Obama Deceives Catholics on Compromise
Give the Obama administration their due, they sure are great deceivers. In an effort to escape the firestorm engulfing them because of the ObamaCare mandate that forces churches to violate their theology, the president announced a “compromise” on February 10. The details of this compromise demonstrate that President Obama simply cannot be believed.
Naturally, the Washington Post, either as compliant dupes or dishonest confederates, ran with the front page headline: “Obama shifts course on birth control rule to calm Catholic leaders’ outrage.” The headline contained a falsehood, the “shift,” as well as the administration’s messaging to Catholics, calm.
N.C. Aizenman, Peter Wallsten, and Karen Tumulty, authors of the Post story, claimed the White House “alter[ed] a new birth control rule.” It characterized the announcement as a “new policy.” Most deceptive of all, the Post said the announcement “amends a rule announced in August.”
Lies, all.
First, nothing was changed from the original rule. The Department of Health and Human Services, Friday night, hours after Obama’s big “compromise,” issued the final regulation in exact form as the regulation first issued in August 2011 “without changes.” Church-affiliated entities, such as Catholic hospitals, were still not exempted in the issued final regulation.
Next, the final rule issued the evening of the “compromise” provided absolutely no relief from the sterilization mandate. Remember, this fight is not just about contraception, though the White House seeks to steer the debate in that direction. ObamaCare also mandates that Catholic institutions provide sterilization services and abortifacient drugs, something squarely at odds with Catholic theology. The Washington Post and White House usually omit the pair when discussing the issue.
They’re getting their instructions straight out of the Nazi playbook now. See 1933. “Vee vil kall it vatever vee sink it shood be kalled…ya?”
It’s pretty clear by now they make their own rules and to hell with everyone else. Totalitarian government, he we are.
The difference between a mere con man and a zealot is that the former knows when to cut his losses, and leave town. A zealot simply demands that more people give him what he wants.
It’s obvious that The One has no intention of leaving town. Whenever he runs into opposition (otherwise known as reality) he always doubles down. This situation is no exception.
It must be remembered, however, that in the faculty lounge culture he comes from, using the power of government to force a Christian church to violate its own tenets is not controversial. And Obama has surrounded himself with like-minded academic radicals, all of whom think that this is entirely normal, laudable, and the way things should be.
In short, there’s nobody in charge who knows the first thing about anyone who is not exactly like them. Seen in this light, this debacle’, or something like it, was inevitable. As was Obama’s reaction to it, i.e. lying while continuing on course.
It has been said that you cannot reason with a zealot. You also cannot reason with someone who believes that he, and those who think like him, are the only ones capable of reason.
And throughout history, those with that mindset have been the least capable reasoners of all.
clear ether
eon
Does that mean River City will not get the band instruments and uniforms that professor Obama promised?
He’ll demand twice as much money to pay for them, then claim that no such program was ever in the works. Instead, the money will go to buy a new bandstand… six counties away.
Which will never actually be built.
cheers
eon
“A phony, politically expedient diversion that relies on the stupidity of the American people or the active collaboration of the media.”
It is a phony, politically expedient diversion that 0 hopes people will forget.
It does rely on the stupidity and cupidity of the American people.
We all know he always enjoys the active collaboration of the media, except Fox.
Five stars for honesty Mr. Adams.
The American voting public will have an IQ test next November 6.
What a truth and a pity as the American public naively, gullibly and abjectly failed their IQ test in 2008 and all the signs are that they are on course to do so again. The Blacks of course will just continue to vote RACISTLY.
I think you’ve accurately described our situation.
My previous innate belief in the basic wisdom of the American voter is now replaced with the disgusted question of how on Earth could we’ve elected someone like this Obama character who had absolutely nothing substantial in his background to qualify him to be the Democratic National Committee’s nominee?…for anything at all…..least of all the Presidency of this Nation……nothing at all in his background or experience. In short, we’ve been screwed.
Are we so short of mature experienced candidates who’ve been adequately screened before they reach Election Day? Who, specifically, did the screening on this Obama? Who?
Something is very wrong with America since we made the colossal error of accepting his smiling empty BS as substance. The voters seem to have abdicated all sense of responsibility. So……now those who then voted for him should now be held accountable for Obama’s slithering posturing.
Let this be a lesson…..constantly reminded…..up until the next November.
In 2008 we took an IQ test for all the world to see … and the result was that we got a Zero.
Don’t be so quick to assume that the Catholics are deceived. Catholics look to their bishops, who most assuredly are not deceived.
