Daily Prayer for Priests O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church ... give us holy priests. You yourself maintain them in holiness.
O Divine and Great High Priest, may the power of Your mercy accompany them everywhere and protect them from the devil's traps and snares, which are continually being set for the souls of priests.
May the power of Your Mercy, O Lord, shatter and bring to naught all that might tarnish the sanctity of priest, for You can do all things. - St. Faustina (Diary, 1052)
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Cardinal Dolan: Obama Told Me “Protection of
Conscience is a Sacred Duty”
Important Note: The title is my own and not the actual words used by Cardinal Dolan; however, the title is 100% accurate. Cardinal Dolan, as usual, was very charitable. John Quinn
by Cardinal Timothy Dolan: Over the last six months or so, the Catholic Church in the United States has found itself in some tension with the executive branch of the federal government over a very grave issue: religious freedom. Can a government bureau, in this case the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), define for us or any faith community what is ministry and how it can be exercised? Can government also coerce the church to violate its conscience?
 Obama had personally assured me that he would do nothing to impede the good work of the Church in health care, education, and charity, and that he considered the protection of conscience a sacred duty This has not been a fight of our choosing. We’d rather not be in it. We’d prefer to concentrate on the noble tasks of healing the sick, teaching our youth, and helping the poor, all now in jeopardy due to this bureaucratic intrusion into the internal life of the church. And we were doing all of those noble works rather well, I dare say, without these radical new mandates from the government. The Catholic Church in America has a long tradition of partnership with government and the wider community in the service of the sick, our children, our elders, and the poor at home and abroad. We’d sure rather be partnering than punching.
Nor is this a “Catholic” fight alone.
As a nurse from Harrison emailed me, “Cardinal, I’m not so much mad about all this as a Catholic, but as an American.” It was a Baptist minister, Governor Mike Huckabee, who observed, “In this matter, we’re all Catholics.”
And it is not just about sterilization, abortifacients, and chemical contraception.
Pure and simple, it’s about religious freedom, the sacred right, protected by our constitution, of any Church to define its own teaching and ministry.
When the President announced on January 20th that the choking mandates from HHS would remain — a shock to me, since he had personally assured me that he would do nothing to impede the good work of the Church in health care, education, and charity, and that he considered the protection of conscience a sacred duty — not only you, but men and women of every faith, or none at all, rallied in protest. The worry that we bishops had expressed — that such government control was contrary to our deepest political values — was eloquently articulated by constitutional scholars and leaders of every creed. Even newspaper editorials supported us!
On February 10th, the President announced that the insurance providers would have to pay the bill, not the Church’s schools, hospitals, clinics, or vast network of charitable outreach. He considered this “concession” adequate.
Did this help? We bishops wondered if it would, and announced at first that, while withholding final judgment, we would certainly give it close scrutiny.
Well, we have — and we’re still as worried as ever. For one, there was not even a nod to the deeper concerns about trespassing upon religious freedom, or of modifying the HHS’ attempt to define the how and who of our ministry through the suffocating mandates.
Two, since a big part of our ministries are “self-insured,” how is this going to help us? We’ll still have to pay! And what about individual believers being coerced to pay?
Three, there was still no resolution about the handcuffs placed upon renowned Catholic charitable agencies, both national and international, and their exclusion from contracts just because they will not refer victims of human trafficking, immigrants and refugees, and the hungry of the world, for abortions, sterilization, or contraception.
So, we have given it careful study. Our conclusion: we’re still very worried. There seem far more questions than answers, more confusion than clarity.
Now what to do?
Our Work With President Obama’s Administration
Well, for one, we’ll keep up advocacy and education on the issue. We continue to tap into your concern as citizens and count on your support. Regrettably, the unity of the Catholic community has been tempered a bit by those who think the President has listened to us and now we can quit worrying. You’re sure free to take their advice. But I hope you’ll listen to your pastors who are still very concerned.
Two, we’ll continue to seek a rescinding of the suffocating mandates that require us to violate our moral convictions — or at least a wider latitude to the exemptions so that churches can be free — and of the rigidly narrow definition of church, minister, and ministry that would prevent us from helping those in need, educating children, and healing the sick who are not Catholic.
The President invited us to “work out the wrinkles,” and we have been taking him seriously. Unfortunately, this seems to be going nowhere: the White House Press Secretary, for instance, informed the nation that the mandates are a fait accompli (and, embarrassingly for him, commented that we bishops have always opposed Health Care anyway, a charge that is simply scurrilous and insulting). The White House already notified Congress that the dreaded mandates are now published in the Federal Registry “without change.” The Secretary of HHS is widely quoted as saying, “Religious insurance companies don’t really design the plans they sell based on their own religious tenets,” which doesn’t bode well for a truly acceptable “accommodation.”
