” Reformed theologian Abraham Kuyper taught a view summarized by the phrase “spheres of sovereignty””
Sounds rather like Unam Sanctum, written in 1304.
“We are informed by the texts of the gospels that in this Church and in its power are two swords; namely, the spiritual and the temporal. For when the Apostles say: ‘Behold, here are two swords’ [Lk 22:38] that is to say, in the Church, since the Apostles were speaking, the Lord did not reply that there were too many, but sufficient. Certainly the one who denies that the temporal sword is in the power of Peter has not listened well to the word of the Lord commanding: ‘Put up thy sword into thy scabbard’ [Mt 26:52]. Both, therefore, are in the power of the Church, that is to say, the spiritual and the material sword, but the former is to be administered for the Church but the latter by the Church; the former in the hands of the priest; the latter by the hands of kings and soldiers, but at the will and sufferance of the priest.”
I recognize that you would dispute the authority of the Church on this, but, conceptually he talks about a spiritual sphere and material sphere.
Dear Abp. Kurtz:
I have read that you are "requesting" that Obama "temporarily" exempt "religious" institutions from the contraception/abortifacient mandate.
I understand and support your intentions --- strongly --- but this is not the approach that will obtain what we need. Constitutionally, the President must enforce laws as enacted by Congress. He does not have dictatorial discretion about which laws get enforced and which ones don't. In placing this petition before Obama, you are tacitly affirming HIS arrogant view of his own presidential authority as constitutionally limitless.
But the problems run deeper. Obamacare would not have been law of the land had not the USCCB come out in support of it, minus the obvious abortion provisions. The USCCB failed to acknowledge two facts: 1) that any socialized medical system is inherently antithetical to Catholic institutions and Catholic regard for the sanctity of life, and 2) that Obama would lie through his teeth to garner our support and then stab us in the back.
Moreover, your present stance shows a complete lack of regard for those Catholics who do not work in Church-affiliated enterprises. Tens of millions of individuals and families are being forced to purchase insurance plans that cover contraception, sterilization, and abortion --- as well as artificial reproduction technologies for gays and lesbians, sex-change surgery for those suffering from gender identity disorders, terminal sedation of those who are elderly, sick and helpless, and other horrors.
Do you understand this? Tens of millions of families are being coerced into a situation that the Church itself finds intolerable for its affiliated organizations. But we, the millions of families, ARE the Church. We find it intolerable, too. What do we do? Incorporate ourselves and declare our families Diocesan subsidiaries?
Many of us were predicting this horrifying situation 5 or 6 years ago, but nobody at the USCCB would listen. Ask my friend Richard Doerflinger. Mention my name.
You and your brother bishops should acknowledge your role in bringing this disaster of Obamacare upon us, and repent of your present readiness to sell out our livelihoods, our families and our consciences to obtain a few measly crumbs of institutional concessions.
You are asking Obama for an exercise of authority outside the bounds of the United States Constitution and shown yourselves supine in the face of a de facto tyrant. It's time for the bishops to face up to reality.
I still remember what a Bishop's crozier signifies: it means you are to comfort the lambs and dismay the wolves, and not the other way around.
I say this with great respect for your Apostolic office, and for you as a man.