Obama blunder escalates Catholic holy war

President Obama firmly placed one foot into a political quagmire by supporting Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ decision to renege on the “conscience exception” to Obamacare. This allowed religious organizations to opt out of providing health care coverage for contraception and sterilization. Sebelius’ decision placed Catholic employers squarely on the horns of a dilemma. They could either violate their religious beliefs or pay a huge fine to HHS. When the president offered a compromise in response to mounting public outcry, instead of backing away from the controversy, he planted his other foot into the muck.

Obama has made a mistake on this one. In 2008, he picked up the Catholic vote with the help of a couple of ploys orchestrated by Catholic Democrats, that will not likely be repeated. First the USCCB issued a “Faithful Citizenship” statement that was so mushy on “conscience” that it was interpreted by many as encouragement to go ahead and support Obama, despite his anti-life position. Secondly, a ploy that has been used in every presidential election for decades to blunt the Catholic moral perspective was repeated. On a wide scale, priests received letters threatening their parishes would surely lose their tax exempt status if anyone even mentioned abortion, or said ANYTHING about the election, on church property. One such letter purported to come from Bishops, and to have an authoritative legal analysis of the issue of political activity in churches. It concluded by absolutely forbidding any priest or other individual from mentioning ANY political issue inside a church or on any church-owned property. It was, of course, hogwash, and not even signed. Uncovering this letter resulted in some punitive action, but unfortunately, not in time to reverse the damage in 2008’s election.

Not only is that not likely to be repeated, but the long brain-dead Catholic Democrat is finally awaking to the loss freedom posed by an unfettered liberal machine. How many are awake now is the question. It couldn't hurt that there is a good likelihood of a conservative Catholic getting the Republican nomination. Archbishop Dolan and other vocal Bishops are also critical to reversing the damage.

It remains to be seen who will win this one, but my money's on the church. However, a lot of damage has been done by silence. Not only were contraceptive mandates and gay marriage in several states quietly or openly accepted by local Catholic Bishops, but there is the 60-year old ploy obliging churches to election neutrality for keeping their tax exempt status. It's never actually been enforced, and it's probably unconstitutional, but when you accept something for decades, it's pretty hard to reverse it.

We're also going to try to replace some of our older servers and failing equipment this year so we're going to add a little extra to our FReepathon goals. John is estimating ten to fifteen thousand to do this and I'd like to get it all in place and working before the election cycle is fully heated up, so we'll try to bring in a little more now if we can and the rest next quarter.
Jim Robinson

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It’s started an uproar here in West Palm Beach. Last night at a Republican Club meeting, the County GOP Chairman, a Jew, got up and spoke about this. His parting words were, “Today, we are all Catholics!”
On Wednesday, (Ash Wednesday) a huge demonstration is scheduled. Our Congressman (Allen West) is onboard and has co-sponsored legislation deferring the mandate.
We’re locked and loaded! (and pissed)

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