Posted on 08/23/2009 1:49:03 PM PDT by NYer
.- The bishops of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) have issued a statement to the state’s Catholic faithful expressing their “deep concern” about a state provision that requires providers of health insurance include contraceptive services. The rule will force Catholic dioceses and other agencies to pay for a “gravely immoral” service, the conference says.
A provision in the new state budget mandates the coverage as a “benefit.”
Signatories of the August 20 WCC letter were Bishop of Green Bay David L. Ricken, Bishop of Madison Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of La Crosse Jerome E. Listecki, Bishop of Superior Peter F. Christensen and Bishop William P. Callahan, the Administrator for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
“This mandate will compel Catholic dioceses, parishes, and other agencies that buy health insurance to pay for a medical service that Catholic teaching holds to be gravely immoral,” the Wisconsin bishops explained. “Contraception prevents the full and reciprocal self-giving that is essential to Christian marriage and diminishes the role of God, the giver of life, within marriage.”
The statement explained that only dioceses or agencies that are self-insured, such as the dioceses of La Crosse and Superior, will not be covered by the mandate.
“As Catholic teachers and pastors, we strongly object to this blatant insensitivity to our moral values and legal rights,” the bishops continued, noting that most other states provide accommodations for those whose religious or moral values are compromised by such mandates.
The bishops charged that the state government’s mandate violates constitutional rights as well as religious values, citing the right of conscience established in the Wisconsin Constitution. Religious freedom also includes the ability to publicly witness to one’s values in what one does and in what one declines to do, they explained.
“Nowhere does the Constitution say that the right of conscience is protected except in matters related to human reproduction,” their statement said. “Whatever course we pursue in this matter, we want all Catholics in Wisconsin to know that we will also continue to affirm and communicate the teachings of our faith.”
The bishops of the WCC also objected that the mandate was not a matter of open debate and “due deliberation.”
Acknowledging that many Catholics find Catholic teaching on contraception “difficult to accept or live out in practice,” the bishops emphasized that the immorality of artificial contraception is not a “Catholic issue.”
“Rather, the prohibition of artificial contraception is a principle of the natural moral law, which is inscribed in the mind and heart of all human beings,” the statement said. “The bond between husband and wife, in their inseparable love-making and life creating Vocation, is evident to human reason itself – another powerful consideration which should lead our legislators to take very seriously our conviction.”
The WCC statement suggested that this truth is not recognized because the “fashionable proposition” that there is no objective truth renders human reason “directionless.”
“We commit ourselves to continue listening to your objections and to explaining the Church’s understanding of human sexuality in such a manner that you may discover a greater understanding and appreciation of this teaching and the reasons for it,” the Wisconsin bishops pledged.
They added that Catholic teaching only seems overly restrictive of human freedom and in reality serves a “greater freedom” for both individuals and society.
“Our faith always challenges us,” the bishops said in conclusion. “We are measured by how we respond to those challenges. We ask for your support and prayers as we respond to this one.”
In the early 1960s, promotion of the eugenics agenda of John D. Rockefeller III and Planned Parenthood was being frustrated by the Catholic Church's stubborn moral opposition to contraception. Rockefeller and Planned Parenthood considered public acceptance of contraception to be the key to public acceptance of eugenics by abortion, euthanasia, and genetic manipulation, and they actively sought a prominent Catholic voice to assist them in successfully opposing the strength of the Church's teaching on that issue. Notre Dame became their willing accomplice in this quest.
Contraception: the history you may not want to know
abortion will be next. How will the Church respond? Close Catholic hospitals, or cave in? My guess - cave in.
Personally, I’d realy like to see All Catholic Services in WI.. to Immediately SHUT DOWN.. shuttling all current Patients to Secular hospitals.
Sanger who wanted contraception and abortion to keep DOWN ... certain Populations.
BIGOTRY, thy name is LIBERAL!
The bishops and their faithful have two moral options:
1) Close down their insurance plans and hospitals.
2) Stonewall and be willing to go to prison.
Number 2 is the better choice. Flood the jails. Cost the municipalities millions. Overload the system. Make the bastards pay so much through the nose that they will never, ever screw with the Church again.
I’m just saying...
The Catholic Church cannot and will not allow abortions to be performed in their hospitals. And that is a fact you can stake your bet on.
Bump to save my spot.
Our parish priest told us today that in the next couple weeks the Diocese of Camden is going to start a letter writing campaign to our legislature.
This one I believe is in regard to Defense of Marriage Act.
The Church is not going to give in to this one.
Just as Fr Groeschel said, The Persecution is coming.
When did he say that? Recently?
They should file a discrimination, and 2nd amendment violation law suit. I'd like to see them force the "religion of pedophilia, rape and murder" to provide condoms.
The whole point of providing health insurance has been to attract high quality employees. You can do that with a payraise as well.
I'm sure alternatives can be pursued, and the employees are then free to do whatever they wish.
The secular government nowsadays pays no attention to what the Catholic Church thinks, knowing that pro-abort politicians suffer no external consequence. So much more the Church needs to publicly excommunicate blatant pro-abort politicians, or worse is yet to come.
So long as there are Nazi Pelosi and Kennedys running around claiming to be catholics in good standing, the Church and the faithful will continue to suffer big time.
Just shut up and provide abortions, stupid Catholics.
You want us to look in to your tax exempt status?
We are the gubmint. And where is your brown shirt?
I was taken back because he did not say a Persecution he said The Persecution
This is part of my problem with American Catholic Church it is in favor of government as long as the government doesn’t cross some.
May God continue to give them strength and clarity in this battle.
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