Don’t be so quick to assume that the Catholics are deceived. Catholics look to their bishops, who most assuredly are not deceived. The media is, willfully so, the bishops aren’t.
the Catholic Church cannot be surprised.. they have pretty much looked the other way and cheerleaded this administration.. not sure why they’re making such a fuss about this.. suppose they have to pretend same as the administration… you lie down with dogs you get up with Democrat bloodsucking fleas..
Nonsense. They have not cheerleaded anyone. From the moment this bill was debated, they have been sending the administration warnings about the matters the administration put in the bill.
Sorry, Adams… but hogtrashhd has a point.
As George Will so eloquently pointed out on ABC’s last week’s Sunday AM show, most Catholic bishops (with a few exceptions) were all worked up about Obamacare. Will had to remind these same bishops when they were burned by this Obamacare contraception ruling, “This is what liberalism looks like.” and “It serves them right.”
Good grief, what did these bishops expect… not to be thrown under the bus?
To paraphrase hogtrashhd… when you play with scorpions, don’t be surprised when you get bit. That’s what scorpions do.
Old news. The fight now is the fight that matters. There is nothing in Catholic theology that is offended by state medical insurance. If a government policy does not contradict church teaching, it is not the role of the church to oppose it. Socialized medicine is a polical issue, not a theological one – unless government money is paying for things the church opposes on theoloigical grounds. To do otherwise would result in the church becoming involved in every matter of policy. But once a theological line is crossed, then the church becomes involved, and I suspect most people would prefer it that way.
George Will is still published? I did not know that. Still complaining about blue jeans and football??
Where was the Catholic Church when 28 states implemented the very same rules, some by Republican Governors.
One get get around the state rules by being self-insured. The Obama supporters (in and out of the media) are lying when they claim the Catholic Church has given in in those states. The church cannot get around Barry’s edict via self-insurance.
Face it. The thug is evil, as is Kathleen “no fetus left alive” Sebelius.
As a non-Catholic, I and others are confused. We see Catholic
sisters agree with the “accommodation” yet the Bishops hold
firm to church doctrine. Who are the leaders?
As a non-catholic, you can be forgiven for not understanding the views of a single nun from a single order are wholly meaningless. Hopefully as a conservative you can understand why it is the Washington Post so loves to talk about a single nun. Moreover, if you are still stuck on the meaningless views of this single nun, you might go back and notice it was her view on February 10. Is it still today? Even if it it is, it doesn’t matter. The bishops and the Holy Father determine church policy, not nuns.
The Pope is the leader of the church. The Bishops speak for the pope and in birth control they have lost that fight. Of course most things the Bishops do support and also advise us on the Republicans usually ignore. Even the Pope has condemned our invasion of Iraq. The Bishops are for everyone having healthcare and a host of other actions that Republicans and J Christian Adams oppose but I doubt you will see any writings about that
“Even the Pope has condemned our invasion of Iraq. The Bishops are for everyone having healthcare and a host of other actions that Republicans and J Christian Adams oppose but I doubt you will see any writings about that”
So what? The Pope wasn´t drafted to take part in said invasion. Political opinions are one thing, being forced to violate my beliefs is something else.
Do you understand the difference or are you willfully obtuse?
The first thing you need to know about Church hierarchy is that the Church is a spiritual army. Nuns are like staff sergeants- they have a lot to do with the day-to-day operations of the Church, but they have no say on policy and they definitely don’t issue orders. Analogous to warrant officers are the low ordinations: acolyte, lector, exorcist, etc. Formal low ordinations are almost never used anymore, so this is pretty much defunct. Analogous to commissioned officers are the ordained clergy: deacons, presbyters and bishops.
Deacons are like lieutenants- junior officers oh are responsible for those who have been placed in their charge, but who serve under the direct supervision of a commanding officer. Deacons come in two flavors: transient deacons, who are seeking ordination to the presbyterate, and permanent deacons, who are not. Most permanent deacons are married, whereas generally no transient deacons are (though they may be widowers, and there are rare instances of married men being approved for the presbyterate). Deacon is the minimum rank to give a sermon and perform a wedding.
Presbyters, better known as priests, are like captains and majors. One presbyter at each parish is designated by the bishop as the pastor of the parish. Everyone in the parish is subject to the pastor, and his duties include supervising the clergy and religious within his jurisdiction and disciplining both them and the laity. Presbyter is the minimum rank to consecrate the Eucharist, hear confessions and administer confirmation and the Anointing of the Sick.