And a recent meeting between staff of the bishops’ conference and the White House staff ended with the President’s people informing us that the broader concerns of religious freedom — that is, revisiting the straight-jacketing mandates, or broadening the maligned exemption—are all off the table. Instead, they advised the bishops’ conference that we should listen to the “enlightened” voices of accommodation, such as the recent hardly-surprising but terribly unfortunate editorial in America. The White House seems to think we bishops are hopelessly out of touch with our people, and with those whom the White House now has nominated as official Catholic teachers.
So, I don’t know if we’ll get anywhere with the executive branch.
Our Work With Congress
Congress offers more hope, with thoughtful elected officials proposing promising legislation to protect what should be so obvious: religious freedom. As is clear from the current debate in the senate, our opponents are marketing this as a “woman’s health issue.” Of course, it cannot be reduced to that. It’s about religious freedom. (By the way, the Church hardly needs to be lectured about health care for women. Thanks mostly to our Sisters, the Church is the largest private provider of health care for women and their babies in the country. Here in New York State, Fidelis, the Medicare/Medicaid insurance provider, owned by the Church, consistently receives top ratings for its quality of service to women and children.)
Sorry to go on at such length. You can see how passionately I feel about this. But, from what I sense, you do too. You all have been such an inspiration, and I owe it to you to keep you posted. We need you more than ever! We can’t give up hoping, praying, trying, and working hard.
Edited for length.
Redefining Marriage Will Have Enormous Consequences On Society!
Catholic Culture.org
Cardinal Keith O’Brien has issued a strong warning against same-sex marriage as the British government contemplates its legalization.
“Civil partnerships have been in place for several years now, allowing same-sex couples to register their relationship and enjoy a variety of legal protections,” he began. “Those of us who were not in favor of civil partnership, believing that such relationships are harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of those involved, warned that in time marriage would be demanded too. We were accused of scaremongering then, yet exactly such demands are upon us now.”
“Redefining marriage will have huge implications for what is taught in our schools, and for wider society,” he continued. “It will redefine society since the institution of marriage is one of the fundamental building blocks of society. The repercussions of enacting same-sex marriage into law will be immense.”
“If same-sex marriage is enacted into law what will happen to the teacher who wants to tell pupils that marriage can only mean – and has only ever meant – the union of a man and a woman? Will that teacher’s right to hold and teach this view be respected or will it be removed? Will both teacher and pupils simply become the next victims of the tyranny of tolerance, heretics, whose dissent from state-imposed orthodoxy must be crushed at all costs?”
Cardinal O’Brien continued:
“When our politicians suggest jettisoning the established understanding of marriage and subverting its meaning they aren’t derided. Instead, their attempt to redefine reality is given a polite hearing, their madness is indulged. Their proposal represents a grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right.
Same-sex marriage would eliminate entirely in law the basic idea of a mother and a father for every child. It would create a society which deliberately chooses to deprive a child of either a mother or a father.
Other dangers exist. If marriage can be redefined so that it no longer means a man and a woman but two men or two women, why stop there? Why not allow three men or a woman and two men to constitute a marriage, if they pledge their fidelity to one another?
Disingenuously, the Government has suggested that same-sex marriage wouldn’t be compulsory and churches could choose to opt out. This is staggeringly arrogant. No Government has the moral authority to dismantle the universally understood meaning of marriage.
Imagine for a moment that the Government had decided to legalize slavery but assured us that “no one will be forced to keep a slave”. Would such worthless assurances calm our fury? Would they justify dismantling a fundamental human right? Or would they simply amount to weasel words masking a great wrong?“
Fr. Leo Patalinghug’s You Tube Video Addresses the
Commenters Concerning His HHS Mandate Video
Now please, before you go and make any assumptions, you will have to watch Fr. Patalinghug’s latest video called “Priest Gives Obama HHS Mandate The Finger?” Did you know that we took some heat for posting that last video. Not because of the content of the video, but because some assumed the title was literal. Can you believe we lost over 60 subscribers! One of our most faithful subscribers reprimanded me saying “I do not mean to be a prude, but I can not see how crudity and vulgarity in a priest is courageous.” She later humbly apologized saying she was unable to watch the video due to system constraints.
So do yourself a favor and watch both videos. The first one is here.
Fr. Leo Patalinghug You Tube Video addresses the HHS Mandate in a very distinct manner. Please know that Father’s target audience is for a younger audience, so the editing is geared along those lines. It is well worth watching.
Note: Email Subscribers must click HERE to watch the video.
The following was written by Father Richard Perozich in 2009 shortly after Obama took office. It is a good reflection in the light of what has transpired since “hope and change” has come to rule. Let us know what you think. This will most likely be a controversial post.
