LIZZIEBEE:
      Sounds like your a smarter Catholic than the Bishops. I thought I was alone.

      Report Post »  
    • vtxphantom
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:22pm

      HR1179 is out their to challenge this. Contact your congressman. Call, write, email, whatever it takes to change this outrage. I’m ready to tar and feather that piece of cr** in the WH.

      Report Post »  
    • Ericben
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:23pm

      Amen to that!!! I’m to the point now that if I hear a priest or deacon trying to push liberalism from the pulpit, I’ll call him out on it after Mass.

      Report Post »  
    • angelcat
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:25pm

      I know of no parish where the sermon even mentioned Obamacare. Can you cite specific churches? In fact, in my years as a Catholic who has been in many churches in many dioceses, I have NEVER heard a homily that mentioned politics in any way. I have talked to my Catholic friends in other states, they have never had such a homily either. The only one I have ever heard of is by that renegade priest in Chicago. Priests give their homilies about the readings of the day. They may mention that Catholics cannot in good conscience vote for pro-choice candidates unless all the candidates are pro-choice and they have to vote then on other issues, but a party affiliation or specific candidate is NOT mentioned. If this does happen, it is rare and not approved by the church.

      Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:29pm

      lizziebee
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:03pm
      Amen and Amen. I agree with your comment. You nailed it head on. I love my faith with all my heart but I hear the words immigration, social justice and down with the death penalty and I want to run screaming out of the door.
      _________________________________________________
      So, when the Church is actually preaching what Christ taught about taking care of your neighbors and about mercy you have a problem (you cheered Perry‘s murder record didn’t you).

      Report Post »  
    • joan k
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:38pm

      I left my local Roman Catholic Church for the last time in February 2009 for pushing amnesty. The priest actually asked us twice from the pulpit to send in post cards to our elected congressman and Senators. These cards were placed in our pews that weekend into our elected officials. They already had a “social justice committee” and had been saying prayers for ‘Global warming” which really made my skin crawl. I couldn’t fail to notice all the Obama stickers on cars in spite of his extreme views on abortion. I had had enough and that day was the final straw! The problem is all of the local churches here did the same thing. It has all been pushed by our liberal Bishop.

      Report Post » joan k  
    • AmericablessGod
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:51pm

      This infiltration of the Catholic Church by progressives and feminists pushing their agenda is rotting the Church from the inside. Only where we have strong, faithful Bishops do we see truth being taught.

      While these Bishops are right, they are too late. Should have strongly opposed this before it was passed.

      Report Post » AmericablessGod  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 2:21am

      I am Catholic and agree 100%. Great post!

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • tobinnieto
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:24pm

    if the government impedes on rights of religious freedom then you could make a 1st amendment case.

    Report Post » tobinnieto  
  • tobinnieto
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:23pm

    actually you could turn it to into a 1st amendment case.

    Report Post » tobinnieto  
  • wisehiney
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:23pm

    Stuff like this is what caused the Crusaders to butcher thousands of evil moslems (muslims) during the crusades. There still exist Warriors for the Lord, who will not turn the other cheek.

    Report Post »  
    • 4q2obama
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:57pm

      Q: From where do you come?
      A: From the bends of the Jordan, from Calvary, from the Holy Sepulchre, and lastly from Rome.
      Q: Whom do you serve?
      A: The Holy Father at Rome, the Pope, and the Roman Catholic Church Universal throughout the world.
      Q: Who commands you?
      A: The successor of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus or the Soldiers of Jesus Christ.
      Q: Who received you?
      A: A venerable man with white hair.
      Q: How?
      A: With a naked dagger, I kneeling on a cross beneath the banners of the Pope and of our sacred Order.
      Q: Did you take an oath?
      A: I did, to destroy heretics and their governments and rulers, and to spare neither age, sex or condition. To be as a corpse without any opinion or will of my own, but to implicitly obey my superiors in all things without hesitation or murmuring.
      Q: Will you do that?
      A: I will.
      Q: How do you travel?
      A: In the bark of Peter the fisherman.
      Q: Whither do you travel?
      A: To the four quarters of the globe.
      Q: For what purpose?
      A: To obey the orders of my General and Superiors and execute the will of the Pope and faithfully fulfill the conditions of my oath.

