Bishops Consider Broader Focus in Birth-Control Fight

Cath News USA ^ | 3/14/12

[marshmallow]

Facing small but clear signs of discontent within their own ranks, U.S. Catholic bishops may be poised to rethink their aggressive tactics for fighting a federal mandate that health insurance plans cover contraception, according to sources close to influential bishops.

There are no indications that the bishops will drop their fight against the federal mandate. But dozens of bishops, meeting this week in Washington, are likely to discuss concerns that their battle against the Obama administration over birth control risks being viewed by the public as narrow and partisan and thus diminishes the church’s moral authority, the sources said.

“They’re going to have to look at not just what their moral theology tells them they should do, but at what political reality tells them,” said Thomas Reese, a Catholic priest and Georgetown University scholar who has written extensively about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “These are strategic and tactical questions.”

One sign of a coming recalibration: A sweeping statement on religious liberty, now circulating in draft form, that aims to broaden the bishops’ focus far beyond the contraception mandate.

The draft statement, slated to be released soon to a burst of publicity, condemns an array of local, state and federal policies as violations of religious freedom, said Martin Nussbaum, a private attorney who has consulted with the bishops.

The draft cites, for instance, a Republican-backed law in Alabama that makes it a crime to harbor, transport or rent property to illegal immigrants. The bishops have joined liberals in opposing that law, arguing that would make it a crime to minister to people in need.

[marshmallow]

But dozens of bishops, meeting this week in Washington, are likely to discuss concerns that their battle against the Obama administration over birth control risks being viewed by the public as narrow and partisan and thus diminishes the church’s moral authority, the sources said.

Blink, blink............

Sorry guys, your "moral authority" was flushed down the toilet years ago. This is actually your big opportunity to regain some of it.

[jtal]

Right, let’s weaken the message by adding in all the “social justice” mush.

Sounds like they are getting ready to resurrect “seamless garment”. Wonderful. Bernardin somewhere (ambiguity intended) must be smiling.

[FatherofFive]

a Catholic priest and Georgetown University scholar who has written extensively about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “These are strategic and tactical questions

Right. Georgetown is the 'Catholic' school that covered the cross when visited by 0bama.

Yes, there is a large group of liberal catholics, but I believe the bishops will remain strong on this issue.

[Mercat]

Here we go. Shuffle shuffle shuffle, bow, dip, scrape.

[G Larry]

Dear USCCB,

You are WINNING!!

Why would you now look for a way to retreat?!?!?!

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

I’m praying that the bishop’s resolve doesn’t dissipate.

[redgolum]

They are loosing members over it.

In other words, money and prestige. I hate to say it, Obambi played this very well. With most Roman Catholic women on birth control, this battle was lost decades ago.

Now, I support the orthodox bishops stand, and I against the mandate, but the screaming now is to little, to late.

My wife's bishop was in favor of the Health Care bill, even though many wrote letters spelling out that it would come back to bite him. Now it has. Sometimes the best lessons are the hardest ones to learn.

[mbarker12474]

Dictating what sellers must sell and consumers must purchase is not just a Roman Catholic issue. Just sayin’.

The most hardened atheist in the world should recognize that the government should not dictate that producers of beans market a line of brown beans if they only want to sell green beans, and that government should not dictate that consumers of green beans must also purchase brown beans.

This is a freedom of Christian exercise issue, but it is also a plain ol’ freedom issue.

As long as we conservatives (and the MSM) keep thinking of this insurance issue as a contraception issue, and keep thinking of the contraception issue as a Roman Catholic issue, the Obama regime wins. Few Americans give a rats patoot about Catholic beliefs, INCLUDING THE CATHOLICS THEMSELVES.

We need to turn this back into an abortion [we win] issue, and turn it away from a contraception [we lose], and even more so, turn it into an economic freedom [we win] issue.

[steve8714]

I haven’t heard any strong language in the bishops’ respose; you know, like “persecution”,”religious oppression” or “pogrom”, words that might stir some emotion. I can tell you from being on dating sites that too many women are atheist or agnostic these days for our society to hold to traditional virtues like chastity, thrift or self-reliance.

[SuziQ]

In other words, money and prestige. I hate to say it, Obambi played this very well. With most Roman Catholic women on birth control, this battle was lost decades ago.

Actually, looking at the most recent polls, Obama is LOSING the support of women over this issue. His numbers among all voters has dropped over the last couple of weeks, but most pointedly among women voters.

[Jeff Chandler]

We need to turn this back into an abortion [we win] issue, and turn it away from a contraception [we lose], and even more so, turn it into an economic freedom [we win] issue.

Dittos.

[SuziQ]

U.S. Catholic bishops may be poised to rethink their aggressive tactics for fighting a federal mandate that health insurance plans cover contraception, according to sources close to influential bishops.

You'll notice the article states, "MAY be poised", and this, according to an anonymous source. I know that Bishop Lori has decided to change the focus in CT by EDUCATING Catholics about why the Church teaches what she does. This would be a tremendous blessing, all around.

Isn't it ironic that a fight with Obama over this birth control mandate has finally gotten the Bishops to start thinking and speaking out about the subject, which their predecessors on the USCCB avoided for over 40 years? God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. ;o)

[Gumdrop]

Fr. Reese is a well-known liberal priest! He has been an apologist for the policies of the Democrats/Socialists in the USA.

Conspicuous in his approval of the Democrats, he now seems to worry about the appearance of favoring the GOP. He never worried before when he was excusing every sort of anti-religious and hedonistic practices of the Democrats. The idea of scandal never has occurred to him when voting for politicians who not only favored “pro-choice” in abortions, but these same politicians were actually shills for Planned Parenthood and were clearly anti-life.

Unless the Archbishop of NYC, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, makes a statement indicating the USCCB is intent on developing another strategy, I would ignore Fr. Reese completely. Dolan will not suffer fools, and he is zeroed in like a laser on the HHS mandate and it’s assault on religious liberty. As Cardinal Dolan has emphatically stated, “Our First Amendment rights are non-negotiable.”