The People Who Support And Promote These Measures Have Truly Been Overcome By the Evil One.
By Father Richard Perozich
The Orate Fratres
The First 100 Days
The “governator” Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in a 1999 movie called “End of Days” where the devil was to come to take over the world. In the story line the devil must mate with and be born of a certain mortal if he is to escape hell and begin his reign of dominance over human hearts and freedom, to oppress people with death, pride, avarice, greed, sloth, ire, gluttony and lust. Arnold plays a man wounded spiritually and emotionally who ultimately opposes the devil who is defeated and reconsigned to hell for another 1,000 years. In real life, however, his legislation works for Satan.
The first 100 days of a new presidency is the time when legislation desired by the new leader is rammed through the congress without much discussion and over the objections of the minority party. It often is not good legislation, has been brewing in the hearts of special interest groups for years, who now have a vehicle to impose their will on the American people.
If the special interest groups have their way, the first 100 days will spell the end of days for the American nation as we have known it since 1776. Abominations will be forced on us by the new government, such as which our founders never had intended, and certainly opposed to the Christian life: abortion on demand, homogenital sex, lust in all its forms, euthanasia, stem cell killling, cloning, taxes, oppression of opportunity and entrepreneurs, silencing of faith and free speech among many.
Abortion
In the old testament, God’s chosen people abandoned Him and sacrificed their own innocent children to a demon god called Moloch in hopes of a good harvest to feed themselves. The cult of Moloch lives on today, but just not under the god’s formal name, but in the name of abortion, or rightly put, murder of children in the womb to promote false promises, ruined lives, and degraded humanity.
Abortion is our god and Obama, Pelosi, Kennedy are his prophets. His sacrifice is the life of infants and the souls of mothers. His priests are doctors who perform abortions. His church is Planned Parenthood and FOCA, (freedom of choice act). His covenant promises rights and freedom for women. It delivers death of infants, permanent damage to the souls of women, of men, of politicians
Homosexual Lust
Homosexual lust is our god and Obama, Bishop Gene Robinson, and the Democratic Party are his prophets. The sacrifice is personal integrity and corruption of the body and spirit. Its priests and priestesses are men who have sex with men (MSM) and women who have sex with women (WSW). Its church is the Human Rights Campaign and other activist organizations, Pride clubs and “gay” and “lesbian” centers. Its covenant offers false promises of equality with those who have normal sexual feelings and inner peace. It delivers disease, prolonged adolescent immaturity, and oppression of the church and good people who live upright moral lives.
Greed And Socialism
Money is our god, and the the wealthy and welfare are its prophets. Its sacrifice is hard earned savings and retirement. Its priests are those taking obscene profits by defrauding investors, and those who choose government money over honest work. Its church is a non vigilant Securities and Exchange Commission and congress. Its covenant promises self reliance and security in wealth or sustenance. It delivers collapse of the economy, unfair distribution of wealth, and a drain on the tax system.
Socialism is our god, and Obama is his prophet. Its sacrifice is personal freedom. Its priests are politicians and communist ideological organizations. Its church are legislatures and executive branches in government. Its covenant promises fairness and sameness for all. It delivers power and wealth those who already possess it and takes away opportunity for those out of power and destroys of the economy and future for others.
Liberalism
Liberalism is our god and the Democratic Party is his prophet. Its sacrifice is freedom, integrity, opportunity, and wholeness. Its priests are the fascist elites in government, education, and bureaucracies, who wish to control others’ thoughts and actions. Its churches are political parties, universities, and corrupt professional organizations. Its covenant promises unbridled freedom for perversion of the natural law and oppression for all who disagree with it. It delivers the breakdown of society, constitutional government, and true freedom for morally minded people, especially faithful Christians.
For us Christians, these are abominations, and the people who promote them are truly overcome by evil. 2 Peter 2:19-20 “They promise them freedom, though they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave of whatever overcomes him. For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of (our) Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first.”
This may not be the change you wanted when you voted for new government, but it is the change you voted for if you did not clearly listen to the evil promises of the new prophets and priests of the new “churches” and ignored the warnings about the new evils that this government clearly promised to impose on America.