Bishops are like colonels. They are responsible for all the parishes within their diocese, which generally consists of one city and the suburbs and towns surrounding it. They are the defenders of doctrine for the diocese, and all dioceses have at least one bishop, with larger dioceses having multiple bishops, one of which is designated as the archbishop. If a Catholic, whether clergy, religious or laity, makes a public statement or act that undermines Church teaching, it is the bishop’s duty to rebuke that statement and discipline that public sinner if he or she refuses to be corrected. Bishop is the minimum rank to ordain clergy.
Bishop is the highest formal ordination, so all higher offices are technically only bishops, but they have additional authority by virtue of their offices. Cardinals are like 1-3 star generals, and they are generally archbishops and are recognized as candidates for the papacy. In addition to their duties as archbishops, they are also responsible for electing a new Pope and governing the Church when the Papacy is vacant. The Vatican is also staffed with many Cardinals, who are officially the bishop of some small or even defunct diocese.
The Pope is like a 4 star general. He is responsible for governing the entire Church, and is responsible for approving the ordination of bishops and appointing archbishops and Cardinals. The Pope is the archbishop of Rome, but unlike most bishops, who generally retire at 75, Popes generally remain in office until death. While the bishops are the defenders of doctrine for their dioceses, the Pope is the defender of doctrine for the entire Church, and furthermore, has the duty of acting as the conscience of the world, standing up for righteousness no matter what the world thinks.
The Commander in Chief of the Church is Jesus Christ. As King of the Universe, He is the Supreme Judge of all mankind, and all will answer to Him. The clergy have been given a special charge by Him to teach and proclaim the Gospel, and those who abuse their offices will answer to Him for their wicked deed and dereliction of duty. After He rose from the dead, He gave an order to the Apostles, whom He appointed as the first bishops, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” He promised to return when that mission is complete.
“Nuns are like staff sergeants.” The one running the Catholic
Hospitals needs to be demoted to an acolyte.
the problem is they ignored many protests and, in large, supported the obamacare bill. for whatever reason they did not believe, as many of us did, that what has just happened WOULD happen.
they played with fire and got burned, and hopefully its not too late. for whatever reason they placed their trust in this administration regarding healthcare.
For whatever reason, England ignored Germany through much of the 1930s. By 1939, that was, as they call it, “OLD NEWS.”
Indeed. Do you suppose they’ll learn from this? Wouldn’t bet on it.
‘Twas our own who betrayed us
I don’t trust the Catholics on this one. I think the Church will accept this after grumbling a bit. There will be an attempt to marginalise the few who protest, but the Catholic hierarchy is a political animal. I don’t mean animal in a deragatory sense. The Church of Rome has certain survival instincts. I think the Baptists and Evangelicals will kill this if they can. Obama doesn’t care about the South except for Florida.
Then you too, like Obama, don’t understand what Obama is up against. This goes way beyond politics, to issues relating to base evil, human intervention into the will of God, things that are at the core of Catholic theology. This is a non-negotiable issue.
I think you give too much credit to the Catholic Church and its followers. First, Notre Dame allowed him to preach there knowing full well he fully supports abortion especially partial birth abortion. Second, over 52% of Catholics support abortion. Third, 54% of Catholics supported Dear Leader in the last election. Fourth, the Catholic Church has been slipping for years especially after covering up for the child abuse scandal so they are reluctant to REALLY come out against their president and this scandal. Catholic have been cafeteria Catholics going on gen.2. Lastly, the Catholic Church has been infiltrated by marxist Catholics primarily homosexual for 40 years and they have pretty much convinced Catholics to become more liberal in their ideology, i.e. supporting abortion or illegal aliens.
Catholics can be just as stupid as the rest of America when it comes to the WON.
If you think the Catholic Church is going to fold on this, you haven’t been to Mass this month. It has been openly sail, “we will not follow this rule.”. And Jan, the Bishops are the Church leaders under the Cardinals and the Pope. There are many good orders of sisters. There are also several being investigated for violating church doctrine.
I think that the biggest confusion comes when people mistake the people for the Church. Christ promised that the Holy Spirit would guide the church in Truth, that the church would remain until Jesus came again and that the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church. These were the promises Jesus gave to the fledgling Church. He did not make the same promise to every member. Just to the Church. Therefore, there will be members who don’t follow the Church’s teachings. But their not following them does not make the teachings wrong, just ignored. And they are ignored to the detriment of the disobedient person.
