Category: News

Archbishop’s letter to congregation censored by US military authorities

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who is in charge of Catholic chaplains in the U.S. military, asked them to read to their congregations at mass a pastoral letter protesting the Obama administration’s plan to force employers with over 50 employees to provide insurance coverage for surgical sterilization, contraceptives, and embryocidal drugs.  The letter, like many of those from other US Catholic bishops read from pulpits across the country, stated, “We cannot—we will not—comply with this unjust law.”

The Army’s Office of the Chief of Chaplains sent an e-mail ordering Catholic chaplains not to read the letter, directing them to mention it in bulletins and have printed copies available.  A number of chaplains are reported to have disobeyed the order, while others contacted the Archbishop.  The Archbishop spoke to the Secretary of the Army, who confirmed that the Chief of Chaplains had acted improperly.  As a result of the discussion with the Secretary, a censored version of the letter was read to congregations.  The original is available on the military archdiocese website. [CNS News]

Presidential hopeful promises to revoke forced birth control regulation

Mitt Romney, one of the front-runners seeking nomination as the Republican Party’s candidate in the 2012 presidential election, has spoken out in support of Catholic bishops opposing the Obama administration’s regulation that will force employers with over 50 employees to provide insurance coverage for surgical sterilization, contraceptives, and embryocidal drugs.  He states, “Such rules don’t belong in the America that I believe in.” [Romney Blog] However, opponents may recall that, while governor of Massachusetts, he refused to exempt Catholic hospitals from a requirement to dispense the morning-after pill to rape complainants.[Boston Globe]

EU Commissioner for Human Rights supports right to conscientious objection

Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, has issued a statement supporting the exercise of conscientious objection to military service.  He argues that objectors should be given a “genuinely civilian” alternative to compulsory military service, not imprisoned. [CE press release]

Speaker of U.S. House considers HHS mandate unconstitutional

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner has stated that he believes the HHS “preventive services” contraceptive mandate violates the U.S. constitution, and expressed hope that the Obama administration would reconsider it.  White House Press Secretary said that the issue was not being reconsidered: ” the decision has been made.” [ Associated Press]

 

Rubio Introduces Bill To Repeal ObamaCare Mandate Against Religious Freedom

NEWS RELEASE

Office of Marco Rubio

Rubio: “This is a common sense bill that simply says the government can’t force religious organizations to abandon the fundamental tenets of their faith because the government says so.”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today introduced the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012, a bill to repeal a new ObamaCare mandate that violates the religious liberties and conscience rights of faith-based institutions by forcing them to offer employees insurance coverage for contraceptives.

Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized a new mandate that would require most church-affiliated organizations to offer their workers private insurance coverage without out-of-pocket charges for birth control. The administration ignored efforts by numerous faith-based organizations to be granted an exemption on religious grounds.

“The Obama Administration’s obsession with forcing mandates on the American people has now reached a new low by violating the conscience rights and religious liberties of our people,” said Rubio. “Under this President, we have a government that has grown too big, too costly and now even more overbearing by forcing religious entities to abandon their beliefs. This is a common sense bill that simply says the government can’t force religious organizations to abandon the fundamental tenets of their faith because the government says so.”

The text of the legislation is available here.