      Go ye, then, into all the world and take possession of all lands in the name of the Pope. He who will not accept him as the Vicar of Jesus and his Viceregent on earth, let him be accursed and exterminated.

      Report Post »  
    • wisehiney
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:05pm

      Good. A familiar kindred spirit. And a kindred bloodline?

      Report Post »  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:20pm

    ugh…and they have a point.

    But let us not make the case against Obamacare based on religion.

    Because that then calls into question “religion” before the eyes of the law.

    Religion will not win. Nor should it.
    ——————–

    The Interstate Commerce clause is the best objection.

    Stick to it.

    cheers

    Report Post » MrButcher  
    • MARCH4HIM
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:35pm

      @mr. butcher
      say what?
      Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

      Report Post » MARCH4HIM  
    • MARCH4HIM
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:48pm

      MAN makes a law…That Denies or twist a “RIGHT”….
      That was given by “GOD”…..The Consttution has been distorted …This is a perfect example of what happens ,when the God in the Constitution is replaced by Man…..

      Report Post » MARCH4HIM  
    • encinom
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:03pm

      God was never a part of the Constitution. The Founders formed a secular nation, not a theocracy. Our laws are not based on religious beliefs, but in the spirit of the Englightment. God is mentioned in the Constitution only to limit religion’s role in the government.

      Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:23pm

      What does the Constitution have to do with the courts? Obama has his people in position to dictate law. If it wasn’t true, he would be serving prison time already.

      Report Post »  
    • MARCH4HIM
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:34pm

      @encinem
      wrong..it was put there to stop the flawed ….a KING
      no one is above GOD… therefore none under him .
      Can take a Right away that was given to you by him.
      thats the beutiful thing of our republic…. no man shal make laws…
      Its.in the preamble for a reason
      they fled a tyrant King…That Only God was above…
      So they made sure it would never happen again…
      And they doubbled up saying nobody with Royalty can hold the Office
      in this Great american Experience…
      And to your line on reasoning to this issue..
      If a Flawed Man is able to creat the law of the land ….?
      The experience is over and it will be ….We the people with Man given rights
      and then …we will truly be peasants…..

      Report Post » MARCH4HIM  
    • encinom
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:34pm

      chips1
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:23pm
      What does the Constitution have to do with the courts? Obama has his people in position to dictate law. If it wasn’t true, he would be serving prison time already.
      __________________________________________________________________________________

      Huh, what crimes, another wet dream of the extreme right fringe.

      Report Post »  
    • MARCH4HIM
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:48pm

      Declaration of independence
      We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among

      Report Post » MARCH4HIM  
    • TRUTHandFREEDOM
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:11am

      Stand for EVERY RIGHT and EVERY GOD GIVEN FREEDOM!

      Every right and freedom denied sets a pecident for government to disregard the others!

      Do NOT be selective in the rights you defend! NONE are expendable.

      Report Post »  
    • Dudley Do-Right
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 12:38pm

      ENCINOM

      I suggest you read the Library of Congress’s, “Religion and the Founding of the American Republic”

      The Bible Commonwealths

      The New England colonies have often been called “Bible Commonwealths” because they sought the guidance of the scriptures in regulating all aspects of the lives of their citizens. Scripture was cited as authority for many criminal statutes. Shown here are the two Bibles used in seventeenth-century New England and a seventeenth-century law code from Massachusetts that cites scripture.

      http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01.html

      Report Post »  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:20pm

    Yeah, saw this story on CNSNEWS.COM last night.

    To be fair, a little late BLAZE.

    Report Post »  
    • truthseekerusa
      Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:53pm

      I don’t mind if the Blaze is not the first one to print a story. Important to me is whether, unlike the Washington Post and New Times, it is accurate and truthful. Cable TV has lots of breaking stories, many of them with half truths or distortions of the truth.

      I subscribe to GBTV and The Blaze because I depend on them to check for accuracy before putting up a story. However, if they make a mistake every once in a while, as a former journalist, I am sympathetic when that happens having had to write some corrections from time to time.

      Report Post »  
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