Those infiltrators are espousing something that the Church does not condone. The teaching from Rome and the Bishops in communion with the Pope is clear and solid.
No matter how many Catholics ignore the teaching on contraception (and there are definitely too many – mainly due to horrendous catechesis on the part of the leftist infiltrators of the last few decades), this does not negate the teaching. The teaching is still sound, scriptural, moral and active.
As Mr Adams pointed out, this is not strictly about contraception. But the left must paint it as such so they can avoid the more important issues of religious freedom and abortion.
Why is it that it seems like it is always the fundemental Protestants who find it necessary (regarding Catholic’s core issues vs. the state) to ask the Catholics to behave like Catholics? Would it have something to do with there being too many liberal Catholics and very few liberal fundemental Protestants? Liberal first. Catholic second. Think Nancy Pelosi.
Fendemental = Fundamental. Sorry, it’s late at night.
in my opinion (and its only an opinion) this has the potential to become one of the largest first amendment fights we’ve ever seen.
I agree, this is something the church (I am not catholic ) will not fold on, they simply cannot fold.
I know many people who are not Catholics (myself included) who are up in arms on this issue. They all say, “Enough is enough.” Virtually every person I know who voted for Obama in 2008 regrets having done so and is ready to correct the mistake in 2012. Granted, the parasites may still outnumber the producers on election day, and the G OP is quite skilled at shooting itself in the foot, but I know blacks and Hispanics who are furious at the thug-in-chief. Yes, one can argue that many of the Catholics who are angry with Obama now over his contraceptives edict did not vote for him in 2008 because of his pro-abortion ideology, but I suspect that Barry seriously misjudged the reaction to his new policy. Remember that this is a man who cannot make a decision without first asking Valerie Jarrett and his wife for advice. His advisors on the contraceptives policy were all leftists, including the head of Planned Parenthood. I think he erred big-time.
Are you unaware that the Church has been under persecution somewhere in the world since she came into being at Pentecost after Jesus ascended into Heaven? The bishops will think nothing of being arrested for refusing to obey this mandate, and they will boast if sentenced to death. Why do you think Cardinals wear red? It is a declaration that they are ready to die for the faith at any moment!
Christian here is a decision about religious beliefs in 1982:
In a 1982 decision holding that Amish employers must comply with Social Security and withholding taxes, though their faith bars participation in government support programs, Scalia wrote:
Respondents urge us to hold, quite simply, that when otherwise prohibitable conduct is accompanied by religious convictions, not only the convictions but the conduct itself must be free from governmental regulation. We have never held that, and decline to do so now.
Catholic Charities, Catholic Hospital Associations, the sisters who run the Catholic Hospital Trade Association, the 28 Jesuit Colleges also agreed to these changes.
Most Catholic Hospital’s including Dignity Health (5th largest in country) has already been offering this to employees as well as most Catholic Colleges and 77% of Catholic Law Schools. Where were the Bishops when this was being implemented in 28 states this past decade?
Please make this an issue in the November elections because it will be about Birth Control whether you like it or not.
Flaming Liberal – I’ll leave it to you to figure out how to distinguish that 1982 langauge with the current debate. It isn’t too tough. You might also explain how Scalia wrote in a 1982 case.
Well as you are a legal scholar I suspect you should know how one writes about a case before they were on the bench but here is a clue- they were deciding another case about Religion – here is Justice Scalia’s opinion of the court
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0494_0872_ZO.html
Flamer – why not tell everyone what happened in Congress in response to the Oregon v Smith decision.
It is also important to note that Dignity Health is a partnership between Catholic Hospitals and Non Catholic Hospitals and their news release of 1.12.2012 specifically states that the Catholic Hospitals will continue to function as Catholic hospitals distinct from their Non Catholic Hospitals. From the release:
“Under the new governance structure, Dignity Health is a not-for-profit organization, rooted in the Catholic tradition, but is not an official ministry of the Catholic Church. The new structure and name enable the organization to grow nationally, while preserving the identity and integrity of both its Catholic and non-Catholic hospitals. The organization’s Catholic hospitals will continue to be Catholic, directly sponsored by their founding congregations, and adhering to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. Dignity Health’s non-Catholic hospitals will continue to be non-Catholic, adhering to the Statement of Common Values.”
“N.C. Aizenman, Peter Wallsten, and Karen Tumulty, authors of the Post story, claimed the White House “alter[ed] a new birth control rule.” It characterized the announcement as a “new policy.” Most deceptive of all, the Post said the announcement “amends a rule announced in August.”
