Okay, so we won today in the Supreme Court. The Hobby Lobby case went our way; score one for religious liberty.Posted on 07/01/2014 2:31:50 AM PDT by markomalley
Okay, so we won today in the Supreme Court. The Hobby Lobby case went our way; score one for religious liberty.
But here’s a concern: why didn’t the Justices vote 9–0? To be even more clear, if religious liberty, a right given us by God and legally enshrined in the First Amendment, prevailed by only one vote where are we as a country? And how long will that one vote prevail? So, we can celebrate a narrow victory, but why was it narrow?
How have we reached the point in this country that those who hold a sincere religious belief contrary to the contraceptive mindset of the world, and who also sincerely oppose the killing of children through abortion, only narrowly escaped being required to both provide for and even pay for these sorts of things?
Where are all the liberals who march under the banners of tolerance? Where are the First Amendment zealots willing to stand with us? They are nowhere to be found, I suspect because it touches on abortion and contraception, which have become like sacraments for them.
I would like to think that, though I love the Scriptures and want everyone to have them, I would oppose in principle a law requiring every business to provide free bibles to all their employees or customers. I’d like to think that, if a Muslim business owner (or a pagan one for that matter) objected to being required to do this, I would stand with him in principle and oppose this requirement. Thus even if a non-Catholic doesn’t understand or agree with my principled opposition to contraception and abortifacients, is it really so much to ask that most justices (not just 5 out of 9) and most Americans agree that I ought not be required to provide and pay for these things?
Go with me to the Jewish delicatessen example of Bishop Lori some years ago as I adapt it just a bit. What if the current Administration or the Federal Government were to say to all Jewish deli owners, “It is just an outrage and downright un-American that you don’t sell pork sausage and hot dogs. Every American deli MUST provide these by law. And you must comply or face big fines.” Even though most Americans don’t understand or share the Jewish aversion to pork, I would think they would still be outraged by such an action.
Now suppose further that after the outrage the government proposed a compromise: “OK, you don’t have to provide the pork, but you must let us set up a kiosk inside your deli where we will offer it free of charge to your customers and employees, because, by gosh, whether you like it or not, you are going to offer pork in your Jewish deli!” Again, the outrageousness of such a stance would provoke great protests from most Americans regardless of how comfortable they are with eating pork themselves.
It is simply outrageous that four Supreme Court Justices, and many Americans, cannot see the clear and offensive proposition of the Government in this regard. And even if they don’t share our opposition, they ought to stand with us in principle.
But they do not. And this once again underscores the serious condition of our Nation and our Constitution. It is another example of the growing tyranny of relativism wherein reasoned recourse to agreed-upon principles is no longer possible. Thus, they win who are the most powerful, or have the most money, or have the most access. Granted, we won today, but barely, and by one vote; it could easily have gone differently.
Everyone, no matter his political or moral stance, should be very concerned about the growing intrusiveness and raw power of a government that thinks it can force people to act against their faith and to cooperate in what they think is evil. Catholic opposition to abortion and contraception is nothing new. It goes all the way back to Scripture, which condemned thus use of “pharmakeia” (e.g., Gal 5:20, Rev 9:21, and 18:23). The Didache and countless documents of the Fathers and the Magisterium have always upheld these views. We have not changed, the culture has. To compel us to provide and even pay for what we consider evil is wrong and un-American. It is shocking that so few Americans understand or appreciate this.
But wake up, fellow Americans. You may even find it amusing for the Catholic Church or conservative Christians to be attacked. But if this can happen to us, it can happen to you. Think twice, and then think a third time too. You have every reason to stand with us, and only bigotry and the desires of the flesh to oppose us. Make no mistake; you will be next. The Government will not cease its encroachment on basic liberties at the exit door of the Catholic Church. The steamroller is heading for you next. Stand with us.
We won today, but barely. It should have been 9–0. Wake up, America; your religious and other liberties are hanging by the thread of one vote.
Msgr Pope ping
Why was the ACLU on the wrong side of this fight for First Amendment rights?
Don’t worry I know. It’s a rhetorical question.
May there should be another question to follow this one.
Why do so many Catholics continue to follow the anti-Catholic Democratic Party to the polls? It is senseless. The Democrats are opposed to almost every moral standard that Catholic Church upholds.
I say this as a practicing Catholic. I am baffled.
Not surprised that the Catholic Church, the Christian faith is attacked, got to remember that it is assumed that we Christians will take the abuse.
Almost?
While I can understand why the Church would not support the positions of the GOPe, I agree that I can't fathom why they support the Dhimmicraps either.
So, then, the Severability Clause that wasn’t included in the Oblahblah-care act is invoked?
ANY Unconstitutionality in this piece of crap should negate the ENTIRE BILL without a severability clause. WHY is the bill still in effect?
USSC fail again.
A great point made by the Msgr.
We are failing as a culture, when Americans don’t know how to think.
The 3 women on the court couldn’t get past their sex.
The problem remains as long as abortion is legal.
She blurted out..."How could anyone ever do that?"
He’s right
I’m a liitle puzzled as to how an employer’s right to not fund healthcare practices that contravene his or her religious beliefs can be limited to just contraception.
Victory ping!
We can always use a victory.Let us accentuate the positive!
A good Segway into the truth about Hobby Lobby. Although they offer other avenues of contraception to their employees, they would not support the mandated abortion and abortifacients (Morning after pill). It that simple because they are a closely held (family) business that believes and lives their religion in their business. They even play religious music in their stores. (And not just at Christmas!)
God bless them.
PS. This does not apply to corporations, etc. as the libs would have you believe.
It actually goes back to the Ten Commandments....thou shall not murder. That is the taking of innocent life.
The Greek word parmakeia, actually means socery, magic enchantment. From Word Helps: drug-related sorcery, like the practice of magical-arts
While I appreciate what your attempting to say, and I agree that the murder of the unborn child is against God's Laws as outlined in the Ten Commandments and many other places, the context of the word as used in the verse in Galatians doesn't support what you're saying. I would agree though that abortion is one of the deeds of the flesh.
Gal 5:19-20 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Rev 9:21 would be more appropriate if we were to focus on the word murders. But again, the context of this passage is dealing with the trumpet judgments of the tribulation.
Actually, ObamaCare should never have passed.
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