HHS mandate threatens Little Sisters of the Poor elder care

cna ^ | March 8, 2012 | Kevin J. Jones

[NYer]

Baltimore, Md., Mar 8, 2012 / 12:34 am (CNA).- The Little Sisters of the Poor say the HHS contraception and sterilization mandate threatens their continued ministry to the impoverished elderly. They are “strongly objecting” to the federal rule and say it should be repealed as soon as possible.

“Because the Little Sisters of the Poor cannot in conscience directly provide or collaborate in the provision of services that conflict with Church teaching, we find ourselves in the irreconcilable situation of being forced to either stop serving and employing people of all faiths in our ministry – so that we will fall under the narrow exemption – or to stop providing health care coverage to our employees,” the order said on March 1.

“Either path threatens to end our service to the elderly in America. The Little Sisters are fervently praying that this issue will be resolved before we are forced to take concrete action in response to this unjust mandate.”

Their order serves 13,000 needy elderly of all faiths in 31 countries around the world. In the U.S., it has 30 homes for the elderly, accommodating 2,500 low-income seniors.

The Department of Health and Human Services mandate requires employers to provide coverage for “preventive health.” It defines this coverage to include sterilization and contraception, including some abortion-causing drugs. The Obama administration’s proposed compromise would mandate that insurance companies, not employers, provide this coverage.

The mandate’s religious exemption applies only to employers who primarily serve and employ their coreligionists and have the inculcation of religious values as their primary purpose.

The Little Sisters of the Poor said that even the indirect subsidizing of such benefits is “unconscionable to us.” Their longstanding health insurance has always explicitly excluded sterilization, contraception and abortion from covered services and this policy has “never been a matter of controversy in our homes.”

The sisters warned that the successful implementation of the federal rule could set a precedent for “further intrusion of government into health care.”

They have done their best to comply with all applicable government regulations and are not prone to making statements on politics or public policy, but they “cannot refrain from speaking out” about the mandate, the sisters said.

“If the federal government succeeds in enforcing this rule, what is to stop it from rationing health care to seniors or including euthanizing procedures on the list of required ‘preventive services’ as a way of eliminating the costs associated with caring for our aging population?” they asked.

“Would health care providers like the Little Sisters of the Poor then be forced to cooperate in such practices?”

“We wish to affirm that the HHS mandate is an unjust and dangerous infringement upon the natural and constitutional rights of Americans and that the only just solution is to rescind it. The Little Sisters of the Poor call upon Congress and the Executive Branch to reverse this decision as soon as possible and we pledge our prayers and sacrifices for the true good of our beloved country,” the order said.
 
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York said in a March 2 letter to all U.S. bishops that mandate negotiations with the White House appear stalled and that administration officials have said revising the mandate or broadening the exemption is “off the table.”

He urged his fellow bishops to “prepare for tough times.”

[Don Corleone]

Obama’s Marxist goal is to make EVERYBODY fall in line with his Marxist mandates...everybody!

[NYer]

“As consecrated women devoted to the elderly we Little Sisters of the Poor have been commissioned by Christ and his Church to be the face and hands of Divine compassion in a broken world. Christ is counting on us to make our hearts a refuge for suffering humanity. ”

We have a Little Sisters of the Poor in our community. I was just there this morning, dropping off some donations. Driving home, I wondered how the HHS mandate might effect them. Now I know.

Is it just me or are there more and more radio advertisements for privately run programs to support various worldwide initiatives lately? The Catholic Church has always taken on the ministry of the poor around the globe. They do so, as an act of LOVE. Does the same hold true for private organizations? Somehow, I don't think so.

[FourPeas]

“Because the Little Sisters of the Poor cannot in conscience directly provide or collaborate in the provision of services that conflict with Church teaching, we find ourselves in the irreconcilable situation of being forced to either stop serving and employing people of all faiths in our ministry – so that we will fall under the narrow exemption – or to stop providing health care coverage to our employees,” the order said on March 1.

What the admin wants. More uninsured means more need for gov't to "help these poor people" and take us closer and closer to a single payer.

None of this is coincidental.

[massgopguy]

Blue Pill.

[massgopguy]

And now for the next portion of a show on MSNBC. A rant about how old ladies who don’t have orgasms should shut up about women’s “HEALTH”. Especially because they’ll be dead soon.

[FerociousRabbit]

Lock them up. All of them. These old women who go around doing good deeds are enemies of the state.

[savage woman]

These beautiful ladies with smiles on their face,
are going to kick some government Ass...I love it...

[GracieOMalley]

The Little Sisters of the Poor, and all Catholic organizations threatened by the Obamacare mandate, should go back to the old practice of hiring Catholics exclusively.

It worked before...why not now?

With 9% unemployment, it shouldn’t be hard to fill all positions with Catholics.

Unfortunately, many of Obama’s people would be out of a job.

[COBOL2Java]

The Little Sisters of the Poor, and all Catholic organizations threatened by the Obamacare mandate, should go back to the old practice of hiring Catholics exclusively.

It's not the hiring, it's the ministering. They help anyone regardless of their faith. HHS saya to get the exemption, they must only minister to Catholics and turn everyone else away.

[NYer]

The Little Sisters of the Poor, and all Catholic organizations threatened by the Obamacare mandate, should go back to the old practice of hiring Catholics exclusively.

That would be considered discriminatory.

[Mrs. Don-o]

There are three parts to the (latest) HHS definition of an exempt Church-related organization:

• It has to employ all or almost-all people of the same faith

• It has to serve all or almost-all people of the same faith

• It has to function primarily to teach the doctrines of the faith.

The Little Sisters would "fail" on #2 and #3, even if they hired all Catholics. They would "fail" to qualify as sufficiently religious, precisely because they are charitable and they serve everyone without discrimination.

So add these to the list of Catholic organizations the Obama Administration would shut down:

• Belmont Abbey College
• EWTN
• Dominican Sisters of Nashville
• Little Sisters of the Poor
• add a couple hundred or so

[trisham]

Such beautiful souls.

[GracieOMalley]

Thank you for this information, and thanks to the other posters who clarified what the mandate really means for Catholic institutions.

I’m ashamed to say I haven’t really been keeping ahead of this issue due to an illness in the family.

Could you point me to some links where I can catch up?

No wonder the Cardinal says we must get ready for difficult times ahead.

I, for one, will pray a daily Rosary that Obama gets defeated in November, and that this insidious “healthcare” plan will die an untimely death.

[Not gonna take it anymore]

I think you really mean it should die a timely death.

;-0)

[GracieOMalley]

What I really meant was KILL IT NOW!