Once again – and for the umteenth time – that is the real story here. The Libscum MSM doing the Liberal Lords work, sewing deception and lies, all in the name of magical, never-at-fault Modern Liberalism. Every time I read a comment from someone on this site starting with “I hope the media will…” or “The media once again miss the story that…” nonsense I get ill. These are committed, evil Leftists dedicated to The Cause and willing to do almost anything in its service. Lying about the actions of The One is, for them, a chance to prove their commitment to the evil Leftist cause.
One thought does come to mind”. If someone acts as your enemy, doesn’t it make sense to regard them as your enemy? Regarding the Libscum media as anything other than commited Leftists ready to Duranty their way into the record books with endless lies and deception is simply foolish.
Obama and his minions always wanted to make this about contraception, and it’s not. It’s about big government agencies telling religious groups what it can and cannot do, regardless of their beliefs. And, after all, this whole religious “thing” is so 20th century. Obama wants us to be like the French, where the church is a pleasant distraction, but it doesn’t really mean anything to sophisticated liberals like Obama.
This must stop, now. Our Constitutional liberties are being taken from us one piece at a time. The next election will determine whether or not we keep any of them, or lose them all for good.
“Obama and his minions always wanted to make this about contraception, and it’s not. It’s about big government agencies telling religious groups what it can and cannot do, regardless of their beliefs.”
Not just religious groups, although they stand most prominently in his way. It is all about creating a situation where the government is the ultimate arbiter of everything, and able to dole out favors or withdraw them at will, which turns a Republic into a soft despotism. Well, soft for some anyway. Tocqueville foresaw it. Why can´t we? Americans are becoming “timid and industrious animals”, asking themselves at every step “Can I do this? Is it allowed? Tell me what to think!”
I agree that this is a non-negotiable to the Catholic Church, but do not want to be sold down the river (so to speak) by a Big Church/ Big Government compromise which shifts the burden to the small business owner either. I can see that one coming, being one myself.
Reading the fine print in our group policy and signing onto the Stop HHS Mandate petition,
I remain,
Pessimistic on this One.
To paraphrase Clinton ‘Its the MANDATE stupid” but are the general populace intelligent enough to see the wood through the trees. I dont think so gullibly and naively they fell for all the Obama BS in 2008, oh so easily debunked and exposed with a just little intelligence, and the signs are that they are about to do so again. Remember P.J. Barnum said ‘No one ever lost money underestimating the stupidity of the American public”. He has no Constitutional ‘Right’ to MANDATE anyone buying anything.
BTW Contraception is not a RIGHT nor is it FREE someone has to pay and either you pay upfront or as Obambi wants you to via increased Insurance premiums oh! and Pregnancy is not a DISEASE.
Don’t question the intelligence of the “general public” so much; just about 50% of us voted against Obama.
It’s the intelligence of the “intelligentsia” — the artists, writers, journalists, intellectuals, academics (moronic college and university presidents, stupid administrators, idiotic deans of this, that, and whatnot, the stupid professors, associate professors, assistant professors, lecturers, instructors, teaching assistants, and all their brainwashed students, a vote estimated at 75% for Obama, that’s what needs questioning,
Add to that a 95% black vote, a 79% single-women vote, a 78% Jewish vote, and a 69% of young and first-time voters in favor of Obama, all pretty much brain dead, too.
Or to put it another way John OVER 50% of the general populace WERE too stupid to see through the Obambi SCAM. I take your point on the Blacks who just vote RACISTLY(13% of voters) and the irredeemable Left Wing moonbats (20%) but that still leaves 20% who were just STUPID. I also take your point about Academia I have often said that given that the Left has controlled Academia for decades and used their control to brainwash the students then its no wonder we have such a dumbed down misinformed half educated voter base.
It seems to me that this thread has become gnarly, knotted and not unlike a tangled web…true, pregnancy is not a disease, but a being a ” little bit progressive” is a lot like being a “lil’ bit pregnant.
If air conditioning is listed as “standard equipment” on a new vehicle, as per Obama’s reasoning it is obviously free to the buyer.
