Posted in Weekly column from Archbishop Chaput, on February 1st, 2012

Special Action Alert: HHS ruling flawed and dangerous; Archbishop Chaput calls on Catholics to pray, act for religious liberty

February 1, 2012

Dear friends in Christ,

The United States Department of Health and Human Services announced on January 20 that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception.  Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write.  And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the current Administration has undermined both the principle of religious conscience and the First Amendment to the Constitution in an unprecedented way.  Unless the ruling is overturned, faithful Catholics will be forced either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees and suffer the penalties for doing so.  The Administration’s only concession was to give our institutions a one-year delay to comply.  This is not merely inadequate.  It is dangerous.  And it betrays the good faith of many Catholics who — until now — have supported the current Administration with an honest will.

Bishops and lay Catholic leaders across the United States have made it clear that we cannot comply with this unjust law without compromising our convictions and undermining the Catholic identity of many of our service ministries.  This is not just another important issue among the many we need to be concerned about.  This ruling is different.  This ruling interferes with the basic right of Catholic citizens to organize and work for the common good as Catholics in the public square.

Today, I ask of you two things.  First, we need to pray for our country, for our Church, and for our own right to work freely as a believing community through our ministries in the public square.  Second, we need to act.  Please visit the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference website at  www.pacatholic.org to learn how to contact your federal Representative and Senators.  Write them, call them, visit them — and help them understand the deep resistance of Pennsylvania Catholics to this dangerous ruling.  Please also visit www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this attack on religious conscience, and how to work to reverse the Administration’s decision.

Your action on this issue matters – not just today but for many years to come; and in ways that will shape the ability of the Church to witness the Gospel publicly through her ministries well into the future.  Please know that you have my gratitude and daily prayers.  And please remember me in your prayers as well.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

Archbishop of Philadelphia

(Editor’s note: Catholics can call their Congressional representatives at the U.S. Capitol at 202-224-3121 to voice rejection of the HHS ruling and ask for their support of the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, HR1179/S 1467.)

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28 Responses

1. It is time for a solidarity movement in the United States!

   It think we should kick it off with a National Day of prayer and fasting which will include confession, Mass, Speeches, March, Eucharistic Procession and adoration!
   Every Basilica and Cathedral in the US should be the starting and ending point for Catholics on this day. All should take the day off since this law will affect our work!

   Just imagine all of us together asking for the Lord’s mercy, joining in true communion as Apostles for His love and Truth! And then joining other people of good will for the sake of Religious Freedom and our first amendment in the public sphere! Throughout our Nation simultaneously!!
   This is our Rosa Parks! It is time to move following our Courageous Shepherds for the sake of our eternal and temporal freedom and that of our children and grandchildren! We need to make the injustice visible. This demands more than letter writing! It demands penitience, sacrifice, courage and conviction! It demanded the same of our forbearers! It is time to give back! Remember to pray for our enemies! God Speed!

   By: Patricia on February 13, 2012 at 7:19 pm

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2. A very intelligent and clear article that addresses the unconstituitonality of the HHS mandate and the alleged accommodation! Chills should run up and down our American spine at the brazen promulgation of such an unjust law!

   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204795304577223003824714664.html

   By: Patricia on February 15, 2012 at 9:08 am

   Reply