Jesus Christ And His Catholic Church Is The Only Hope In The Battle Against Evil
The Father is our God, and Jesus Christ is His prophet. His sacrifice is the life of His Son Jesus celebrated at Mass. His priests are those ordained and faithful clergy who teach fully the Catholic faith from the Bible and Magisterium, and who celebrate the sacraments of the church faithfully according to its tradition and rites. Its Church is the Holy Catholic Church in which salvation is found in Jesus, the only name in heaven or on earth by which man can be saved, through Jesus, the only mediator between God and man who saves us by grace through faith in Him and not in abortion, homosexual lust, money’s greed, socialism, or liberalism. He delivers forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
Jesus came to save us from abortion, homosexual lust, socialism, liberalism, and greed of money. He begins by gathering us into His Holy Catholic Church in baptism, giving us faith in HIM rather than the perversions and evil legacies of the world and worldly people. He fills us with His Holy Spirit in confirmation to give us the gifts of HIS wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, courage, piety, and fear of the Lord, so that we are formed to conquer the world. He nourishes us with His Body and Blood to fortify our Spirit to hear the counsel of the Holy Spirit to reject not only for ourselves the evil legacies, but to fight for others who are under evil’s influence.
So we pray each day, and worship on Sunday. Renewed in Spirit, we begin the fight for the faith and the souls of all in our country and world. We march, telephone, fax, write, protest, inform all those in power of our beliefs and interests to show them we will resist their impositions, remove them from office and employment if they pervert our nation.
Jesus has called you out of the darkness of abortion, lust, greed, socialism, and liberalism into His marvelous light of freedom. Fight for that freedom now, so that you will not be oppressed like the Christians of the first centuries. Evil has acceded to power in this administration. We must pray as if it all depends on God, and work as if it all depends on us.
Finally, The Homily You Always Wanted to Hear Concerning the HHS Mandate
Fr. Sammie Maletta: The Government Wants to Run The Catholic Church
Do you want a Priest with Passion? Let me introduce you to Father Sammie Maletta. Again email subscribers click here go to listen to the homily.
Here is what you will discover in Fr. Maletta’s You Tube video . . .
- The President Obama’s true intentions
- The ultimate goal about Obama Care and the HHS Manate
- The virtually unknown broken promise President-elect Obama gave during a special meeting he called with the Catholic Bishops
- The untold truth about the Government and Catholic Social Services
- What the Catholic Church will do before being forced to provide for “reproductive services”
- The absolute end result in becoming a socialist country
Father Sammie Maletta Quotes from his Sermon
For those of you who voted for I cannot believe you voted for this (referring to the mandate).
Let us be clear, President Obama let us be Catholic
The government wants to get in our business and tell us how to run our business, how to run our Churches.
I cannot make a decision about the Church without going through the government.
Why is the government so obsessed with reproductive services? And forcing us to go against our Faith to do what they want us to do
Who is Fr. Sammie Maletta
“If you are interested in knowing about my educational and various assignments then please scroll down to the Curriculum Vitae outlining my years as a priest.
I guess what I would like you to know about me is that I love the Lord Jesus and I am passionate about His Roman Catholic Church. I have been a priest for more than 25 years and the Church has made me what I am. I feel so incredibly honored and grateful to be living my life as a priest. I believe in striving for excellence and have found over and over again that apparent obstacles in life are really opportunities where our faith and character are tested and formed. So, for better or worse I regularly find myself challenging and motivating those around me to do one more thing for Christ.” Fr. Sammie Maletta
 Fr. Sammie Maletta: "I am passionate about His Roman Catholic Church" Curriculum Vitae
Reverend Sammie L. Maletta, Jr., was born in Gary, Indiana on March 9, 1953, the eldest of seven children of Sammie and Theresa Maletta. He was raised in Portage, Indiana and graduated from Portage High School.
After receiving a BA degree in English Literature from St. Meinrad Seminary and graduating with an M.Div and STB degree with honors from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Father Maletta was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Andrew Grutka on August 15, 1980, at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary, Indiana.
Upon ordination, Father Maletta was assigned to instruct religion at Marquette High School in Michigan City, Indiana. In the spring of 1981, he began graduate studies in business administration at Notre Dame University School of Business. In the fall of 1981, he was assigned as administrator at Sacred Heart Parish in Wanatah, Indiana and St. Martin Mission in LaCrosse. In 1982, he was assigned administrator of St. Theresa Parish in Shelby, Indiana. In the fall of 1982, Father Maletta was assigned to study canon law in Rome, Italy. While studying in Rome, Father Maletta was selected to serve on the staff of the United States Bishops Theological Consultation. In June of 1984, he completed canonical studies and received a JCL with high honors from St. Thomas of the City. In the autumn of 1984, after return from abroad, Father Maletta was assigned to the Marriage Tribunal of the Diocese of Gary and appointed Adjutant Vicar Judicial and Defender of the Bond. He was also appointed Assistant to the Chancellor, while serving as administrator of Ss. Monica & Luke Parish in Gary, Indiana. In January of 1985, he was appointed Director of the Marriage Tribunal for the Diocese of Gary. In May of 1987, he served as Judge for the Marriage Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado.