Re #8 Mr Ed. Thank you sir for pointing out succinctly what others seem to so easily gloss over, and that is the culpableness of the mainstream media in piggybacking the lies and the liars in the Obama administration. For so many people it is uncomfortable to denigrate a President or a presidency but dammit there comes a time when people have to exit the house of mirrors they have been wandering in, and simply say that this man is the antithesis to Americas best interest. Amazingly, I sense I must phrase my words carefully as I exist in a time period were an Orwellian maelstrom of blowback could appear in my life for the injudicious use of language directed at our Dear leader. Our Goldstein. Orwell,s 1984 is floating like about in my iPad along with Animal Farm. Required reading in these prescient times.
Someone mentioned “Nazi” playbook and “totalitarian” … well, the reality is that
this administration is doing exactly the same types of things; Alynski must be proud … what with dedicating his “Rules For Radicals” to Satan, and then having his minions rule over America.
Why are we so afraid of calling Obama and his entire administration, along with certain members of congress, “radical”? Why? Why? Why?
I don’t trust Catholic Bishops to uphold the truth … the Pope himself and the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury should unite and step up to the plate for this one, and condemn these sordid political ploys by this miscreant bunch of Nazis in the WH. But I’m not going to hold my breath on that one either.
These people are “radicals”; rabid leftists radicals. There! We’ve nailed it! No more bending over and touching our ankles with these guys; they’re making a mockery of the constitution and anything and everything that gets in the way of their power-trip. The rule of law must be upheld and we must hold some feet to the fire – these fools cannot be allowed to skate.
It has been said that God will turn all things to His own ends, and that His ends are always good. The Church in America has made, and continued in, a grave error by its own theology, in signing onto the welfare state and supporting politicians who promote it. We of the laity have largely been ignored in this…until now.
Perhaps the Obamunist initiative will give rise to a new consciousness of the issues among American Catholics.
You make a very good point, Mr. Porretto. I don’t think most Catholics realize the degree to which the Church has chosen to direct its affairs and subsidize its institutions on the public dime, or how this has affected its autonomy. I write this from a diocese with an extremely liberal bishop who finally, very surprisingly, came out against Obama on the subject of the health mandate. This was a remarkable move.
But this same Church administration is deeply involved in opposing immigration enforcement and abets systematic welfare fraud. I know this because I worked in social services and have friends who worked within the system here: triple-dipping Medicaid is not unheard-of and is winked away. It is not too strong to say that the Church itself is at best willfully ignorant of the crimes against taxpayers being perpetrated in its own charities. Some here have lost federal contracts recently for refusing to do basic accountancy, and frankly it is hard to be so flagrant that your behavior comes to the attention of anyone in that system. It is very, very common practice to remain unmarried or claim to be unmarried to gain access to taxpayer largesse, and I don’t see many religious doing anything but supporting this activity. Everyone involved in social services knows the extent of the corruption, and nobody is making it a priority to do the right thing.
So here’s the rub. The good people in the pews — the very good people in the pews, do not know what is done in their names in terms of social service fraud, and they would be horrified to know. Also, until the Bishops’ reaction, many did not even know where Church leaders stood on the significance of the healthcare mandate (of course they knew the Church’s teachings). So we have a very new situation because the Bishops spoke out, and it will be interesting to see what will happen next.
The people in the pews have to this point tolerated many things in the name of charity and have ignored others in deference to silence from Church leadership. I think both landscapes are shifting, for the better. But to insist on seeing this entire situation merely as an object lesson in the cynicism of Catholic laity and religious, as many gleefully do here, is to miss the point and beauty of Catholicism entirely.
Obama’s “compromise” is the same as any sales pitch offering “free delivery”. It’s simply a cost spread across everyone’s purchase, and removed as a line item on the invoice. Every business that intends to stay in business factors in ALL costs. Nothing is free. The religious-based institutions which have agreed to this are suckers, or complicit. Furthermore, this whole debate permits the Obama campaign and their media flacks to draw any Republican candidate foolish enough to take the cheese into a religious debate trap, when any discussion should start and stop at the first amendment. Santorum is being suckered into making pronouncements that won’t garner wide support when quotes are placed in PAC ads against him, and could very well spell failure in November should he become the nominee.
Snake Plissken … yep, the WH throws out the bait and tries to make everybody swat at every fly that comes along … the media are already hammering Santorum because of it.
All in all … I reckon this will end well.
I am married to a Catholic, though not one. Both of my daughters have been raised Catholic, and over 25 years, I have sat in many a Mass. I have the utmost respect for the Catholic works, and over the years though not participating, have enjoyed my attendance. Lots of loving, Christ loving Catholics.
