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USCCB President says Obama offered next to nothing; expresses disappointment with Sr. Keehan
Te Deum ^ | February 14, 2012 | Francis X. Rocca

Posted on 02/14/2012 4:25:31 PM PST by NYer

ROME (CNS) -- Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan of New York said Feb. 13 that President Barack Obama's proposed revision to the contraceptive mandate in the health reform law did nothing to change the U.S. bishops' opposition to what they regard as an unconstitutional infringement on religious liberty.

"We bishops are pastors, we're not politicians, and you can't compromise on principle," said Cardinal-designate Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "And the goal posts haven't moved and I don't think there's a 50-yard line compromise here," he added.

"We're in the business of reconciliation, so it's not that we hold fast, that we're stubborn ideologues, no. But we don't see much sign of any compromise," he said.

"What (Obama) offered was next to nothing. There's no change, for instance, in these terribly restrictive mandates and this grossly restrictive definition of what constitutes a religious entity," he said. "The principle wasn't touched at all."

Obama's proposed revision of the Department of Health and Human Services' contraceptive mandate left intact the restrictive definition of a religious entity and would shift the costs of contraceptives from the policyholders to the insurers, thus failing to ensure that Catholic individuals and institutions would not have to pay for services that they consider immoral, Cardinal-designate Dolan said.

For one thing, the cardinal-designate said, many dioceses and Catholic institutions are self-insuring. Moreover, Catholics with policies in the compliant insurance companies would be subsidizing others' contraception coverage. He also objected that individual Catholic employers would not enjoy exemption under Obama's proposal.

"My brother-in-law, who's a committed Catholic, runs a butcher shop. Is he going to have to pay for services that he as a convinced Catholic considers to be morally objectionable?" he asked.

Cardinal-designate Dolan said he emailed Sister Carol Keehan, a Daughter of Charity who heads the Catholic Health Association, on Feb. 10 to tell her that he was "disappointed that she had acted unilaterally, not in concert with the bishops."
Read the rest at CNS: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1200596.htm

Further Reading:




TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: birthcontrol; carolkeehan; contraception; dolan; keehan; obamacare; srkeehan
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To: CASchack

Indeed, Dolan is a brawler. Just what we needed.


21 posted on 02/14/2012 7:57:43 PM PST by STJPII
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To: Petrosius

OK then. Were I in their shoes, I would be doing such.

Because the way it appears from outside the church right now, this Sr. Keenan is being held up as the “authority” for Catholic charitable medical facilities by the Obama administration. She’s the one, more than any other I see in public, who is undermining the RCC’s doctrine and faith. The issue is that she’s trapping all employers who have faith-based issues into supporting whatever socialized medicine bureaucrats deem fit and necessary.

Including, in the future, euthanasia, because that’s where socialized schemes end up.

If I were working for a company (Let’s call it ABC Widgets Inc) and I were, let’s say, a senior manager of paint colors of widgets... and I started trying to negotiate something (like a merger) that needed the express approval and involvement of the VP’s and C-level people... I should be fired.

That’s how this comes across to me. Sr. Keenan is effectively trapping the RCC and their missions, hospitals, charities, etc into a policy which the highest levels of the organization do not support, condone or tolerate.

Why is she still in that position?


22 posted on 02/14/2012 8:13:25 PM PST by NVDave
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To: NVDave

I could not agree more but I think Cardinal-designate Dolan has made it clear that Sr. Keenan is not going to have the last word.


23 posted on 02/14/2012 8:27:39 PM PST by Petrosius
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To: Petrosius

True enough if we can take the Cardinal-designate at his word.

But it takes little change in doctrine to simply fire her. She doesn’t quit being a Catholic (which would require excommunication), or a Nun, (don’t know what that would take), the RCC could simply fire her from being head of the CHA. That’s not an ecumenical appointment, is it?


24 posted on 02/14/2012 8:31:44 PM PST by NVDave
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To: Petrosius

True enough if we can take the Cardinal-designate at his word.

But it takes little change in doctrine to simply fire her. She doesn’t quit being a Catholic (which would require excommunication), or a Nun, (don’t know what that would take), the RCC could simply fire her from being head of the CHA. That’s not an ecumenical appointment, is it?


25 posted on 02/14/2012 8:31:44 PM PST by NVDave
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To: NYer

“My brother-in-law, who’s a committed Catholic, runs a butcher shop. Is he going to have to pay for services that he as a convinced Catholic considers to be morally objectionable?” he asked.


This is the most important argument, I think. The Constitution doesn’t grant freedom of religion to just priest, rabbis, ministers, etc. The government doesn’t have a right to impose this mandate on any single individual American who objects on grounds of religious conscience, any more than it can force a conscientious objector into combat duty. We need to shift the debate from simply Obama fighting with churches to Obama gutting the core of religious freedom for every single citizen of the nation.


26 posted on 02/14/2012 11:10:16 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: NYer

Keehan didn’t act unilaterally: she acted in concert with her friends in the Obama administration.