Father Maletta was appointed Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Gary in December of 1988. In 1989 Bishop Norbert Gaughan appointed Father Maletta to study civil law at Valparaiso University School of Law while continuing his diocesan responsibilities. He graduated with a Juris Doctorate in civil law from Valparaiso in May of 1992. Father Maletta received the prestigious Honors Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy.
In July of 1992, Father Maletta was appointed pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Merrillville, Indiana. Shortly after his appointment as pastor, he resigned from all of his diocesan appointments in order to focus on the parish. In October 1992, after successfully sitting for the Indiana Bar, Father Maletta was sworn in as a civil attorney. In August of 1993, Father Maletta was certified by the Indiana Supreme Court as a Civil Mediator. Father Maletta continues to maintain both his licenses to practice law and his certification as a mediator.
Bishop Dale J. Melczek appointed Father Maletta as Diocesan Legal Counsel in April of 1994. In January of 1995, Father Maletta was appointed Representative of the Bishop for Health Care Concerns. He was invited to serve as Canonical and Ethical Counsel to the international law firm of Mayer, Brown and Platt in Chicago, Illinois. While serving in this position, Father Maletta was given the opportunity to participate in the filing of an amicus brief before the United States Supreme Court in behalf of the Catholic Health Association of America in the Oregon Assisted Suicide case, Lee vs Oregon.
- On February 1, 1997, Bishop Dale J. Melczek appointed Father Maletta Vicar General/Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Gary.
- In 1998, Father Maletta was appointed to the Catholic Health Association Canon Law Committee, an appointment that has recently been renewed.
- In January 2000, after successfully completing his term as Vicar General/Moderator of the Curia, Father Maletta requested not to be reappointed, but to return to parish ministry and to pursue other interests. In July 2000, Bishop Melczek released Father Maletta from his diocesan responsibilities.
- In August 2000, Father Maletta was appointed by the Provincial of the Congregation of Holy Cross ‚ Indiana Province, to serve on the Fatima Retreat Center Advisory Board at Notre Dame University in South Bend.
- In September 2000, Father Maletta agreed to serve as Project Manager for Catholic Health Association.
- In October 2000, Father Maletta assumed the position of Attorney Of Counsel for the Chicago law firm of Burke, Warren, MacKay and Serritella, P.C.
- In the fall of 2000, Father Maletta was named as one of the twenty most influential people in Northwest Indiana.
- In March 2001, Father Maletta agreed to serve as a Certified Instructor for the Napoleon Hill Foundation located at the Napoleon Hill World Learning Center, Purdue University Calumet.
- In June 2001, Father Maletta was invited and agreed to serve as a member of the Commission on Race & Gender Fairness for Lake County, Indiana.
- In July 2001, Father Maletta was appointed Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in St. John, Indiana.
- In October 2006, Relevant Radio began broadcasting Father Malettaís homilies which can be heard on radio station 1270AM on Friday mornings at 9:00am.
- In February 2007, Father Maletta was appointed as Administrator of Holy Name Parish in Cedar Lake, Indiana, with all the rights and obligations defined for administrators in the Code of Canon Law.
- In January of 2003, Father Maletta was invited to attend the USCCB Committee on Canonical Affairs Seminar for Judges, Advocates and Promoters of Justice who will assist the Bishops to carry out the necessary penal processes which are called for in the Code of Canon Law, the Norms promulgated by the Holy Fatherís Apostolic Letter Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela and the ìEssential Normsî adopted by the Bishops to address the scandal of sexual abuse of minors by clerics.
Since resigning from his diocesan positions, Father Maletta has provided organizational consulting for various institutions and businesses.
Father Maletta co-wrote Marital Failure: The Churchís Response for Chicago Studies in November, 1992. He was an editor of the Catechism Life in Christ, published by ACTA Publications in Chicago, Illinois (1993-1995). In August of 1994, he wrote a weekly column that was published in the Northwest Indiana Catholic newspaper on the New Catechism of the Catholic Church, which was also published by diocesan newspapers throughout the country. Father Maletta was a primary and contributing author of the Gary Diocesan Millennium booklets, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and God the Father.
Over the years, Father Maletta has been a popular public speaker, offering retreats and parish missions throughout the Midwest. Father Maletta has conducted numerous seminars on the relationship of canon and civil law to a life of faith. His seminars on sexbased differences have been well received by both local and national organizations. In recent years, Father Maletta has conducted workshops on the Catechism (as revealed in story).
Professional Memberships
Canon Law Society of America
Indiana Bar Association
Lake County Bar Association
National Health Lawyers Association
Catholic Health Association
God bless Fr. Sammie Maletta
Priest Reveals What He Truly Thinks About The HHS Mandate
Fr. Leo Patalinghug You Tube Video addresses the HHS Mandate in a very distinct manner. Please know that Fathers target audience is for a younger audience, so the editing is geared along those lines. It is well worth watching.