One observation. I may have faith in your Bishops in taking a stand, but I don’t have much faith in many, if not most, of your parishioners. I would remind you, that a majority of Catholics voted for Barack Obama in 2008, and still I hear at any attendance of Bible study with Catholics, of Obama’s love and humanitarian nature.
There is far greater deceit in the Catholic Church than many Catholics want to admit, and it is not pedophile priests (very few of of thousands) or illegal immigration (at least the caring for the poor aspect can be explained, even if misguided) that is the Catholic Church’s biggest problem.
The problem with the Catholic Church is the same problem with the American public. The inability to distinguish real evil.
“The inability to distinguish real evil.”
DING-DING-DING! We have a winner!
Again, “Evil comes cloaked in the cloth of good intentions.”
Ravetti was friends with each and every creature. He was comical and clever, he lavished compliments and told wonderful stories.
Yet no one knew, Ravetti was poisonous to his hollowed-bone core.
Only becoming your friend to make ruining your life all the more sweet. He made the hen hunt the worm, the fox hunt the hen, and the man hunt the fox.
He made every thing an enemy to another, all with a smile, a kind word, and a “How ya doin?”
It’s not really an administration, is it? It’s a regime. 2008 was a coup.
“HHS merely mentioned an “intent to develop” future regulations that would apply the rule differently. These safe harbors wouldn’t even be available until 2013″ These safe harbors? Future regulations that would apply the rule differently is HOPE and CHANGE. The rule will be applied differently, more horribly, more coercively, more evilly, more HOPE and CHANGE.
So what is everyone’s big flap???? Get your heads OUT OF THE SAND, and get into reality…. Do all of you believe that your votes count??? NOT. The ELITES, aka Illuminati, Annunaki and whatever other names they tend to call themselves, will do whatever they wish to do and have been doing for many years. The One World Order is at hand whether you like it or not. OPEN your eyes and quit believing what the main stream media is telling you as they ARE controlled by the Elites, or as referred to as the Powers that be… We are programmed and brainwashed and have been for more years than I can recall. The way to control the population is by the food they eat… and that is #1 and a fact – we are slowly being poisoned by our food, MEDICATIONS, (which are pure poison), the air we breathe, the clothes we wear. Do the research people and quit whining and complaining as this is what they want you to do. Keep them occupied so they do not SEE what is REALLY going on.
As a Catholic, I am outraged at this controversy, but I am surprised there has been no more outcry about little o’s decree that “insurance companies will be required to reach out” and offer these services for free. REQUIRED. I know the government can cause government agencies–including school districts–to do wrong-headed things because federal $ is being dangled, but private companies? I guess we’re in the process of substituting Capitol-ism for capitalism.
This editorial uses the term “compromise” repeatedly and I believe Obama actually called it an “accommodation”. The difference is that a compromise is reached by two parties via negotiation; an accommodation is granted to by the one in power. Second, this rule-change-that-isn’t is reminiscent of Obamacare – the reason people didn’t like it was that Obama wasn’t explaining it well enough. So, he just changed how he explained the not-rule-change. Third, Obama replaced one unconstitutional aspect with two; now, in addition to forcing religious groups to fund abortion/contraception/sterilization, he also requires insurance companies to give something away. He has no authority to do so. Finally, this rule will fit in wonderfully with the Supreme Court case; the individual mandate forces people to buy something they may not want – even if it is against their religious beliefs.
Sorry, but this controversy is yesterday’s news. First, to claim that there was no shift is patently untrue, despite your characterization of the WashPo as dupes. There obviously WAS a shift in the policy, perhaps not one to our liking, but a shift nonetheless. Secondly, to equate church run organizations such as hospitals and universities with the church itself is ludicrous. Hospitals and universities are employers (with no religious test for employment) operating often with considerable subsidy from the government. Are we to presume that such institutions are exempt from ANY law with which they have some conscience objection? If a Catholic hospital decides they don’t want to hire Latinos, or a Muslim social services organization determines it’s employees must undergo female circumcision, is that ok? Do we really want to create two Americas, one governed by religious law (Sharia anyone?) and one governed by the law of the land? I’ve seen this in Belgium and having two sets of laws, one for the “religious” and one for everyone else, is divisive and cleaves society.
Maybe this is a great issue to pull Catholics to our side but given the anti-war and “social justice” mission of today’s Church, I doubt it. In the meantime, this focus on so-called social issues is a distraction.