27 posted on 02/14/2012 11:11:50 PM PST by RobbyS (Christus rex.)
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To: Boogieman
"We need to shift the debate from simply Obama fighting with churches to Obama gutting the core of religious freedom for every single citizen of the nation."

You bet, that's the REAL fight here. Keagan is on record as saying sexual rights (nowhere in constitution) must trump religious rights (1st Amendment) when the two conflict. They want to eliminate all rights of religious conscience. Contraception is just a trojan horse for abortion.

28 posted on 02/15/2012 4:07:07 AM PST by circlecity
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To: SaxxonWoods; frogjerk
I also think the Vatican has to back him on this, to the Supreme Court if necessary.

As freeper frogjerk noted, the pope has addressed this issue with the bishops. Here are his remarks.

Pope Shares Remarks on American Culture with Bishops; Issues Call to Laity

29 posted on 02/15/2012 6:29:05 AM PST by NYer ("Be kind to every person you meet. For every person is fighting a great battle." St. Ephraim)
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To: the invisib1e hand; CASchack
come on you freaking headline junkies. where was the archbishop when the matter was being debated? supporting it.

In a private meeting at the White House, Obama assured Dolan that the conscience clause would remain in place. You can thank the feminazis for convincing O to do otherwise. You will also find the following article, enlightening.

Political Science 101: how the White House snookered the USCCB on the 'compromise'.

30 posted on 02/15/2012 6:34:17 AM PST by NYer ("Be kind to every person you meet. For every person is fighting a great battle." St. Ephraim)
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To: Petrosius
The only bishop that could discipline her would be the one in whose diocese she lives.

Incorrect. The Bishop, Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, where her order is headquartered, St. Louis, can also act, as can her Provincial Superior here in the States, Sr. Louise Gallahue DC, as well as the Superioress General of the Daughters of Charity, Sister Evelyne Franc, D.C., as well as Most Rev. Gregory Gay CM, Superior General of the Company of Daughters of Charity, as well as Rev. Patrick J. Griffin, C.M. Director General of the Company of Daughters of Charity. In addition Keehan makes annual vows not perpetual ones, since she is not a nun. She can be cashiered at any time for violating her vow of obedience.

31 posted on 02/15/2012 8:39:27 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: A.A. Cunningham

I am not sure if Archbishop Carlson would have any authority if Sr. Keenan resides outside of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, perhaps but I think not. I believe that the jurisdiction over her as a member of a religious order would be with the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life rather than with any local bishop.

The others on your list, however, are not bishops. I was specifically addressing the fact that the bishops could not act as some sort of collective board in disciplining her.


32 posted on 02/15/2012 9:27:05 AM PST by Petrosius
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To: SuziQ
The Vatican won't be a party to any legislation; it will be the USCCB, as it should be.

I think you mean "litigation", but I agree on the substance. This business must be handled by American bishops and American dioceses. The Pope's job is to encourage and support the American bishops in doing their jobs.

Americans call it "federalism".

Catholics (also) call it "subsidiarity".

It means the same thing: Do your job, let other folks do their jobs, do the job at the lowest appropriate level.

33 posted on 02/15/2012 9:35:42 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: Petrosius
Sr. Keenan (sic)

Number one, it's Keehan not Keenan(sic).

Number two, Carlson does indeed have authority.

The names of the others were posted for your edification. There are a number of people who have both the authority and the responsibility to discipline her. Sadly they are all abdicating their authority and responsibility.

34 posted on 02/15/2012 10:28:58 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: frogjerk

You are right. No outrage here only disappointment that BO uses the Constitution for toilet paper.


35 posted on 02/15/2012 6:25:56 PM PST by Goreknowshowtocheat
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To: NVDave

I guess Rome lost the heresy form. It should be there somewhere.


36 posted on 02/15/2012 6:40:52 PM PST by Goreknowshowtocheat
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To: A.A. Cunningham

The good sister’s organization occupies some high tone real estate.


37 posted on 02/15/2012 6:54:13 PM PST by EDINVA
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To: D-fendr

Her business address is in DC, but she could LIVE and be a member of a parish in DC/MD/VA, with 3 separate church diocese to match. I can’t imagine the offices of the DC Archbishop (Wuerl) wouldn’t know at which parish she worships.

I would think that, if nothing else, the bishops could demand that the name be change to delete “Catholic” and that she be prohibited from in any way indicating that she and her organization speak for medical care providers and institutions affiliated with the Catholic Church.


38 posted on 02/15/2012 7:26:11 PM PST by EDINVA
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To: EDINVA; D-fendr

oops on my last. It’s Cardinal Wuerl, and he’s probably in Rome now for the installation of the new Cardinals .. but his offices certainly would know about Sr. Keehan (not that they would necessarily respond to an inquiry of that nature).


39 posted on 02/15/2012 7:29:27 PM PST by EDINVA
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To: EDINVA

Thank you very much for your reply.

I noticed that she walked back her ‘endorsement’ with a new statement on the website. In it she asks for suggestions. I am very tempted to see if i can register and provide the suggestion not to be a tool for the enemy.

:)

thanks again.


40 posted on 02/15/2012 7:50:01 PM PST by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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