Note: Email Subscribers must click HERE to watch the video.
HT to Father Z:
Obama Notre Dame Speech
“Let’s honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded not only in sound science, but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women.” Those are things we can do.”
Did Christ Really Die For Liberty?
By: Father Michael Rodriquez
(www.Remnant Newspaper.com)
On the verge of being condemned to death, Jesus Christ responds to Pontius Pilate, “For this I was born, and for this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth.” (Jn 18:37) Jesus Christ was not born for “freedom of conscience” or “religious liberty”; He was born to bring the truth, and hence salvation, to a fallen world. Erat lux vera . . . He was the true light. Only adherence to the truth nurtures our God-given freedom and allows it to thrive and prosper properly. Listen carefully to our Savior’s own words, “the truth shall make you free.” (Jn 8:32) Pope Leo XIII, Vicar of Christ, teaches, “the best parent and guardian of liberty amongst men is truth” (Immortale Dei 40, November 1, 1885).
On January 20, 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that nearly all employers, including the Roman Catholic Church, will soon be forced to cover the cost of contraceptives, sterilization, and abortifacient drugs in their health insurance plans. Fortunately, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has spoken out against this brazen and blasphemous assault on the holy law of God, the sanctity of life, and the good of souls. Unfortunately, their response has thus far been spiritually feeble and morally anemic, i.e. it has revolved largely around the protection of religious liberty, freedom of conscience, and First Amendment rights, while remaining devoid of explicit reference to the absolute moral truths revealed by God and entrusted to the Holy Catholic Church.
Almost all 21st century Americans, and most modern-day Catholics, mistakenly assume that freedom is an absolute good. In his 1993 Encyclical Letter, Veritatis Splendor, Pope John Paul II writes extensively about human freedom. In paragraph #34, he teaches, “there can be no morality without freedom [because] it is only in freedom that man can turn to what is good.” The raison d’être of freedom is for one to decide in favor of what is true, beautiful, and good. Our benevolent God has blessed man with free will precisely so that man may freely choose to submit to God’s commandments.
Already at the end of the nineteenth century, Pope Leo XIII was warning us about many who were “perverting the very idea of freedom” with “false and absurd notions.” In paragraph #1 of his 1888 Encyclical Letter on the nature of true liberty, Libertas Præstantissimum, he wrote, “Man, indeed, is free to obey his reason, to seek moral good and to strive unswervingly after his last end.” Pope Leo XIII is reminding us that we are to exercise our freedom in order to: (1) obey reason and accept the truth, (2) do what is morally good, (3) save our souls, which is man’s final end. “The supreme end to which human liberty must aspire is God.” (Libertas Præstantissimum 11) Our Holy Father also alerts us to the obvious danger: by abusing his freedom and choosing evil, man will “disturb rightful order and fall headlong into the destruction which he has voluntarily chosen.” (Libertas Præstantissimum 1)
In Veritatis Splendor, #32, Pope John Paul II laments that “certain currents of modern thought have gone so far as to exalt freedom to such an extent that it becomes an absolute.” In terms of metaphysics, placing freedom “above” truth is a calamitous error. Morally speaking, freedom and “individual rights” may never be divorced from the truth. No one can claim a “right” to espouse moral error or a false religion.
I hope and pray that our bishops will respond to the grace offered only to them as Successors of the Apostles. Behold, dear Bishops, now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation! (2 Cor 6:2) The Health and Human Services “contraception mandate” is simply the latest manifestation of the pernicious moral relativism that continues to ravage both society and the Church. In order to truly combat this hideous “smoke of satan,” our bishops must tread in the hallowed footsteps of the Apostles, cast aside false notions of “religious liberty,” and proclaim the truth with valor, “Whoever wishes to be saved must, above all, keep the Catholic Faith. For unless a person keeps this Faith whole and entire, he will undoubtedly be lost forever.” (Symbol of St. Athanasius)
With respect to the HHS “contraception mandate,” I urge our nation’s bishops to implement the following ten-point plan.