“There obviously WAS a shift in the policy, perhaps not one to our liking”
100 percent, completely, totally wrong. The reg went into effect without any changes the night of Feb 10. The only new “policy” was the annoucement of an intent to consider a new policy in the future. Nothing concrete happened. Bluster and words, nonbinding posturing, that’s all that happened.
The big change is Obama expecting us to believe that the ladies on the staff at you local Crisis Pregnancy Center (a.k.a. anti-abortion clinic) will be happy with Obama’s decree that their insurance company will provide them with free abortion causing morning after pills so their employer won’t have to act against their beliefs. I wonder if the all-knowing Obama knows that most church related hospitals and clinics, self-insure?
Obama went to the prayer breakfast and said that Jesus would support his plan to raise taxes to continue to provide services to the poor. This isn’t the first time he has invoked religion so the government can do God’s work. So, when we have an actual religious organization doing God’s work, like a charity or health center, it is considered secular? How do you figure?
I believe the most alarming issue is the startling naivete of the Catholic leadership.
The Catholic church has had a unique perspective,via their historical memory, of the the long record of totalitarian regimes and the rank subterfuge that these ideologies employ. I believe they failed to think in a critical manner.
Although i think it is proper that the Church does not play upon the open political field it should have been hard for the church hierarchy to dismiss the vile hate preached by Obamas pastor, Obamas unwavering allegiance to progressive/anti religious/intolerant political views and Obamas love affair with obfuscation and blatant untruth.
It was painfully obvious by Aug 2008 that Obama was nothing more than a empty suit; he was a man without accomplishment. Even his vaunted oratorical abilities vanished as a wisp of smoke when denied electronic aid.
It was becoming clear by the end of Jan 2009 that he was a clueless ideologue and that the american public had made a tragic error and elected a man by dint of his race to assuage their historical guilt, a man totally asea when it came to matters of leadership. The only thing he had to fall back on was a faulty ‘faculty lounge’ ideology.
The Catholic Church laid down with the pigs and they were muddied. It should have been obvious. The end result was entirely predictable and the Church had centuries of examples to draw upon. They chose not to. I hope they wise up.
This is an isult to all american with christian values. we all need to fight back through our officials and at the voting box. Our country is still a christian country, in spite of what Obama says. He never get any thing right anyway. He lie to us all the time. I do not like to listen to him . He just can not speak with giving us a bunch of BS. He failed all of us and has not help fix anything. He just has bad judgement. Look at all the anti american he appointed to his staff. He sure can not get good american advise from them. Please join me and echo Col West statement to him and his czars….. Col West statment…………………. Http://patriotupdate.com/17875/allen-west-to-obama-get-the-hell-out-of-the-united-states-of-america /www.youtube.com/watch?v=UErR7i2onW0&few… ………….. http://patriotdepot.com/born-to-lie-from-the-birth-
“In an effort to escape the firestorm engulfing them because of the ObamaCare mandate that forces churches to violate their theology…”
Well, the Churches were quiet when government mandates, including those of ObamaCare, forced them to do things in line with their theology (e.g., mandatory this and that) so they have already surrendered their religious freedom.
Force is force. Being forced to do something you would do anyway is just as bad as being forced to do something you object to. Once you accept the one, the other is inevitable and you have already surrendered your defense.
The horse of liberty left the barn long ago; ministers, priests, and rabbis held the doors open. Tyranny is acceptable to religious leaders, as long as the tyrant doesn’t force THEM to do something they don’t like.
Well, grow up.
Interesting but not defensible position. The church is not a defender of the Constitution, it is a defender of the Bible. A mandate that conflicts with the Constitution is really not their concern, but one that conflicts with the Bible is. See?
Rich Lowry has an interesting, pertinent column. He noted that the U.S. is the most contraception-rich nation on earth. Those women who work for a religious organization, can’t afford contraception (perhaps $600 per year), and don’t qualify for free or subsidized contraception are a very small group. So, our Democratic friends are railing on about “access to contraception”, yet this is a problem that is just about nonexistent.
This is very true. And there are many, many alternative resources for them, too. Planned Parenthood could certainly pony up the difference at the cost of less than the salary of one of their plethora of lobbyists. But then they couldn’t make hay.
I will reiterate, though: the Catholic Church is so deeply involved in acquiring government subsidies that they have crippled their ability to take such stands. Will this change now? I hope so. I’m sick of watching them take our money to abet activities that compromise the sacraments. The churchgoing public deserves full disclosure from their religious leaders. Perhaps then the leadership will see full support for their new commitments.