(1) Pray to St. John Fisher, plead with him to intercede for you, and beg for the grace to imitate his indomitable example. John Fisher (1469-1535) was a model bishop of the Diocese of Rochester for twenty-three years in an age when the lives of many bishops were less than edifying. Under pressure from King Henry VIII, about 95% of the English bishops and clergy betrayed Our Lord and Holy Mother Church, but not Fisher. On June 22, 1535, St. John Fisher, seventy-one years old and hardly able to walk, was taken from the Tower of London to nearby Tower Hill. Upon the scaffold, right before he was beheaded, St. John Fisher spoke, “I am come here to die for Christ’s Catholic Church. And I thank God . . . ”
(2) Munus docendi: teach the truth. According to Apostolorum Successores (Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops, Feb. 22, 2004) 57, “As an authoritative teacher of the faith, the Bishop sets revealed truth at the heart of his pastoral action.” Central to the bishop’s munus docendi (teaching office) is “to proclaim always and everywhere the moral principles of the social order.” (#120) U.S. Bishops, please teach with clarity and charity that the following are intrinsic evils: abortion, homosexual acts, contraception, and direct sterilization (against fertility) (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2271, 2357, 2370, 2399). Use your full episcopal authority to instruct all Catholics that each of these mortal sins is never acceptable, no Catholic may support anyone else in committing these terrible crimes against God, and every single Catholic must oppose these sins both in the private and public spheres.
(3) Devotion to Christ the King. In order to govern with the mind and heart of Christ the Lord, a bishop must “lie prostrate” at the feet of Christus Rex. U.S. Bishops, please read and study our Holy Father, Pope Pius XI’s Encyclical, Quas Primas (December 11, 1925), which established the Feast of Christ the King. Pope Pius XI writes, “And we remember saying that these manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and His holy law out of their lives, that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics” (#1); “When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony” (#19); and “Oh, what happiness would be Ours if all men, individuals, families and nations, would but let themselves be governed by Christ!” (#20)
(4) Munus regendi: “Catholic” politicians. U.S. Bishops, please exercise your munus regendi (office of governing) by applying the truths of the Catholic religion, outside of which there is no salvation, to “Catholic” politicians. It is not at all sufficient to urge the laity to “write to their senators and congressmen.” You are the Successors of the Apostles! You are the ones who have been strengthened by the Holy Spirit! You are the ones who have been blessed with apostolic grace! For the sake of the purity of our Catholic Faith, you must work diligently and prudently to win over the minds and hearts of so many “Catholic” politicians who have lost, or are on the brink of losing, the Faith. No Catholic politician may in any way support these sins (i.e. abortion, homosexual unions, contraception, direct sterilization) against God, the truth, human life, and mankind itself. If a “Catholic” public figure remains obstinate in such sin and persists in giving public scandal, you Bishops must, for the good of souls, issue the necessary excommunication, always with the goal and hope of the sinner’s eventual repentance and conversion.
(5) Munus regendi: the lay faithful. U.S. Bishops, please exercise your munus regendi by applying the truths of the Catholic religion, outside of which there is no salvation, to the lay faithful. With paternal solicitude, and always bearing in mind the salvation of souls, take the necessary measures to correct and discipline the lay faithful who are obstinate in supporting politicians and public officials who condone or promote abortion, homosexual unions, contraception, or direct sterilization.
(6) Munus regendi: the presbyterate. U.S. Bishops, please exercise your munus regendi by applying the truths of the Catholic religion, outside of which there is no salvation, to your presbyterates. Out of fidelity to Jesus Christ and His Church, and for the good of souls, insist that every single priest make it a pastoral priority to teach on the intrinsic evil of abortion, homosexual acts, contraception, and direct sterilization. Be vigilant, as is proper to your office, and provide, as needed, the appropriate encouragement, formation, correction, or disciplinary action with respect to your priests. Every single Catholic bishop and priest should teach what the Roman Catholic Church teaches. No excuses, no exceptions, abundant joy, overflowing charity!
(7) Foster true participation of the laity in the life of the Church. Apostolorum Successores, 110 (b), touches on the importance of participation in politics by the lay faithful, particularly in “addressing fundamental moral principles which do not admit of exception, derogation or compromise” and included in this list are “abortion, euthanasia, and the promotion and protection of the family based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman.” Thus, well-aware of our country’s dire need for authentic Catholic politicians, every U.S. Bishop should make it a concern to foster these “vocations.” It is morally irresponsible to neglect the formation, encouragement, and support of true Catholic statesmen, while demanding that the faithful go out and vote when the only alternative available to them is settling for “the lesser of two evils.”
(8) Restore Catholic Marriage and the Family. Apostolorum Successores, 202, states, “As the one primarily responsible for the pastoral care of the family, which is the foundation and original cell of society and of the Church, the Bishop should establish this apostolate as a clear priority within the diocesan pastoral program.” In order to carry out this apostolate in a manner that is truly faithful to the perennial teachings of Holy Mother Church, I urge the U.S. Bishops to read and study our Holy Father, Pope Pius XI’s Encyclical on Christian Marriage, Casti Connubii (December 31, 1930). God willing, the core of each diocese’s pastoral program to restore Catholic Marriage and the Family will consist of promoting the following truths: chastity before and within marriage, the primary end of marriage is the procreation and education of children, St. Joseph as the role model for all Catholic fathers, the Blessed Virgin Mary as the role model for all Catholic mothers, the Divine Child as the role model for all Catholic children, modest dress, especially for Catholic women.
(9) Prayer. St. Paul writes, “Put you on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Therefore take unto you the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect.” (Eph 6:11-13). Dear U.S. Bishops, we are in the midst of an epic spiritual battle, and truth be told, we are currently getting whipped. Please, lead the priests and faithful of your dioceses as often as possible in Holy Hours before the Blessed Sacrament and in the recitation of the Holy Rosary. Sancta Dei Genetrix, ora pro nobis.
(10) Munus sanctificandi: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I chose to save the most important one for last. In order to crush the diabolic HHS mandate, and every other evil that is afflicting the Church and society, Bishops must exercise their munus sanctificandi (office of sanctifying) and work tirelessly to restore the Mass of All Ages. Fr. Philip Wolfe, FSSP, preached very wisely in 2003, “What we do in the Liturgy determines what goes on out in the world. The most divine thing we can participate in this side of heaven is the Sacred Liturgy. During the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the floodgates of heaven open up and all the graces come pouring down off the altar, through the congregation, out across to all creation. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the most important thing in the universe. When things are properly done, the Liturgy raises earth up towards the level of heaven and it reorders and fixes the damage done by Adam and his descendants.”
Lex orandi, lex credendi: the Church believes as she prays. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1124) If the majority of Catholics no longer believe as the Church believes, e.g. that abortion, contraception, and homosexual activity are intrinsically evil and thus forbidden, this is necessarily a consequence of Catholics no longer worshipping God as the Church has always worshipped God. U.S. Bishops, please be obedient to the liturgical directives of Pope Benedict XVI. He refers to the Roman Missal promulgated in 1962 as “a precious treasure to be preserved” (Universæ Ecclesiæ 8, April 30, 2011), and declares that it “must be given due honor for its venerable and ancient usage” (Summorum Pontificum, art. 1, July 7, 2007). Even more importantly, please be obedient to the venerable Roman liturgical tradition of two millennia, and the “timeless” liturgical truth transmitted by all the Popes in succession. As the glorious Roman Rite spreads its divine beauty and aroma throughout U.S. dioceses, the true lex orandi is sure to restore the true lex credendi.
The Son of God did not come down from heaven to “be free” and guarantee “First Amendment rights.” No, He took flesh from the Immaculate Virgin Mary, in order to die on the cross, vanquish sin, and witness to the truth. Only the truth safeguarded in the “womb” of the Catholic Church can set us free.
Our Freedom of Conscience is at Stake
The Vatican Today: The Bishops of the US states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin are in Rome this week for their ad limina visits. Religious liberty continues to be a major focus of attention for the Holy Father and the various curial offices the bishops are visiting during their stay.
The Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin, Robert Morlino, told Vatican Radio that the bishops themselves are aware of a growing concern among the broader public for the integrity of conscience rights and liberty generally. “Everybody sees that their freedom of conscience is at stake,” said Bishop Morlino, explaining, “it just depends who is up to be curtailed at any given moment for whatever reason.” The Bishop went on to say, “If they can do it to Catholics, they can do it to anybody.”
 Bishop Robert Morlino Greets Pope Benedict Discussion in the United States of the controversial HHS mandate requiring Catholic institutions to provide contraceptives and abortifacients at no cost to the insured employee, continues. Bishop Morlino expressed his own concern with the aims of the Obama administration, saying, “There seems to be an approach that seeks to divide the Church, even more than She is already divided,” along liberal and conservative lines. “We should not be this way,” said Bishop Morlino. “All the ‘liberal/conservative’ bit is an import from the political sphere, which really does us nothing but damage.” Bishop Morlino went on to say:
[T]o take advantage of the fact that this has already happened in our culture, this division, and then to start to pit the bishops – as if they were merely one group within the Church – [against] what other groups might think, is clearly a straightforward attempt to divide and to deepen division in the Church, and to weaken the Church – the old saying, “Divide and conquer!”
Asked about how the bishops are planning to engage the public debate, and to help the Catholic faithful engage it, Bishop Morlino spoke of the need to safeguard and strengthen, where necessary, the Catholic identity of Catholic institutions. He said a centrepiece of any effort to revive Catholic identity must involve a recovery of authentic Catholic worship. “We can create all kinds of structures, and make them universal, so that we look more like a unity,” he said, “but the beginning of that has to be, it seems to me, with regard to our own liturgy.”
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